Obituaries
• James A. “Alan” Bower, 77, of Windham. Died July 7 at home following an illness. Husband of Dawn (Hartkopf) Bower for 56 years. Father of Keith A. Bower of Windham; Scott R. Bower and his wife, Danna, of Youngsville, N.C.; Jill S. Reilly and her husband, John, of Midlothian, Va.; and the late Dale D. Bower. Brother of the late Lois Bower. Born in Jersey City, N.J., the son of the late John and Ella (Price) Bower, he was raised in Caldwell, N.J. and was a graduate of Caldwell High School, Class of 1953. He played baseball as a pitcher in the minor leagues in the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Giants organizations. He worked as a civilian employee for the Army at Fort Monmouth in New Jersey as a contract specialist. Following his retirement in 1989, he was involved in several building projects, and enjoyed playing tennis and golf. He has lived in Windham since 1993. Memorial information: Funeral services were held July 11 at the Windham Congregational Church, with burial in Windham Center Cemetery. Donations to Grace Cottage Hospital, P.O. Box 1, Townshend, VT 05353.
• The Rev. David C. Chevrier, 73, of Saxtons River. Died July 8 at his home. Husband of Eloise Chevrier for 50 years. Father of Suzanne and Stephen. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, the son of the late Louis and Ferne (Browne) Chevrier, at the age of 9 he came with his mother to the United States. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1960, then earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Andover-Newton Theological Seminary. He served as pastor at Christ's Church in Saxtons River from 1964 to 1970. He was called to Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ in Chicago, Ill., where he served for 33 years. He was a Merrill Fellow at Harvard Divinity School in 1976; in 1985 he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Chicago Theological Seminary for leading the church in its prophetic ministry. He retired in 2003 and returned to live in Vermont, which he considered the only civil state in the union. Memorial information: A memorial service was held July 14 at Christ's Church in Saxtons River. Donations to either Our Place Drop in Center, 6 Island St., Bellows Falls, VT 05101 or The What If? Foundation, 1563 Solano Ave., #192, Berkeley, CA 94707.
• Laurence “Larry” P. Condon, 79, of Bellows Falls. Died July 11 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., after a brief illness. Husband of Judith “Judie” Freeman. Father of Mary and her husband, Daniel Hughes, of St. Johnsbury; Philip and his partner, Holly Getz, of Bourne, Texas; David and his wife, Tonia Erickson, of West Rutland; Brian and his wife, Melanie, of Hinsdale, N.H.; and Mark and his wife, Dalila Hall, of Brooklyn, N.Y. Brother of the late Jean Berger, Betty Burke, Clare Chase, and Jack Condon. Born in Bellows Falls, the son of the late Michael and Catherine (Gorman) Condon, he graduated from St. Charles School in 1947 and Bellows Falls High School in 1951. After serving in the Air Force from 1952 to 1956, he then graduated from Dean Junior College in 1958 and got married in New Jersey. The Condons raised five children in Bellows Falls after moving there from Newmarket, N.H. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He was a fan of the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots. He worked for St Johnsbury Trucking and retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 1992. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held July 14 at St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Donations to the charity of one's choice.
• Linda A. Damon, 52, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died July 12 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital following an extended illness. Wife of Christopher Damon for 13 years. Sister of the late Gary “Rock” Hudson. Born in Brattleboro, the daughter of Ronald and Ruthana (Farr) Hudson, she graduated from Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 1977. She had been employed at New Chapter in Brattleboro as a quality control technician, a position she held for the past five years. She also worked in the banking industry at Brattleboro Savings & Loan and at the former Chittenden Bank. She had also worked at World Learning in Brattleboro, and also had been employed by the Windham County Sheriff's Department as a dispatcher. She enjoyed travel, swimming, bowling, and time spent at her home on Emerson Drive with her many friends. Memorial information: A prayer service was held July 17 at Atamaniuk Funeral Home in Brattleboro. Burial will take place at a later date. Donations to The Oncology Department at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, 17 Belmont Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Elba N. Doane, 94, formerly of Londonderry. Died July 3 at HPH Hospice in New Port Richey, Fla. Wife of the late Hugh Doane for 70 years. Mother of Nelsa Hart and her husband, Ed, of New Port Richey, and Neil Doane and his wife, Patricia, of Inverness, Fla. Sister of the late Arlene Neilson. Born in Landgrove, the daughter of the late Alve and Mamie (Beers) Neilson, she attended schools in Landgrove and Londonderry and graduated from Brattleboro High School in 1936. After graduation, she worked as a post office clerk in Londonderry, and was co-owner/operator of Landman's Hardware in South Londonderry from 1956 to 1976. She was a member of the Second Congregational Church of Londonderry and also served as School Director for several years. In 1977, the Doanes relocated to New Port Richey, where they had many happy years together until her husband's death in 2008. Memorial information: In keeping with their wishes, a graveside service will be held this fall for both Elba and Hugh together at Riverside Cemetery in Londonderry.
