The Alumni Magazine for Worcester Polytechnic Institute. (WPI)
Issue link: http://wpialumnimag.epubxp.com/i/114745
inmemory Christine M. Drew Christine M. Drew, associate director of research and instruction at the Gordon Library, passed away Feb. 4, 2012, at age 42, after a courageous battle with cancer. She helped countless students and faculty and staff members become savvy researchers and learners. "Christine loved life, libraries, and WPI, especially its students," says dean of library services Tracey Leger-Hornby. "This was evident throughout her nearly nine years at WPI, but no more so than during her recent illness, when she showed tremendous grit and determination to carry on." Drew joined WPI as instruction coordinator in 2004, was promoted to manager of instruction and outreach in 2006, and was appointed associate director of research and instruction services in 2010. Her outreach to the greater WPI community took many forms, and her legacy includes nearly three dozen guides to resources, as well as a doubling of the number of participants in library instruction programs. Her devotion to a number of causes beyond the campus, including literacy, local cultural organizations, and the environment, was recognized with the 2012 Denise Nicoletti Trustees' Award for Service to Community; she was tapped by Skull along with members of the Class of 2011. She also enjoyed country living as a keeper of hens and honeybees, and had a personal goal to explore every museum in Massachusetts. In addition to her parents, William and Sandra Drew, she is survived by her domestic partner, Jeffrey L. Forgeng. William P Densmore '45 . William P Densmore '45, an emeritus member of the WPI Board of Trustees and former executive director of the Colleges of . Worcester Consortium, died Jan. 19, 2012, at the age of 88. After taking early retirement from Norton Company, where he served as a corporate vice president, a senior vice president, and a member of the executive committee, he turned to public service in the Worcester community. In all, Densmore helped found or served on the boards of over 25 educational, health, and community organizations. "Bill Densmore was an intellectual with a deep civic commitment who had a wonderful common touch," says President Dennis Berkey. "His commitment and achievements on behalf of education at all levels were a model of engaged leadership by a true gentleman." Densmore served on WPI's board from 1989 to 1995. An early and enthusiastic supporter of the WPI Plan, he was the Norton Company liaison for the WPI-Norton Project Center and assisted with the founding of the Worcester Community Project Center. He received the Herbert F. Taylor Alumni Award for Distinguished Service in 1990 and the 1976 Albert W. Schwieger Award from WPI's School of Industrial Management, from which he graduated in 1957. Survivors include his wife, Martha, three children, and four grandchildren. John M. Nelson John M. Nelson, former chairman of the WPI Board of Trustees and a noted business leader, died Jan. 21, 2012. He was 81. Nelson joined the WPI board in 1986 just after being named president and CEO of Norton Company, and served as board chair from 1995 to 2000. During that term, he oversaw the recruitment of WPI's 14th president, Edward A. Parrish, was a key volunteer for the $150 million Campaign for WPI (to which he contributed his own leadership gift of $1 million), and was instrumental in working with the city to close a portion of West Street. In 2000 the Alumni Association presented him with the WPI Award for Distinguished Service. After presiding over turbulent times that included Norton's merger with the French company Saint-Gobain in 1990, Nelson was fired. He was soon appointed CEO of Wyman-Gordon, and later was asked to chair the board of TJX Companies Inc., from which he retired in 1999. In 2001 Nelson cofounded and served as chair of Commonwealth National Bank in Worcester. He leaves his wife, Linda, a daughter, a son, two step-daughters, and six grandchildren. 58 Winter 2013