In memoriam
This In memoriam page houses messages from senior leadership regarding loss of life in the Dartmouth community--student, faculty or staff--when it occurs. It is heartbreaking to lose any member of the Dartmouth family, as each individual contributes so much to the College and to those who have had the pleasure of studying, working, and learning alongside them.
Taking time to grieve such losses while honoring the memory of those who died is important. So is seeking support when you need it. We encourage you to make time for all of that in whatever ways are most meaningful and comfortable to you.
Robert A. Danziger
July 16, 2026
Trustee Emeritus Robert A. Danziger ’56—a distinguished real estate entrepreneur, community leader, and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather—passed away on July 16, 2026, at the age of 92. He lived a life marked by steadfast integrity, professional achievement, community leadership, and a deep commitment to family, education, and philanthropy.
Bob graduated from Dartmouth in 1956 and received his MBA from the Tuck School of Business. He founded Northland Investment Corporation in 1970 and led the company for 25 years as President and CEO. Throughout his career he was a lecturer in real estate and entrepreneurship at the Tuck School and Columbia Business School. In addition, he taught a course in real estate in the Master's degree program at the MIT Center for Real Estate.
An active and loyal supporter of Dartmouth, Bob was elected to the Dartmouth Board of Trustees where he served with distinction for 10 years. Bob felt that his greatest accomplishment was the family he built in partnership with his beloved wife, Sara (Levy). Their 70-year marriage was an inspiring example of enduring love and companionship. Their family was grounded and shaped by their shared values and unwavering support. He was a wonderful husband, an engaged and caring father, and a warm and loving grandfather.
Bob will always be remembered for his unusual ability to connect with people from all walks of life with genuine interest and warmth. The Dartmouth flag will be lowered in Bob’s memory on Tuesday, July 21 and Wednesday, July 22. Funeral services will be held on July 20, at 10:30 a.m., at Temple Shalom of Newton, 175 Temple St., Newton, MA. The family will observe shiva at Temple Shalom of Newton on Monday, from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. View his full obituary.
Harvin “Vinny” Sandhu
June 25, 2026
Harvin “Vinny” Sandhu ’27 passed away on June 25 in his home state of Kansas, following a long-term illness.
Vinny arrived on campus in Fall 2023 with strong experience as a state-level high school debater. A member of Allen House, he explored the liberal arts, taking courses in politics, math, and Arabic, and he loved spending time at the library. After completing his first term, he stepped away from campus life to focus on managing his health.
Vinny was passionate about his education and connection with Dartmouth. As he navigated many unknowns, mementos of Dartmouth brought him some comfort and lifted his spirits. His family shared that he remained determined and optimistic at heart, focusing on love and family.
Though his time on campus was brief, Vinny was a valued member of our community whom we lost much too soon. The Dartmouth flag will be lowered in Vinny’s memory on Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11.
James C. Strickler
June 27, 2026
James C. Strickler ’50 DMS ’51, dean emeritus and active professor emeritus of Medicine and of Community and Family Medicine, passed away peacefully on June 27. He was 99.
Dr. Strickler served as dean of Dartmouth Medical School from 1973-1981, but his full connection to the Geisel School spanned more than seven decades. A graduate of Dartmouth and the medical school, he returned to Hanover in 1967 to help guide the school's transition to a full four-year MD-granting curriculum and went on to lead it as dean for eight years. He is remembered for steadying the school during a financially precarious period, including establishing the Brown-Dartmouth Program, through which students attended medical school at Dartmouth for the pre-clinical years and transferred to Brown to complete their training.
What distinguished Dr. Strickler was how he chose to spend the years that followed his deanship. Rather than step back, he devoted himself to humanitarian medicine, caring for refugees and conflict-affected communities across Asia, Africa, the Balkans, and beyond through the International Rescue Committee. He later led Dartmouth's longstanding work in Kosovo and co-founded Action for Mothers and Children, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of mothers and children in Kosovo, which carries on its work today. Those who knew him recall a physician and leader of rare humility, quick to share credit, and quietly steadfast in his commitment to others.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. The Dartmouth flags will be lowered in his honor on July 2 and 3.
Duncan Shalda
June 8, 2026
Duncan William Shalda passed away unexpectedly on June 8, surrounded by his family.
Professionally, Duncan dedicated his career to the transformative power of education. He spent nearly five years in higher education, serving as an Admissions Counselor at Southern New Hampshire University, then as Assistant Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations at New England College, and most recently as Assistant Director of Individual and Class Giving at Dartmouth, where he had worked for the past two years.
At Dartmouth, Duncan helped connect students and alumni to the institutions that had shaped them, cultivating a spirit of generosity and fostering a sense of community between students past and present. His warm personality and generous spirit endeared him to all those he met.
Duncan was devoted to the love of his life, Anna, and he found his truest calling and deepest fulfillment in his role as a father. With Anna, Duncan’s days were spent bringing Simon along on whatever adventure happened to appear. Many peaceful hours were spent playing on the shores of Lake Kearsarge, hitting golf balls in the back yard, walking down the street to the local bakery, or visiting cousins on the other side of town. Duncan’s fatherhood exhibited the same love, humor, gentleness, and strength that characterized all the other areas of his life.
He is survived by his beloved wife Anna V. (Philbrick) Shalda, son Simon Shalda, a second child due to be born on January 1, 2027, parents Ron and Leslie Shalda, and sisters Meredith (Andy) Errington and Natalie Shalda.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 20 at Raymond Baptist Church in Raymond, NH, followed by a luncheon reception at Abbot Falls, 189 Depot Road, Candia, New Hampshire, 03034.
Ryan Lafferty
April 13, 2026
Ryan Lafferty ’26 passed away unexpectedly on Monday, April 13.
He was a fiercely intelligent and deeply kind person who gave generously of his time, expertise, and resources. As a member and president of the Dartmouth Parliamentary Debate team—which he considered his true home at Dartmouth—Ryan competed and earned recognition at the highest levels, including winning Nationals and the World Universities Debating Championships. His friends say that these accomplishments were rooted in a true love of learning and genuine care that he extended to others. For example, Ryan spent hours with first-year debate team members, pouring over their cases to help coach and mentor them.
Ryan’s curiosity and the space he held for others extended well beyond debate, connecting with students around the world during a Foreign Study Program in London, and offering support whether people approached him in states of joy or in sadness. Beyond his numerous accomplishments, Ryan brought warmth, humor, and creativity everywhere he went, making people feel seen and welcome.
The Dartmouth flag will be lowered in recognition of Ryan’s passing on Tuesday, April 14 and Wednesday, April 15 . Plans to gather as a community to honor his memory will be shared at a later date. Any notes or condolences will be collected at the Tucker Center for delivery to Ryan’s family.