• Debra A. Madden, 60, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died July 3 at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass., after a sudden illness. She was born in Providence, R.I., and had resided in Hinsdale for the past eight years. Survivors include her husband, David M. Chatterton of Hinsdale; a son, Timothy Barbour of Ohio; and a daughter, Jennifer Boeve of Colorado; and her mother, Nancy Bowers of Connecticut. She was predeceased by her father, Alan Bowers. Memorial information: At her request, no funeral services are planned. Donations may be made to the Humane Society of one's choice.
Carol “Susi” Muller, 66, of San Jose, Calif. formerly of Brattleboro. Died June 28 at home after a long illness. Wife of George J. Muller for 42 years. Mother of Matthew, Stephen, and Paul Muller. Sister of Luise May. Born in Brattleboro, the daughter of the late Otto and Frida Kulmus, she was a graduate of St. Michael's High School and a 1967 graduate of Keene State College. She was commissioned as a Naval ensign in 1967, and assigned to the Fleet Anti-Air Warfare Training Center in Dam Neck, Va., where she met her future husband, who was also a Naval officer. After they married, she left the Navy while her husband continued his Naval career with overseas posts in Vietnam and Italy, and stateside posts in Virginia and California. After her husband's retirement from the Navy, the Mullers settled in San Jose, where they were parishioners at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, and later worked to establish Saint Francis of Assisi Church. She was also an active member of the Lamplighters prayer group. The Mullers loved to take their boys to the historic and natural sights of California. No fan of tents, she endured many nights sleeping in them because the boys loved camping. After sending the boys to college, George and Susi enjoyed camping in the comfort of their RV. In 2010, Susi was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Despite the difficulties of cancer treatment, she remained the anchor of the Muller household. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on July 13 at Saint Francis of Assisi Church in San Jose. Donations to Hospice of the Valley athttp://www.hov.org/donate.aspx, or St. Michael's School, 48 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Edwin William Phoenix, 86, of Townshend. Died June 19 at home. Husband of Lois Arline Casey for 65 years. Father of Whitney, Ned, Perry, and Seth Phoenix. Brother of Harold Phoenix. Born in Stamford, Conn., the son of the late John William and Carrie Whitney Phoenix, he served in the Navy during World War II as a Fire Controlman, third class. After the war, he worked for Lycoming in Stratford, Conn., where he tested jet engines. After moving to Vermont with his family in 1958, he worked as a carpenter and cabinetmaker. He was noted for being the guy who could build or fix almost anything. Following in his father's footsteps, he became a piano tuner, for which he was well-known throughout southern Vermont for 30 years. He was an active member of the West River Radio Club, and attained his Extra Class amateur radio operator's license in 2006. He was proud to have served for 18 years as a volunteer courier for Grace Cottage Hospital. Memorial information: Donations may be sent to Grace Cottage Hospital, P.O. Box 1, Townshend, VT 05353.
