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| In Memoriam |
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May 24 to July 20, 2023
Dottie Carpenter
Friend of the University of Saint Francis
Doctor of Humane Letters ’19
Dorothy Ann “Dottie,” 89, of Fort Wayne, died on June 9 at her home. She was born in Fort Wayne on June 26, 1933, to the late Edward J. and Ethel F. (Harbor) Sullivan. She attended Churubusco Elementary and Churubusco High School, graduating in 1951. Dottie was married to her sweetheart, Richard “Dick” Carpenter, at Ege Catholic Church on June 14, 1952. They raised five children, four foster children and touched the lives of many others.
Dottie was involved in school, community and church activities for many years. Upon moving to Fort Wayne, she pursued many interests. She was especially active in her faith and was a member of Saint Mary Mother of God Catholic Church for more than 50 years. She was involved in many ministries there, and her work with the underprivileged is well known throughout the city.
Dottie was recognized for her life of service with an honorary degree at the University of Saint Francis commencement ceremony in 2019.
She was active in Saint Mary’s Soup Kitchen, Saint Martin de Porres Ministries, Saint Vincent de Paul Society and Saint Mary’s Warehouse. She operated a clothing bank for Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church for 15 years. In 2008, Dottie founded and directed the Ave Maria House of Saint Mary Mother of God Parish, a daytime shelter for the homeless and those needing care and understanding.
She also volunteered at St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Muscular Dystrophy, Fort Wayne SPCA and Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control. Dottie had great love for her faith, family and friends. She will be missed by those who knew her. Her heart and spirit for life, faith, hope and love of others will impact many forever.
Dottie is survived by her children, Theresa Ann Teders, Erin Colleen Hazelett, Michael Edward Carpenter, Carma Marie (Charles) MacPherson and Patrick Joseph (Amy) Carpenter; three foster children, Thomasine Doherman, Christine (Derrick) Keener and Lynette Bohnstedt; many grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Richard; foster child Mary North Robison; brother Robert Sullivan; sister Mary Jane Oakes; grandson Richard Teders; and great-granddaughter Wynter Teders.
James Griffith
Friend of the University of Saint Francis
James, 102, of Fort Wayne, died May 13. He was born in Fort Wayne on April 11, 1921, the son of Lauren and Theresa Griffith. He was preceded in death by his brothers John, Larry, Neil, Donald and Thomas Griffith, and sisters Virginia Hannum and Sister Mary Richard Griffith.
James loved his siblings and his large extended family. He was an IU basketball and Notre Dame football fan. He had a great love of music, was an avid golfer and enjoyed summers at Lake Wawasee. Each Christmas, his Fort Wayne residence was home to family from across the nation and abroad who would arrive for a day of giving, reminiscing and laughter, a tradition spanning over 100 consecutive years. He loved vanilla ice cream and strawberry shortcake.
James attended St. Jude Catholic Grade School and Central Catholic High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan. While at Purdue, he was a member of the Men’s Glee Club, culminating with a performance at Carnegie Hall. He was a member of several local choirs including the Cathedral and Fort Wayne Philharmonic.
During World War II, he was inducted into the U.S. Army, serving in the 103rd Battalion, 7th Army in France and Germany. Upon his return home he re-entered the service, taking flight training school as a liaison pilot at Fort Sil, Oklahoma and Sheppard Field, Texas. James began his career as a mortgage banker with Colonial Mortgage Company and continued with Waterfield Mortgage as executive vice president until his retirement. He served as past president of the Indiana Mortgage Bankers Association and was on the board of the Housing and Neighborhood Development Association for the City of Fort Wayne.
Faith-filled, community conscious and deeply patriotic, James gave generously to many local and national philanthropic organizations. He co-sponsored the James, Tom and Doris Griffith Fund at the University of Saint Francis. James will be greatly missed by his nieces, nephews, great- and great-great-nieces and nephews and all who knew him. Special thanks to the staff at Saint Anne Home for their care and all those whose lives were touched by knowing “Uncle James.”
Nancy Delaney ’63
St. Joseph School of Nursing
Nancy, “Nan,” of Fort Wayne, was blessed with a beautiful, peaceful death surrounded by her family on July 10 at Parkview Regional Medical Center. Nan was born August 3, 1942, in Fort Wayne. She married Jim Delaney on April Fool’s Day, 1964, the start of their great adventure.
They raised their 10 children with Christ as their guide, always putting their trust in Him. She was blessed with 37 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren with one on the way.
She was a devoted lifetime member of St. Jude Catholic Church and a faithful servant of daily Mass and perpetual adoration. She graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1960 and the St. Joseph School of Nursing in 1963. She worked for St. Joseph Hospital, then later worked as a school nurse for St. Jude Catholic School and Bishop Dwenger High School. She returned to nursing at St. Anne Retirement Home and St. Joseph Hospital. Later, she worked for the Allen County Parochial Schools, supporting the school nurses.
