A tribute to the those we lost in 2021

Olivia Letts, who died Feb. 1 at 93, was the first Black teacher in the Lansing School District, where she worked for integration. She was married to Richard ‘Dick’ Letts, a Lansing area civil rights icon who died in 1997. They helped led the fight against race-based discrimination locally. Letts served on many different community boards. She was promoted to various leadership positions in the school district, including principal of Lansing’s Post Oak Elementary School. She also obtained two post-graduate degrees from Michigan State University in administration and curriculum. Her death was recognized by the school district, the Lansing Branch of the NAACP and three separate churches. Mayor Andy Schor also honored Letts by declaring Feb. 8 a holiday in her honor. Letts also helped form the organization LINKS for African American women in leadership.

Kelly Rossman-McKinney died Nov. 9 at 67 from cancer. She helped found the powerhouse public relations firm Truscott Rossman with John Truscott, former spokesman for former Gov. John Engler. When she died, she was the communications Director of Attorney General of Michigan. She was also a force to be reckoned with, tangling with leaders in all parties — including with former State Sen. and Eaton County Sheriff Rick Jones. She publicly challenged Jones’ policy chops in 2012, and Jones then responded by calling her a “hooker.” She, along with Nessel, tried unsuccessfully to mount a petition drive in 2016 to amend Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to explicitly include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes. Rossman McKinney ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat in 2018 against Republican Tom Barrett for Eaton County’s 24th Senate District. A professional comic in her early days, she referred to herself as an “ovarian Rotarian” when she became one of the first women admitted to the Lansing club.

Carmen Decker, who died Jan. 30 at 97, was a powerful force on Lansing’s stages, particularly at the old BoarsHead Theatre. She graduated from Knox College and won a master’s degree from University of Iowa. Decker did stints off-Broadway and elsewhere; in Lansing, she was a secretary at the State Capitol. She won awards for her work locally and on Chicago stages. 

Richard Halik died Dec. 11 at 78. He was superintendent of the Lansing School District from 1985 to 2000 after serving as a teacher, principal and administrator. Halik attended Lansing Community College and Western Michigan University as an undergrad and earned a master’s and doctorate degrees from Michigan State University. He was the first person to be awarded a Distinguished Alumni Award from LCC. And after leaving the school district, he advised schools nationally on policy and administration. Halik also served on the boards of the Lansing Boys and Girls Club, the Woldumar Nature Center and several other local nonprofit groups.

E. Paul Rathbun died Aug. 21 at 60. Rathbun was a leading voice in the city’s business and philanthropy communities. He ran his family business, Rathbun Insurance, after graduating from Ferris State University. Under his leadership, the business sponsored numerous festivals and events in the Lansing region. He also served on the board of a host of civic organizations, including as president of the Lansing Jaycees and as board member of Ele’s Place.

Daniel Southwell, who died Sept. 27 at 66, retired as chief of the Grand Ledge Police Department after working his way up. He was also an investigator for the state Office of the Attorney General. In 2005, Southwell helped found the Blue Light Players, a performance group that raises money for the families of fallen and seriously injured law enforcement officers.

Susan Pigg died Feb. 21 at 62. Pigg was the former executive director of the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission. She also worked for the state Department of Transportation, Eaton County and MSU Extension in Ingham County. In her freetime, Pigg spent her hours supporting her children’s activities at Okemos High School, as well as volunteering with St. Martha’s Church. She was also an active member of a breast cancer survivor support group.

Dial "Doc" Patterson, who died Oct. 21 at 84, founded the Patterson Veterinary Clinic in Mason. He was a 1963 graduate of MSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine.

The Rev. Ilona Sabo Shuler died Sept. 28 at 72. Shuler was a leading voice for reconciliation between LGBTQ people and people of faith. During her 12-year ministry at Williamston Methodist Church, the congregation became the first reconciling church in Michigan — meaning LGBTQ affirming. She left the ministry in 1994 and became a real estate agent.

Rajiv Ranjan Das died July 6 at 62. Das was an immigrant from India who studied business at Michigan State University. He served as the chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Bharatiya Temple of Lansing. Das was also a cyber security expert for Plante Moran.

Vidyahdar S. “Atma” Mandrekar died on June 23 at age 82. An accomplished mathematician, he was a professor at MSU with hundreds of professional publications under his belt — and six books. Mandrekar was also a department chairman and a leader on MSU’s campus.

Angelo James Vlahakis, died April 1 at 93, owned the fabled Jim’s Tiffany Restaurant. Just two blocks from the Capitol on Michigan Avenue, the eatery served as a weigh station for politicians, lobbyists and journalists for 40 years. Vlahakis was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and Michigan National Guard. He also founded Lansing’s R.E. Olds Museum.

James Swindlehurst died Thursday (Dec. 24) of COVID complications. He was a paramedic working with Mercy Ambulance Service, which covers Clinton County. He contracted the virus, his wife said in interviews, while on the job. He was hospitalized Dec. 10. Mercy announced his death on Facebook on Christmas Eve, noting that he was passionate about the DeWitt and Bath communities.