March 2002

Obituaries

Martin Buchanan

Martin Buchanan, an overseer and chair of the Whitman College farm committee, died December 6, 2001, in Walla Walla. Buchanan was co-owner with his wife, Janet, of Buchanan & Sons farms.

A member of Whitman's farm committee since 1978, he had served as its chair since 1992. His "knowledge of all aspects of farming, his leadership, and his dedication of time and effort were vital to the outstanding success of Whitman's farm program," noted Pete Reid, '49. In 1998 Buchanan received the Alumni Association Gordon Scribner Award for Distinguished Service.

Buchanan served on county, Oregon state, and federal boards and advisory committees. He was director of the Walla Walla Grain Growers cooperative for 28 years. Oregon honored him in 1993 for his work on behalf of the wheat industry, and in 1995 he was named Oregon State Agriculturist of the Year.

He is survived by his wife, Janet, sons Bob, Craig, and Jim Buchanan, '74, and daughter Patty Burnet. Remembrances may be sent to the Martin Buchanan Memorial Fund at Whitman College.

Nancy Wynstra, '63

Nancy Wynstra, '63, an overseer of the College, died of cancer January 18, 2002, in Pittsburgh. She was 60.

Wynstra earned a law degree at Columbia University and in 1966 began her career in Washington, D.C., in the U.S. Department of Justice. She was chief counsel for Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago before joining the Allegheny Health, Education and Research Foundation in 1983. She was general counsel and executive vice president of the company.

Involved in issues of health law and health ethics on a local, national, and international level, Wynstra served as president of the National Association of Healthcare Lawyers/American Academy of Health-care Attorneys. She presented papers at international conferences, published many journal articles, and served on task forces working on healthcare restructuring in Nicaragua and Haiti.

In addition, Wynstra taught at the Medical College of Pennsylvania as assistant professor of community and preventive medicine.

Survivors include her niece Cheryl Wynstra, '82. Remembrances may be sent to the Nancy Wynstra Memorial Fund at Whitman College.

Hattie Gordon Fry, '26

Hattie "Jerry" Gordon Fry, '26, an overseer emeritus of the College, died January 20, 2002, in Walla Walla. She received the Alumni Association Award of Merit in 1969.

A Phi Beta Kappa scholar and member of Delta Gamma sorority at Whitman, Fry earned a master's degree and a Ph.D. in classics at the University of California, Berkeley. She moved to Hawaii in 1931 to teach at the Punahou School.

In 1934 she married former classmate Kenneth Fry, a physician. The couple led numerous alumni and fundraising projects at Whitman, and in 1987, they received the Gordon Scribner Award for Distinguished Service. Hattie was cited especially for her work as a sorority adviser, class representative for eight years, and chair of committees.

Survivors include a brother, Frank Gordon. A memorial service will be held on the Whitman College campus May 25 in Hunter Conservatory's Kimball Theatre. Remembrances may be sent to the Hattie Fry Memorial Fund at Whitman College.