Mr. Robert “Bob” Nichols ~ F-Faculty ~ 1978-2004

Bob Nichols ~ F-Faculty ~ 1978-2004

Departed ~ 2/28/04 ~ Cancer

 

 

Former ISB Economics teacher Bob Nichols

Bob Nichols Passed Away Feb. 28
By Betty Yugala

Former ISB Economics teacher Bob Nichols

It is with sadness that I pass on the news to you that Bob Nichols passed away Saturday, February 28, 2004, from a long, painful bout with cancer. He had been a colleague of mine at ISB, in the social studies department, for 25 years (August 1978 through June 2003). I shall miss his humor and wit, and when I look back upon those years, I realize that I learned much from him.

Should anyone wish to send any notes of condolence, you may send them to me and I shall pass them on to Bob’s partner K. Yuthapong. I’m sure it would be comforting to know how much he touched the lives of so many around the world.

Mom Bongkojpriya Yugala
Bangkok 10900, Thailand
beyugala at ksc.th dot com

Condolences may also be sent to: Khun Yuthapong Kittiwongpaibul
yuthapong.kittiwongpaibul at jwt dot com

Funeral services were held for Bob on Friday, March 8 from 8:30 a.m to 9:30 a.m. at St. Louis Church on Sathorn Road (next to St. Louis Hospital). Immediately following the church service, Bob’s friends attended the burial ceremony in Si Racha.

In honor of Robert Lee Nichols, who loved Thailand and dedicated his life to the education of children, donations to sponsor a Thai child’s education may be made in lieu of flowers. All contributions will be sent to the Human Development Foundation, a non-profit organization under the auspices of the Redemptorist Fathers Foundation of Thailand. Contributions may also be sent directly to the following address:

Sponsor-a-Child Program
Human Development Foundation
100/11 Kae-Ha Toey 4
Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Email: info at MercyCenter dot org


Tribute to former ISB Economics teacher Bob Nichols
By Freda B. Williams

Mr. Nichol’s Funeral

“Mr. Nichols will be missed by his students who had the greatest respect for him. He was an extraordinarily popular Economics teacher and MUN advisor, and Week Without Walls Sponsor to Golden Buddha Island. He was one of those rare geniuses who had a wicked sense of humor and who could spin a delightful tale. These admirable traits kept his students and his friends in awe, and often in “stitches” of laugher.”

Freda B. Williams
Former ISB English Department Chair and ISB Alumni and Activities Director

Robert Nichols passed away recently after a year and a half struggle with cancer. He was a teacher and friend of ISB for many years, from the late 1970s until 2003. His students, of course, called him Mr. Nichols, some called him Bob, some Nick, and a few Robert. He was my friend and colleague. I called him Mr. Nichols, and he called me, Miss Freda. Ours was a long and interesting friendship and I will miss him dearly. Mr. Nichols will be missed by his students, who had the greatest respect for him. He was an extraordinarily popular Economics teacher and MUN advisor, and Week Without Walls Sponsor to Golden Buddha Island. He was one of those rare geniuses who had a wicked sense of humor and who could spin a delightful tale. These admirable traits kept his students and his friends in awe, and often in “stitches” of laugher.

To be invited to Mr. Nichols’ home for dinner was enviable. And he was the ultimate host for these very formal affairs. He would often assemble some of his most promising International Banking (IB) Economic students, along with other faculty members. Dinner always began with assigned guests giving a toast to his Majesty, the King of Thailand, and to the President of the United States. One guest would always toast the host, then a 5-course dinner would follow. There would be talk of the economic state of the world, politics of Thailand. And always much laughter. If there were guests who were so inclined to entertain, there would also be music at the dinner table.

Serving on the ISB Salaries and Benefits Committee over the years, Mr. Nichols was greatly responsible for many of the fine benefits that ISB teachers enjoy today. As a favorite MUN advisor, he was well respected, not only by the MUN students, but also by the other advisors in the other IASAS schools in Southeast Asia.

Mr. Nichols spoke fluent Thai and had many friends in the Thai community, as well as in Thai politics and Thai society. One of my favorite Mr. Nichols’ “society” stories is the one he use to tell of falling asleep in his room and never making it for dinner during Elizabeth Taylor’s visit to one his mother’s political dinners in New Port.

