O b i t u a r i e sas a member <strong>of</strong> the Board <strong>of</strong> Directors <strong>of</strong> theChicago based Educational Institutional InsuranceAdministrators Inc. He was past Vice Presidentand Treasurer <strong>of</strong> the Pennsylvania Association <strong>of</strong>Independent Schools and a past President <strong>of</strong> theBoarding Schools Headmasters Association <strong>of</strong> theMiddle States.In addition to educational activities, he wasinvolved with church-related concerns. He servedas a Trustee Emeritus <strong>of</strong> the Board <strong>of</strong> Trustees<strong>of</strong> the Wyoming Annual Conference and was amember <strong>of</strong> the Long Range Planning Council andthe Conference Administrative Council. As anequally active participant in the community, Dr.Stettler was an involved member <strong>of</strong> the Board <strong>of</strong>Directors <strong>of</strong> the United Way <strong>of</strong> Wyoming Valley,serving a two-year term as chairman <strong>of</strong> the board.In 1984, he was General Campaign Chairman inan effort that surpassed the goal by $28,000 andbroke the $3 million dollar mark for the first time.He also led community fundraising efforts for theOsterhout Library in Wilkes-Barre, the WyomingValley Boy Scouts’ Annual Dinner, and a capitalfunds campaign for a new Children’s Wing atthe Back Mountain Memorial Library in Dallas.He served on the Wilkes University Council,Leadership Wilkes-Barre Steering Committee,the Wilkes-Barre YMCA Board <strong>of</strong> Directors,as secretary <strong>of</strong> the F.M. Kirby Center for thePerforming Arts Board <strong>of</strong> Directors, and wasvice-president <strong>of</strong> the Northeastern PennsylvaniaPhilharmonic Board <strong>of</strong> Directors from 1991through 1996.Based on his involvement and dedication tovarious people and organizations, Dr. Stettlerhas received numerous awards and honors. OnOctober 13, 1978, the Wallace F. Stettler LearningResources Center on the school’s campus wasdedicated in his honor by the school’s Board <strong>of</strong>Trustees at an event with Frank C. Carlucci III,former Secretary <strong>of</strong> Defense and National SecurityAdviser, as the principal speaker. In October 1982,Dr. Stettler was selected among 50 prominentcivic leaders, business executives and sports figuresto receive the “Distinguished PennsylvanianAward” by the Greater Philadelphia Chamber <strong>of</strong>Commerce. He was the recipient <strong>of</strong> the WyomingValley Interfaith Council Annual Award, theCommunity Service Award <strong>of</strong> the Seligman J.Strauss Lodge <strong>of</strong> B’nai B’rith, the Francis AsburyAward <strong>of</strong> the Wyoming Annual Conference, theOutstanding Volunteer Fund Raiser and Lifetime<strong>Achievement</strong> Awards from the Association <strong>of</strong>Fund Raising Pr<strong>of</strong>essionals, the DistinguishedService Award from Wyoming Seminary, theDistinguished Citizen Award presented bythe Northeastern Pennsylvania Council BoyScouts <strong>of</strong> America, the Anti-Defamation LeagueDistinguished Service Award, the Mary BevevinoCommunity Service Award from the LuzerneFoundation and the Community Service Awardfrom the Salvation Army. He was inducted intothe Business Hall <strong>of</strong> Fame <strong>of</strong> Junior <strong>Achievement</strong><strong>of</strong> Northeastern Pennsylvania, and in 1998 wasappointed by Gov. Tom Ridge to serve on theGovernor’s Judicial Advisory Commission forLuzerne County to provide recommendations44to the Governor <strong>of</strong> qualified individuals fornomination to the Court <strong>of</strong> Common Pleas.He was preceded in death by his wife, SueBrill Stettler, to whom he was married for53 years. He is survived by his three sons,STEPHEN STETTLER ’70, Weston, Vt.,SAMUEL STETTLER ’72 and his wife, Barbara,Hillsborough, N.J., and DAVID STETTLER ’74and his wife, Rachel, Cambridge, Mass.; twograndchildren, Erik, New York, N.Y., and WillStettler, Cambridge, Mass.; as well as a brother,Arthur and his wife, Doris.FRIENDS:FRED MORGAN KIRBY II, New Vernon,N.J., former Chairman and CEO <strong>of</strong> AlleghanyCorporation and President <strong>of</strong> the F. M. KirbyFoundation, died on February 8, 2011 in NorthCarolina. He was 91. Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.on November 23, 1919 to Allan P. and MarianS. Kirby, he attended grammar schools nearhome while also enjoying time with family andfriends in Glen Summit, Pa. and Palm Beach, Fla.Those days were fodder for many entertainingescapades shared with future generations. So toowere the decades that followed. Kirby enrolled inthe Hackley School in Tarrytown, N.Y. and tooka post-graduate year at the Lawrenceville Schoolbefore joining the Class <strong>of</strong> 1942 at LafayetteCollege in Easton, Pa. There, among otheractivities, he played on the College’s most recentundefeated football team, a source <strong>of</strong> pride forthe remainder <strong>of</strong> his life. Kirby’s progression wasdisrupted, however, with the bombing <strong>of</strong> PearlHarbor on December 7, 1941. Like so manyyoung American men at the time, he enlisted inthe military within a week. He graduated fromLafayette shortly thereafter and headed <strong>of</strong>f fortraining with the U.S. Naval Reserve. Amonghis station assignments were the AdvancedAmphibious Naval Base on the English Channelin Teignmouth at Devonshire and a similar port atSalcombe, both in preparation for the Normandyinvasion. Following the Allied Invasion, he wasassigned to an advanced port and reconnaissanceparty in the Brest Peninsula <strong>of</strong> France. Returningto the U.S. at the conclusion <strong>of</strong> World War II,Kirby attended the Harvard Graduate School<strong>of</strong> Business. Later hired by the Vick ChemicalCompany, he underwent orientation at thecompany’s facility in Greensboro, N.C., wheremutual friends familiar with their sharedequestrian backgrounds, introduced him to hisfuture bride, Alice Walker Dillard. They wed onApril 30, 1949, launching a devoted, inspiring andeternal partnership. Following several successfulentrepreneurial ventures, in 1967 Kirby succeededhis father as Chairman and CEO <strong>of</strong> AlleghanyCorporation, a New York Stock Exchangelisted company with interests over the years inrailroads, trucking, insurance, asset managementand industrial minerals, among others. Over hisnearly 39 years as Chairman ending in 2006,Alleghany stock delivered a cumulative returnto its shareholders <strong>of</strong> 23,903 percent comparedto the S&P 500 cumulative return over thesame period <strong>of</strong> 5,215 percent. Kirby’s seniorpr<strong>of</strong>essional partner throughout most <strong>of</strong> thattime was John J. Burns, Jr. Outside <strong>of</strong> Alleghany,Kirby served on numerous corporate and notfor-pr<strong>of</strong>itboards, including: American Express,Chicago Title & Trust, Cyclops Industries, HotelWaldorf Astoria, Investors Diversified Services,Pittston, Woolworth, the F. M. Kirby Foundation,Fred M. & Jessie A. Kirby Episcopal House,Morristown Memorial Hospital, the NationalFootball Foundation and Lafayette College.His charitable interests vastly exceeded thosementioned above, and he devoted countless hoursand much attention to the advancement <strong>of</strong> suchorganizations. He was the recipient <strong>of</strong> honorarydegrees from Drew University, Lafayette College,St. Joseph’s University and Wake Forest University;The International Swimming Hall <strong>of</strong> Fame’s GoldMedallion; the National Football Foundation’sGold Medal; The Pennsylvania Society’s GoldMedal; and Sports Illustrated’s Silver AnniversaryAll-American Award. He received the WyomingSeminary Distinguished Service Award in 1990.A former vestryman at Church <strong>of</strong> The Redeemerin Morristown, N.J., he was a member <strong>of</strong> GraceEpiscopal Church in Madison, N.J. at the time<strong>of</strong> his calling home. Fred Kirby was a pilot,motorcyclist, sailor, fisherman, tennis player and afox-hunting member <strong>of</strong> the Spring Valley Hounds.Multiple excursions took him scuba diving andhang gliding. He frequently spent full days inthe woods <strong>of</strong> his beloved Jerseyfield Preserve inthe Adirondacks – hiking, laying out trails andcutting limbs, occasionally his own. Even in his90s, unable to hike, he would drive his ATVthrough remote and rugged stretches. He got hismotorcycle license at age 63. On his 85th birthday,his wife gave him a jet-ski. He was a dear friendand a valued advisor to many, a devoted husband,and a cherished father, grandfather and greatgrandfather.In addition to his loving wife, Walker, he issurvived by their daughter, Alice Kirby Hortonand her husband, George <strong>of</strong> Durham, N.C.;sons, Fred M. Kirby III and his wife, Barbara <strong>of</strong>Greensboro, N.C., S. Dillard Kirby and his wife,Adrienne <strong>of</strong> Mendham, NJ, Jefferson W. Kirbyand his wife, Karen <strong>of</strong> New Vernon, N.J.; tengrandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.Fred Kirby took seriously the words found onhis family’s coat <strong>of</strong> arms: “Facta Non Verba,”meaning “deeds, not words.” Though he wasmasterful with the written word, he leaves behinda legacy <strong>of</strong> momentous deeds. His academic,athletic, military, pr<strong>of</strong>essional, civic and charitableachievements combine with his steadfast devotionto family and nation to personify all that isso redeeming about his country’s “GreatestGeneration.” He lived by the highest standards <strong>of</strong>personal conduct and will endure as an examplefor future generations.
Financial AidPhoto: Michael KudelskiBuilding-MaintenancePhoto: Eric PogganpohlAcademic SupportPhoto: Eric PogganpohlA memorycan begin @ anytime …Like today.Your contributionensures thatmemories <strong>of</strong> Semwill last forever.Athletic DepartmentGreatest Current NeedThe ArtsPhoto: Eric PogganpohlPhoto: Michael KudelskiPhoto: Michael Touey
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