News
Alumni Notes | January 2025
Obituaries
Priscilla (Swartwood) Bowman ‘56 (Music Education)
BOWMAN, Priscilla Dawn (Swartwood) - Of Salt Lake City, Utah, sadly passed on September 5, 2024. Pris, as she preferred to be called, was born March 28, 1934 in Allegheny, NY. She is survived by her son Brent (Wendy) Bowman (Salt Lake City, UT) and daughter Jill (David) Nocera (Rochester, NY). Preceded in death by her son Bryce (Anita) Bowman (September 30, 2011) and husband Harold (September, 24, 2012).
Pris was a lifetime lover of music, particularly Opera and Musicals. This led her to attend Roberts Wesleyan College, North Chili, New York. She was involved in various choral groups throughout her time at Roberts. She also met her future husband, Harold. She graduated with a B.A., later in life she would complete her Masters. After college, Pris and Harold were married.
Pris taught Kindergarten thru 12th grade throughout her career. 1963-1965 found Pris and Harold in Ogikubo (Tokyo), Japan where Harold was teaching Science at the American School in Japan. Both Brent and Bryce were born during this time in Japan. Upon return to the U.S.A., Pris and Harold settled in Greece, NY where Pris substitute taught and raised the boys. Jill was born during this time. The family of five moved many times during the subsequent years, landing in Canandaigua, NY where Pris retired from teaching. Pris and Harold then moved to Leesburg, Florida where she spent the next 26 years.
Pris was involved in creating a Barbershop Quartet and was active, both as a cast member and director, in plays, musicals and opera. There was also much travel around the world. Many winter weeks were spent in Utah skiing with Brent and Wendy. Eventually, Brent and Wendy would retire to Utah and in August of 2020, Pris joined them there, residing in an Assisted Living Community. Pris enjoyed The Wellington and all the activities it had to offer. She made many friends from far and wide during the four years in Utah.
Pris decided that there would be no ceremony of life or funeral. She will be remembered for her gift of Music and her laughter.
William Walker ‘22 (Masters of Divinity)
William Henry Walker William Henry Walker, 56, of the Town of Lee, passed away on December 19, 2024, at the Syracuse VA Medical Center following a brief illness. He was born on September 24, 1968, in Saginaw, Michigan, a son of Frank R. Walker II and Isabelle Hazard. Bill proudly served his country by enlisting in the United States Marine Corp, serving during the Persian Gulf War. He went on to continue his education at Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan University in Rochester N.Y. where he earned a Master of Divinity and was currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry. On July 22, 2017, Bill was united in marriage to Kirstin Flynn in a ceremony which took place at the Redeeming Love Fellowship Church of Stittville. Bill spent many years as a drug and alcohol counselor in Central NY, and as a security officer for G4S, but his life's calling was to become a Christian Pastor. Bill found the "place where he would retire" as the Pastor of the Oneida New Hope Christian Community Church in Oneida, N.Y. He was a member of the VFW 2338 of West Winfield, American Eagle Martial Arts of New Hartford, avid car & motorcycle collector, the Pastor of Camp Kingsley Boy Scout Camp, organizer of Oriskany's Lost Tradition Race from 2010-2015, and a volunteer at Rome Community Theater. Bill was proud of his military service and in his free time volunteered for the Disabled American Veterans driving fellow Veterans to appointments at the Syracuse VA Medical Center. He had a passion for serving others and would step up wherever he saw a need. Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Kirstin; son, Sully Walker; mother, Isabelle (Clifford) Atwater; stepmother, Alice Walker; stepson, Nicholas Impicciatore; stepdaughter and son-in-law, Lauren and Joey Trips; brother and sister-in-law, Frank and Elizabeth Walker; sister and brother-in-law, Dawn and Michael Letson; mother-in-law, Meredith Flynn; brother-in-law Charles Flynn; special uncle, George (Bonnie) Hazard; numerous step-siblings, aunts, cousins, nieces, and nephews; and his cat Monkey. He was predeceased by his father, Frank R. Walker II and father-in-law, Charles E. Flynn, Jr. Memorial contributions may be made to Oneida New Hope Christian Community Church 1904 West Road, Oneida, NY 13421, c/o Hearts and Hammers Program.
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Kathleen Rose (McCarthy) Hansen ‘84 (Fine Arts)
It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Kathleen Rose (McCarthy) Hansen. She passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of January 14, 2025, after a 6 month struggle with brain cancer. She was a great mother, teacher, and artist who loved to share her passion for art with others. We know she meant a great deal to many of you, as she did to us, and her life impacted many people. Thank you to everyone who visited, who wrote letters, sent us cards or flowers, or just passed along your thoughts and prayers. She knew she was very loved. In lieu of flowers, we encourage you to create your own art and share it with others, because Kathy wanted the world to be a more creative and loving place. In addition to creating something and sharing with somebody, if people feel compelled to give a monetary gift, we would like to direct them to organizations within their existing networks that help people create art. The family has requested the fellow RW alumni who feel so compelled could make a gift to the visual arts scholarship fund.
