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Tom Travis, an information-technology staffer for almost 25 years, died suddenly at home on January 18. After earning an associate’s degree at Hudson Valley Community College, he attended Sylvania Technical School for computer programming. Travis started his Skidmore IT career as a hardware techni- cian in 1986 and later became a user-ser- vices specialist, until his retirement in 2010.


Known for his love of music, he played keyboard professionally for more than two decades. According to IT colleague and longtime friend Tom Marcotte, “Just before Tom ‘came off the road’ for his new career at Skidmore, he turned down opportunities to join several headline acts of the era.” Bill Duffy, Skidmore’s chief technology officer, says, “Trav had many friends among the faculty, staff, and students. He was always there to help, and always will- ing to go the extra mile. He was one of those guys who could—and loved to— take anything apart … and actually put it back together!” Survivors include his wife, Christine; a brother and sisters-in-law; and two beloved lhasa apso dogs. Gifts in his memory may be made to Donations, Angell Animal Medical Center, 350 S. Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02130. Yacub Addy, renowned Ghanaian drum- mer and a longtime member of Skidmore’s music faculty, died of a heart attack on Dec. 18 at the age of 83. The founder of the troupe Odadaa, he was named a National Heritage Fellow in 2010. As Amina Addy, his manager, producer, and wife of 37 years, told the Albany Times


Union, “Yacub was a pioneer.” In 1956, he mounted Ghana’s first major concert of its own traditional music and dance. Tours followed, and through Odadaa, founded in 1982, he brought authentic African per- formances to American audiences. Among Addy’s many cross-genre collaborators was jazz legend Wynton Marsalis, who told the Times Union that Addy exuded “experience, knowledge, integrity—and a willingness to communicate what he knew. He was really a healer, but he worked as a musician.” Amina Addy noted that along with teach- ing techniques for “distinct, clean tones, both strong and sensitive,” Yacub also taught his students “respect for women and mothers, for teachers, for elders.” In a 2010 interview Addy explained, “We Ga are unique among Ghanaians. We love human beings, no matter where you come from. We are very social. We welcome strangers. We are also independent, proud, and we don’t take nonsense.” Gordon Thompson, chair of Skidmore’s music department, observes, “It’s one thing for a campus to talk about non- Western cultures. But you bring someone like Yacub to campus, and you get it first- hand and unfiltered.” He recalls that Addy “brought a certain attitude to music that attracted a lot of students. You could find students drumming on their own out on the college green.”


Besides his wife and nine children, sur- vivors include seven siblings in Africa and two in Virginia. Contributions may be made to future projects to be announced at www.yacubaddy.com. Jack Bradley, a longtime custodian, died February 11. He was 75.


After working at the Gideon Putnam


Hotel and the Saratoga harness track, he served as a Skidmore custodian for 22 years, retiring in 2001. Former colleague Guy Thomas Hawthorne recalls how much Bradley enjoyed going to New York City to see Yankee baseball games. The two also enjoyed the occasional poker game and traveled to Atlantic City several times. Bradley also attended orchestra and ballet performances at SPAC. Predeceased by wife Mary and a son, he is survived by three daughters, a daugh- ter-in-law, and three grandchildren. Memorial donations may be made to the ALS Regional Center, 19 Warehouse Row, Albany, NY 12205. Alice Adam, a department secretary for 17 years, died March 9 at Saratoga Hospital. She was 77.


She went to high school in Schenectady and later attended Skidmore. The mother of six, she volunteered in her children's activities and in the community; worked at the Overton, Russell and Doerr law firm; and operated several businesses in Saratoga Springs. Her interests included crossword puzzles, gardening, piano, and antiques.


She worked in Skidmore's psychology department from 1980 until retiring in 1997. Professor Emerita Mary Ann Foley recalls Adam's "skill and good will, includ- ing embracing new technologies at a time when so many were initially reluctant." She is survived by husband Skip, her six children and his three children-including Richard Martin ’88, Robin Martin Parker ’92, and Leslie Adam Siciliano ’92, as well as 14 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.


SPRING 2015 SCOPE 67


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