Deceased May 19, 2007

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In Memory

Worth Fauver died on May 19, 2007, in Cleveland, OH, as a result of complications following cardiovascular surgery.  He is survived by his wife, Holly; a son, Andrew; two daughters, Melissa and Laura; their respective spouses; five grandchildren; and a sister.

Worth (known to many as “Brub,” because his younger sister was unable to pronounce “brother”) was born April 30, 1935, in Elyria, OH, to Worth ’25 and Virginia Fauver.  All but six years of his life were spent in Elyria, where he attended public school before preparing for Amherst at Williston Academy in Easthampton, MA.

At Amherst, Brub majored in economics, participated in lacrosse and soccer, and joined Beta Theta Pi, which he served ably as co-rush chairman.  After graduation and a brief stint in the US Army and as a bank teller, he decided to follow both his father and grandfather into the practice of law.  Notwithstanding a prior conference with Dean Wilson, in which (as Brub notes in his contribution to our 50th Class book), “He politely advised me that I might do Amherst a favor by not applying to any graduate program.”  He applied to and was accepted at Western Reserve Univ. Law School, where he was an editor of the Law Review.  Afterwards, he practiced law for forty-two years.

As Brub’s co-rush chairman and senior year roommate, I have fond memories of an easygoing, fun loving friend who loved Amherst.  He and I drank an “occasional” beer and, fearful of dehydration, kept a quart conveniently refrigerated on our window during winter months.

In 1961, I asked Brub to be in my wedding.  He declined because his marriage to Holly Vandemark, his wonderful wife of forty-four years, was to take place on the same day.

There are warm recollections by classmates and others:

Joe McDonald: “I have a vivid image of him looking out from a tuft of blonde hair with a trace of a grin on his lips.”

Michael Schaenen and Bill Krupman: “He was fashionable, preppy, and cool—with signature white bucks.” 

Pete Kunz still pictures Brub “peering over his glasses with an impish grin.”  John Carpenter recalls Brub’s helping him lug his footlocker up three flights of stairs in James in the fall of ’54.  Marc Richman remembers a wonderful roommate freshman and sophomore years: “We had fun times together—part of the mystique of the Amherst we loved.”  Ken Kermes ’57 says he remembers “A quiet guy with a quick smile and great sense of humor.”  Glenn Dorr recalls, “I talked with Worth the day before he went in for a procedure.  He seemed happy and strong.  The biggest thing I remember was that he loved the tradition of three, maybe four, generations of Fauvers living in and around Elyria, OH, and the fact that all of his children lived there or nearby . . .”

This Norman Rockwell picture accurately portrays the man.  Family and community were the most important things in his life, and it showed.  His optimism, humor, and courage enabled him to pursue a successful law career, contribute to his community, help Holly raise three children, and endear him to five grandchildren, all while battling cardiovascular disease for twenty-five years.  He passed on his love of nature and nature photography (which he embraced as a hobby when health curtailed tennis and golf) to his grandchildren.  An exhibit of his photos was displayed at the visitation.  His two oldest grandchildren asked that favorite seashells they had found with Granddad be buried with him.  They were.

Brub’s son, Andy, mentions his father’s “penchant for parties.”  Holly agrees he was a “bit of a party boy” but adds, “He never wished to be the center of attention.”  A central theme preached at Brub’s funeral service was that he possessed all the qualities of a gentleman.  My recollections precisely!

After losing contact for years, Carol and I reconnected with the Fauvers about three years ago and visited several times each winter in Florida.  I especially cherish our last visit—an art show and lunch (with a few beers) this past March.  We talked of our 50th, which he was enthusiastically planning to attend.  Worth will be sorely missed.

Walter Diggs ’58