Northwestern would like to honor former members of the Wildcat family (student-athletes, coaches, staff members, boosters, etc.) who have recently passed on. To submit obituary information for inclusion in our In Memoriam section, please send an email to program assistant Jocelyn Serranilla.

Former member of the Northwestern football team Roland "Ort" Ortmayer, 91, died Oct. 9, 2008. Ortmayer was a member of the 1938 Wildcat gridiron squad under legendary head coach Lynn "Pappy" Waldorf before going on to a long and respected career as a faculty member and 43-year head coach of the football program at the University of La Verne in La Verne, Calif.

Roland "Ort" Ortmayer

Ortmayer, who was appointed head football and baseball coach in 1948 at what was then La Verne College, grew to become an iconic figure at the school by the time he retired in 1991. While he also managed the basketball and track & field programs and served as athletic director during his tenure, he was most recognized for coaching football, finishing his career with a 182-193-8 record and earning induction into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1979. In September 1989 he was the subject of a feature article in Sports Illustrated's College Football Preview issue. Written by Douglas S. Looney, "A Most Unusual Man" focused on Ortmayer's influence on the lives of those around him. To simply label him as a coach, Looney wrote, "Is like praising Picasso for knowing the primary colors."

Roland Ortmayer is preceded in death by his wife, Corni, and son, David, who died in 1953 at the age of 6. He is survived by a sister, Marillee Franke of Madison (Wis.), two daughters, Suzi Bowles of Belgrade (Mont.) and Corlan Harrison of Upland, along with four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Dr. Clarence Hinton, 91, a halfback for the football Wildcats from 1935-37 -- including the 1936 Big Ten Championship team -- and the nation's oldest, board-certified, African-American Otolaryngologist, died Sept. 23, 2008, in Silver Spring, Md.

Clarence Hinton

Upon graduating from Peoria Central High School with an "A" average and membership in the National Honor Society, Hinton was granted an academic scholarship to Northwestern, where he received his B.S. degree in 1938. While at Northwestern, he also became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and served as Polemarch of the chapter. Hinton went on to earn an M.D. degree from Howard in 1942 before serving in the U.S. Army from 1943-46.

Dr. Hinton served as Chairman of the Division of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery -- at Howard University Hospital from 1963-1979 and became the first of his race to serve as Chairman of the Section on Otolaryngology of the D.C. Medical Society from 1978-1980. Dr. Hinton had a great appreciation for classical music that dated back to his pre-teenage years when he studied violin. He continued to play the violin every day for his own enjoyment and relaxation until just before his death.

Dr. Hinton is survived by his three children, ViCurtis Audrey Hinton, Diane Hinton Perry (Phillip Craig Perry), and Clarence David Hinton, Jr.; two grandchildren, Phillip Craig Perry, Jr., and Tiffany Diane Hinton; his sister, Louise Hinton Long, who moved to Silver Spring last May to live with her "baby brother"; his godson and nephew, Michael Gray; his son's companion, Linda Johnson; scores of cousins; and a host of friends.

Former Northwestern All-American wrestler Joei Bales, 41, passed away Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008, at Joliet Area Community Hospice Home. Bales was a four-year letterwinner for the Wildcats, earning All-America honors in 1988 in the 134 lbs. division. Bales still ranks fifth in career victories at Northwestern with 115; his 35 wins in 1987 remains tied for the 10th most in a single season in program history.

Bales is survived by his three daughters, Alicia "Allie", Emma and Nikkola Bales of Joliet; his mother, Jeanine Paul (nee Fox) of Sun City, Ariz.; two brothers, James (Eileen) Bales of Naperville and Gerald "Jeep" Bales of Peoria, Ariz.; his aunts and uncles, Larry and Nancy Fox, Pat and Sam Parker, Bob and Colleen Fox; cousins, Cindy and Debbie Fox, Tracy Novak, Eric and Lindsey Parker, Erin Cimino and Kelly Fox; his grandmother, Frances Bales of Joliet; a very special friend, Michelle Baker and her daughters, Britney and Tristen; also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Bales was preceded in death by his father, Gerald Bales; grandparents, James and Josephine Fox and Ferris Bales.

Bales was a graduate of Joliet Central High School class of 1985 and Northwestern University class of 1989. Joei was a member of the 1985 Illinois state champion wrestling team and was an Illinois state wrestling champion. He was a former Lieutenant with the City of Joliet Fire Department and was also a master plumber.

Former Northwestern track coach Don Amidei, 82, passed away Thursday, July 17, 2008. Amidei served as the Wildcats' head men's track and cross country coach for 13 seasons from 1969-82. A well-respected distance coach, Amidei mentored seven track All-Americans during his time with the Wildcats. Prior to coaching at NU, Amidei was the head coach at St. George High School in Evanston and DePaul. He also was an assistant coach at Loyola. Amidei graduated from DePaul in 1949, and is a member of the school's Athletic Hall of Fame, finishing as the NCAA's runner-up in the middleweight boxing division in 1949. For complete obituary information, click here.