The Rev. Dr. Frank W. Carpenter

The Rev. Dr. Frank W. Carpenter died on July 4, 2024, at the age of 81 (1943-2024).

Frank is survived by his partner Jacqueline Rousseau; his son William Carpenter; and granddaughter Elleanora Carpenter.

A memorial service will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at the First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati, 536 Linton St, Cincinnati OH 45219.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Michael J Fox Foundation <https://give.michaeljfox.org/give/421686/#!/donation/checkout>. UURMaPA will contribute to the UUMA Endowment Fund in honor of our colleague’s ministry.

Notes of condolences may be sent to Jacqueline Rousseau, 4640 Hamilton Ave, Cincinnati OH 45223.

A more complete A more complete obituary will be forthcoming after biographical research has been completed. It will be published in an upcoming issue of Elderberries and posted on the UURMaPA website.If any readers would wish to contribute information or reminiscences, we would welcome them. Please send them to UURMaPA’s clergy obituary editor, Rev. Jay Atkinson – jayatk40@gmail.com. will follow.

Rev. Dr. Arthur E. Curtis

The Rev. Dr. Arthur “Art” E. Curtis died on June 8, 2024, at the age of 90 (1934-2024

Art is survived by his wife Susan Lyden, sister Emily Mandelbaum, nieces Ruth and Audrey Mandelbaum and Erica and Brenda Curtis, nephew Rodney Curtis, five grandnephews, two grandnieces, as well as three first cousins—Jim, Anne, and Tom Conway. He was preceded in death by his brother, Charles Curtis.

A memorial service is being planned.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of one’s own choosing. UURMaPA will contribute to the UUMA Endowment Fund in honor of our colleague’s ministry.

A more complete obituary will be forthcoming after biographical research has been completed. It will be published in an upcoming issue of Elderberries and posted on the UURMaPA website.If any readers would wish to contribute information or reminiscences, we would welcome them. Please send them to UURMaPA’s clergy obituary editor, Rev. Jay Atkinson – jayatk40@gmail.com.

Anne Clarke

Anne Elizabeth Torrison Clarke, 92, of Sister Bay WI, passed away Sept. 28, 2023, at Good Samaritan Society—Scandia Village in Sister Bay.

She was born Nov. 25, 1930, in Chicago IL, the daughter of Osuld and Marie (Schulz) Torrison and graduated from New Trier High School. She attended Vassar College (NY) and George Mason University (VA), earning a B.A. In 1951, she married Robert Clarke.

Rev. Clarke was ordained in 1964 and Anne followed him to UU churches in Exeter NH; Arlington VA; Dallas TX; Mequon WI; and Cincinnati OH, where he was named Minister Emeritus. In 1992, Anne and Bob moved to Sister Bay, where they had spent summers for many years.

Anne was a member of PEO Wisconsin (Philanthropic Educational Organization) and was instrumental in spearheading the project to build the new Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Library building, overseeing the money-raising efforts to completion. In 1996, Anne and Bob, by then retired, helped found the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Door County in Sister Bay.

Anne will be missed by daughter, Betsy Clarke of Columbus OH; son, Jim Clarke of Ellison Bay WI; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband in 2013; her parents; and her sister, Mary.

Anne’s life will be honored with a memorial service at Scandia Village in Sister Bay, tentatively planned for November 2023. She will be laid to rest in Little Sister Cemetery in Sister Bay WI.

Lorraine Colpitts

Lorraine Colpitts died on January 16, 2023 at the age of 99. She is survived by by her sons and their spouses: Jon and Jeanne, David and Julie; her granddaughters and their spouses: Kate and Dustin, Megan and Luis; and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, the Rev. Horace (Hank) Colpitts; and her sister, Nadine

Notes of condolence can be sent to Jon Colpitts, jon.colpitts@icloud.com. A more complete obituary will be forthcoming after biographical research has been completed.

The Rev. Dr. Bruce C. Clear

The Rev. Dr. Bruce C. Clear died on October 9, 2022, at the age of 72.

