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Alumni Notes | March 2023

Obituaries

Rowland “Rollie” A. Benedict ‘64 (History) Rowland A. Benedict, 82, of Red Cloud, Nebraska went to his heavenly home Sunday, December 25, 2022, at Mary Lanning Hospital in Hastings, Nebraska.

He was a giver in every sense of the word. A hard worker who never shied from helping others when asked or, often not, when nobody asked. He was a faithful servant of God as a pastor for well over 30 years, often in churches in need of rebuilding, and even in “retirement” he continued to minister in his local churches and to everyone around him. He was a GREAT man who didn’t even know it.

He gave his family life; he modeled God’s love; he showed us his own love every day. Dad never wavered from the right path. His line between right and wrong was very clear and he instilled that same wisdom in each of his children. All we ever needed from him was love, and we received that abundantly. The enduring love of his life was his wife, Marj., whom he was married to for 57 years. Everywhere they went their love was evident to all as they took long walks while holding hands. It didn’t take much to make them happy as all they ever needed was each other.

For many, losing a family member on or near a holiday can end up being a very sad thing. While there will always be a tinge of sadness, we believe that Christmas will continue to be a day of joy, the way it has been since we were kids. Dad went to meet Jesus on the day we celebrate His birth, and we will forever be joyful that Dad now shares a birthday with Jesus. We believe that is incredibly special. While our hearts are breaking, there is a balance in knowing Dad is singing  ith the angels and all who have gone before him.

Rowland was a preceded in death by his mother, Marjorie Evelyn (Mead) Benedict, and his father, Roland Orlando Benedict. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie (Brown) Benedict, his children, Scott (Katy) Benedict, Dan (Stacy) Benedict and Lisa (Rudy) Noetzelmann. He is also survived by his brothers Paul (Marie) Benedict, Stanley (Lorie) Benedict, Robert (Kathleen) Benedict, and his sister Beverly (Ron) Root, as well as 7 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

Michael Bozinovski ‘96 (Psychology) died 11-2-2022. From the day almost five years ago when he received his diagnosis of advanced cancer, Michael remained a fighter. His faith in God was strong and he was upbeat until the end. Michael was born in Rochester and graduated from Gates-Chili High School. In his youth, he was a gifted soccer player known as "The Boz." He had a wonderful singing voice and enjoyed karaoke. Most of all, Michael loved and cared for his son Daniel, spending time with him whenever possible. People meant the most to him and he was loved in return by many. Michael held a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Roberts Wesleyan College. He primarily worked in customer service and most recently was a call center manager. Michael was predeceased by parents Anna and Dusan and is survived by son Daniel, sister Sue (Mike), brother Nick, nephew Joe, nephew Nathan (Sydney), uncle Chris (Ann), cousins Brian, Kristy and Julie and their families, and by his best friend Jeff. Michael was buried on November 11th in Morgan Oaks Eternal Preserve in Lincoln California.

James “Jim” H. Hawthorne ‘59 (English) Born in 1938, Jim spent his first 10 years on northern Nebraska farms near the Niobrara River, followed by nine years in South Dakota. His education included home school and one-room country schools in Nebraska, a small town school at Lane, South Dakota (graduating class of seven), Wessington Springs Junior College (graduating class of 20), Roberts Wesleyan College (Rochester, New York--BA), and Northwestern University (Evanston, Illinois--MA).

Jim was blessed with a loving, Christ-following family. He married Patricia in 1958. Her music ministry has blessed thousands. Daughter Elizabeth (Tim Hunt) has one daughter, Sarah (Steven Hopkins), whose four children are Samuel, Abigail, Hannah, and Caleb. Daughter Karla (Les Ely) has one daughter, Krista (Patrick Hastings). Her children are Kaien, Moses, and Mira. Karla’s daughter Rachel will meet her twin sister Krista in heaven.

Serving in leadership roles in the Free Methodist Church was a priority for Jim. He and Pat helped plant a church in Waukegan, Illinois, beginning in 1963. He was Christian education director for the first 20 years.

A hands-on participant, Jim chaired six church building project committees, He wrote curriculum for Light and Life Press, served on the Light and Life magazine editorial board twice, and was a General Conference delegate six times, He had several committee roles for the Illinois-Wisconsin Conference.

Jim’s career spanned 58 years in education. He taught high school English in Rochester, New York, for two years and in Waukegan, Illinois, 33 years including 22 years as department chair. After his first retirement, he served in teaching and administration at Morrison Academy in Taiwan for 10 years, including two years as superintendent. Next he served international Christian schools on accreditation teams and on other short term assignments in Cambodia, the Philippines, Haiti, Ecuador, Bolivia, China (six weeks) Colombia (two months), Papua New Guinea (two months), and Hope Africa University in Burundi. After moving to Washington in 2007, he volunteered in Elizabeth’s second grade classroom for eight years. In addition to the countries above, Jim and Pat traveled in Africa, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Southeast Asia.