Susan Dupree, who was also an MUN advisor and a member of the ISB history department, remembered Mr. Nichols in this email: “For me Bob was a man ofmany talents. He had an illustrious career and became well known for his IB knowledge for Economics. As a colleague and economics teacher, I truly enjoyed his guidance and insight about the discipline and his expertise when it came to picking stocks. As a friend, I had many fine evenings with him discussing politics as well as economics. We had some of the same interests, particularly when it came to politics. I truly enjoyed his story telling and was enthralled by his family history. Many balmy evenings were spent sipping Mekong under the stars on his roof-top balcony.”

Over the last year and a half that Mr. Nichols struggled with the cancer monster, he mentioned to me many times that what kept him alive was the love and support of his friends. He was so grateful for the fine professional care that he received from his Thai doctors and nurses, and the support that he received from his former students and so many friends.

Mr. Nichols hated being the center of attention and would be very unhappy with Miss Freda for writing this article about him for the alumni newsletter, but he had a forgiving heart, and I know that there are many alumni who will want to stop for a moment when they read this article, and think of their dear sweet Economics “Ahjon” with fondest memories and greatest affection.

Please send pictures (old and new), anecdotes, articles, stories and tributes to isbeings at gmail.com

Dominique “Nic” Minguet ~ Class of 1988

Dominique “Nic” Minguet ~ Class of 1988

Departed ~ 3/30/04 ~ Cancer

 

 

Dear ISB alumni,

It is a very sad day for me to inform those of you who don’t know already – Dominique Minguet succumbed to cancer at around 5:00 am Bangkok time on Tuesday March 30, 2004. He had fought valiantly for over three years to stave off colon cancer. In the end, he was at home surrounded by his parents and his sister when he bid this world farewell. Nic was a gregarious classmate of ours and a good friend. We will all miss him dearly. Catherine Minguet has asked that if you have any condolence messages for his family, please send an e-mail to: d_minguet at hotmail dot com She will be checking this e-mail and she thanks you for your moral support during this difficult time.

Thank you very much for your donations to treat his cancer and your concerns throughout.

Yours truly,

Benjamin Chiang

Please send pictures (old and new), anecdotes, articles, stories and tributes to isbeings at gmail.com

Mikell R. Bedenbaugh ~ Class of 1968

Mikell R. Bedenbaugh ~ Class of 1968

Departed 8/17/2004

Mikell was famous at ISB for throwing the discuss and being a great athlete.  He loved football and other sports.  He could throw the discus twice as far as any Thai competitor (or so it seemed).  The class of 70 should remember him as our football coach for the class rival games.  I will always remember him because I was sprinting a 100 yard dash during cross country training and without seeing us he had hurled the discus down field and it zinged right over my head, missing my skull by about two inches.  This surely would have been my demise if it had made contact.

Mike was an avid surfer and actually made surfboards professionally.  He has made surfboards for famous surfers including Ben Aipa. Mike died of a heart attack while surfing near his home in Little River, South Carolina. All the local surfers and others, did a ceremonial wake for him, honoring his life. His father is a career marine and was stationed in Pattaya in the late sixties.  Mike also lived near San Diego when he came back from Thailand.

I had been trying to find Mike ever since 1970 because I knew he was probably in California but when I did finally find his family, in 2006, his mom gave me the sad news.  I had a nice heart felt phone conversation with her about Mike and his life.

I wish Mike could have made it to a reunion because I know he would have really enjoyed seeing his old buddies.

MW Brougham 70

Please send pictures (old and new), anecdotes, articles, stories and tributes to isbeings at gmail.com

Gilbert M. Hair ~ Class of 1960

Gilbert M. Hair ~ Class of 1960

Departed ~ September  15, 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gilbert M. Hair passed away on September 15, 2004 at Miami Heart Institute in Miami Beach, Florida after a long fight against cancer. He was 63 years old. He is survived by his daughter Nicole Hair Vasbinder, his mother Jane MacMahon Hair Jantzen, his brothers Robert J. Janzten Jr. and Michael G. Jantzen, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mr. Hair was born in Manila, Philippine Islands on March 16, 1941. In early 1942 he and his mother were put into Japanese prison camp. His father, John MacGavin Hair, was a British subject and volunteered for the American Army. He was captured by the Japanese Army and eventually died aboard a Japanese POW “hell ship”. After Gil and his mother were liberated in 1945 his mother married Robert J. Jantzen and the family lived in Singapore and Thailand.

