Obituaries - Nov. 4, 1996

* Elbert “Allan” Chapin; AIDS Activist

Elbert B. “Allan” Chapin, 55, who helped create one of the first agencies providing services to AIDS patients. From 1989 to 1994 Chapin was director of operations for Auntie Helen’s, a nonprofit group based in San Diego that provides free laundry service and medical equipment for AIDS sufferers. During his tenure the organization grew from 30 clients to more than 450. Born in Hudson, N.Y., Chapin studied business administration and political science at St. Lawrence and Carnegie Mellon universities. He worked in the restaurant and hotel business and produced several musical shows for Las Vegas hotels. He also served as personal manager for such entertainers as Trini Lopez. On Oct. 26 in Las Vegas of cancer.

* Donald T. Handy, 87; Coach, UCLA Teacher

Donald Thomas Handy, 87, athlete, coach and teacher who established and chaired the UCLA department of kinesiology. A native of Los Angeles, Handy served in the Navy during World War II and retired from the Naval Reserve with the rank of captain. Handy earned his bachelor’s degree at UC Berkeley, where he played football and was heavyweight boxing champion, and his doctorate at UCLA. He taught and coached football in Los Angeles high schools and at UCLA. After setting up the UCLA section to teach kinesiology, the study of human muscular movement, he chaired the department for 13 years. An official in several sports, Handy served as president of the Southern California Football Officials Assn. He was also president of the Los Angeles Physical Education Assn. and chairman of the Westside YMCA and West Branch Red Cross boards. On Oct. 20 in Santa Monica.

* Ruth Hagberg Munroe; Psychologist, Educator

Ruth Hagberg Munroe, 66, a psychologist and educator who studied human development. Educated at Antioch College and Harvard University, Munroe in 1964 was a founding faculty member of Pitzer College, one of the Claremont Colleges. She taught there until 1990, when she retired from the classroom. But she remained a research professor and continued to study and publish articles on psychological development in cross-cultural settings on four continents. She recently had been made an honorary fellow of the International Assn. for Cross-Cultural Psychology. Pitzer College plans to name a research laboratory in her honor. On Oct. 22 in Pomona.

* Rene R. Romero; Customs Broker, Civic Leader

Rene R. Romero, 83, a Southern California customs broker and community leader. Born in Mexico’s Baja California, he moved to the United States as a toddler. Romero obtained his broker’s license in 1952 and after working for other companies, later established his own customs brokerage. He soon had offices in both Calexico and San Diego. In the early 1960s he was elected to the Calexico City Council. He was also vice president of the Calexico Chamber of Commerce and grandmaster of the Masons there. Romero was a founding partner and president of another new enterprise called Pharma-Med, which manufactures pharmaceutical products. On Wednesday in San Diego.