Bruce was born on June 9, 1950, in Anderson IN, to Dr. Val B. Clear and Evelyn R. Clear. He was raised in a devoutly Christian family which regularly attended the Church of God (Anderson IN). As a youth, Bruce felt at home in the church and fully expected that the church would become a major part of his life. He was always interested in religion and missionaries. Over time, he grew apart intellectually and doctrinally from the church he was raised. When he went to college, he discovered a Unitarian Universalist church. This discovery made him feel that he could reclaim his childhood and youthful devotion feeling religiously and intellectually at home.

In 1972, Bruce graduated from Anderson College, IN with a double major in political science and history following which he received his Master of Arts in Political Science (1974) from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. From 1974 to 1979, he worked for the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, doing research for the Congregational Research Service and then as a Public Information Specialist for the U.S Copyright Office.

After his work at the Library of Congress, Bruce developed a desire to work closely with people in a religious setting and decided to devote his life to liberal religion in the form of the Unitarian Universalist ministry. Following this call, he earned his Master of Arts in Religion from the University of Chicago in 1981 and a Doctor of Ministry from Meadville Lombard Theological School in 1983.

Rev. Dr. Clear was ordained jointly by the Michael Servetus Fellowship of Vancouver (now the UU Church of Vancouver) WA, and the Eastrose Fellowship of Portland OR on November 26, 1983. He served as an extension minister to his ordaining congregations from 1983 to 1986. (Neither had ever had a minister in their 30 year histories.)

Rev. Clear served three-quarter time in Vancouver and a quarter time at Eastrose. He knew both congregations well, was caring and understanding, and especially supportive of people in crisis. By the end of his three-year commitment, Vancouver nearly doubled in size, and Eastrose had a half-time minister. In 1986, Vancouver called him to a full-time ministry. Under his ministry, the congregation grew rapidly, eventually leading to a new church building.

In 1993, he accepted a call from All Souls Unitarian Church, Indianapolis IN, where he served until 2011. During his tenure, he helped with the Welcoming Congregation process and Green Sanctuary certification. He also strongly supported the music program.

Rev. Dr. Clear was a highly motivated minister who had a natural leadership ability that could be felt. He established a feeling of at-homeness among members and prospective members of the congregation. He could relate well to a diversity of people. His sermons challenged the members, individually and collectively, to reflect consciously on their lives.

Rev. Dr. Bruce’s denominational work included serving on the Executive Board of the UU Ministers Association (1991–1993). He taught at the Pacific Northwest District (PNWD) Leadership School, including two Advanced Schools (Worship and Congregation as Family Systems) and three years of Basic School. He was Good Offices Person for the PNWD UU Ministers Association and served as “minister to ministers” in difficult times. He was invited to preach at the 1991 PNWD Annual Meeting in Kelowna BC.

He wrote on issues such as censorship in schools, religion and state, Nicaragua, free speech, and reproductive rights. The UUA Department of Ministry published his essay on church conflict, “What I Have Learned about Churches and Ministers as Good Offices Person.”

In addition to his ministry and denominational services, Bruce was an outspoken community advocate for progressive and humanitarian causes. He served as a secretary of the Vancouver Association of Churches (1988–91) and as President of the Southwest Washington American Civil Liberties Union (1989–1991). In his leisure time, he enjoyed skiing, playing guitar, and learning about and listening to music. He also loved traveling and had a deep interest in other cultures.

Bruce is survived by his spouse Nancy Renner; brothers, Scott Clear and Todd Clear; son Cameron Clear; stepdaughter Carly Wise; and stepsons: Edward Kennedy, Gregory Kennedy, and Shane Kennedy. He was preceded in death by his stepdaughter Kelsey Kennedy.

A memorial service was held on October 15, 2022, at the Glacier Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1515 Trumble Creek Rd, Kalispell MT 59901. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Trinity Haven. Notes of condolences can be written to Cameron Clear: cameronclear@yahoo.com.

The Rev. Dr. John Cummins

The Reverend Dr. John Cummins—remembered for his wry humor and a 23-year ministry to the First Universalist Church of Minneapolis (1963–86), recognized for many more years as a local leader in liberal religious and social causes, and deeply venerated as a mentor to younger ministers and aspiring seminarians—died 11 December 2021, aged 95.

When the call rang out in 1965 to bear witness for justice in Selma, John Cummins showed up. As an opponent of the Vietnam war, he counseled more than 500 draft resisters and conscientious objectors. Preaching on the Watergate scandal, he titled his sermon, “Malice in Blunderland.”

