Category: 1980s

Matthew David Auker, of Altamonte Springs, FL, passed away unexpectedly on July 14, 2022, at the age of 64. He was born on April 8, 1958, in Flint, Michigan, and was adopted by William and Delores Auker at 5 months old. He was raised in Lynden, MI and was a thoughtful and loving son who was always loved in the community. Together with his younger sister, Amy, and his parents, the family made a move to South Florida in 1972. He graduated from Atlantic High School in 1976 and was voted “Most Outstanding” by his peers. He received a football scholarship to Davidson College where he played 4 years and graduated with a degree in Economics in 1980. Following graduation, Matt began a career at Porter Paints in South Florida. In 1983, he met Nina Lamanno and the two wed in 1985. Matt and Nina raised a daughter, Amanda (Mandy), and a son, Tyler, who both still reside in Florida.

In 1998, Matt was relocated with the family up to Louisville, Kentucky. After a few years in Louisville, Matt decided to make the move back to Orlando and bought a Comfort Keepers franchise together with Nina. Comfort Keepers is a senior in-home care company that Matt had owned and operated very successfully since 2001.

Following his wife Nina’s passing in 2013, Matt was fortunate enough to have both of his children live with him for an extended period of time after their graduations from college before meeting Allison (Allie) Forst. Matt and Allie wed in 2016 and had been happily married since. Tyler and Mandy as well as Allison’s two children, Madeline (Maddie) and Ian, and all of their spouses were one large melting pot who loved celebrating the holidays and big life events at their Altamonte Springs home.

His faith was extremely important to him, and he always gave his time and talent to St. Mary Magdalen Church and School. Matt was recently elected as the Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus which was a great honor to him. He was always loyal to his Alma mater, Davidson University and was an avid sports fan supporting Mandy & Tyler’s schools, UCF and UF, as well as attending Bishop Moore sporting events every chance he got.

Matt was a good man and with a kind soul. He had a passion for reading, woodworking, and traveling. He was the most thoughtful, loving, and likable person around. Matt was well known for his friendliness and never hesitated to let people know that he loved them. People gravitated towards him and always bellied up to his bar where he had a passion for making Dirty Martinis and 7&7’s. Matt’s professional and personal networks intertwined because regardless of how you knew him, you couldn’t help but consider him a friend. He was a loving son, husband, father, uncle, brother-in-law and friend. His truest passion was hanging out with his family and friends.

Matt was a natural caregiver as he showed to all of us by the love and devotion he gave to his late wife Nina and his children Mandy and Tyler. He was so very proud of Mandy’s & Tyler’s strength, courage and accomplishments. Being a grandpa also came naturally to Matt. He had three beautiful grandchildren: Bennett James, Evelyn Nina, and Brooks Shayne that he adored and loved with all of his heart & soul. He never hesitated to comfort a fussy baby or get on the floor and army crawl with them. He was a kid at heart and his children adored him along with all the other children of his close friends.

The connection that brought Matt and Allie together was divine in nature and their large, blended family was a gift to each of them. Combined, their four children, Mandy, Tyler, Maddie and Ian held Matt in the highest esteem and loved him with all their hearts.

He always gave you a smile and had something nice to say to make your day! It was often said that Matt never met a stranger. He will be missed deeply for his big heart, his laugh, his empathy & compassion, his faith and his loyalty.

Matt’s Visitation will be held at DeGusipe Funeral Home & Crematory, 9001 N. Orlando Ave,
Maitland, FL. 32751 on July 28, 2022, from 6-8pm. Matt’s Celebration of Life Mass will take
place at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, 861 Maitland Ave, Altamonte Springs, FL. 32701 on July 29, 2022 at 10am.

It is with heavy hearts that we write to tell you that our beloved Paul passed away on June 28th in the early hours of the morning. Our family, along with Paul’s brother Joe, were there with him in his final moments. He died peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family. We will miss Paul forever, but are comforted by the knowledge that he now exists in transcendent peace and joy with Christ. 

