Francis Skiddy von Stade Jr. '38, a former dean of first year students and master of Mather House, died September 29 in Keene, N.H. at 79.

Von Stade, who grew up in West-bury, N.Y., and Aiken, S.C., is survived by his wife, Susan, and their three children.

During his undergraduate years, von Stade concentrated in History and Literature and played polo, competing on the team which represented the United States in the 1937 World Cup.

After graduating, he taught for one year at his former high school and then completed a year of graduate study at the University of North Carolina.

Von Stade was named assistant dean of Harvard College in 1940. During World War II, von Stade left Harvard to join Naval Intelligence, but he returned in 1946 to his former post. He was named Dean of Freshmen in 1952.

During his years at Harvard, von Stade served as acting master of Kirkland House and later as Mather House master. Citing a chronic back problem, von Stade took early retirement in 1976.

A memorial service will be held this morning in Dublin, N.H. A service in Cambridge is also planned, but has not been scheduled.

Instead of flowers, the von Stade family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Class of 1938 Fund, which benefits first years "in times of personal hardship or distress," the Cheshire Medical Center in Keene or the Dublin, N.H. School.