In Memoriam

Former Chancellor Richard Eakin, who led ECU from 1987 to 2001, died June 2, 2025. His 14 years at the helm of ECU were some of the school’s most productive: The student body grew by nearly a third, to 18,000 students, ECU’s research accomplishments were recognized in its Carnegie classification as a doctoral/research institution, and the School of Medicine was named after the Brody family, major benefactors to the university. Eakin also led the establishment of the EC Scholars Program, now the Brinkley-Lane Scholars Program, ECU’s most prestigious undergraduate scholarship. His administration oversaw the construction of the new Student Recreation Center, a major renovation of Joyner Library and the construction of the Sonic Plaza outside the library. In 2020, the recreation center was renamed the Richard R. and JoAnn M. Eakin Student Recreation Center. After stepping down as chancellor, Eakin served ECU as the founding dean of the Honors College.

Troy W. Pate Jr. ’58 of Goldsboro, N.C., died April 25, 2025. He was a former ECU trustee who chaired the board from 1975-1983. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and president of the Seymour Support Council in Goldsboro, a group that helped keep Seymour Johnson Air Force Base off the federal base closure list. He spent his career in banking, retiring in 1993 as chairman and CEO of East Coast Savings Bank. He was a 1982 Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award recipient and an ardent supporter of establishing a medical school at ECU.

Robert R. Sawyer ’59 ’60 of Greenville, N.C., died Aug. 17, 2025. In 1957 and 1959, Sawyer was the NAIA champion in the backstroke and was named an All-American in 1959. In 1961, Sawyer returned to Grimsley High School in his hometown of Greensboro, where his swimming teams won 16 consecutive conference championships and 15 straight state titles. He also coached track, cross country and junior varsity football. He was a charter member of the ECU Sports Hall of Fame, inducted in 1974, and he came up with the idea of the Educators Hall of Fame at ECU, saying teachers deserved the same recognition as athletes.

Alumni

1950s

  • Cecilia C. Austin ’54 ’84 of Elizabeth City, N.C., on July 8, 2025.
  • Clarence E. Brown ’56 of Yorktown, Va., on Aug. 21, 2025.
  • Edward L. Cavenaugh ’51 of Greenville, N.C., on June 23, 2025.
  • Letty B. Deloatch ’58 of Eagle River, Alaska, on July 17, 2025.
  • Nancy W. Lewis ’58 of Davis, N.C., on May 9, 2025.
  • Charlie C. Narron Jr. ’57 ’58 of Mars Hill, N.C., on May 16, 2025.
  • Patsy O’Leary ’59 of Greenville, N.C., on May 14, 2025.
  • Marvin Little ’56 of Greenville, N.C., on Aug. 11, 2025.
  • Josephine H. “Dee” Long ’58 ’77 of Farmville, Va., on Aug. 17, 2025.
  • Minnie T. Patton ’56 of Boise, Idaho, on Sept. 12, 2025.
  • Gene A. Russell ’54 of Nashville, Tenn., on May 26, 2025.
  • Barbara G. Simmons ’54 of Raleigh, N.C., on July 3, 2025.
  • Walter M. Swing ’59 of Fayetteville, N.C., on July 3, 2025.
  • Albert L. Vaughan ’59 of Kitty Hawk, N.C., on June 25, 2025.
  • Miriam Wall ’54 of Greensboro, N.C., on Aug. 23, 2025.
  • Evelyn T. Winfield ’56 of Kinston, N.C., on Sept. 14, 2025.

