Obituaries
Editor's note: The Commons will publish brief biographical information for citizens of Windham County and others, on request, as community news, free of charge.
• Robert Aldrich “Bomber” Brown, 81, formerly of Jamaica. Died Oct. 7 at Vernon Green Nursing Home. Husband of Carol A. Jacques for 46 years. Father of Sally Hescock and her husband, Richard, of Wardsboro; Carl Brown and his wife, Rhonda, of Jamaica; David Brown and his wife, Alison, of Wardsboro. Brother of Mary Ward of Indiana, Doris Benware of Hanover, N.H., and Homer Brown of Rochester. Predeceased by one sister, Slyia, and three brothers, Max Jr, Raymond, and Rodney. Born in Rochester, the son of the late Max and Mina (Warner) Brown, he was raised and educated in Rochester, where he attended public schools. For several years, he resided in Wilmington prior to moving to Jamaica in 1965. He had worked as a sales representative for Interstate Bingo Supply, a company he established, and previously worked as a self-employed logger. He had also worked at Cersosimo Lumber Co. Active fraternally, he was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Jamaica, as well as the Cairo Shrine Temple of Rutland. He also held membership in the Eagles and B.P.O. Elks, Brattleboro Lodge #1499. An ardent outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting, gardening, and raising livestock. Memorial information: Graveside committal services with Masonic Rites were held Oct. 12 in Oakwood Cemetery in Townshend. Donations to Grace Cottage Hospital, Route 35, Townshend, VT. 05353, in care of Dr. Robert Backus. Messages of condolence may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Marjorie Mae Hulett, 84, of Brattleboro. Died Oct. 11 at Pine Heights Nursing Home. Sister of Edith Roberts and Thela Dunn, both of East Dummerston, and Earl Hulett of Kenmore, N.Y. Born in Marlboro, the daughter of the late Clyde and Ruby Fuller Hulett, she was raised and educated in Putney. Prior to moving to Brattleboro, she had been a former resident of both Marlboro and Putney. Worked at Geka Brush Co. and American Optical, both in Brattleboro. During her earlier years, she was involved in farming in Westminster West. She was a member of Community Bible Chapel in Brattleboro. Memorial information: Graveside committal services were conducted on Oct. 15 in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Putney. Messages of condolence may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Jane A. Jockell, 54, of Grafton. Died Oct. 10 at her home. Wife of Bill Jockell for 35 years. Mother of Daniel Jockell of Rhode Island and Sarah Jockell of Walpole, N.H. Sister of Gail, Patti, Nancy, Steven and Douglas. Born in Queens, N.Y., the daughter of the late Walter and Janet (Prokasky) Demsen, she was a graduate of Berner High School in Massapequa, N.Y., and worked as a substitute teacher in Grafton and Saxtons River. She was a member of the Community Christian Church in Athens. She loved children and enjoyed singing. Memorial information: There will be a service at the Community Christian Church in Athens at a later date.
• Pauline Iona Davis LaFlam, 80, of Brattleboro. Died Oct. 11 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Wife of Frank LaFlam Sr. for 61 years. Mother of Frank LaFlam Jr. of Vernon, Mark LaFlam Sr., of Charlestown, N.H., and the late Terry LaFlam. Born in Tunbridge, the daughter of the late Merle and Mary (Decoste) Davis, was a graduate of St. Michael's High School in Brattleboro. Memorial information: At her request, there will be no services. Donations to The Gathering Place, 30 Terrace St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, or Senior Solutions, Council on Aging for Southeastern Vermont, 56 Main St., Suite 202, Springfield, VT 05156. Messages of condelence may be sent to Ker-Westerlund and White Funeral & Cremation Service at www.kerwesterlund.com.
• Roy M. Smith Jr., 67, of Ogunquit, Maine. Died Sept. 13. Brother of Sandra Smith of Harford, N.Y. Half-brother of Cynthis Boadle of New Franklin, Mo.; Roland Anderson of Brattleboro; and Patricia Anderson and Los Angeles. Born in Greenfield, Mass., the son of the late Roy M. Smith, Sr. and Francese (Tammy) B. Anderson Smith, he attended schools in Brattleboro and graduated from Brattleboro Union High School. He was a member of the Brattleboro Junior Police. He was a well known gourmet chef in Ogunquit and previously owned two restaurants in Ogunquit and Portsmouth, N.H. He enjoyed cooking for family and friends, and loved gardening and toy poodles. Memorial information: Burial will be at the Christ Church Cemetery in Guilford at a later late.