Over these past weeks and months, we have received so many beautiful messages of love and support from people across the chapters of Paul’s life. We read each of these messages to him and are deeply grateful for the time you all took to show Paul how loved, admired and appreciated he was. They meant so much to him and they brought smiles, joy, gratitude and laughter into our home during a challenging time. We will find comfort in these messages for years to come.

We would love for as many people as possible to mark his passing in person, so weare planning events in both the UK and the US. Paul’s funeral will be held in the UK on Saturday, 16 July 2022. A memorial gathering will be held for Paul in Washington DC on Saturday, 30 July, 2022. Please see below for full details. 

UK Funeral Service – Saturday, July 16, 2022 – Please RSVP

10:30 AM Requiem Mass

Verona Fathers, Sacred Heart Church, Sunningdale, SL5 OJY, UK

(Livestream available)

12:00 PM Funeral Procession from Sacred Heart Church to Crematorium

12:30 PM Committal Service

Easthampstead Park Cemetery and Crematorium, South Road, Bracknell, Wokingham, 

RG40 3DW, UK

 (Livestream available)

1:30 PM Reception at Griffith Residence

Abbotswood, Waverley Drive, Virginia Water, Surrey, GU25 4PZ, UK

US Memorial Gathering – Saturday, July 30, 2022 – Please RSVP

Washington DC, USA. Further details on time and location to follow.

For more information about these memorial services and to RSVP, please visit https://everloved.com/life-of/paul-griffith/funeral/#680651f5-48dc-4058-8006-40826a8cc14a.

Robert Hill Nichols, Jr., age 57, died of heart failure at his parent’s home in Young Harris, Georgia on Monday, June 13, 2022. He was born in Atlanta on October 10, 1964. He attended Towns County H.S. and graduated from Young Harris College in 1982, Davidson College (BS), and Washington University (PhD). He did post Doctorate studies in Astro-Physics at Cal Tech, was a lead Grant Reviewer for NASA and spent 20+ years in pre-solar meteor grain research at Washington University. For the past twelve years he was a professor at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee.

He was an accomplished tennis player having won Georgia State titles in Singles, Doubles and Father-Son.
Bobby was a kind, sensitive human being that will be dearly missed by family and friends. He is survived by his mother, Gayle, his father, Bob Sr., his brother, John and his nephews, Slayton and Sam.
In remembrance of Bobby, donations may be made to Humane Society’s Mountain Shelter, P. O. Box 1252, Blairsville, Ga 30512.
No service is planned.
Banister-Cooper is in charge of arrangements.

Dr. Harold Walker “Hal” Elliott, MD, 58, passed away Tuesday, June 7, 2022 at his home in Fuquay-Varina, NC.

A native of Clover, SC, Hal was the middle of three sons born to the late Dr. Bruce Carleton Elliott and Mildred Glass Elliott. He graduated from Clover High School, earned his undergraduate degree from Davidson College, and his MD from the Medical University of South Carolina School of Medicine. He completed his residency in psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

At the time of his passing, Hal was Chair of Psychiatry at Campbell University School of Medicine. He had also served on faculty at Wake Forest, East Tennessee State and Michigan State Universities, as well as having run a private practice in Wilkesboro, NC. Over the years he received many accolades for his work, particularly as a teacher of residents. As a resident at UNC, he was selected by his faculty and peers as the Diane Eklund Outstanding Resident in Psychiatry. At Wake Forest, he received the Loretta Y. Silvia Teaching Award (2007) and the American Psychiatric Association Irma Bland, MD Certificate of Excellence in Teaching Residents (2009). At East Tennessee State, he was elected by residents to receive the Resident’s Above the Call of Duty Award (2015).

A basketball player in high school, Hal remained a lifelong fan of college ball, particularly the UNC Tarheels and the Davidson Wildcats. He was known to schedule his vacation time around March Madness, just to binge-watch the games with his wife and kids.