1960s

  • Elizabeth Bryant Allen ’64 of Greenville, N.C., on May 28, 2025.
  • William J. Baggett ’69 of Wrightsville Beach, N.C., on July 14, 2025.
  • Estelle F. Baker ’64 of Mount Olive, N.C., on May 15, 2025.
  • Patricia Bellar ’63 of Hickory, N.C., on July 14, 2025.
  • John O. Benson ’69 of Salvo, N.C., on Aug. 28, 2025.
  • Nora M. Bowman ’66 of Benson, N.C., on July 15, 2025.
  • Brenda L. Caldwell ’69 of Winterville, N.C., on May 26, 2025.
  • James H. Carter ’63 of Raleigh, N.C., on July 21, 2025.
  • Jacob M. Catoe ’66 of Fredericksburg, Va., on May 20, 2025.
  • Jean L. Cherry ’59 of Greenville, N.C., on Aug. 13, 2025.
  • Lauren K. Daddona ’67 of Collegeville, Pa., on July 1, 2025.
  • Tucker D. Daniel ’65 ’66 of Durham, N.C., on Sept. 16, 2025.
  • Robert G. Everhart Jr. of Swansboro, N.C., on Aug. 1, 2025.
  • W. Charles Paradee Jr. ’61 of Smyrna, Del., on Aug. 11, 2025.
  • Karen W. Dunn ’65 of Raleigh, N.C., on April 22, 2025.
  • Frank L. Eagles ’69 of Wilson, N.C., on Aug. 19, 2025.
  • Frank D. Freeman ’60 of Woodbridge, Va., on May 4, 2025.
  • Priscilla Jo Garner ’66 of Virginia Beach, Va., on May 3, 2025.
  • Horace T. Gill ’62 of Raleigh, N.C., on May 2, 2025.
  • Kim E. Griffin ’60 of Castalia, N.C., on May 20, 2025.
  • William T. Hall ’69 of Fayetteville, N.C., on Aug. 25, 2025.
  • William R. Hamilton Jr. ’67 of Beaufort, N.C., on May 12, 2025.
  • Alice O. Hattem ’63 ’66 ’68 of Williamston, N.C., on April 5, 2025.
  • Betty W. Hooks ’68 ’70 of Greenville, N.C., on Aug. 26, 2025.
  • Linda R. Howard ’61 of Seven Springs, N.C., on Aug. 21, 2025.
  • Walter E. Humphrey ’67 of Broad Creek, N.C., on Sept. 18, 2025.
  • Richard E. Jenkins Jr. ’64 of Onley, Va., on Aug. 18, 2025.
  • Lawrence Keen ’65 of Newark, Del., on Aug. 12, 2025.
  • Betty C. Kindt ’53 of Jefferson City, Tenn., on Dec. 17, 2024.
  • Carlton W. “Buddy” King III ’69 of New Castle, Del., on June 8, 2025.
  • John T. Lamb Jr. ’69 of Plymouth, N.C., on June 19, 2025.
  • Charles F. Lewis ’62 ’70 of Clinton, N.C., on April 27, 2025.
  • Judith E. Moore ’64 ’68 of Suffolk, Va., on July 20, 2025.
  • Carol Ann Nelson ’66 ’89 of Wilmington, N.C., on June 10, 2025.
  • Charlotte C. Peacock ’67 of Farmington, N.M., on April 16, 2025.
  • Sandra D. Peed ’67 of Raleigh, N.C., on June 12, 2025.
  • Diane P. Preddy ’66 of Stokesdale, N.C., on Sept. 7, 2025.
  • Ellen B. Schoettle ’65 of Edenton, N.C., on June 27, 2025.
  • Barbara M. Turner ’60 ’77 of Wilmington, N.C., on May 11, 2025.
  • Doris Wallace ’66 of Greenville, N.C., on Aug. 28, 2025.
  • Nell B. Wheeler ’64 of Wilson, N.C., on Aug. 10, 2025.
  • Shera T. Wheeler ’66 of Como, N.C., on May 24, 2025.
  • Earl C. Wilson ’67 of Macon, Ga., on June 14, 2025.