• Elizabeth Seymour St. John, 54, of Putney. Died Oct. 5. Wife of the late Juan Carlos Cruz Jimenez. Mother of Clara Leonor Cruz-St. John. Sister of Susan St. John, Andrew St. John, and Mary Colman St. John. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, she grew up in Amenia, N.Y., and Putney, graduating from The Grammar School and The Putney School. After attending Sterling College, she graduated from the University of Vermont. She had a strong connection with the natural world, and was an environmental activist long before it was fashionable. Throughout her life, she was a gardener, and worked on farms all over Vermont. Her connection to the outdoors was combined with a love of physical activity. She maintained a rigorous schedule of walking and bicycling. In 2010, she walked the Camino Real, a 500-mile pilgrimage through Spain. Her love of music and joy in dancing were mainstays of her life. A core of her personality was her abiding commitment to the rights of the underprivileged. She carried a vision of a better world, one based on social justice and environmental sustainability. She lived her politics, and was never afraid of acting outside cultural norms when guided by her principles. The daughter of linguists, she was always interested in other cultures and was fluent in French, Spanish and Norwegian. She lived and worked in France and Norway, and later developed a special interest in the language and culture of Latin America. In the 1980s, she traveled to Guatemala to work with Peace Brigades International. In the late 1980s, she spent several years working in homeless shelters in and around Boston. A natural teacher, her work with Latin American immigrants transitioned to teaching English to speakers of other languages throughout the greater Boston area. Two years after the birth of her daughter, she returned to the area in which she had grown up and took a job teaching Spanish at the Putney School, eventually becoming chair of the Spanish department. She understood teenagers and knew how much they could accomplish, and she pushed each of them to be their own best self. She led regular student trips to Latin America and set many students on a lifelong path of commitment to social justice. Her warm personality, combined with her personal and professional integrity, made her one of the most beloved teachers the school has known. Memorial information: Memorial services are scheduled in Putney and in Maine. For dates and times, check www.putneyschool.org/content/alumni-news-events. Donations to Putney Cares, Kimball Hill Road, Putney, VT 05346.
• Phyllis Louise Stromberg, 86, in Putney. Died Oct. 11 at her home. Wife of the late Roy Stromberg for 40 years. Mother of Arthur of Worcester, Mass.; Charles of Reinholds, Pa.; Marlene Allen of Springfield; and Edward, Richard, and Robert, all of Putney. Born in Greensboro, the youngest of seven children of the late Thomas and Abbie (Salls) Morse. As a teenager, she enjoyed demonstrating her Busy Bee's 4-H projects at the county fair in Barton. Graduated as valedictorian of the Class of 1942 at Greensboro High School, and from the Brattleboro Business Institute. Her first employment was with the West River Basket Co., which closed during World War II. She then enlisted in the Women's Army Corps where she served for 20 months doing patient care. With her husband, they established Green Mountain Well, Inc. in 1957. She was the office manager/bookkeeper until she retired from that position in 2009. She was a member of the Church of Christ in Brattleboro. She was an accepting, caring listener who had a strong faith. Memorial information: Calling hours will be held Friday, Oct. 21, from 7-9 p.m. at the Atamaniuk Funeral Home on 40 Terrace St., in Brattleboro. Donations to Brattleboro Area Hospice, 191 Canal St., Brattleboro, VT 05301 or to Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 60 East 56th Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10022. Messages of condolence may be sent to www.atamaniuk.com.
Births
• In Worcester, Mass., (St. Vincent Hospital), Sept. 7, 2011, a son, Alex Ryan Squires, to Leane Wilder and Heath Squires of Leicester, Mass.; grandson to Tim and Wendy Squires of Guilford, and Beth and Gary Wilder of Spencer, Mass.; great-grandson to Joan and Howard Richardson of Brattleboro, Shirley Squires of Guilford, and the late Maynard Squires.
College news
• Caleb E. Wiley of South Londonderry is enrolled at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pa. Wiley is a junior early childhood education and special education major. Wiley plans to graduate in May 2013 with a bachelor of science degree.