In Memory

Professor

William Breen

Bill, 87, former chairman of the Finance Department and head of doctoral studies, passed away on Nov. 30, 2024, after a short illness. He taught at Kellogg from 1971 to 2002, serving as a mentor to countless master’s and doctoral candidates. In parallel, he also worked as a consultant to the investment industry and provided investment services to large corporations, public pensions and institutional investors. A banjo player, Bill was also an avid sailor, fly fisherman and dog lover.

Professor

Allan Drebin

Allan, a professor in the Accounting Information & Management Department for 40 years and a professor emeritus, passed away on Dec. 22, 2024, at age 88. He served as department chairman for four years and developed the idea for Northwestern’s Residential College of Commerce and Industry. Allan served as treasurer of the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation and on the boards of various professional and civic organizations. He is survived by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Professor

Matthew Tuite

Matt, associate professor emeritus of Managerial Economics & Decision Sciences, passed away on Nov. 16, 2024, at age 97. A South Side Chicago native and Navy veteran, he joined the Kellogg faculty in 1965 after earning two degrees in quantitative business analysis and working as a manufacturing executive. He focused his research on quality control and manufacturing strategy. In retirement, he was recognized for his watercolor paintings and love of tennis.

1957

Charles “Dick” Kramlich

Dick, a founding partner of New Enterprise Associates and a trailblazer in venture capital, died Feb. 1, 2025, at age 89. After graduating with a bachelor’s in business administration from Kellogg, he became a key early investor in companies such as Apple, Juniper Networks and Macromedia. In retirement, he remained an influential investor and mentor. He is survived by his wife, Pamela; their three children; and many grandchildren.

1972

Frank Massey

Frank passed away on Sept. 3, 2024. Frank served honorably in Vietnam from 1968 to 1970 with the U.S. Army. Frank loved spending time with his family and will be greatly missed by his wife, Kathie; his children and grandchildren; and many others.

1981

Thomas Bedecarré

Thomas, a renowned entrepreneur and advertising executive, passed away on March 29, 2025, at age 69. He cofounded Citron Haligman Bedecarré, which later became AKQA — one of the world’s leading digital agencies. Known for bridging Madison Avenue and Silicon Valley, he was honored with the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2013. He is survived by his wife, Maggie, and three children and two grandchildren.

1986

Douglas Allen

Douglas passed away on Christmas Eve 2024 after a long history of multiple sclerosis. The funeral was held on Jan. 7, 2025, in Magnolia Springs, Alabama. He is survived by his wife, Julie, and children, Riley and Pippa.

1996

Susan Callahan

Susan, of La Cañada‑Flintridge, California, passed away on Nov. 29, 2024, at age 58 after a courageous battle with brain cancer. She began her career in advertising and later held roles at Disney, Pepsi/Taco Bell and the Pasadena incubator Idea Lab before dedicating herself to family life and her family’s real estate business. She is survived by her husband, Kevin, and their three children.

1997

Sean Murphy

Sean, aged 58, passed away on Nov. 17, 2024. Sean carved out a notable career as a fixed income sales executive, contributing his expertise to prestigious Wall Street firms. He is survived by his parents and three sons. Sean’s life was marked by his profound commitment to his family, his career and his community.

2000

David H. Susalla

David passed away in April after a five‑year battle with cancer. A U.S. Coast Guard veteran, David built a successful career in accounting and nonprofit finance, with leadership roles at the Chicago Children’s Museum and the Shedd Aquarium. Outside of work, David found joy in coaching youth sports and captaining family boating trips on Lake Michigan. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Ro, and their two children and three grandchildren.

2010

Valerie Marina Feliciano Barrios

Valerie, a hospitality executive known for her warmth and generosity, passed away on February 21, 2025, at home in Austin after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Born in Manila and raised in San Francisco, Valerie studied at Northwestern as an undergraduate and returned for her MBA at Kellogg. Her career spanned New York, Paris, Bangkok and beyond, with leadership roles at Lebua Hotels a Resorts and Accor. She is survived by her husband, Peter; daughter, Isadora; her mother and siblings.

2024

Aaron Hintz

Aaron passed away on Jan. 28, 2025, at age 27 in Chicago. He is survived by his parents, Scott and Lee Hintz of Plano, Texas; brother and sister‑in‑law Matthew and Jonni Hintz of Nashville, Tennessee; brother Chris Hintz of Plano, Texas; grandmother Doris Beutel of McKinney, Texas; aunts, uncles and cousins; and many friends.