Obituaries: Spring 2025

John H. Kennedy ’53 Th’54 of Mystic, Conn., died October 25, 2024. He earned his AB and master’s in mechanical engineering and then served four years in the U.S. Navy and an additional 18 years in the Naval Reserve, retiring in 1978 with the rank of commander. He continued to serve Thayer School as treasurer of the Dartmouth Society of Engineers for more than 30 years and as class and club officer and fundraiser. Kennedy’s civilian work experience started at Electric Boat in research & development. He formed Hovermarine Corp. with two colleagues, and in 1975 joined Yardney Electric Corp. He retired from there in 1990 and formed consulting firm Kennedy Technical Services, with primary activities funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities Program. He is survived by wife Barbara, children John ’86 and Linda and their spouses, and two grandchildren. 

Roland B. Leavens ’53 Tu’54 Th’54 of Selah, Wash., died August 31, 2024. At Dartmouth, he pursued his bachelor’s and master’s in engineering as well as an MBA from Tuck. He began his career at Diamond Fruit Growers, where he pioneered industry packaging changes and received the 1971 Outstanding Packing Man of Year Award from the Produce Marketing Association. In 1976, he became general manager of SnoKist Growers Inc. for eight years, then went to work for Food Plant Engineering. During his professional years, he was an innovator who led the development and installation of automated fruit handling and shipping systems, which initiated worldwide change in the industry. He received patents on a new packaging system and a process for preserving the color of fresh apple slices. He holds a patent for a banana packing process that he devised. He is survived by his wife, Doris, and seven children. 

Louis J. Bloomfield ’58 Tu’59 Th’59 died June 2, 2024. He grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, and lived most of his life in the Cleveland suburbs. “Finny” (his Dartmouth nickname) was in the Tuck-Thayer five-year program and was a member of Pi Lambda Phi. After graduation, his first job was in the family business—dress manufacturing— which went out of business in 1960. He then worked for a pension-consulting firm doing actuarial work and pension administration. At night, he studied law at Cleveland State University and was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1965. Also that year, he started a 31-year career at Progressive Insurance. In retirement, he and his wife, Jean, traveled extensively and enjoyed many Cleveland Orchestra concerts. He is survived by Jean, brother John ’56, three children, including Tom ’88, and five grandchildren. 

Charles “Corky” W. Spehrley Jr. ’66 Th’67 Th’70 of Key Colony Beach, Fla., died on September 24, 2024. At Dartmouth, he was social chairman of Sigma Nu Delta, earning his AB and then BE and master’s in mechanical and electrical engineering. He joined Creare Inc. in Hanover while in grad school and continued with the engineering consulting firm upon graduation. A prolific inventor with numerous patents, he contributed to the invention of facsimile technology, patented the first ink jet printer head, and designed a mechanical heart valve, among many other breakthrough technologies. In the 1980s, he co-founded Spectra Inc. in Etna, N.H., retiring from there in 1999 and beginning a successful consulting business. He is survived by daughters Kimberly and Kristen. 

Ned Foster Dripps ’72 Th’73 of Woodbury, Minn., passed away on October 31, 2024. At Dartmouth, he was active in Alpha Delta and men’s skiing. Dripps earned his AB and BE and embarked on a lengthy and successful career in construction engineering with McGough Construction Co. His work in this field showcased his dedication, expertise, and passion for engineering and analytical thinking. Later in life, he worked at Target, where he enjoyed assembling bikes for children and teaching tool skills to those younger than himself. Beyond his professional life, Ned was an avid sports enthusiast. He enjoyed skiing, fishing, golf, and bowling. A devoted Patriots fan, he also had a keen interest in college football and high school and college hockey. Ned enjoyed spending time with his family. He is survived by his wife, Kate; children Jennifer and Garrett and their spouses; Kate’s children Jill and Sam; siblings Jim, Ellen, and Carol; and 10 grandchildren. 

Ihab L. Saad ’86 Th’87 of Virginia Beach, Va., died on August 8, 2024, of complications from Type 2 diabetes. Originally from Cairo, Egypt, he moved to the United States and attended Huntington (New York) High School. At Dartmouth, he competed in men’s soccer, track and field, and cross country; participated in the French language study abroad program; and earned his AB in engineering sciences and then a BE and master’s at Thayer. He went on to earn his MBA in 1991 and a master’s in international affairs in 1995 from Columbia University, then founded and served as president of Expert Logic Systems Inc. of Huntington, Fla., a cloud-based firm that harnessed “shopper bots.” His career also involved working as an assistant vice president at Union Bank of Switzerland, an associate at Booz Allen Hamilton, and a financial engineer at Mocatta Metals Corp. He is survived by sisters Irini and Iris.