Joan Lee Barney Diver BA’86 BSN’89 died Sept. 29, the victim of murder while jogging in upstate New York.

Diver, a 45-year-old Salt Lake native, had gone jogging—as she frequently did—on the suburban Clarence-Newstead bike path about a mile from where she lived. Her husband, Steven Diver, reported her missing that day after she failed to pick up their youngest child from day care that afternoon in Clarence, N.Y., an affluent suburb nine miles northeast of Buffalo. The couple had lived in Clarence for about five years.

After Sheriff’s searchers failed to find sign of Diver by the next day (Saturday) and called off their search, family and friends resumed their own search Sunday and found her body in a densely wooded area several feet off the path.

Joan, the youngest of seven children, met her husband, also of Salt Lake City, while attending the University of Utah. After more schooling in Wisconsin and at Harvard, Steven, also of Salt Lake City, accepted an offer to teach chemistry at the State University of New York at Buffalo about 10 years ago.

A Girl Scout leader, Joan Diver is survived by her husband, Steven; four children, ages 4, 7, 12 and 14; and her father, William Barney of West Valley City.

Donations can be made to the Diver Family Fund, Bank of Akron, 9865 Main Street, Clarence, NY, 14031.

Edited from the article in the Deseret Morning News 10/3/2006.

Henry Jay Groen BA’70 died Oct. 9 at his Washington, D.C., home after a nearly two-year battle with cancer.

Groen and his brother, David, started Groen Brothers Aviation Inc. (GBA), a Salt Lake-based aviation company, in 1986 to develop modern “autorotative” aircraft. Jay Groen was chairman.

Groen, who was born in 1944, served in the U.S. Air Force and spent a year at Yale University learning Chinese so he could be a linguist for his two-year term in Vietnam. In addition to a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Utah he holds a master’s degree in economics from Virginia Tech.

Groen worked for 10 years as an expert on the Chinese economy with the CIA, but left the government to become an entrepreneur. He and his brother were partners in Seagull Recycling and also collaborated on the novel Huey, about a helicopter pilot’s experiences in Vietnam.

GBA developed a gyroplane, the first “autogyro” to use a jet engine, and the Hawk 4 Gyroplane was used for security aerial patrols during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. GBA's American Autogyro division also is developing and selling a smaller kit gyroplane. The Defense contract calls for a GBA-led team to design a proof of concept high-speed, long-range vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for use in combat search and rescue roles.

Groen is survived by his wife, Margaret; daughters Lisa, Rebecca, and Amy; grandchildren Matthew, Sophia, Luke, and Alex; parents Genevieve and Henry; sister Jo-Rene; and brothers Marty, David, and Meru.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent in Jay Groen’s name to CareSource Hospice, 1624 E. 4500 South, Salt Lake City UT 84117.

Edited from a 10/13/2006 article in the Deseret Morning News.

Edited from the notice published in The Salt Lake Tribune 9/13 - 9/14/2006.

Wallace Richards Woodbury BA’47 died September 27 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was 81.

Woodbury was born Sept. 4, 1925 in Salt Lake City to F. Orin and Nina (Richards) Woodbury, the third of four children. Wally graduated from East High School and then attended the University of Utah, where he met Beverley Clair Beesley. Their marriage was solemnized on September 5, 1946 in the Salt Lake Temple, and they lived together until her death in 2003.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics from the University of Utah in 1947, Wally received a Juris Doctorate degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., in 1949. In 1950, he was inducted into the Order of the Coif, recognizing his academic achievement. In 2003, he endowed a University Professorship in his name at George Washington University Law School.

Returning to Salt Lake City after law school, Woodbury pursued a distinguished career in law and real estate for 57 years. His law practice was oriented toward tax, real estate, and business associations, and he was a principal in several law firms which included his name, most recently Woodbury and Kesler. He was admitted to the District of Columbia, State of Utah and U.S. Supreme Court Bars. With his brother, uncle, and father, he joined with the Franklin D. Richards family to form Richards Woodbury Mortgage Corp., which was operated until sold in 1986. As president, then chairman, of Woodbury Corporation, he worked closely with his father, brother, sons, nephews and other associates to build the property development, management and brokerage capabilities of that company. Among his many retail, office, and hotel projects in multiple states, Wally developed K-Mart centers from Pennsylvania to California and built the first McDonald's in Utah. He also served the real estate industry as regional vice president of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) for four years, president of the Utah Association of Realtors (1971), and president of the Salt Lake Board of Realtors (1966). He was named “Realtor of the Year” by the Utah Association in 1966. He earned the CCIM designation and as a member of the American Society of Real Estate Counselors was awarded the CRE designation (1965).

Woodbury also enjoyed legislative affairs and chaired the Federal Tax Subcommittee of NAR for 17 years, testifying several times on tax issues before the U.S. Congress and other agencies. He also taught tax law and CCIM commercial real estate courses for 20 years. He was honored with the prestigious Distinguished Service Award from each of the national, Utah, and Salt Lake associations of Realtors and was the only Utah member of the NAR's “Hall of Fame,” established in 2002.

Wally Woodbury is survived by his three sons, Rick (Becky), Lynn (Cecily) and Jeff (Sonia) of Salt Lake City; 12 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Orin (Imogene) and his sister Dorothy (William) Macrate. He was predeceased by his parents, devoted wife Beverley, and sister Marilyn (Blaine) Twitchell.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Utah Valley State Business School or the University of Utah scholarship funds, or the City Academy Charter School. Online condolences may be left at www.larkinmortuary.com.

Edited from the notice published in The Salt Lake Tribune from 9/29-10/1/2006.