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.
• Eleanor Fay Adams, 82, of Marlboro. Died Oct. 29 at her home. Wife of the late Charles Adams for 44 years. Mother of Linda Martin and her husband, Frank, of Keene, N.H., and the late Ronald Adams. Sister of Rachel O'Connor of Marlboro. She was born on the family farm in Marlboro, the daughter of the late Irvin and Eva (Mather) Akley, and attended school in Marlboro. She enjoyed gardening and tending to her flowers, playing cards, doing puzzles and reading, especially books written by Nora Roberts. She was a great dog lover; her dog Nicki held a special place in her heart. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Nov. 2 at 11 a.m. at Covey & Allen Funeral Home in Wilmington, with burial in the family lot in Marlboro Center Cemetery. Donations to the Vermont Heart Association or the Vermont Chapter of the American Cancer Society, in care of Covey & Allen Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363.
• Muriel Beverly “Bev” Franklin, 76, of Brattleboro. Died Oct. 28. Mother of Sandy Rosenberg of San Diego. She touched many lives as Windham County Assessor for the Vermont Adult Diploma Program, something she was particularly proud of. Memorial information: No services are planned. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302 or Emily's List, www.emilyslist.org/action/contribute, or 800-68-EMILY.
• Mary Houser Hickin, 90, of Dummerston. Died Oct. 29 at home. Wife of the late Frank W. Hickin. Mother of Cassandra, Randall, Mary and Deborah and their families. Sister of James, Ray and Robert Houser. Born in Hudson, Ohio, she moved to Dummerson with her husband in the early 1940s to fulfill their dream of owning a vegetable farm. They started Hickin Mountain Mowings Farm on Black Mountain Road, which has been selling jams and pickles made with fresh fruits and vegetables grown on the farm for nearly seven decades. She was an active community leader and a quiet friend. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov. 12, at 2 p.m. at the Dummerston Congregational Church. Donations to either American Friends Service Committee, 1501 Cherry St., Philadelphia, PA 19102, 888-588-2372, or Christian Education, Dummerston Congregational Church, in care of John Wilcox, 125 East Orchard Rd., Dummerston, VT 05301. Online condolences may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Marianne Reinemann, 99, of Brattleboro. Died Oct. 27 at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend. Wife of the late Heinz (Henry) Reinemann for 67 years. Mother of Marion Dowling and Robert Reinemann, and their respective spouses, Sidney Johnson and Mary Reinemann. Born in Munich, Germany, the daughter of Anna and Otto Kestler. The Reinemanns wed in 1936, and they enjoyed mountain climbing, skiing and the beauty of the rugged vistas in the German Alps. Their lives were disrupted by World War II and tragedy befell them. In 1942, as Holocaust survivors, they came to the United States and settled in Jackson Heights in New York City. Vermont was a place that offered the wonderful outdoor life and experiences they had in their earlier years, so in 1972, they bought a vacation home in Newfane. That home has provided many years of wonderful memories of family and friends gathering together. She was an avid gardener, spending hours at a time tending to all the plantings which brought her such joy. She also loved watching the birds, being able to sit for long stretches of time just marveling at their movements around the property. Another passion the Reinemanns shared was classical music, and they attended many concerts at the Yellow Barn and Marlboro Music festivals throughout the years. Her main focus in life was to help people in need, to provide the best possible love and caring for her family, and she was a role model for graciousness and commitment to everyone around her. In the fall of 2009, she moved to Holton Home in Brattleboro, where she lived a peaceful and happy life. Memorial information: There will be a celebration of her life at a later date. Donations may be made to Holton Home, 158 Western Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05346 or Grace Cottage Hospital, P.O. Box 1, Townshend, VT 05353.
• Judith Goldstein Schaeffer, 72, of Putney. Died Oct. 4. Wife of the late Sean Moye. Mother of Daniel and his wife, Julie. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1981, she settled in Putney with her husband, where they bought and sold rare books until his death in 1987. Her distinguished career in the publishing industry as proofreader, editor, and manager spanned four decades. Well-read, intelligent, witty, and kind, she deeply touched the lives of all who had the privilege to know her. She was a steadfast and loyal friend who loved dogs, books, games, and babies. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held on Putney Mountain in the spring. Donations to Fast Friends Greyhound Rescue, Adoption and Education Center, 14 West Swanzey Rd., Swanzey NH 03446.
