Deceased June 29, 2011

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In Memory

My cousin Brad and I entered Amherst in September 1951. Although he did very well academically and made some good friends, he decided he wanted to attend a co-ed college. He transferred his sophomore year to Oberlin, where he continued to excel academically and where he met his wife of 54 years, Fran.

Brad received his Ph.D. in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was a longtime member of the political science department at Tufts University. His particular interests were political socialization and urban politics. He was highly successful in melding theory and practice by offering students experiential opportunities, including internships for credit that attracted some 600 students over the years. Many of his students felt that these experiences were the highlight of their college years.

Brad retired from Tufts in 1996. Fran and he continued to be active members of the Newton, Mass., community in a variety of good causes. They also traveled extensively in this country and abroad, and over the years, they hosted some 200 foreign students in their home. Brad had a love of music and was a tenor in several local choral groups. Brad and Fran raised four children, who themselves lead active, useful lives: Laura, an elementary school teacher in Seattle; Cathy, a women’s center counselor in Mequon, Wis.; Ted, a skilled carpenter in Framingham, Mass.; and Ken, a water resources expert in Tucson, Ariz. Their love and respect for their father was very evident in their active participation in his memorial service.

Although Brad was with us at Amherst for only one year, he was always interested in news of the college and his former classmates. He attended at least two reunions, the last one our 50th.He was a good man in every way.

Van Seasholes ’55