Category: Staff

Marilyn Jean Hill passed away on November 3, 2025 at age 93. Marilyn served many roles at Carleton, including Associate Director of the Career Center (1989-1997), Director of Placement (1980-1989), Director of Placement & Associate Director of Student Futures (1973-1980), Assistant Director of Career Counseling & Placement (1969-1973), Assistant to the Director of Placement Services (1964-1969), and Secretary to Faculty in Scoville Hall (1963-1964).

Marilyn was known as a passionate advocate for the hiring of Carleton students, traveling to corporate headquarters around the country, as well as to CIA headquarters, the Pentagon and an aircraft carrier, to Hollywood studios and investment banks in New York City. Funeral services for Marilyn will be held at 11am on November 12, 2025, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. Further information can found in her obituary.

David Davis-Van Atta passed away on July 26, 2025. He was 79. David was a Carleton alum (class of 1972), step-parent to David Startup (class of 1999), and the Director of Institutional Research and Analysis from 1995-2007. He will be dearly missed.

Information regarding his service and obituary can be found online 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.

Clark G. Ohnesorge, age 63, passed away at his home in Northfield on Saturday, December 21, 2024. Since 1998, Clark held various roles at Carleton, including Assistant Professor of Psychology (1998-1999), Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology (2005-2007), Admissions Reader (2016), and most recently as a Research Associate in the Psychology Department. A St. Olaf graduate, Clark gained his PhD in Cognitive Science from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. An accomplished violinist, he will be remembered for his music, together with his service to his community on the Board of the Just Foods Co-op.

Barbara Louise Johnson, former Treasurer and VP of Finance at Carleton, passed away April 25, 2024. Johnson served Carleton until 2007, after-which she became the Vice Chancellor for Business & Finance at the University of Nebraska Kearney. Upon her retirement, she returned to Northfield. Barbara has degrees from Hampton Institute (now University) and Atlanta University. In addition to Barbara’s academic excellence and love of education, she also had a love of the arts. She loved to paint abstract pictures as well as sketch. She loved to collect black art, listen to jazz, Earth, Wind and Fire, cook, host college faculty/students, dance to 70’s & 80’s music, travel, and visit museums.