In Memoriam
Obituaries
MAGGIE ROSSMAN died on September 27, 2023, in Louisville, Kentucky, from complications of childbirth. Maggie was born in Battle Creek, Michigan to Mary and Roger Rossman, two of the kindest and most supportive parents. Her older brother, Alex, was always a role model for her, and she was extremely close with her sister Caitie. At Harvard, Maggie was an incredible friend, and an effervescent spirit. She was an English Language and American Literature concentrator, and wrote spirited editorials for The Harvard Crimson as part of the Ed Board. She thrived in our communities in Weld and Mather House. Following graduation, she completed a Masters of Fine Arts in Film Studies at Boston University, and then pursued a Doctor of Philosophy in Communication and Culture at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. Her dissertation highlighted her focus on researching fandom, media and gender. Her time at IU was particularly significant, as it was there that she met the love of her life, Josh Coonrod. They loved living and learning together in Bloomington, along with their amazing dog, Brick. Maggie was a Teaching Fellow and Instructor at Butler University, prior to assuming a position as Assistant Professor at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky in 2020. Maggie was an enthusiastic and gifted educator, and was devoted to her students' development. She often spoke about the fulfillment and inspiration that she got from seeing her students develop in the classroom, and connecting that to her own experiences as a student. Maggie and Josh married on July 17, 2021 in an intimate woodland setting with family. They later celebrated their wedding again in a magical "treehouse" wedding at the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Michigan on July 17, 2022. In early 2023, Maggie and Josh were thrilled to be pregnant with their son, and had moved into a new home, as they awaited his arrival. He would be named after her father, Roger, with the Irish variant, "Rory," and he was spirited even before his arrival -- often dancing in Maggie's belly. He brought her so much joy. Joy, love, enthusiasm, brilliance, humor, and beauty -- we will always associate these qualities with Maggie, and cherish her memory very dearly. She will shine brightly, as inspiration for us to love and appreciate each other forever. To further support Maggie's husband and son, a fund has been set up by Alexis Tumolo '06.
PHILIP KREYCIK died in the summer of 2021 in Pleasanton, California. Born in Minnesota and raised in Richmond, Va., Phil was known for his humor, generosity, and humility. He concentrated in Earth and Planetary Sciences while at Harvard, eventually earning a Hoopes Prize for his senior thesis. As a lover of the outdoors, he was a leader in the First-Year Outdoors Program, Harvard Outing Club, and Mountaineering Club. Following graduation, Phil remained at Harvard as a Resource Efficiency Program Coordinator and Faculty Dean Aide – or Elf – in Adams House, later earning graduate degrees from MIT in Urban Planning and Transportation. After moving to Berkeley, California, Philip continued his work on transportation sustainability and clean energy as an analyst at Pacific Gas & Electric. He is survived by his parents Keith and Marcia, sister Claire, as well as his wife Jennifer Yao and two children.
STEPHEN WEN-JEI LIN died on May 17, 2016, in New York City. He was born on June 27, 1984, in Dallas, Texas, the son of James M.Y. Lin and Shu Lan Huang. In 2002, he graduated as valedictorian from Plane West Senior High School, where he competed in science fairs at an international level. He was a resident of Winthrop House while at Harvard, earning an AB in computer science and physics in 2006. During his time at Harvard, Mr. Lin was involved with the Chinese Students Association and served as co-director of the Harvard project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR), leading their 2005 conference in Tokyo. After Harvard, he built his career at the intersection of finance and technology, working at Lehman Brothers, Apple, and Bloomberg, among other companies. In February 2016, Mr. Lin married Carolyn Liu in a private gathering in New York. He was survived by his parents; his sister, Stella; and his wife.
JENNIFER AI-LIAN WOO died on September 23, 2015, in Oakland, California. Daughter of Henry K. and Susan L. Woo, Ms. Woo was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 6, 1984. Prepared at Hong Kong International School, she received her AB in anthropology cum laude with our Class. A resident of Leverett House, she was involved in the women's advocacy group the Seneca, served as an editor of the Crimson, and volunteered at the Harvard Office of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response during her time at Harvard. She went on to earn her MS in 2010 and MD in 2015 from Georgetown University. She continued her volunteer work within the medical community for Continuum Hospice Care in New York City, where she was a home and in-patient volunteer, and for the Crime Victims Treatment Center, where she served as the rape and domestic violence emergency room advocate. She co-authored dozens of articles in numerous journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine and Frontiers in Oncology. Ms. Woo was in her residency at Highland Hospital (Oakland, California) in radiation oncology at the time of her death. She was survived by her parents; brother, Alexander; and sister, Stephanie '12.