John Cummins was born on 8 September 1926 to Alice E. (Grimm) and the Rev. Dr. Robert Cummins, who for many years was the General Superintendent of the Universalist Church of America and a leader in consolidating the Universalists and Unitarians in 1961. Enrolling at Bowdoin College (Brunswick ME), John joined a college fraternity but withdrew on discovering that they refused entry to Jews and Blacks. A screed, “Fraternity Without Brotherhood,” was John’s outraged response. He completed work for his B.A. in 1947, went on to graduate from Harvard Divinity School, and was ordained in 1950.

After parish settlements in Brunswick ME (1950–54) and Waltham MA (1954–63), the Rev’d Mr. Cummins took a call to First Universalist in Minneapolis, where he would remain until retirement and honored as emeritus thereafter. Members recall him as “prophetic, a caretaker, nurturer, and something of a poet,” helped perhaps by the editorial pencil of his spouse, Drusilla (“Dru”). “Your ideas soar like eagles,” she once told him, “but your grammar has webbed feet.”

In an interview at 90, John looked back, “I was naïve, an idealist, a dreamer, a humanist, a visionary, I guess, and I don’t regret any of it.”

John was preceded in death by spouse Dru and a son, Christopher. He is survived by daughter Carol and son Clyde. In a celebration of life at First Universalist Church of Minneapolis on 20 December 2021, no fewer than six colleagues offered tributes to John’s warmth, gentleness, humility, wit, and pastoral presence.

The Rev. Vivienne Chapman

The Rev. Vivienne Chapman died on December 7, 2021, at the age of 94.

Vivienne is survived by her four children, Caroline Guild, Todd Guild, Katherine Guild, and Sylvia Guild Beaudoin; by her elder sister, Paulette C. Loomis; and by her five grandchildren; as well as nieces and nephews.

A memorial service is being planned.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Faith & Family Hospice Foundation, 420 Lakeside Ave., Suite 203A, Marlborough, MA, 01752. UURMaPA will contribute $50 to the UUMA Endowment Fund in honor of our colleague’s ministry.

Notes of condolence can be sent to the family in care of Sylvia Guild Beaudoin, 4 Kendal Common Rd., Weston, MA 02493-2160.

A more complete obituary will be forthcoming after biographical research has been completed.

Ann Perry Reynolds Campbell

Ann Perry Reynolds Campbell, spouse of the Reverend Fred Campbell, died 27 Sept 2021, surrounded by family. Born 11 June 1937 in Woodstock, Connecticut, where her family had been for eight generations, Ann left to attend Earlham College in Indiana, after graduating from Woodstock Academy.

Ann met Fred Campbell at Earlham when she was managing the student cafeteria and Fred applied for a job in the kitchen. They married in 1960, after graduating.

Her inquisitive mind and natural sense of humor led her to enjoy a range of employment. She helped design the Head Start Programs at the University of Arkansas. She served as purchasing director for the Michigan Cancer Foundation in Detroit, and she worked in hardware stores.

She was an Advanced Master Gardener and couldn’t pass a garden without pulling weeds. Ann was also a Master Thrifter whose turn signal automatically started blinking for a yard sale. During the last 20 years while living in Williamston, MI, Ann participated in Shagbark Questers historical society; restoration of the one-room Branch School; garden clubs at the local, state and national levels; Williamston Kiwanis, the Williamston Depot Museum, food bank and more.

She was kind whenever possible. Her kindness being tempered only by her tendency to be a little more truthful than some people were comfortable with. Ann’s sense of humor was perhaps her greatest asset, and it was ever present. Relatively early in their 61 year marriage, when asked why she wasn’t more engaged helping her husband Fred in his job as a minister she observed “As far as I can tell, you are only paying one salary.”

A celebration of Ann’s life, along with dedication of a community memorial garden to be created in her honor, will be held in early summer 2022. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ann’s name to Ann Campbell Memorial, Williamston Area Beautification Fund, PO Box 116, Williamston, MI 48895.

Ann Reynolds Campbell

Ann Reynolds Campbell died on September 27, 2021 at the age of 84. Her husband is the Rev. Fred Campbell. Ann was remembered in UURMaPA’s virtual conference in October.