She loved spending time with her family, goody shopping, collecting neat old stuff with Jim for their shop called Delaney’s at 1421 Broadway and hosting legendary Sunday brunches. Nan always found ways to serve others and lived the corporal and spiritual works of mercy in her everyday life.
Her legacy continues through her husband and their children, Kathleen “Kate” (Dean) Fowler, Patrick (Liz) Delaney, Susan Delaney, Jennifer (Greg) Richard, Christine (Dan) Hudson, Daniel (Amy) Delaney, John (Sarah) Delaney, Colleen (Adam) Pflueger, Matt (Diana) Delaney and Shannon (James) Hilger; brother Terry (Jo) Donahue; 37 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and one on the way. Nan was preceded in death by her parents Patrick W. and Geraldine (McLaughlin) Donahue; and brother Shane (Diane) Donahue.
Georgia Grady MSE ’64
Georgia died on June 10. She was 96 and spent each day bringing joy to everyone she met. She was born in Lawrenceville, Illinois, where she grew up on her family farm. She was a music major at DePauw University and began her career teaching high school music. She then attended the University of Saint Francis and received her master’s degree in elementary education. She was a teacher in Fort Wayne until she was 63 and was recognized as Indiana Teacher of the Year during her career. Most of those years she taught at Harrison Hill Elementary School where she began the Reading Readiness program. She adored her students and cherished her teacher friends.
Georgia took much pride in her home where she lived for over 60 years and cherished her long-time neighbors. In 2018, Kingston Residence Assisted Living became her new home. The residents and staff became her extended family and added longevity and quality to her life. Georgia loved to lead and get involved, and Kingston provided her that opportunity. Her presence there will be dearly missed.
Georgia also thrived because of her relationship with the wonderful people that provided her hospice care for many years. Their entire team lifted her up daily, and she became friends with each one. They truly made a difference in her life, as she did in theirs.
Georgia was so proud of her family. She loved the yearly gatherings on the shore of Lake Michigan in Saugatuck and many winters spent in Palm Springs. Georgia and her family always connected over her love of sports, especially Notre Dame football.
Georgia mentioned recently that she was looking forward to being reunited with the love of her life, James G. Grady. They were together 57 years. She is survived by their four children, Steve (Bev) Grady, Loretta (John) Leffin, Alecia (James) Brant and James (Norma) Grady; her grandchildren, Melissa, Krista (Nick), Sarah and Daniel; step-granddaughter Kristy (Louie); and step great-grandchildren Angelina (Hartleigh), Felicia, Kiera and Leila.
Boris Gosheff BA ’70, MSE ’73
Boris, 76, died July 20, to await the glorious second coming of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Boris was born on Nov. 30, 1946, to Naum and Stephana Gosheff in Elwood City, Pennsylvania, before moving to Fort Wayne. After graduating from South Side High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree in theology from Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, and a bachelor's and master's degree in education from the University of Saint Francis.
Boris embraced his faith, family and Macedonian culture. Boris owned and operated Tower Tavern with his family. He was a lifelong member of St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral and rarely missed a Sunday service. He was also a lifelong Cleveland Browns fan and rarely missed a Sunday loss.
Most of all, Boris loved his family. Boris is survived by his wife Vesna; children, Damian (Jenny) and Christopher (Rebecca); grandchildren, Josephine, Katherine, Theodore, Finn and Audrey; and brother George (Donna). Boris was preceded in death by his parents, Naum and Stephana, and his brother Stephan.
Tertuliano “Terry” Giraldo MSE ’76
Tertuliano “Terry,” 81, died on May 31, at the Saint Anne Retirement Community in Fort Wayne, after a two-year fight with pancreatic cancer.
Tertuliano was born in Marulanda, Colombia, on October 31, 1941, to a large farming family, and was the son of Baudilio and Isabel Giraldo. The fifth of 12 children, Tertuliano moved from the countryside to Manizales, Colombia, to pursue studies in education and English. There he met his wife Marcia, an American exchange teacher of English. He moved to the United States the following year to marry her.
After earning degrees from Indiana University and the University of Saint Francis, Tertuliano worked as a parole officer for the state of Indiana for many years and as a Spanish professor at IPFW.
Tertuliano was a devout Catholic, a loving father and husband, and was passionate about music, reading, painting and soccer. He is survived by his wife Marcia (Beckman); children Mauricio and Lucy; and many siblings and family members in Colombia, South America.
Kathryn Sharp MS ’76
Kathryn, 80, died May 14, in Fort Wayne, after a brief illness, surrounded by her husband Robert L. Thompson and her children. Kathy was born December 16, 1942, in Kansas City, Missouri. She was the middle daughter of the late Elmer E. Sharp and Guinevere Pattee Sharp Minnick.