Writing provided Jim with a variety of creative outlets. He wrote monthly newsletters for eight years as conference Sunday School promoter, three years for the curriculum director in Waukegan, and six years as chair of the Village Commons condo board in Stanwood, Washington.. He authored articles published in five magazines. He wrote two devotional books, Please Pass the Pickled Duck’s Feet and Goat’s Head with Dog Meat, using Asian travel anecdotes as a springboard for family meditation. His play, The Return of Screwtape, was produced at Wesley Church, and a novel, Missing Hope, was e-published on Amazon. Travelogues, poems, and fables occupied his later focus.

His memoirs, Blessings! 1938-2020 and Counting, contain 160 stories detailing polio, fires, farm and factory work, college life, career and travel adventures, and spiritual reflections. It is in the Warm Beach Senior Community library.

Jim enjoyed pies, puzzles, puns, pineapple on pizza, and poetry, but Parkinson’s and politics--not so much. His life verse was I Chronicles 28:20. “Be strong and get to work. Don’t be frightened by the size of the task for my God is with you; He will not forsake you. He will see to it that everything is finished correctly.”

Arthur “Art” C. Prouty ‘69 (Comprehensive Social Studies) Arthur Cleaves Prouty, of Spring Arbor, Michigan, passed away, on Friday, March 17, 2023, at Mission Point in Jackson, Michigan. He was born on January 28, 1931, in Belleville, New York, the son of Clyde Edgar and Laura Sarah (Williams) Prouty.

He is survived by his wife, Martha “Jenelle” Prouty; two sons, Nathan (Kathy) Prouty of Virginia and Phillip (Marge) Prouty of New York; four step-sons, Randy (Diana) Mason of Indiana, Don Mason of Spring Arbor, MI, Terry (Robbie) Mason of Israel and Gary (Jill) Mason of Spring Arbor, MI; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; one brother, Dick (Linda) Prouty of New York; one sister, Edith Duncan of Ohio and several nieces and nephews and many friends. He was preceded in passing by his parents; his first wife, Edna Prouty and one brother, Paul Prouty.

Mr. Prouty was a member of Pearce Memorial Church in North Chili, New York and he was an Ordained Minister through the Free Methodist Church.

Clarke S. Teal ‘64 (Mathematics) Attended by loving family on Sunday, February 19, 2023, at Queensway Long-term Care and Retirement Community ( Hensall, Ontario ), Clarke Teal went to be with Jesus, at the age of 83 years. Beloved husband of Anne Teal ( nee Silver ); Loving father of Shelley ( Ron ) McLeod, Carson Teal, and Rhonda Teal ( predeceased in 1988 ); Treasured grandfather of McKenna ( Tanner ) Martin, Miller McLeod and Coleman, Walker and Oakley Teal; Dear brother of Grant Teal ( predeceased by Lois and Esther ); Cherished brother-in-law of predeceased Bill Silver ( Aida ), predeceased Eric Silver, Lottie Bell ( Doug – predeceased ), Walter Silver ( Cheryl ), Dale Silver ( Paula ) and Earl Silver ( Linda ); Loved by many nieces and nephews; Predeceased by his parents Rev. Wilbur and Sylvia Teal.

Clarke was a committed Christ follower, first and foremost, always endeavouring to allow this commitment to permeate everything he undertook. He grew up a ‘preacher’s kid’, living in various towns and cities in Southwestern Ontario, where his Dad pastored. He attended Lorne Park College, Robert’s Wesleyan College and the University of Western Ontario, obtaining a degree and specialty certificates to teach highschool Mathematics, teaching 33 years at Goderich District Collegiate Institute, most of which he served as Mathematics Department Head. He was very invested in teaching and the school community, but he was also very active in the Goderich Free Methodist Church ( and other local churches after that ), as well as leadership roles at the Conference level. Some of his joys included: designing and building homes, fishing, tennis, family water sports, harmonizing hymns and high-level chess. In retirement, he did not slow down. He and Anne took their teaching and nursing skills to Papua New Guinea and Thailand, volunteering with New Tribes Missions for 3.5 years. After treatment for prostate cancer, he designed and constructed ( with one other man ) an ‘architecturally interesting’ home, living there for a relatively short time. Retirement years also included time spent with grandkids, world travel, vision-casting at Maple Grove Christian Retreat Centre and hosting home Bible study. Even once disease limited his abilities, he never lost his desire to serve and witness for Jesus.

The family would like to express our appreciation for the compassionate, loving care he received at Queensway in the final months of his disability.

Promotions

Beth Swanger Malone ‘07 (Organizational Management) is now the Sr. Pastor at Geneseo United Methodist Church. 

Special Recognitions

Congratulations to Jennifer L. Boutte ‘15 (Organizational Management), Tammy Butler-Phelps ‘04 (Management) and Ryann E. Guglielmo ‘20 (Strategic Marketing, M.S.) on receiving the 2023 Women of Excellence Award by the Rochester Business Journal. Read more about them here.

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