Remembering Dr. Jay Tittman C’44
Dr. Jay Tittman, 103, of Danbury husband of the late Eleanor (Gelber) Tittman, died on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at Danbury Hospital.
Dr. Tittman held positions in physics research at Schlumberger-Doll Research Center, Ridgefield and in engineering at Schlumberger headquarters in Houston, TX. He later formed Jay Tittman Technical Consulting Services.
Jay was a life member, a past president and trustee of the United Jewish Center, Danbury; as well as a past trustee of Jewish Senior Services, Bridgeport, the Jewish Federation of Greater Danbury, and the Association of Religious Communities of Danbury. In addition, he was a founding member of the Greater Danbury Area Men’s Club.
Jay is survived by two daughters, Nancy Keefe and Barbara Markusson, son-in-law Joseph Keefe, seven grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren. In addition to his wife and parents, he was predeceased by a daughter Carol Tittman.
Remembering Karl Marx C’49, P’77, GP’08
We bid farewell to Karl Nils Marx in West Orange, New Jersey, born in Schenectady, New York, whose journey of life gracefully concluded on January 15, 2026. Karl touched countless lives with warmth and kindness, leaving behind cherished memories that will forever echo in hearts. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of Karl Nils Marx to pay them a last tribute.
He was predeceased by: his wife Mary. He is survived by: his daughters, Karen Hyman (Lloyd) and Lisa Falco (Alphonse); his grandchildren, Elizabeth Walls (Robert), Louis Hyman, Anthony Falco (Rachel) and Michael Falco (Stephanie); and his great grandchildren, Natalie, Joshua Walls, Rocco and Marcus Falco.
Remembering Dr. Paul Drucker C’51
Paul Drucker, M.D., a devoted physician, passionate collector, and lifelong seeker of understanding, died peacefully on February 6, 2026. He was 97 years old.
Born in 1929, the eldest son to Irving Drucker and Jean (Antler) Drucker, he was raised in Montclair, New Jersey, where he developed the intellectual curiosity and strong work ethic that would guide him throughout his life. A graduate of Montclair High School and Drew University, he went on to receive a medical degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Medicine, followed by residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Newark Beth Israel Hospital, embarking on a long and meaningful career in medicine. In addition he served as a Captain in the United States Air Force at Donaldson A.F.B. for two years.
After serving in the Air Force, Dr. Drucker had a successful private practice in Obstetrics and Gynecology, where he was valued and beloved by his patients. Outside of medicine, Paul lived a life rich with curiosity and passion. He loved sailing and felt most at peace on the water. He delighted in discovering interesting music, exploring the vibrant neighborhoods and cultural life of New York City, and traveling around the world to experience life’s adventures more fully.
Dr. Drucker was also an avid collector of Outsider art—works created by untrained artists expressing their social messages and personal visions of life. He was drawn to authenticity, to voices outside the mainstream, and to art that revealed truth without pretense.
Perhaps his most profound lifelong pursuit was exploring the roots of hatred. Inspired by the experiences of his ancestors who were affected by the Holocaust, Dr. Drucker dedicated himself to collecting objects, coins, images, and artworks connected to this painful but essential subject. He believed that confronting hatred directly—studying it, understanding it, and exposing its origins—was necessary in order to overcome it.
He is survived by his two children, Dr. David Drucker and Deborah Drucker Dillingham and the mother of his children, Peggy Drucker. He is also survived by his daughter-in-law, Jennifer Daniels; his son-in-law, Steven Dillingham; and his beloved grandchildren, Ian and Eve Dillingham. He was predeceased by his brother, Herbert Drucker. In addition, he is survived by his life partner of 31 years, Elinor Ganz.
Dr. Drucker was loyal, brilliant, and endlessly inquisitive—a scientist and an artist at heart, an adventurer and a seeker of respect, and a rejector of hatred in all its forms. Beneath his serious accomplishments lived an inner child who delighted in discovery and wonder. His kind spirit, love and support will be sorely missed.
Remembering Dr. Ronald Saldarini C’61
Ronald John Saldarini, Ph.D., a distinguished scientist, biotechnology executive, and fierce champion for vaccination, passed away peacefully on January 20, 2026, at the age of 86 following a brief hospitalization.
Dr. Saldarini was a beloved husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Suzanne; three children, Charles, Shelley, and John; and seven grandchildren.
Born in Patterson, NJ on November 6, 1939, to Oswald and Angela Saldarini (Scolari), Dr. Saldarini was the older brother and best friend to Charles Arthur Saldarini, a curious student and an avid baseball player.
He would ultimately devote his career to biomedical science—consulting with the World Health Organization, advancing vaccine technologies, and informing the regulatory and commercialization frameworks that strengthened immunization against a variety of infectious diseases, including measles, mumps, rubella, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hib, influenza, and pneumococcal in the United States and around the world.
