The Memorial Wall

Bernice Glazer Rosenthal, Ph.D., a professor emeritus of history and trailblazer for women in academia, died at her home in Manhattan on June 1. She was 86, and the cause of death was complications from Parkinson’s disease.

An expert on Russia and the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, Rosenthal published numerous books and articles, including New Myth, New World: From Nietzsche to Stalinism (Penn State U. Press, 2002)—seen as an authoritative study of Nietzsche’s influence in Russia. Her work was cited repeatedly by scholars around the globe.

She joined the faculty of Fordham in 1970 and taught undergraduate and graduate students for 45 years. In 1990, she became the first woman promoted to full professor in the history department. 

In 2010, at a ceremony where she was honored for 40 years of service at Fordham, Rosenthal was lauded for having “earned a place in the star-studded pantheon of European historians.” 

Maryanne Kowaleski, Ph.D., the Joseph Fitzpatrick S.J. Distinguished Professor Emerita of History and Medieval Studies at Fordham, said that when she arrived on campus in 1982, Rosenthal was part of a faculty group called Women at Rose Hill that advocated for issues such as fair pay.

“It was a huge influence during my first years, not only because it allowed me to meet many of the other female faculty at the University but also because of the supportive community it provided at the time,” she said.

She also taught courses focused on Tsarist and 20th-century Russia, European intellectual history, and religion and revolution. Among students, Rosenthal was also known for her classes on the history of food, women in modern European history, and the occult. She was often sought after as an expert on the Soviet Union; she appeared on television a show on Ivan the Terrible for A&E’s Biography Series.

Her daughter Lara said some of her most vivid memories of her mother include her sitting in a black leather reclining chair with a book and a yellow notepad. When Lara was 8, her friends visited for a sleepover, and instead of playing games, she said, they tried to count how many books her mother had on the wall.  

“In high school, sometimes I would leave one of my books from English class or a history class on the coffee table, and when I came home from school, she would have read the whole thing, cover to cover in one day,” she said. 

“Her superhuman reading speed astounded and completely annoyed me, as I was just a mere mortal in my reading speed.”

Although Parkinson’s Disease took a toll on her mother, Lara said as her body got weaker, her spirit grew stronger, and they grew closer.

“Many years ago, Bernice said she wanted the words Eshet Chayil, which is Hebrew for ‘a woman of valor,’ on her headstone. At that time, I was annoyed at her and just said something along the lines of ‘Ok, fine,’” she said.

“These last few years, we were able to have some very honest and healing conversations that were not possible earlier in her life, and this meant the world to me. She has earned her Eshet Chayil and it will be on her headstone with my love and my blessing.”

Ray St. Germain — the Métis country music great and TV/radio host who was dubbed "Winnipeg's Elvis" — has died. He was 83.

After living with Parkinson's disease for several years, St. Germain died on June 25 at Deer Lodge Centre, surrounded by family and friends, as per his wife Glory's announcement posted to Facebook. 

"I was blessed to have 50 years with my amazing husband Ray St. Germain," Glory wrote. "Together, we spent our lives filled with music, love, and laughter with our five children." St. Germain is survived by those children, as well as his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Born in Winnipeg in 1940, St. Germain began performing as a rockabilly and country musician as a teenager. He would go on to share the stage with the likes of Johnny Cash and Kenny Rogers, as well as being inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010. 

The musician was also inducted into the Aboriginal Order of Canada in 1985, the Order of the Sash — Saskatoon and Prince Albert in 1986, and the Manitoba Aboriginal Music Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2013, he was inducted into the Order of Manitoba — the province's highest honour — and in 2018, he was presented with an honorary diploma by RRC Polytech (formerly known as Red River College).

St. Germain performed as recently as three weeks ago, performing a rendition of the Elvis Presley song "It's Now or Never" from his wheelchair at an honourary street renaming, which saw St. Michael Road (the street the artist grew up on) in Winnipeg's St. Vital neighbourhood renamed Big Sky Country Way after Big Sky Country, the nationally syndicated Global Television Network TV show St. Germain hosted for 13 years.

That was just one of over 600 TV hosting gigs he held over the years, in addition to serving as program manager with NCI-FM Radio, where he hosted the Métis Hour X2 program on Saturday mornings for 23 years.

Jon (no H) was born on January 18, 1940 in Utica NY. He and his family lived in Jamestown until 1948 when Jack moved the family to Lincoln NE. Jon went to Lincoln Public Schools and was on some of the first athletic teams for the newly opened Lincoln Southeast High School, lettering in football, swimming and golf.

