Obituaries

Milica Banjanin, professor emerita of Russian in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, died Dec. 9. She was 79. A memorial will take place Feb. 17.

Pioneering hematologist J. Evan Sadler, MD, PhD, a world-renowned expert in the study and treatment of blood clotting disorders and director of the Division of Hematology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, died Thursday, Dec. 13, at his home in Clayton, Mo., following a brief illness. He was 67.

Brian E. Blank, associate professor of mathematics and statistics in Arts & Sciences, died of heart failure Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. He was 65.

Marie Prange Oetting, a longtime volunteer with Washington University and former chair of the Alumni Board of Governors, died Oct. 9, 2018, in St. Louis after a brief illness. She was 91.

David L. Kirk, former professor of biology in Arts & Sciences, died Nov. 1, 2018, in St. Louis after a long illness. He was 84. Kirk spent a lifetime teaching and researching developmental biology and, in retirement, worked to improve the way evolution is taught in K-12 schools.

Richard Yang, professor emeritus of East Asian languages and cultures in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, died Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. He was 93.

William T. Shearer, MD, PhD, a former trustee of Washington University in St. Louis and a School of Medicine alumnus and former faculty member, died Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018, at his home in Houston. He was 81.

Bob Smith, professor emeritus in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis, died peacefully at home Sept. 22, 2018. He was 92.

James C. Warren, MD, professor emeritus and former head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the School of Medicine, died in July at his home in Mobile, Ala. He was 88. Warren was a renowned researcher, clinician and teacher.

Charles Darrett Churchwell, former dean of Washington University Libraries, died Sept. 19, 2018, in St. Louis. He was 91. During his tenure at Washington University, Churchwell instituted a number of innovative initiatives, most notably the creation of an endowed fund for technology.