After serving in the Marine Corps he started his career in the airline industry, working for Pan American World Airways and Continental Airlines. He went on to become a stockbroker and investment banker before founding the Center For Internee Rights in 1991 where he fought for the rights of civilian prisoners of the Japanese during World War II. He was an alumnus of Mercersburg Academy, International School of Bangkok, American University and Pacific Western University and was active throughout his life in various civic and social organizations.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, September 25, 2004 at 4pm at the Church by the Sea in Bal Harbour, Florida. The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to American Ex-Prisoners of War.

Robert C. Jacobs ~ Class of 1959

Robert Jacobs ~ Class of 1959

Departed ~ 6/6/2004


Robert Jacobs, lSB Class of 1959 (he attended approximately 1956-1958) was shot dead in the garage of his residence in Riyadh on Tuesday, June 8th. The event was videotaped and run on a sympathetic website; portions were also shown on al-Jazeera TV, based in Quatar. The clip shows Bob being shot 10 times, then the motion of him being beheaded, although this has not been confirmed. Two or three men were involved, and one or two of them are said to be among those killed or apprehended by Saudi authorities over the last couple of days.

I was in Bob Jacobs’ class of ’59 at 1SB, and we got together a few times after we were both back in the Washington, DC area in 1959-60. I spoke with him in about 1997 by phone at his home in Murphysboro, IL and found that he was planning to leave soon for work in Saudi Arabia. I called his home in 2000 to let him know about the Williamsburg, VA reunion, and reached one of his sons who informed me that he was in Saudia Arabia.


I am enclosing some material from the internet that may be of interest.


Best regards,

Bill Brink ISB ’59

Dear ISB Friends:

A death is always saddening to report. This death is particularly so, as this one-time ISB student was gunned down and apparently beheaded by Muslim extremists in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.


The Southern Illinoisan – MURPHYSBORO MAN KILLED IN SAUDI ARABIA

Continue reading “Robert C. Jacobs ~ Class of 1959”

Jeffrey “Jebre'” Lewis ~ Class of 1971

Jeff “Jebre'” Lewis ~ Class of 1971

Departed ~ 04/19/2004 ~ Complications related to a medical procedure

Obituary

Entered into eternal rest, April 19, 2004, Jeff Lewis, 50, beloved husband of Jane E. Anderson Lewis of Branford, brother and brother-in-law of Mark and Jennifer Lewis of Shirley, MA, Eric Lewis of Wallingford and Steve Lewis of Oakton, VA, uncle and Godfather of Josie Lewis of Oakton, VA, nephew of Reverend Richard and his wife, Margaret Wiborg, cousin of David and Chris Wiborg, Kim and Sue McIntyre and Robin Campbell and son-in-law of Betty Anderson of East Haven. Predeceased by his sister, Karen Lewis and a brother, Richard Lewis. Jeff was born in Little Falls, NY, Sept. 28, 1953 a son of the late Philip and Phyllis Wiborg Lewis. He graduated from the International School of Bangkok, Thailand in 1971 and Ohio Wesleyan University in 1975. Memorial service at BEECHER & BENNETT, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden, Sat., April 24 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Rd., Bethesda, MD 20814 or to National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 705 N. Mountain Rd., Newington, CT 06111.

Tribute to a Friend

by: David Wilkerson

I just arrived home from Branford, CT., where I attended Jeff “Kuhn Jebree” Lewis’s Memorial Service. There were five of us from Jeff’s extended ISB family in attendance, Bob Athearn, Mark Brandes, Diane Curtis-Bull, Deb Twing-Thomson and myself. It was of course a celebration of life but nonetheless a sad time as well.