1970s

  • Richard D. Bennett ’78 of Rocky Mount, N.C., on June 22, 2025.
  • Thomas H. Bland ’71 ’99 of Burke, Va., on July 12, 2025.
  • James A. Bobbitt Jr. ’74 of Tarboro, N.C., on May 28, 2025.
  • John Borders Jr. ’76 of Sandusky, Ohio, on Sept. 16, 2025.
  • Sandra L. Brewer ’73 of Sumter, S.C., on April 17, 2025.
  • Judith T. Cheshire ’71 ’72 of Washington, N.C., on May 29, 2025.
  • Sharon Clayton ’72 of Greenville, N.C., on Aug. 9, 2025.
  • Rodger M. Cooke ’75 of Rio Verde, Ariz., on Aug. 30, 2025.
  • Michael Cooney ’71 of Cedar Point, N.C., on May 9, 2025.
  • Edward G. Dunn ’74 of Harlem, Ga., on July 26, 2025.
  • Martha T. Edwards ’75 of Southern Shores, N.C., on July 21, 2025.
  • James E. Farmer ’78 of Murfreesboro, N.C., on May 21, 2025.
  • Peggy K. Fowler ’70 of Kinston, N.C., on June 2, 2025.
  • Robert B. Gregory ’74 of Scotland Neck, N.C., on April 19, 2025.
  • David W. Hepler ’76 of Wallace, N.C., on Sept. 3, 2025.
  • Paula B. Hightower ’73 of Spring Hope, N.C., on July 7, 2025.
  • Jacqueline S. Hobbs ’70 of Hertford, N.C., on May 11, 2025.
  • Debra Hooper ’72 of Wilmington, N.C., on April 28, 2025.
  • Jacqueline S. Hobbs ’70 of Hertford, N.C., on May 15, 2025.
  • Cynthia D. Jones ’75 of Spindale, N.C., on June 14, 2025.
  • Kyung H. Kim ’72 of Clifton, Va., on May 11, 2025.
  • Marilyn W. Kimbro ’81 of Wilmington, N.C., on July 6, 2025.
  • Patricia H. Knowles ’70 of Maysville, N.C., on June 20, 2025.
  • Ray P. Koontz ’66 of High Point, N.C., on Sept. 15, 2025.
  • Willie D. “Dan” Kornegay III ’73 ’85 of Goldsboro, N.C., on July 23, 2025.
  • Donald L. Leggett ’75 of Evergreen, N.C., on April 29, 2025.
  • Marvin Medlin ’74 of Nags Head, N.C., on May 11, 2025.
  • David E. “Rick” Minshew ’79 of Williamston, N.C., on June 22, 2025.
  • Donald “Molly” Mollenhauer ’72 of Barhamsville, Va., on June 15, 2025.
  • Robert C. Moore ’73 of Greenville, N.C., on April 19, 2025.
  • Robert P. Robertas ’72 of Greenville, N.C., on Aug. 13, 2025.
  • Myra J. Robertson ’70 ’81 of Roanoke Rapids, N.C., on May 2, 2025.
  • Harry N. Russos ’74 ’76 of Raleigh, N.C., on June 26, 2025.
  • Anne D. Sanders ’71 of Elizabeth City, N.C., on May 25, 2025.
  • Belinda Scanlon ’73 of Watch Hill, R.I., on May 10, 2025.
  • Robert A. Schlick ’70 of Charlotte, N.C., on June 23, 2025.
  • Richard G. Sauls ’73 ’78 ’81 of Fremont, N.C., on June 7, 2025.
  • Ralph Donald Skinner ’73 ’77 ’80 of Greenville, N.C., on Aug. 19, 2025.
  • Charles B. Smith ’73 of Greenville, N.C., on Sept. 14, 2025.
  • William A. Strickland ’73 of Washington, N.C., on May 4, 2025.
  • Michael W. Sutton ’77 of Winterville, N.C., on June 12, 2025.
  • Donald A. Trausneck ’73 of Woodlawn, Va., on July 16, 2025.
  • Douglas Van Trexler ’71 of Gold Hill, N.C., on Aug. 6, 2025.
  • Mike VanLandingham ’73 ’74 of Williamston, N.C., on July 18, 2025.
  • James C. Walker ’70 of Washington, N.C., on Aug. 5, 2025.
  • Michael E. Wall ’76 of The Woodlands, Texas, on April 15, 2025.
  • George H. Whitaker ’77 of Sanford, N.C., on June 8, 2025.

1980s

  • Mary Lou Baker ’83 of Jacksonville, N.C., on Aug. 1, 2025.
  • Bill Beddingfield Jr. ’89 of Spring Hope, N.C., on June 21, 2025.
  • Laura A. Bixler ’89 of Scottsdale, Ariz., on May 21, 2025.
  • Martha B. Davis ’83 of Kingsport, Tenn., on July 2, 2025.
  • Dianna Rae Foreman ’82 of Dana, N.C., on June 29, 2025.
  • Betty W. Frazier ’78 ’81 of Wake Forest, N.C., on May 27, 2025.
  • Phyllis S. Hayes ’82 ’12 of Roanoke Rapids, N.C., on July 10, 2025.
  • Barry M. Hite ’89 of Midlothian, Va., on May 16, 2025.
  • Ed Hobby ’84 of Winterville, N.C., on Sept. 13, 2025.
  • Pamela D. Hollingsworth ’80 ’84 of Greenville, N.C., on Aug. 24, 2025.
  • John L. Hood ’86 of Charlotte, N.C., on April 25, 2025.
  • Patricia G. Johnson ’82 of Durham, N.C., on April 16, 2025.
  • Theodore S. Kaniuka ’81 ’86 ’97 of Leland, N.C., on July 26, 2025.
  • Russell Krainiak ’80 of Washington, N.C., on Sept. 12, 2025.
  • Thomas M. Lowery ’86 of Salisbury, N.C., on July 13, 2025.
  • Ernest Madison Jr. ’81 of Newport News, Va., on July 6, 2025.
  • Richard Milliken ’80 of Greensboro, N.C., on Sept. 16, 2025.
  • Maurice L. Peele Jr. of Spring Lake, N.C., on June 10, 2025.
  • Richard A. Sasser III ’87 of Kenly, N.C., on June 26, 2025.
  • Lorraine G. Shinn ’82 of Greenville, N.C., on May 23, 2025.
  • Mollie Stancil ’87 of Winterville, N.C., on July 10, 2025
  • Lauren M. Thompson ’83 of Carrollton, Va., on Aug. 7, 2025.
  • Diane Turnley ’86 of Georgetown, S.C., on July 23, 2025.
  • Peggy P. Waters ’85 of Washington, N.C., on June 5, 2025.
  • Jack Weathersby ’83 of Bethel, N.C., on Sept. 16, 2025.
  • Janet H. Whitfield ’81 of Mount Olive, N.C., on May 31, 2025.