Jon served three years with the Army. While stationed in Taiwan, he continued to work on his golf game. He arranged his shift as a Morse Code Intercept Operator so that there was time on the golf course.

Jon loved his work with Via Van Bloom. He developed many lasting family relationships with clients as he arranged their travel schedules. Jon was known for the Via Van Bloom scoreboard that was carried on the radio stations after football games. Jon loved building relationships with anyone he met. In fact, some referred to him as “Boom, Boom” or “No Socks” for his penchant for not wearing socks with shoes. Jon had a unique sense of fashion. He was always nattily dressed.

Jon had a love for travel, cars, and, oh, did we mention golf? He also loved the Nebraska Huskers. He helped many a team and athletic partners get to their destination for events. It was through his love for the Huskers that he met Joyanne. For 21 years they traveled to games, or sat in the stands to watch whichever sport was in season. The Husker connection even provided them with the venue for their marriage in 2003.

Jon brought three children with him to this union from his marriage to Ann Nordstrom. The parenting skills he and Ann shared became evident when Jon met Joyanne and the three welcomed her into the family.

As Jon’s Parkinson’s diseased progressed, Joyanne’s care was instrumental. She had a special way of reaching Jon that no one else did. They were fortunate to find The Harbor at Calvert and the specialized care The Harbor offered Jon in his final months.

Jon died on Sunday, June 23, 2024. Remember that Jon always had a smile. He was content. Parkinson’s took his voice but he still told stores, laughed and danced whenever possible. Live life, laugh, sing and dance Just like JVB. Jon was preceded in death by his parents, John (Jack) and Mary Frances Van Bloom, his sister Mary Elizabeth (Liz) Marshall and his brother-in- law Gene Budig.

Jon is survived by his loving wife, Joyanne, his children Amy, her family Ted, Charlie and Wesley Carlsen of Minneapolis MN, his son Brian and his family Amalia, Bastian, Poppy and Olive of Omaha, and his daughter Molly and her family Billy, Emmett and Lucy Duncan of Denver CO, his sister Gretchen Budig, and his brother-in-law Dick Marshall.

It’s with great sadness and deep gratitude that the Sanders family announces the passing of our beloved Page P. Sanders after a long, courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. Page died peacefully at home on June 21, 2024, with her devoted husband by her side. Page was a wonderful, generous, creative wife, mother, grandmother, friend and community member.Page was born in Washington, D.C., on August 10, 1943, but was raised in Short Hills, New Jersey by her parents, along with her four siblings.After graduating from Miss Porter’s School in Farmington Massachusetts, Page went on to receive her BS in Education from Wheelock College, Boston, in 1965. Post-college, she found a job in the San Jose California School District and thus moved to the West Coast to start her career. Two years later, she met the love of her life, Ferrell, whom she married. They had two sons and raised them in Palo Alto.Once her sons were launched, Page pursued her true passion, Garden Design. She established her own business designing residential gardens and earned her degree in Ornamental Horticulture from Foothill College. Her garden designs can be found in many homes on the peninsula as well as contributing to the All-Souls Memorial Garden at Palo Alto’s St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.Page enjoyed a wide range of interests and activities among them walks, hikes, alpine skiing, traveling, bird watching and gardening. Page was a very social person with a keen eye for decorating and an accomplished cook, she enjoyed spending time with her friends and family, plus hosting special events. She especially enjoyed celebrating Christmas with her family in the Lake Tahoe home and watching the sunset and fireworks on the 4th of July in Weekapaug RI.Page is survived by her husband, Ferrell, of 56 years, her son, grandchildren, siblings, nieces and nephews, plus countless friends and extended family members. She will be deeply missed, but her impact on our lives will be felt for generations.

Josue “Joe” Robles Jr., who served nearly three decades in the U.S. Army — rising to become a two-star general before assuming the top job at USAA — died Thursday, the company announced. He was 78.

Robles oversaw the largest period of growth in USAA’s history by opening eligibility to all who honorably served in the military and their family members. A focus on innovation during his tenure made the company an early mover in mobile banking technology, including the first to offer check deposits via mobile phone.

“With nearly three decades of service to the Army, which included multiple deployments and several distinguished honors, Joe knew what it meant to serve,” wrote USAA President and CEO Wayne Peacock in an email announcing his death to employees Thursday afternoon. “Joe’s experience as an enlisted soldier gave him unique insight into the needs of the military community and their families.”

The soft-spoken Robles was beloved by many employees for his low-key management style and gentle humor. He announced his retirement to a packed auditorium at USAA that now bears his name and will “stand as a reminder of his selfless service to our country and the impact he had on USAA and so many of us as individuals,” wrote Peacock.

