with bullet holes. Bill was survived by his wife of thirty
five years, Elizabeth “Betsy” White, who was both his
life and law partner. In addition, Bill was survived by six
children and four grandchildren.
Ernest T. Smith III, ’81, known to his friends as “Skip”
and his daughter’s boyfriends as “Mr. Smith,” passed away
peacefully on May 27, 2020 at the age of eighty-seven.
Skip attended the University of New Hampshire ever so
briefly. His early college semesters were really more about
skiing than studying, which lead him to abruptly join the
Navy. While in the Navy, he served as a Pilot on the USS
Bennington. After the Navy, Skip attended Middlebury
College and Boston College of Law. In 1962 he and his
family moved to Concord, NH where he began his career
as a trial attorney, balanced with family camping trips to
Cape Cod, ski trips EVERY weekend during the winter
and spring months, and sailing off the coasts of Maine
and Cape Cod. Surviving Skip was his daughter and son
and two grandsons.
Laurence F. Sovik, ’81, died January 1, 2018 at the age
of eighty-five. Fritz went to Notre Dame and practiced in
Syracuse. His partners described him as “An avid reader
and true Renaissance man, who loved history and Shakespeare;
he loved sports, poetry and the theatre.”
Robert Wallis Spangler, ’76, who was born and worked
on the family ranch and farm his entire eighty-seven years,
died February 11, 2015. Bob took time off from the farm
to serve in the U.S. Navy during World War II, to earn his
A.B. from the University of Illinois in 1947 and his L.L.B.
from the University of Missouri in 1949, and to practice
law for fifty-five years. Bob was survived by his wife of over
fifty-six years, Elizabeth Childs Spangler, and their son,
two children from a previous marriage, three grandchildren
and one great-grandchild.
Jacob K. Stein, ’73, completed his undergraduate degree
at University of Chicago in 1950. After considering art
school he went to law school, receiving his degree from
the University of Cincinnati in 1953. Jacob passed on
November 3, 2019 at the age of eighty-eight. After law
school, Jacob served in the U.S. Army as a JAG officer. Jacob
met and married his first wife, Iris Gershuny, in 1953;
they had two children. Iris was diagnosed with cancer and
passed away in 1965. He married Mary Magrish in 1966
and they had two children. Jacob was a collector of many
things, such as antiques, jewelry and rugs. His collection
of ancient coins and Asian art were displayed at the Cincinnati
Art Museum. Jacob was a lecturer at University of
Cincinnati, Chairman of the Jewish Welfare Fund, and a
Trustee of the Cincinnati Jewish Hospital.
Walter Love Stratton, ’76, age ninety-three, died on
March 1, 2020. Walter attended Williams College for
one term and Yale for three before joining the United
States Navy in January 1945. After the war, he returned
to Yale, graduating in 1948. Walter graduated from
Harvard Law School in 1951. Walter was a trial lawyer
in New York City, first as an Assistant U.S. Attorney
and later as a partner in a series of law firms. Walter
enjoyed horseback riding, polo, skiing, and sailing. He
served on the Executive Committee of the Greenwich
Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Walter was predeceased
by a son but survived by his wife, DeAnna,
three children and seven grandchildren.
Editor’s Note: USS Bennington (CV/CVA/CVS-
20) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier in service from
1944 to 1946 and from 1952 to 1970. She was sold for
scrap in 1994. Essex-class carriers were the backbone
of the U.S. Navy’s combat strength during World War
II from mid-1943 on, and, along with the three Midway
class carriers added just after the war, continued
to be the heart of U.S. naval strength until supercarriers
came into the fleet in numbers during the 1960s
and 1970s.
81 JOURNAL