She grew up in the Waldo, Brookside and Plaza neighborhoods with her sisters Judy and Penny. She graduated from Bishop Hogan High School in 1959 where she was senior class president and homecoming queen. She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Terre Haute in 1963 where she majored in drama. While at St. Mary’s, she was the first homecoming queen at Notre Dame.
Kathy lived in Kansas City, Missouri, until 1964, then moved to Fort Wayne with her first husband, the late Michael C. Mettler, with whom she had four children. She went back to school while raising her children and received her master’s degree from St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis) in 1977. Kathy worked as a clinical psychologist in private practice, and in various roles with Allen County Probation Department, Fort Wayne Mental Health Center, Park Center, Whittington Services for Children and as a founding partner of Natural Changes, Inc., a consulting firm focused on the changing roles of women and men.
In 1980, she was appointed by Mayor Winfield Moses, Jr., to serve as citizens’ advocate for the City of Fort Wayne. She subsequently served as director of safe housing, director of capital improvements and was appointed to serve on the Board of Health. One of her greatest accomplishments for the City of Fort Wayne came during the flood of 1982. She was a key player in managing the crisis; her efforts were called “heroic.” In a phone call during her final days, Moses told Kathy she was a “cornerstone of the community.”
While working for the City of Fort Wayne, Kathy met Robert L. Thompson, a Fort Wayne attorney whom she later married. After leaving the mayor’s office, Kathy worked with Bob in his law practice for many years. She was always quick to emphasize that she worked “with” him, not “for” him. Kathy was an active women’s rights advocate and was a founding member and spokesperson for The Fort Wayne Feminists, and she was active in support of ratification of the ERA in Indiana. She taught women’s studies classes and led workshops at IPFW where she was a member of the women’s studies committee. Kathy’s kids remember the night Gloria Steinem hung out in their living room on East Drive while in Fort Wayne for a lecture and to promote her new Ms. Magazine.
Kathy’s biggest passions were reading, gardening, playing Bridge and family. She was a voracious reader of both fiction and nonfiction and stayed informed on current events. She was an avid Bridge player, learning to play with her parents, continuing throughout life with family and friends, and playing online several nights a week with friends from all over the world. She had a love of gardening, both indoors and out. Her lush beds of hostas and ferns are known throughout the neighborhood. She loved spending time with Bob, family and friends at “the land,” fishing, hunting for morels and making maple syrup. She was effortlessly chic and stylish but was not afraid to get her hands dirty in jeans and an old T-shirt. She loved watching the bluebirds and hummingbirds from her window. She was a great cook and loved nothing more than smoking ribs with Bob on the deck, with a Rusty Nail in hand.
Kathy was a loving grandma and followed her grandchildren’s every move—cheering, encouraging and supporting them in everything they did. Nothing made her happier than having all of them together in the family’s favorite vacation place, Glen Arbor, Michigan, where she had been taking her kids since they were little. Michigan will never be the same without Kathy wandering around with a tub of whitefish dip in her purse, playing the slots at the Indian casino, treating the grandkids to new M22 gear and hosting dinner at The Cove in Leland.
Kathy is survived by her husband of 40 years, Robert L. Thompson; children Jennifer Mettler Vincent (Scott and their children Kyle, Jessie, Lucy and Charlie) of Overland Park, Kansas, Brian Mettler (Cheryl and his son Sheamus) of Dexter, Michigan, Corey Mettler (Tonda and her sons Steven and Conner Dohse) of Fishers, and Jeff Mettler (April and their children Jackson, Lillian and Samuel) of Fort Wayne; and her sister, Penny Sharp (Jim Sfetko) of Parkville, Missouri. She is also survived by former in-laws including Meg Mettler, with whom she remained close; nieces and nephews; cousins; and her beloved pets Tasha, Peaches and Polly. She was preceded in death by her sister Judith Sharp Wrona.
Rebecca Windmiller BSE ’76
Rebecca, 70, died on June 27 at Cleveland Clinic after a heroic battle with cancer. Rebecca was born in Columbia City on August 23, 1952, a daughter of the late Garland and Marian (Fox) Borden.
Rebecca earned her bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Saint Francis and her master’s degree in education from Indiana University. During her working years, Rebecca taught for St. Joseph Catholic School in Decatur, St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Fort Wayne, Southwest Allen County Schools as a substitute teacher, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School as a teacher’s assistant and was a tutor.
Rebecca was passionate about spending time with her family, keeping her home in “Rebecca order,” was simple and quiet, but the most caring individual and “best wife, mom and sister” anyone could ask for. She was a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church.
Surviving is her husband of 41 years, Gary Windmiller; children David Windmiller and Sarah (James) Anderson; siblings, James Borden and Margaret (Carter) Bishop. Rebecca was preceded in death by her sister Elizabeth Kinerk.
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