• Daniel John Reynolds, 72, of Brookline, formerly of Whitingham. Died July 3 at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend. Husband of Lucinda Hoyt Reynolds for more than 53 years. Father of Andrea Jimenez and her husband, Roy, of Clovis, N.M.; Melissa Reynolds and her husband, Ken Bausch, of Hamilton, N.Y.; and Holly Meyer and her husband, Peter, of Brookline. Brother of George Reynolds of Whitingham, Maxine Beecher and Lorraine Colby of South Portland, Maine, Sally Reynolds of Wilmington, and the late William, Clark, Wayne, Dale, and Richard Reynolds, and Pauline Herzig. Born in Whitingham, the son of the late Clark and Gladys (Sprague) Reynolds, he attended local schools. As a teenager, Dan started working for Sawyer-Bentwood in Whitingham as a wood worker and was employed there for more than 50 years. He loved life and had a great love for the outdoors. He was a very hard worker, enjoyed fixing things and loved helping out anyone he could. He was a dedicated family man and cherished times spent with his wife, children, grandchildren, and his dogs. Memorial information: Graveside services will be held Saturday, July 28, at 11 a.m. in the family lot in Sawdawga Cemetery in Whitingham. Donations to Grace Cottage Hospital, P.O. Box 1, Townshend, VT 05353.
• Harold “Bud” Sprague, 78, of Whitingham. Died July 6 at his home, following a lengthy illness. Husband of Dayle Blood Sprague for nearly 36 years. Former husband of the late Carolyn Sutton Sprague. Father of Donnie and his wife, Shirley Sprague of Westminster; Frank Sprague and Arlene Palmiter of Wilmington; Mark Sprague and Betty Sucharzewski of West Dover; Marty and his wife, Karen Sprague, of Whitingham; Larry and his wife, Angela Sprague, of Woodstock; Christy and her husband Kevin Blanchard of Barrington, R.I.; Mary and husband, Wayne Crockett, of West Rutland; and the late Alan, Ted, John, David and Tom Sprague. Brother of Rick King of Newfane, Sandra King of Holliston, Mass., and the late Phil Jillson, Roger Sprague, George Jillson, and Timothy Jillson. Born in Readsboro, the son of the late James and Mildred (Tanner) Sprague, he graduated from Whitingham High School in 1951. He worked at the former Readsboro Chair Shop and later for the New England Power Company, where he was a lineman, line patrolman, and governor man. Destined to be a farmer, he had his first cow by age 14 and bought 20 acres of land in Readsboro to farm at age 18. After leaving the power company in 1972 to concentrate on full time farming, he worked the land on Burrington Hill, developing the Sprague Farm into a successful dairy farm. In addition to the cows, he produced maple syrup, supplied many farmers and horse people with hay, and operated a sawmill using logs cut from his property. He also operated a transportation business, transporting Whitingham and Wilmington students to vocational schools in Bennington and Brattleboro. After selling his dairy herd in 1998, he was able to concentrate on operating the sawmill, which he truly enjoyed. He enjoyed working with his Belgian horses, which he used for logging, raking hay, teddering hay, and sugaring. He will be remembered as a great horseman and a great caretaker of the land. He was a member of the Grange, Odd Fellows Lodge in Readsboro, Readsboro Baptist Church, Whitingham Ambulance Service, Whitingham Fire Department, and served the Town of Whitingham as a Selectman and Lister. He was also a member of the Green Mountain Draft Horse Association. Memorial information: Graveside services were held July 14 at the family cemetery at the Sprague Farm on Burrington Hill Road. Donations to VNA & Hospice of Vermont and New Hampshire, or Shriners Hospital in Springfield, Mass., in care of the Covey, Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363.
Births
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), July 3, 2012, a daughter, Adeline Olivia Look, to Amanda Kisell and Doug Look.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), June 27, 2012, a son, Aaron Stuart Archer, to Emily Barnes and Robin Archer; grandson to Calvin and Lynn Barnes of Vernon, and Stuart and Deborah Archer of Greenville, S.C.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), June 23, 2012, a son, Trey Harvey Plimpton, to Janine (Hescock) and Mitchell Plimpton of Wardsboro; grandson to Daniel Hescock, and Harvey and Kathy Plimpton, all of Wardsboro, and Joni and Tom Redin of Marlborough, N.H.; great-grandson to Joann Liller of Stratton, and Glennis Hescock of Wardsboro.