STEPHEN CHRISTOPHER ROSE died on February 6, 2014, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was born on October 12, 1984, in New York State to Christopher Rose and Stephanie Bell-Rose (JD/MBA '84). Prepared at Regis High School, Mr. Rose was a Kirkland House resident during his time at Harvrd. A sociology concentrator with our Class, he was an active member of the Black Men's Forum. After graduating, Mr. Rose received his master's degree in psychology from City University of New York's City College. At the time of his death, he had applied to law school and received several acceptances and scholarships. He was survived by his parents; brother, Evan '09; cousins, Jodie Smith Bennett '84 and Lauren Westbrook McIntosh '07; aunt, Melanie Bell '92 (MBA '98); and uncle, Gordon Bell '83 (MBA '88). In memoriam, Mr. Rose's family established The Steve Fund, which promotes the mental and emotional well-being of students of color.
MACDONALD BROOKE HALSEY II died on November 17, 2009, in Vermont. Born on January 3, 1983, Mr. Halsey prepared at the Thacher School in Ojai, Calibornia. He was an avid chess player and a member of the United States Chess Federation; in 2000, he played in the Federation's Down East Open in Portland, Maine. Mr. Halsey started college at Princeton in the fall of 2000 and also studied for a semester at the Center for Northern Studies in Wolcott, Vermont, before transferring to Harvard in 2004. He received an AB cum laude in biology with our Class. Upon graduation, Mr. Halsey joined an engineering research lab at Dartmouth College, where he served for six months, before founding a tree service company, called Halsey Treenail, in Vermont. He also volunteered as a firefighter there. Mr. Halsey was a proficient linguist who was fluent in Mandarin, among other languages. He combined his love of physics, languages, and Asian culture, most notably when he wrote a physics paper in Chinese in order to explain Einsteinian theory. Mr. Halsey was survived by his father, mother, and five sisters.
JOSEPH MARTY HANZICH died on September 13, 2007, in New Haven, Connecticut. He was born on June 13, 1984, in Orance County, California, and prepared at Mission Viejo High School, where he was the recipient of a U.S. Presidential Scholar award. A resident of Leverett House while at Harvard, Mr. Hanzich was a John Harvard Scholar and a Detur Book Prize recipient, in addition to serving as vice president of the College Democrats, director of Harvard's Relay for Life fundraising efforts, and secretary of Levertt House intramural sports. He received an AB magna cum laude in government with our Class and graduated as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. After graduation, Mr. Hanzich was a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship and eventually went on to study, through the Harvard-Cambridge Program, at the University of Cambridge. He received a Master's degree in public health from the University of Cambridge in 2007. His interest in public health, health policy, and global health led him to travel to Santiago, Chile, to work for the Chilean National Health Care Fund, and later he provided free Spanish translation services to those in need in the Law School's legal services clinic. Mr. Hanzich was a first-year law student at Yale University at the time of his death.
HENRY CHARLES FIENNING died on July 30, 2007, in Sumter, South Carolina. Son of Charles Edward '66 (MBA '70) and Suzanne Snyder Fienning, he was born on February 28, 1983, in Sumter, and prepared at Sumter High School before graduating, in 2002, from the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities in Greenville. A resident of Dunster House, he attended Harvard with our Class and was one semester away from completing his bachelor's degree in music at the time of his death. At Harvard, Mr. Fienning dedicated much of his time to community service. He was an active member of the Phillips Brooks House Association, serving as its co-director for Refugee Youth Summer Enrichment, an English language training program for immigrants in Boston high schools; and as a tutor, for more than two years, with the Refugee Youth Enrichment term-time program. Through PBHA, Mr. Fienning traveled to Costa Rica, where he volunteered as a teacher to local students, and he raised more than $900 for the 2007 Harvard College Marathon Challenge, which funds youth programs in the Boston area. Mr. Fienning also maintained a lifelong connection with the Boy Scouts; he attained the rank of Eagle Scout and the Order of the Arrow, the Scouts' National Honor Socity. In addition to his passion for community service, Mr. Fienning had a deep love of music. He was trained as a classical pianist, and while at Harvard he performed and toured with the Krokodiloes. In 2005, he performed in the Gilbert and Sullivan Players' production of Ruddigore. He was considering the pursuit of a graduate degree in international business upon graduation. Mr. Fienning was survived by his grandfather, Edward Fienning (AMP '51); his grandmother, Mrs. Robert Snyder; his parents; and three older siblings: Benjamin DeSollar '90, Samuel DeSollar, and Edward Fienning '01.
We invite you to share you memories of our departed classmates on our class board started at our 15 Year Reunion Memorial.
A Living Tribute
In honor of each of these member of the Class of 2006, trees are being planted in a national park or forest. These trees will help create clean drinking water and wildlife habitat, invigorating our planet, just as each of these individuals invigorated our experience at Harvard.