Branford is a beautiful town just outside of New Heaven and the weather could not have been nicer. The flowers and trees were in full bloom, and the sun was shining with the temperature in the upper 60’s; it was a glorious day to pay tribute to our dearly departed friend.

Jeff had struggled with health problems over the past five years or so, but the unexpected and sudden departure last Monday afternoon came as shock to us all.

We met many of his local friends and of course his entire immediate family. In interacting with them we were able to share much of what we knew of Jeff and they with us. By all accounts he was loved by many and in talking with his closest friend and college roommate John Kingsbury, I learned that Jeff had talked of his ISB friends and experiences many times. In fact John said, “Dave I’ve heard all of your names so many, many times over the years. The stories of Thailand and ISB used to amaze me. Those first years in college, Jeff would go on and on with the stories of Thailand and ISB. I thought he would never stop and believe me he never did.”

His brothers, Mark, Eric and Steve said, “When Jeff found out about the ISB Network and attended his first reunion, he came home bouncing off of the walls. He just went on and on about the reunion and the people he saw there. Jeff was always excited about the prospects of every reunion. We never could fully understand his feelings but now after seeing you guys come all the way up here to honor him, meeting and talking with you, we think we now understand his strong connection with all of you.”

I think we all found comfort in Jeff’s uncle, Richard “Uncle Dick” Wiberg, a retired minister, whose stories of Jeff’s life mixed with the words of his faith were refreshingly appropriate.

His niece, Josie Lewis spoke of her love for her Uncle Jeff, revealing his love for children and the patience and limitless time he gave to them all. Josie’s words were those of someone far beyond her years.

His youngest cousin, David Wiberg, portrayed the yearly gatherings at the family cottage in New Hampshire. Jeff was the one who taught them all how to water ski and David took pride in being the last of the cousins that was taught to ski by Jeff. His words painted a very clear picture of who Jeff was.

As per Jeff’s wishes he was cremated and the family has asked that donations be sent to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society-Greater CT. Chapter, 705 North Mountain Road, Suite G102, Newington, CT. 06111-1411.

His brothers, Mark, Eric and Steve; and his wife Jane, are all planning to attend the St. Petersburg reunion. We plan to toast his life at 12:00 Midnight on Friday, August 13th. I think it only appropriate that we do so on the beach, with bare feet in the sand.

There were many, many stories and anecdotes that were both funny and sad but unlike last week, the raining in my heart has slowed and the sun has begun to peek through the clouds.

To his sweet wife Jane, Jeff was blessed to have you and I feel very fortunate to call you my friend.

I hope all of you that were close to Jeff will find comfort in knowing that he loved his ISB friends and family but has gone on to greater rewards.

Until we meet again, Sawaddi old friend.

Pete Charpentier

pcharpe88 at gmail dot com
Nov 3, 2020, 11:51 AM

I’d been trying for years to find Jeff on the Internet, and was greatly saddened to learn he passed away in 2004. I came across an entry on the isbeings site, and so I thought I pass along a remembrance of Jeff. I worked with Jeff at the U.S. Forest Service during the 1970s. We both survived on temporary gigs with the Connecticut-based Northeastern Forest Experiment Station until we went our separate ways. It was a good time and place to be young, and I remember Jeff vividly. I recall him as intelligent, articulate, complex, rowdy and driven by an exceptionally strong moral center. He spoke often of his time in Bangkok. He was an incredibly precise driver with lightning reflexes, which – if I’m remembering this right – he attributed to having learned how to drive in Egypt. We were basically just kids but I knew he would become a good man. In those days his ambition was to become a writer, and that’s how I have always imagined him.

Not Forgotten

what do you do when you learn, there’s no tomorrow….you hold hands…..sing songs…….live life……till it’s gone…….but not forgotten

what you do when your sad……. and heavy laden, you reach deep……and beyond……give love….till your gone……. but not forgotten

those who went before…….why aren’t they remembered……..they held our hands……and sang a song…….they lived their lives…..but now they’re gone

not forgotten……..not forgotten

find your light and turn it on shine it down on everyone

find your light and turn it on shine it down on everyone

find your light………………….shine it down on everyone

Peter Frampton

Please send pictures (old and new), anecdotes, articles, stories and tributes to isbeings at gmail dot com