•In Springfield (Springfield Hospital), June 5, 2012, a daughter, Bethany Margaret Stockwell, to Josh and Rebecca Stockwell of Westminster; granddaughter to Todd and Carla West of Rockingham, Cyndy Stockwell of Westminster, and Peter Donaghey; great-granddaughter to Peter and Margaret Albrecht of Newburyport, Mass., Jean Donaghey of Rutland, Carl and Nancy Chaffee of North Walpole, N.H., Helen West of Florida, and Connie Trowbridge of Seattle.
College news
• Helena Gomez Cordoba of Londonderry, a member of the class of 2012, has been named to the Dean's List at Providence College for the Spring 2012 semester.
• Elizabeth Rinaldi, a Speech Communication major from Jacksonville, was recently named to the President's List at The State University of New York at Potsdam.
• Seth Major, who graduated from Bellows Falls Union High School in 1987 and is now an Associate Professor of Physics at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., was recognized this spring for his “research and creative success” with a Scholarly Achievement Award presented at the college's Class & Charter Day. From BFUHS, Major went to MIT and Swarthmore for his undergraduate degree. He received a Master's from Cornell and his Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from the University of Pennsylvania. He did post-doctoral work at the Schroedinger Institute for Mathematical Physics in Vienna, Austria and taught at Swarthmore and Deep Springs before becoming a faculty member in Physics at Hamilton about 12 years ago. During one year-long sabbatical, he did research in his specialty, Quantum Theory, at the Perimeter Institute in Waterloo, Ontario.
School news
• The Grammar School in Putney graduated 16 eighth-graders on June 15. Jamie Cooper-Ellis of Putney is going to Woodward U in California; Rory Cuerdon, Isabel Rodriguez, and Lucie Foster of Putney and Bellows Falls, along with Jennifer Flint of Springfield and Rudi Gohl of Walpole, N.H., will attend The Putney School; Stefan Grallert of Claremont, N.H. is headed to Stevens High School; Henry Hamilton of Newport, N.H.will go to Kimball Union Academy; Hannah Oxholm of Saxtons River is going to West Nottingham Academy in Maryland; Frances Cornick of Brattleboro and Westminster will be at Brattleboro Union High School; Devin Hogan of East Alstead, N.H., Evan Ray of Brookline, and Leyeyo Kipamba of Townshend and Longido, Tanzania, will attend Vermont Academy; and Mitike Lyons of Dummerston, Aly Silbey of Walpole, N.H., and Ona Hauert of Chesterfield, N.H. are going to Northfield Mount Hermon School.
• The Brattleboro branch of the American Association of University Women awarded four college scholarships of $1,000 each to one graduate of Brattleboro Union High School and three 2012 graduates of Leland & Gray High School. Megan Collins of Brattleboro was awarded the Jane Baker Memorial Scholarship to help her attend West Virginia University. Krista Gray of Athens plans to attend John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Ark. Phoebe Gunther-Mohr of East Dover will be attending Bard College in Annandale on Hudson, N.Y. Samantha Russ of Townshend is determined to be a civil engineer and has been accepted at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I.
Honors
• Sam's Outdoor Outfitters of Brattleboro was named the 2012 Retailer of The Year by Vermont Retailers Association (VRA). A third-generation family-owned and operated business, Sam's also has stores in Keene, N.H., and Hadley, Mass., and employs 100 people. The VRA singled out Sam's for how it bounced back after Tropical Storm Irene. Flooding struck its Brattleboro warehouse and damaged 6,500 pairs of footwear and sent much more inventory down the river as well. According to the VRA, Sam's opened a sale site for damaged merchandise and sold 96 percent of the product within five weeks, while the Brattleboro flagship store remained open without losing a single day of business to the storm.
• Salon Jacque of Brattleboro has been honored once again by Elle magazine as being one of the Top 100 Salons in America and the only one chosen again in Vermont. Jacqueline Bilodeau and Lorraine Gordon are the owners of the salon, which is staffed by Krystie Curtiss, Casey Langstraat, Heather Fish, Re Sheppard, and Joleah Mackenzie. The salon will be featured in the August issue, and photos of the salon will be on Elle's website.