Farewells

Nancy Marine Pumper passed away June 3rd, 2025 at the age of 63. She worked from 2009 to 2023 as a cashier in Burton Dining Hall. Nancy was a devoted wife, daughter, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend—someone whose presence could brighten any room and whose love left a lasting impact. Nancy will be deeply missed and forever remembered for her humor, strength, and the boundless love she gave. Her spirit lives on in the lives she touched and the family she cherished.

A Celebration of Life will take place on Sunday, June 29 at 4:00 PM at L&M Bar and Grill in Dundas, Minnesota. Friends and family are warmly invited to gather and honor her memory. A full obituary can be found here.

Carole Engel, passed away June 1st, 2025, at the age of 79. Carole held many roles at Carleton, including as the Secretary to Associate Dean of the College (1980-1987), Coordinator of Special Projects & Events (1987-1988), Administrative Assistant to the Dean of the College (1988-1990), and as both Secretary and Administrative Assistant of the Music Department (1990-2014). She will be dearly missed.

A memorial service will be held at First Congregational Church in Cannon Falls on Friday, June 20 at 2:30 pm.

Roberta Anne “Robbie” Groth (Lucking), age 70, of Northfield, passed away surrounded by her family on Friday morning, May 9th, 2025; after fighting a courageous battle against Ovarian Cancer, for 16 years. Robbie served in a variety of roles at Carleton from 2003-2016, including as the Office and Administrative Assistant in the Business Office, the Program Assistant in the Academic Support Center, and the Office Assistant in Residential Life.

To learn more about Robbie’s life, as well as details regarding her memorial service, we invite you to read her obituary here.

Louise Witman ’71, P78, age 98, of Northfield passed away on April 18, 2025. Louise was the secretary to the Dean of Students from 1971–1978 and then served as a library associate from 1978 until she retired in 1991. Louise is survived by her son George Witman ’78, her niece Jan Spencer Witman ’80, and other family members. Louise was married to Hank Witman, who worked in Carleton Admissions from 1969 until he retired in 1993.

To learn more about Louise, we invite you to view her obituary.

Henry “Hank” Witman P78, age 97, of Northfield passed away on January 14, 2025. Hank worked in Carleton Admissions from 1969 until he retired in 1993. Hank is survived by his son George Witman ’78, his niece Jan Spencer Witman ’80, and other family members. Hank was married to Louise Witman, who served as the secretary to the Dean of Students from 1971–1978 and then as a library associate from 1978 until she retired in 1991.

To learn more about Hank, we invite you to view his obituary.

William “Bill” Wayne Nelson, age 73, of Northfield, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, Saturday morning, April 19, 2025, at his home. Bill coached Carleton Knights baseball team beginning in 1995 and retiring in 2005.

When available, a full obituary and memorial service details will be available here.

Robert Bonner, Marjorie Crabb Garbisch Professor of History and the Liberal Arts, Emeritus, passed away April 16th, 2025. Raised in Powell, Wyoming, Bonner began teaching at Carleton in 1967, and retired in 2001. From 1992 to 1995 he served as Carleton’s Dean of Students, and from 1997 to 2001, he served as the Director of the American Studies Program.

John Curtis Perry, former professor of history, passed away on March 1st, 2025. He was 94. John served Carleton between 1966-1980, in addition to teaching at Connecticut College, Waseda University in Tokyo, the International University of Japan, and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He was know as an excellent professor and mentor, inspiring many generations of students.

A scholar of maritime history, John was the author six books, including co-authoring Essays on T’ang Society with Carleton Professor Bardwell Smith. He received the Order of the Sacred Treasure, a Japanese Imperial decoration, for his contributions to American-Japanese relations, and was honored by the establishment of the John Curtis Perry Fellowship at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in 2001.

Michael Hayden Armacost ’58 passed away on March 8th at the age of 87. Armacost served Carleton as a Trustee from 1994 to 2010, as chair from 2004 to 2008, and became a Trustee Emeritus in 2011. He also served as an Annual Fund class agent and as a member of his class’s 50th Reunion Committee. Armacost received an honorary degree from Carleton in 1989 and was Stassen Lecturer & Headley Visitor-in-Residence here at Carleton during the fall of 2010. In addition to his leadership at Carleton, he served as the Ambassador to the Philippines and Japan and the President of the Brookings Institution.

Geri M. Joseph died peacefully, with her family by her side, at 100 years of age on October 16, 2023. Joseph served as a Carleton trustee beginning in 1977, received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Carleton in 1998, and was a Carleton parent (’79). In addition to her leadership at Carleton, Joseph played a major role in Democratic Party politics, working closely on the mayoral campaign of Hubert Humphrey and the presidential campaign of Adlai Stevenson. She served as US Ambassador to the Netherlands from 1978-1981 and was the recipient of countless awards and honors. We invite you to read her full obituary.