August 2, 2021

Billy Vehslage (1937-2021):
On July 15, Billy Vehslage passed away.  Born in Iowa, he attended Rice in 1955 on a football scholarship.  After playing two seasons, he injured his shoulder and transferred to Texas Tech to complete his degree.  He worked in Californian and Texas.  Also, he was active in the community and in his church.  He is survived by, among others, his wife of sixty-one years, Marty.  Click here for the obituary. 

Will Robin (Northwestern '10):
William Robin, a close family friend, is a regular contributor to the New York Times.  On Friday, the Times published his story about Nadia Boulanger entitled “She Was Music’s Greatest Teacher. And Much More”.

August 1, 2021

Jim Stetter (1929-2021):
On July 16, Jim Stetter passed away.  A native Californian, he earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering “with distinction” from Rice in 1950.  After military service in the Korean War, he married BJ Caldwell in 1954 and they raised two children, Karen and John.  He enjoyed working for Cameron Iron Works and Standard Manufacturing Company until his retirement in 1991.  Also, he was active in the community and in the church.  He is predeceased by, among others, BJ (she passed away in 2011).  Click here for the obituary.

July 21, 2021

Shannon Tompkins:
The Chronicle’s Shannon Tompkins, who earned a master’s in public policy from Rice, was honored by the Texas Wildlife Association for lifetime achievement.  Read more

Lee Mary Kobayashi (1929-2021):
On July 10, Lee Mary Kobayashi passed away.  A native Texan, she earned a BA from Rice in 1950 and a Master’s in Library Science and a PhD (ABD) in Children’s Literature.  She “worked as a school teacher, medical research librarian and school librarian sharing her love of learning with everyone she met”.  Also, she was an active Rice alumna as a charter member and former president of the Rice Historical Society and a very involved member of the Faculty Women’s Club.

In 1951, she was married to Wally Lovejoy ‘50.  After his unexpected passing in 1970, she married Riki Kobayashi ’44, the long-time distinguished Chemical Engineering professor.  He predeceased her in 2013.  She “was a truly fine, wonderful person and will be mourned by many”. Click here for the Chronicle obituary.