Those who knew Hal will remember a warm and empathetic manner, which often contrasted with a wicked, dark sense of humor and a sense of the absurd. At his core, he was a shy person, but also a gifted storyteller who could entertain a crowd once you got him going. This was a skill he brought frequently to his practice and to his teaching. He was fiercely devoted to everyone in his charge, above all his family and his students.

Hal was married to Lisa Boheler Elliott for 37 years, but their relationship went back to the ninth grade, when they began dating. They were married in 1985 and raised four children together: Walker (Jasmine), Davis, Jackson and Julia.

Survivors also include Hal’s two brothers, Carl (Ina) and Britt (Kari); Carl and Ina’s children Crawford, Martha and Lyle; and Britt and Kari’s children Beata, Francis and Owen.

A memorial service will take place at a later date.

Memorials may be made to the UNC American Indian Center, CB 3457, 205 Wilson Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516 or Doctors Without Borders, P. O. Box 5030, Hagerstown, MD 21741. Online condolences may be made at www.mlfordsons.com

M. L. Ford & Sons Funeral Home, Clover, SC is serving the family of Hal Elliott.

Susan Gail (Kaufmann) Campbell lived a full life by shining her loving light on everyone she met. She graduated from Seven Hills School and entered Davidson College in the fall of 1981 where she met the love of her life, Malcolm, whom she married in 1988. After graduating in 1985 as a Studio Art major, Susan pursued a pottery apprenticeship in Bryant Pond, Maine. Always ready for an adventure, in 1987, Susan and Malcolm spent a year teaching at Shikokho Secondary School in Kenya. They returned to the U.S. so that Malcolm could pursue his PhD at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. Susan opened a phone book and found three picture framing shops. She called each one and asked if they were hiring. The Mitre Box owner said to come over for an interview and an hour later, Susan had a job. A year later, Susan began working at the Hopkins library where she specialized in science periodicals, which was very helpful to Malcolm.

In the summer of 1992, the couple moved to St. Louis where Susan began a sabbatical that lasted forty years! Susan took motherhood very seriously and treated her pregnancies as the first stage of raising a healthy child. Their first daughter, Paulina, was born in St. Paul, Minnesota where Malcolm worked at Macalester College. They moved back to Davidson in the summer of 1994 when Malcolm took a job in the Biology Department. They bought a house in 1995 and have lived there since. Their second child, Celeste, was born in 1997. Susan was deeply involved in the children’s education, in and out of formal schooling. During summers, she organized “Camp Campbell,” which included their own children as well as several others. During Camp Campbell, they learned German, did art work, sang, played, and learned to cook. As the girls grew up, Susan supported them in new ways. She attended all sporting events and performances, even learning to keep the scorebook for volleyball matches. She was a role model for many mothers and readily offered advice and support to new or expectant parents. Susan had a lifelong passion for art and music and began learning to play the cello at age 48. She felt deeply connected to the natural world, and always enjoyed walks with friends and family.

Susan and her family attended the Davidson Friends (Quaker) Meeting starting in 1997. At various times, she was treasurer, helped design the Meeting House on South Street, and was an active member of several committees. Becoming Quaker influenced the rest of her life. They attended Quaker Meetings while living in Seattle and Flagstaff during Malcolm’s two sabbaticals spent away from Davidson. She became an informal minister to many in the community. She helped those in need and counseled anyone who felt alone or distressed. Susan was able to see the good in everyone and had friends ranging from 2 to 96 years old. She marked the birthdays of people in town and around the world, sending cards or emails to help them feel special.

Susan was born February 2, 1963 to Gail and John Kaufmann of Cincinnati, Ohio. She is survived by her husband Malcolm of Davidson, daughters Paulina and Celeste, and brother David of Cincinnati. She was a loving wife, mother, and friend. Those who knew her will miss her warm spirit and loving soul. She promised to visit family and friends “from the other side of the thin veil,” so be on the lookout for rays of sunshine cutting through clouds, morning fog or unusual birds.

A service will be held in St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Davidson, North Carolina at 3p.m. on Saturday, May 28. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local Hospice organization or the Charlotte Regional office that helped Susan for the last seven months of her life: https://www.hpccr.org/donate