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Umberto Canto, CGCS, 82, died Sept. 22, 2006. A 37-year member of GCSAA, Mr. Canto served in World War II and later began his career in the turfgrass business in 1966 as head superintendent for Exeter GC in Reading, Pa. He worked at various other Pennsylvania courses after that, including Hidden Springs CC in Horsham, Skyline GC in Carbondale, Wilkes-Barre GC, Elkview CC in Carbondale and Summit Hills GC in Clark Summit. Mr. Canto retired from the industry in 1989. His survivors include his wife, Erika; his son Tommy and wife Myda; five grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; three sisters; several nieces and nephews; and his daughter Heidimarie Sagal and son-in-law Joe, 12 Robert Terrace, Mt. Arlington, NJ 07856.
GCM has learned of the passing of former member Jeffrey T. Dorrell, 49. Mr. Dorrell died Sept. 22, 2006, after a 10-month battle with colon cancer. He earned a degree in turfgrass management from Michigan State University in 1987, and, after working as a professional ski instructor for 30 years, served as superintendent of Rose GC in LeRoy, Mich., and McGuires Resort GC in Cadillac, Mich. Having lost his arm and shoulder to bone cancer at age 16, Mr. Dorrell persevered to master many hobbies and sports such as golf, tennis, skiing, fishing, woodworking and motorcycling. He is survived by his wife, Becky; his daughter Libby; his parents, George and Faye Dorrell; his brother David and sister-in-law Carol; nieces and nephews; and numerous other relatives.
Gary Gray, 70, died April 12, 2006. A 41-year member of GCSAA, Mr. Gray got his start in the business at Anderson (Ind.) CC before moving to Monticello, Ind., and taking over at Tippecanoe CC for several years until his retirement. He is survived by four daughters, Pat, Barb, Cindy and Debra; several grandchildren and great grandchildren; and his wife, Mavis Gray, P.O. Box 840, Monticello, IN 47960.
Joe R. Murr, 60, died Sept. 21, 2006. Mr. Murr, a 10-year member of GCSAA, served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, after which he started his career in golf course management at Wedgewood CC in Mountain Grove, Mo., where he worked from 1979 until 1983. He moved to head superintendent of Lebanon (Mo.) CC, working there until 1998, when he started work as superintendent at Twin Lakes GC until 2006. Mr. Murr is survived by his daughter Lisa and son-in-law Rod; his daughter Carrie and son-in-law Eric; his son Ryan; his sister Jeanne and brother-in-law Jim; a sister-in-law, Elaine Murr; his mother, Marie Murr; a grandson, Bryce; several nieces and nephews; and his wife, Debra Murr, 712 Columbia Avenue, Mountain Home, AR 72653.
Joseph H. Norris, 70, died Aug. 14, 2006. A soldier in the Navy for 42 years, Mr. Norris also spent several years in the golf course management industry in North Carolina. The 35-year GCSAA member started working on the maintenance crew for Boone (N.C.) GC in 1958 until 1962, when he began work as a foreman for Blowing Rock (N.C.) CC. In 1963, he landed his first head superintendent job at Cedar Rock CC in LeNoir, then went on to serve as superintendent at Wedgewood GC in Bethania and Pine Brook CC in Winston Salem. In 1974, Mr. Norris went to work as park and golf course superintendent for Jamestown Park in Jamestown. He retired from that position in 2000. He is survived by three daughters, Kathy Riggs, Karen Francis and Robin Mash; his mother, Faye Norris; sisters Joyce Colvard, Geneva Stevens and Cindy Eller; two brothers, Jimmy Norris and Gary Norris; four grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; and his wife, Peggy Norris, 1791 Sherrill Street, Pfafftown, NC 27040.
Donald Righi, 79, died Aug. 23, 2006 after a battle with cancer. Mr. Righi, a 30-year GCSAA member, served in the Navy during World War II, and was honorably discharged in 1946. After the war, he was employed for 32 years by Ford Motor Co. He then retired to a position of golf course superintendent at Ankeny G&CC in Ankeny, Iowa. He worked there for 18 years before retiring from the industry in 1990. Mr. Righi was an active member of the Iowa GCSA, Knights of Columbus and Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart Catholic Church. He is survived by his daughter Kris Robinson and husband, Ron; his son David; his daughter Ann Wilkinson and son-in-law Monte; six grandchildren; two siblings, Lena Contri and Richard Righi; several nieces and nephews; and his wife, Norma Righi, 1205 W. 1st Street, Ankeny, IA 50021.
Cosimo Roma, 82, died Aug. 14, 2006. A 33-year member of GCSAA, Mr. Roma started work in the golf course management industry in 1953 as a laborer at North Hempstead CC in Port Washington, N.Y. In 1965, he got a head superintendent position at Harbor Hills CC in Port Jefferson, N.Y., until 1979, when he moved to head superintendent of Island Hills GC in Sayville, N.Y. He is survived by his wife, Dahlia Roma, 10 Fiesta Court, Patchoque, NY 11772.
Richard V. Wakefield, CGCS, 47, died Aug. 19, 2006. A 10-year member of GCSAA, Mr. Wakefield worked as head superintendent for International CC in Fairfax, Va. Mr. Wakefield was a third-generation nurseryman and owned a landscaping company. As a member of International CC, he also served on its board of directors when the course was searching for a superintendent and was subsequently hired. International CC established the Richard V. Wakefield Memorial Fund to provide support for his family. Contributions may be made to the Richard V. Wakefield Memorial Fund, c/o Cardinal Bank, 4100 Monument Corner Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030. He is survived by two children, Dallas and Jennifer; two brothers, Harold and Paul; numerous other relatives; and his wife, Stacie Ann Wakefield, 7344 Viewtree Drive, Warrenton, VA 20186.
Mikel Wilson, 58, died Sept. 5, 2006. A six-year member of GCSAA, Mr. Wilson worked for a number of golf courses, including Bayshore GC in Miami Beach, Fla., Lago Mar CC in Plantation, Fla., and, most recently, Hollybrook Golf & Tennis Club in Pembroke Pines, Fla. He is survived by his wife, Janet Wilson; two stepchildren, Robert Cunningham and Tiffany Cunningham; a grandson, Jake Cunningham; and a sister, Toni Landis.
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