Faculty and Friends

Nathan (Nat) Boxer

Nathan (Nat) Boxer, an award-winning photographer who taught at Kirkland College from 1970 until 1977, died on December 3, 2009, in Rosedale, NY, the small upstate town where he had resided for many years. He was 84 years old.

A sound engineer with a distinguished career in film work before and after he taught on College Hill, Nat Boxer won an Academy Award for his sound work on Apocalypse Now (1979). He came to Kirkland as an associate professor of film and soon gained the affection of his students for his devotion to his craft as well as his sense of humor. He inspired a number of them to pursue careers in photography and film.

Don T. Muilenberg

Don T. Muilenberg, a clinical psychologist at the College from 1968 until 1986, died on May 3, 2010, at the age of 73. He had been residing in Scottsdale, AZ, where he carried on a private practice in clinical psychology until his retirement.

For 18 years, from his office in the Thomas Brown Rudd Health Center, Don ­Muilenberg devoted himself to counseling students on College Hill. With dedication and concern, he assisted them in coping with their personal problems, to their great and lasting benefit. He was director of counseling and psychological services when he left the Hill.

Don T. Muilenberg is ­survived by his two children, Ann and Todd, as well as five grandchildren.

Andrew W. Wertz

Andrew W. Wertz, director of the Bristol Campus Center from 1970 until 1988, died on November 11, 2010, at the age of 81. Wearing a second hat as director of student activities, he was chiefly responsible for coordinating campus events.

Born in Hamlet, NC, in 1928, “Andy” Wertz entered the U.S. Air Force following his graduation from Lincoln University in 1949. Commissioned as an officer, he served for 20 years, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1970. Soon thereafter, he came to College Hill, and for 17 years, until his second retirement in 1988, contributed to the smooth functioning of the College.

Andy Wertz continued to reside in the Utica area, where he became a senior tax advisor to H&R Block. He was also active in the Baptist Church and community organizations.

Predeceased by his wife Bernice, Andrew W. Wertz is survived by five children, including Andrew W. Wertz, Jr. ’83.

George Howard Williams

George Howard Williams, an instructor in English from 1949 until 1952, died on March 10, 2011, in his 100th year. He had been a resident of Springfield, MA, since 1995.

Born in Philadelphia, PA, in 1912, G. Howard Williams was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Amherst College. After a stint in advertising and a ­master's degree from Columbia University, he tried his hand at free-lance fiction writing. Failing to earn enough money to support his wife Betty and their growing family, he accepted the offer of an instructorship at Hamilton and came with his family to College Hill.

Besides teaching English composition to freshmen and grading their themes, Mr. Williams became something of a local authority on radio by writing plays for the airwaves and directing college broadcasts. It was he who also first suggested to Life magazine that it run a feature article on Hamilton.  Focusing on the Class of 1953, it was published that year.

After leaving the Hill, Mr. Williams moved to Longmeadow, MA, and went to work for Monarch Life Insurance Co. He retired from Monarch as vice president for public relations in 1973.

In addition to his wife of 67 years, G. Howard Williams is survived by a daughter and two sons.