Ann is survived by her loving husband Fred Campbell, son Craig Campbell (Peggy), daughter Judi Lintott (Richard), and four adult grandchildren, Ian Campbell, Griffin Campbell, Emily Lintott and Susan Lintott. A celebration of Ann’s life, along with dedication of a community memorial garden to be created in her honor, will be held in early summer 2022.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ann’s name to Ann Campbell Memorial, Williamston Area Beautification Fund, P.O. Box 116, Williamston, MI 48895. UURMaPA will contribute $50 in her memory.

Ann was an Advanced Master Gardener through the Michigan State University extension program, and she could not pass a garden without pulling weeds. During the last 20 years while living in Williamston, MI, Ann participated in Shagbark Questers historical society; restoration of the one-room Branch School; garden clubs at the local, state and national levels; Williamston Kiwanis, many Red Cedar Jubilee celebrations, the Williamston Depot Museum, food bank and more.

We understand that notes of condolence can be sent to the Rev. Fred Campbell, 1186 Wild Cherry Drive, Williamston, MI 48895-9443.

A more complete obituary will be forthcoming after biographical research has been completed.

The Rev. Ralph “Ron” H. Cook, Jr.

The Reverend Ron Cook—parish minister, beloved teacher, endearing nonconformist, and craftsman extraordinaire—died on 6 July 2021, two months short of his 88th birthday.

Ron’s legacy was as a builder. For 27 years he helped build up Starr King School students seeking a religious calling. And starting in 1969, he built his own house on the California Big Sur Coast, where he died in a bed he also built. His spouse Deborah Streeter and dear neighbors stood by as members of the Mid-Coast Fire Brigade carried his body out along the path to a firetruck for an honor guard departure.

Ralph Hiram Cook, Jr., was born 27 August 1933 in Snohomish WA to Ralph Hiram Cook and Esther A. Cook. He grew up on a pea farm and was the first in his family to go to college, earning his B.A. in art and political science from Whitman College (Walla Walla WA) in 1955.

As a child Ron was a happy Cascades camper and a faithful Episcopalian acolyte, but at Seattle’s University Unitarian Church, he was encouraged toward professional ministry by Pastor Aron Gilmartin. He headed off to Starr King School in Berkeley and completed his B.D. in 1960, all the while discovering the San Francisco jazz and art scene and making dear lifelong friends.

Ron would proudly, maybe even gleefully, tell the tale of how the UUA Ministerial Fellowship Committee (MFC) turned him down for credentialing, but the UU Church in Ventura CA nevertheless called him in 1961 with a telegram, “Boston be damned! We’ll have our own Tea Party,” and promptly ordained him. (The following year, the MFC relented.)

Ron resigned his Ventura ministry in 1966 for a year-long trip to Europe and Africa, then returned from Nigeria to work as Associate Director of Young Adult Programs at the UUA (1967–69). Starr King School President Bob Kimball invited Ron to join the faculty in 1969, where he promoted the distinctive Starr King style of education: student-centered and affirming of life experiences. “We teach by who we are—work done, credit given.” He taught preaching and worship, weddings and funerals (“Marry ‘Em and Bury ‘Em”), and UU History, with a special love for Emerson.

Ron retired from teaching in 1996, retreating to his beloved Big Sur home and a life of community service. He built up the local volunteer fire brigade, worked against local logging enterprises, and became a court advocate for foster kids, all the while continuing to make the house more livable year-round. In his last days he was still building, working on a bench just outside the kitchen window where he happily read and wrote. In his spouse Deborah’s words: “Ron’s organic life is never finished, and he and this house and hill live happily together.”

A memorial service on 9 October 2021 was held at the UU Church of the Monterey Peninsula (Carmel CA), conducted by Ron’s ministerial colleagues, Bill and Barbara Hamilton-Holway, with tributes from children, a neighbor co-builder, and a former student.

Memorial donations are encouraged to the Mid-Coast Fire Brigade, which Ron and Deborah helped to found. Providentially, the Brigade saved their home from destruction in the Soberanes Fire of 2016.

Notes of condolences may be sent to Deborah Streeter at 37755 Palo Colorado Rd, Carmel, CA 93923.