Along the way, Dr. Saldarini earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biochemistry and zoology from Drew University—where he met his wife. He completed his Ph.D. in physiology and biochemistry at the University of Kansas and accepted an award from the National Institutes of Health to complete his postdoctoral fellowship at the UCLA Brain Research Institute. There, Dr. Saldarini researched advanced physiology, neuroscience, and biochemistry.
But all roads led back to New Jersey and, for Dr. Saldarini, his family. In July 1969, he joined Lederle Laboratories, a division of American Cyanamid (acquired by American Home Products, Wyeth and, finally, Pfizer). After 30 years in vaccine development, he retired in 1999 as the president of the Wyeth-Lederle Vaccines & Pediatrics. Over the course of his career and during retirement, Dr. Saldarini also served on the boards of many organizations dedicated to arresting the spread of infectious disease through effective immunization. He contributed to vaccine availability, safety, and public trust as a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases, the Infectious Disease Institute of New Jersey, the Immunization Advisory Council of the New York State Department of Health, the Corporate Council for the Children’s Health Fund, the policy board of the Albert B. Sabin Vaccine Foundation, the Institute for Advanced Studies of Immunology and Aging, and the Institute of Medicine’s committee to help protect U.S. armed forces against anthrax, smallpox, influenza and adenovirus. In addition, he continued to consult several biopharmaceutical firms helping advance research into therapeutic cancer vaccines, recombinant and vector-based vaccine platforms and next- generation immunotherapy approaches.
Above all, Dr. Saldarini was a steady presence for his family and community. He supported the Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative to help provide primary care to uninsured adults working in Bergen County and was the longest serving Chairman of the Board for EZ Universe, a data analytics platform. Dr. Saldarini cheered on his grandchildren at softball, football, and soccer games, wrestling matches, and chorus concerts, among countless other extracurricular pursuits; traveled around the world with his wife; and planned epic annual summer vacations to the Carolinas with his brother and their families.
Remembering Christopher “Rory” Corrigan C’72, Former Trustee
Christopher Rory Corrigan, 75, of Richmond Hill, GA, passed away on Sunday, January 25, 2026, from complications of leukemia at St. Joseph’s Candler Hospital in Savannah, GA.
Beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, Rory was born on July 2, 1950, in Cleveland, OH, to Charles Paul “Clancy” and Virginia “Ginny” Sutherland Corrigan.
Rory spent the majority of his childhood in Barrington, IL, before moving to Darien, CT. He graduated from the Lawrenceville School in 1968 and attended Drew University in Madison, NJ, where he was the Captain of the Varsity Basketball and Tennis teams and earned a bachelor’s degree in English in 1972.
Rory met his bride, Deborah “Debi” Hawkins Smith, while he was an Assistant Tennis Professional at Morris County Golf Club in Convent Station, NJ. He sent Debi early declarations of love from his hike of the Appalachian Trail: saw a moose, thinking of you. They wed on September 10, 1983, and were happily married for 42 years, sharing a love for competitive racquet sports, rambunctious labradors, and welcoming friends – old and new – into their homes. Before moving to Georgia in 2020, Rory and Debi raised their three children in Morristown, NJ and spent summers in Water Mill, NY, where Rory passed along his love for ocean swims, devouring books, and card games under the hot summer sun.
Rory eventually traded in his ponytail for Wall Street, dedicating most of his career to Jefferies Group where he worked for 24 years before retiring in 2002 as Executive VP and Head of Institutional Sales & Equity Trading. In retirement, Rory served as the Chairman of the Land Conservancy of NJ for seven years and as a Trustee of Drew University for 16 years. He was also a member of HMAF (Happy Members At Ford), a development group within the Ford Field and River Club community, which he and Debi treasured.
Affectionately and appropriately nicknamed “Wrong Way,” Rory lived life to the fullest and on his own terms. A patriot, avid reader, gifted storyteller, and consummate host (enabled by Debi’s meticulous planning), he was renowned for his booming voice, bottomless pours, and boundless charisma. To earn Rory’s respect was to have him forever in your corner and there was no brighter, safer, or more special place to reside. Ultimately, though, to know Rory was to know about his children. Bursting with pride, his favorite pastime, bar none, was regaling those around him with stories of their accomplishments and adventures, both big and small.
Rory is survived by his devoted wife Debi of Richmond Hill, GA; his daughter Katie (Conor) Griff of Summit, NJ; his son Peter (Maddie) Corrigan of Nashville, TN; his son Cary Corrigan of Brooklyn, NY; his brother Peter (Texanne) Corrigan, of Delmar, NY; his sister Megan Corrigan, of Ossining, NY; and four grandchildren who adoringly called him Papa: Grace Corrigan Griff, Luke Corrigan Griff, Nell Corrigan Griff, and Miller Elizabeth Corrigan.