• James A. Simson, 90, of Brattleboro. Died Nov. 3 at his home. Husband of the late Dorothy Berge Simson for 67 years. Father of James M. Simson of Brattleboro; David F. Simson of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Cynthia Macalister of Hilton Head, S.C.; and Martha Susan Cocks of Dover, Mass. Born and raised in Tonawanda, N.Y., he began his college education at the University of Michigan in 1939. He ultimately graduated from Hofstra. which he attended under the GI Bill. During World War II, he served in the Army Air Corps. He was stationed in England and was a bomber pilot in the Eighth Air Force. He flew 35 combat missions over Germany and German-occupied Europe. After the war, he was a CPA who pursued a career in public accounting in Freeport, N.Y., with his father-in-law, Fred C. Berge, before relocating to the Brattleboro area 40 years ago. He and wife built and restored several homes in the Brattleboro area. He designed the homes and performed much of the construction. For many years, he heated his homes with wood which he cut and split himself. He was an avid bridge player who played at the Brattleboro Senior Center in the last year of his life. Memorial information: Funeral arrangements are private. Online condolences may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Ann Isabel “Izzy” (Carlson) Thomas, 54, of Binghamton, N.Y. Died Oct. 20. Wife of Dan Thomas for 35 years. Mother of Katie Thomas, Valerie Carlson, Betty Carlson, and Barb Dickerson Predeceased by her parents, Doris (Tupper) and Harold Carlson; and her sister, Sally. She graduated from Vestal High School and the LPN program at Broom-Tioga Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). She spent most of her life caring for her family with love, including home schooling her daughter. Everyone was graced by her sweet presence. She never had a bad word to say about anybody. She was a member of the Vestal congregation of Jehovah's Witness. Memorial information: A committal service was held Nov. 4 at Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery in Brattleboro. Donations to the Children's Home, 1182 Chenango St. Binghamton, NY 13901.
• Maryann Pelis Wallace, 75, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died Oct. 30 at home. Wife of the late Harold R. Wallace for nearly 23 years. Mother of Steven and Ann (Wallace) Diorio of Hinsdale; Michael and Elaine Wallace of Walpole, N.H.; William and Barbara Wallace of Brattleboro; Joseph and Ellen Wallace of Brattleboro; James and Lauri Wallace of Winchester, N.H.; Ricky and Joanne (Wallace) Sprague of Hinsdale; and Patricia Wallace and her partner, Diane Garnett, of Swanzey N.H.. Sister of Sophie Standow of Bedford, N.H., and the late Frank, John and Joseph Pelis, and Shirley Walker and Helen Courtemanche. Born on the family farm in Hinsdale, the daughter of the late Joseph and Nellie (Kolnacki) Pelis, she graduated from Hinsdale High School, Class of 1954. She was employed by the Brattleboro Retreat until her retirement in 1996. Previously she had been employed by American Optical in Brattleboro and Bridgeport Metals in Hinsdale. The Wallaces operated several dairy farms locally and in Western Massachusetts. She was a devout Catholic and a communicant of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Hinsdale. She enjoyed reading, cooking, watching the Red Sox and Patriots, and time shared with her family. She had a special bond with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was an ardent fan of the Hinsdale Pacers; she spent many days watching her children play on teams. Her active fan support continued when her grandchildren and great-grandchildren started to play. She was a past member of the Hinsdale Little League board, past president of the Sacred Heart PTA in Easthampton, Mass., and past president of the Keene State College Parents Association, where she was the recipient of the college's Levine Mellion Parent of the Year Award in 1987. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Nov. 4 at St. Michael's Catholic Church, with burial in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Hinsdale. Donations may be made to the Michael Abbott Scholarship, to benefit athletics at Hinsdale High School, in care of Hinsdale Trustee of Trust Funds, P.O. Box 13, Hinsdale, NH 03451. Online condolences may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
College news
• Eliza Warren-Shriner, from Brattleboro, a member of the Bowdoin College Class of 2013 majoring in Romance Languages and Environmental Studies with a minor in Chemistry, was named a Sarah and James Bowdoin Scholar. Students who are designated Sarah and James Bowdoin Scholars are in the top (highest GPA) 20 percent of each class for the previous academic year.
Awards
• The Brattleboro Rotary Club bestowed its first “Norm Kuebler Four-Way Test Award” upon Brown and Roberts hardware store at the club's weekly meeting on Oct. 27. The award honors the late Norm Kuebler, who was a past president of the club, a local businessman, and a longtime community volunteer. The new award recognizes a local business that best exemplifies Rotary International's code of ethics, called the “Four-Way Test,” which asks, “Of the things we think, say, or do: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”
Brown and Roberts “is a business right on Main Street that has been at the center of our community for many years,” said Rotarian Cindy Jerome, as she presented the award to Paul Putnam, who was in attendance to represent the hardware store. “They have done well by doing good. Brown and Roberts is run by our neighbors, for our neighbors.” The Putnam family, starting with Bernard and Albena, has run Brown and Roberts since 1970. The store has been in its present location, the former Montgomery Ward building, since 1975.