“It’s not often that people loved their CEO, but people loved Joe,” said Eileen Collins, a retired NASA astronaut and Air Force colonel who served on USAA’s board of directors from 2008-2022.

No cause of death was given, but in 2019, Robles revealed that he had Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disease with no cure. According to a story from the San Antonio Express-News at the time, Robles told a gathering at Warm Springs Rehabilitation Hospital of San Antonio that he hadn’t been diagnosed until after his retirement, but suspected he’d had the condition for several years.

He went public with his diagnosis to help others, he said at the time.

“Joe touched a lot of lives and had many accomplishments” former San Antonio mayor Henry Cisneros said Friday. “He is so demonstrative of the American story,” from working with his father making bricks “to command of one of the most distinguished divisions of the United States Army as a general, then become the CEO of one of the most respected corporations in the United States. I doubt there’s another country on Earth where that could happen.”

Robles “was not only a great military man, organizing USAA, he also had a great love for the community,” said retired Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, who recalled that Robles’ predecessor came out against Wolff’s efforts to pass a bond that would fund improvements to the San Antonio River, the then-AT&T Center, amateur sports parks and the creation of what would become the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.

“And then when Robles came in, he supported it, put up $50,000 and and we passed all the four major issues,” Wolff said. “So I was very thankful that he came along.”

Mayor Ron Nirenberg posted on X Thursday that Robles “earned trust and reverence from those who knew him because he was a force for progress in all that he endeavored. From business to veteran affairs to education, he exemplified a life of selfless service, answering the call locally and nationally time and time again.”

After several overseas tours and a stint as commanding general of the 1st Infantry, also known as the “Big Red One,” Robles was ultimately promoted to major general and named budget director for the Army.

He began serving on USAA’s board of directors while on active duty, and began his career there in 1994 after retirement as special assistant to the chairman. Robles later became the banking and insurance giant’s chief financial officer and comptroller, then served as corporate treasurer and chief administration officer before becoming CEO in 2007. He retired in 2015.

Robles was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico in 1946, the eldest of nine children whose parents acquired only fourth- and ninth-grade educations. His family moved to Ohio when Robles was young so his father could work in a steel mill, which he did for the next 35 years.

“I knew I wanted enough education so that I could have choices,” he said in a biography by Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, which honored Robles in 2011. “I worked in the mill one summer, and I learned very quickly what a hot, dirty, dangerous place it is. I wore an asbestos suit and shoveled slag. Hot doesn’t describe that job. It made me want to go to school and get a good education so that I wouldn’t have to work there. I have always admired my father for doing it for so many years.”

He enrolled in community college after high school and took a job at a NASA nuclear plant, with plans to become a doctor. But when he dropped his classes to part time, “Uncle Sam got to me,” he said in an interview with Hispanic Executive in 2014.

Robles entered the Army as an enlisted soldier, but was placed into a program that put non-college graduates into Officer Training School. He later earned an undergraduate degree in accounting from Kent State University and an MBA from Indiana State University.

Over his 28 year military career, Robles served in command and staff positions in Korea, Vietnam and Germany, as well as the Pentagon.

Robles deployed the 1st Calvary Division from what is now Fort Cavazos for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, according to the Express-News. For his service, Robles received the Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.

During his time at USAA and after his retirement, Robles was a civically active member of the community. He served on the boards of directors of the San Antonio branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System and the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital Foundation, San Antonio’s Early Childhood Education Municipal Development Corporation and the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County.

He served as chairman of P16Plus Council of Greater Bexar County Foundation, was tapped to be a member of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs MyVA Advisory Committee and the Advisory Board of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Center for Latin American Law at the University of Texas. Robles served as co-chair of the Pre-K 4 SA initiative and on Gordon Hartman’s SOAR board, which oversees Morgan’s Wonderland.

Robles and his wife Patty had three children, Melissa, Andrew and Christopher.

Christopher, who has autism, “changed my life,” Robles said in the Horatio Alger biography. “He opened my eyes to people with special needs. He brings out the best in me and is the blessing of my life.”

In his email to employees Thursday, Peacock said Robles’ legacy “will continue to guide our great association as we strive to uphold the values he championed.”

Phil Hardberger, who served as mayor of San Antonio during Robles’ tenure as CEO, said Robles sat on an advisory committee of business leaders he used as a sounding board.

He called Robles one of the “most humble and personable generals I have ever met,” and said his story — “growing up poor and Hispanic, with a lot of odds against him” — is a story many San Antonians could understand and be proud of.

“I’m glad I knew him, and I’m glad he lived and worked in San Antonio.”