Remembering The Reverend Dr. Tanya Linn Bennett T’00, G’05, T’11, Emeritus Faculty
Drew University is saddened to announce the passing of the Rev. Dr. Tanya Linn Bennett T’00, G’05, T’11.
Bennett retired from Drew this February as Associate Dean for Vocation and Formation, Teaching Professor of Public Theology and Vocation, and University Chaplain. Hundreds of Drew students, faculty, staff, and friends gathered in Craig Chapel and online to celebrate her retirement.
Shortly after her official retirement, Drew’s Board of Trustees awarded Bennett faculty emeritus status.
“We are truly devastated at Tanya’s passing,” said President Hilary L. Link, PhD. “Tanya meant so much to Drew, and Drew meant so much to Tanya. We have missed her presence on campus and will continue to do so. Our thoughts are with her husband, Ken, her children, Caty, Liza, and Teddy, and her extended Drew family.”
“Tanya was inextricably ingrained in the very fabric of Drew Theological School,” added the Rev. Dr. Edwin David Aponte, Dean of Drew Theological School. “Whether it was in her role as chaplain, professor, mentor, colleague, or friend, Tanya put her heart and soul into this school and her many relationships within it, and all of us are the better for it. We lost a creative colleague in theological education and ministry, an uncompromising advocate of justice, a compassionate teacher and mentor to students, a dedicated minister of the gospel, a scholar who bridged church and academy, an inspirational leader, and an irreplaceable friend.”
A lifelong relationship with Drew
Bennett’s time at Drew began at birth. Her father was a student at the Theological School when she was born, and her first home was in the Tipple Complex on campus. When she was eight years old, her family returned to Drew when her father became University Chaplain, and eventually Dean of Students.
Bennett grew up at Drew, attending sports, communion, and multi-faith events on campus.
Drew was not just a place Bennett called home, but one that shaped her vocation.
After graduating from Allegheny College, Bennett sought a course to strengthen her ministry skills as a lay youth advisor. Drew was the natural fit.
Bennett ended up taking a full course load, pursuing the first of what would become three degrees between the Theological School and Caspersen School of Graduate Studies—first a Master of Divinity, then a Master of Philosophy (Sociology of Religion), and finally a Doctorate of Philosophy in Religion.
When Bennett began her graduate studies at Drew, she also joined the Theological School staff as an admissions counselor. She held several subsequent positions in chapel services, and began her life in teaching as a teaching assistant in 1999. She joined Drew’s faculty in 2002 as an adjunct instructor.
Bennett family history repeated itself in 2006 when Bennett became University Chaplain and Director of the Chapel and Religious Life, several decades after her father had served as chaplain. She remained the University Chaplain until 2017, and served once again from 2019 until her retirement.
In 2013, Bennett joined Drew’s tenured faculty as an Associate Professor in the Practice of Ministry. In 2016, she earned the title of Associate Professor in the Practice of Public Theology and Vocation, as well as Associate Dean of Formation and Vocation, and ultimately being promoted to full Teaching Professor of Public Theology and Vocation.
“[Drew’s] model of joining academics and ministry together is one that is compelling for me as it brings together my love of teaching and relationship to students,” reflected Bennett at her recent retirement celebration.
“Not only in the classroom, but also as they explore their faith, engage religion as a system of meaning-making, and consider how religion informs their identities as leaders in the world.”
What deeply compelled Bennett, in combination with her wonderful personality and inspiring spirit, shone through to her students, and indeed all those she impacted at Drew throughout her life.
Remembering The Reverend Dr. Clayton Z. Miller T’59,’75
Drew University is mourning the loss of The Rev. Dr. Clayton Z. Miller T’59,’75, former trustee of the University and adjunct faculty member, who died on April 11 at the age of 92.
Miller’s legacy at Drew will continue on through an endowment he established in 2013—The Rev. Dr. Clayton Z. Miller T’59,’75 Scholarship. Awarded annually to a Drew Theological School student, the scholarship recognizes excellence in supervised ministry and strong promise for leadership in congregational clergy.
“The gift that I give to them is not an end in itself,” Miller had said of his endowment. “It’s a means to a greater gift, which is their ministry.”
Miller earned both a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry from Drew Theological School.
In addition to his work at Drew, Miller was appointed Council Director of the New York Conference of The United Methodist Church, the Conference’s primary program agency. In this role, he initiated the Parish Consultant Network, training clergy and laity to guide congregations through pastoral transitions and times of conflict. He also helped launch the ministry fair model, transforming Annual Conference sessions into interactive, collaborative spaces for sharing ministry. During this time, he also served as a delegate to the General and Jurisdictional Conferences of The United Methodist Church, the international legislative body of the denomination.
Miller also served as senior pastor of Asbury Methodist Church in Tuckahoe, NY, and pastor of East Northport United Methodist Church, in East Northport, NY.