1990s

  • Brad S. Alleman ’96 of Monroe, N.C., on May 10, 2025.
  • Melissa R. Burrell ’95 of Winterville, N.C., on May 24, 2025.
  • Louise R. Cox ’90 of Greenville, N.C., on April 28, 2025.
  • Michael E. Dupree ’91 of Burlington, N.C., on May 14, 2025.
  • Brian D. Fulton ’99 of Wilmington, N.C., on June 13, 2025.
  • Angela F. Hayes ’93 of Graham, N.C., on April 29, 2025.
  • Brent M. McIntyre ’98 of Wilmington, N.C., on June 3, 2025.
  • Steve Menninger ’94 of Washington, N.C., on May 27, 2025.
  • Thomas Overstreet ’94 of Greenville, N.C., on June 28, 2025.
  • J. West Paul Jr. ’92 ’92 of Winterville, N.C., on July 31, 2025.
  • Todd Rakotz ’96 of Vineland, N.J., on May 10, 2025.
  • Tammi C. Rushing ’95 of Bessemer City, N.C., on April 25, 2025.
  • Dale D. Sanders ’91 ’93 of Havelock, N.C., on June 10, 2025.
  • John Shirtz ’95 of Cary, N.C., on Sept. 12, 2025.
  • Sylvia J. Thomas ’92 of Charlotte, N.C., on Sept. 11, 2025.
  • Timothy C. Weaver ’97 of Jacksonville, N.C., on July 26, 2025.
  • Roger B. Wooten ’95 ’00 of Raleigh, N.C., on July 29, 2025.
  • Linda F. Worthington ’92 of Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Sept. 2, 2025.

2000s

  • Connie H. Deaver ’02 of Deep Run, N.C., on July 14, 2025.
  • David A. Howell ’08 of Wilson, N.C., on June 14, 2025.
  • Donnell G. Landen ’18 of Washington, N.C., on April 24, 2025.
  • Frederick S. Roberts ’08 of Elkton, Fla., on Aug. 28, 2025.
  • Natalie S. Shirley ’05 ’12 of Ayden, N.C., on April 27, 2025.
  • Jackie K. Taylor ’01 of Goldsboro, N.C., on Aug. 31, 2025.
  • Olin C. Wilkinson III ’07 ’08 ’15 of Winterville, N.C., on July 24, 2025.

2010s

April Massengill ’10 of Fayetteville, N.C., on May 11, 2025.

2020s

  • Justin D. Bossian ’24 of Apex, N.C. on May 18, 2025.
  • Paul J. Hayes ’20 of Reidsville, N.C., on June 28, 2025.
  • Chandon Hickerson ’20 of Vacherie, La., on April 28, 2025.
  • Jose S. Utia ’23 of Greenville, N.C., on July 20, 2025.

Faculty/Staff

  • George Bissinger (physics) of Greenville, N.C., on April 22, 2025.
  • Byron Burlingham (medicine) of Manhattan, Kan., on May 18, 2025
  • Henry Doskey Jr. (music) of Greenville, N.C., on May 11, 2025.
  • Shel Downes (rehabilitation counseling) of Burlington, N.C., on Aug. 28, 2025.
  • Doug Finestone (psychiatry) of Greenville, N.C., on Sept. 5, 2025.
  • Andie Harrelle (OSRR) of Greenville, N.C., on Aug. 8, 2025.
  • Danny Hines ’69 (accounting) of Greenville, N.C., on Aug. 22, 2025.
  • Jim Kleckley (business) of Greenville, N.C., on June 26, 2025.
  • Phyllis West (housekeeping) of Greenville, N.C., on Aug. 28, 2025.