Obituaries
• Dorothy Sibberns Davis, 98, of Treasure Island, Fla., formerly of Brattleboro. Died Sept. 11 in her home at The Allegro after a short illness. Wife of the late Ralph Latimer Davis. Mother of Guy Neilsen Davis. She was a graduate of Holy Name Hospital School of Nursing in Teaneck, N.J. During World War ll, she served as a registered nurse for the American Red Cross in Pittsfield, Mass. After the war, she and her husband moved to Brattleboro, where she served as a nursing instructor at Thompson House. They retired to Florida in 1975. Memorial information: Cremation was performed by the Neptune Society. Donations to the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, P.O. Box 2000, Boys Ranch, FL 32064.
• Richard T. “Dick” Flynn, 84, of Newfane. Died Sept. 9 after a period of declining health. Husband of the late Joan Kares Flynn for 64 years. Father of Tim Flynn and his wife, Bobi; Patrick Flynn and his wife, Joan; and the late Judith Russell. Born in New York City, the son of the late Thomas and Jessie (Alberts) Flynn, he was educated in Westfield, N.J. schools and enlisted in the Navy on his 17th birthday as World War II was winding down. He served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea. Upon his return, he attended Art Students League in New York City. He was then hired by Deluxe Printers Art Department in New Jersey, where he designed bank checks for 18 years. Richard and his family moved to Newfane permanently and opened Flynn's Signs out of his studio. He was a former member of the American Legion, and was also a Shriner and a Mason for 50 years. He enjoyed spending time with his family and was an avid hunter and fisherman. Memorial information: A celebration of his life will be held on Friday, Sept. 21, at the NewBrook Fire Station in Newfane from 4-7 p.m. Private interment will take place at a later date. Donations to Grace Cottage Hospital, in care of Dr. Robert Backus, P.O. Box 216, Townshend, VT 05353.
• Pedro E. Guerrero, 95, of Florence, Ariz. Died Sept. 13 at his home. Husband of Dixie L. Guerrero and the late Barbara Smith Guerrero. Father of Susan Haley Smith Guerrero, Barbara Marchant of Townshend, and the late Peter Marc Guerrero. Born in Casa Grande, Ariz., the son of Pedro W. Guerrero and Rosaura Castro, he was an art school dropout before he became the exclusive photographer of architect Frank Lloyd Wright for 20 years. His work with Wright led to similar relationships with other artists and architects, including Alexander Calder, Louise Nevelson, Philip Johnson, and Marcel Breuer. As a freelance photographer, his photographs appeared in Harper's Bazaar, House and Garden, Architectural Forum, and other magazines, and his photography appeared in many gallery exhibitions over the years. During World War II, he served in Europe as a photographer for the Army Air Corps. Memorial information: No information available.
• Ronald Aaron “Ronnie” Herman, 64, of West Hatfield, Mass., formerly of Brattleboro. Died Sept. 9 at home. Survived by his daughter, Erika Sutter, and her mother, Maurine Sutter. Brother of Gene Herman of Brattleboro. Born in the Bronx, N.Y., the son of the late Ezra and Diana Herman, he graduated from the Bronx High School of Science in 1964 and briefly attended Marlboro College. He was a gifted musician with a love of, and infinite capacity for, knowledge. When he began taking classical guitar lessons with Manuel Gayol, his talent was immediately apparent. Simultaneously teaching himself to play the five-string banjo, he was a fixture at the afternoon “Hootenanny” in Washington Square Park by his early teens. He learned the intricacies of ragtime on his beloved Gibson J-200 acoustic guitar, moved on to study the blues, rock & roll and Jazz, and effortlessly took up electric guitar, all before reaching the age of 20. Moving to Vermont in the late 1960s, he became a fixture on the music scene in Brattleboro, playing the Mole's Eye Café regularly. During this time, he taught himself to play a third instrument, the stand-up double bass. While playing music was always his passion, he also had a brilliant ability to build, understand, and fix machines. Once again almost entirely self-taught, he became an astute auto mechanic in order to support himself, and soon, his family. After moving from Brattleboro, he continued in the auto trade on Martha's Vineyard. Eventually settling in the Northampton area, he worked as service manager at various dealerships and at the Cummins Diesel shop in West Springfield. He also taught car repair at a technical school in Enfield, Conn. He then spent nearly 15 years working as a thin film coating technician at Chroma Technologies, creating interface filters for advanced microscopes. His understanding of elaborate concepts, and effortless ability to explain them, contributed not only to his role as an invaluable employee, it also made him a treasured friend, a beloved brother, and a phenomenal dad. Throughout a long, dedicated working life and into retirement, he relished a remarkable range of interests. A railroad buff and steam mechanism enthusiast, he appreciated technological creations from the Stone Age to the present day. While finding time to repair and collect cameras, watches, as well as miniature and full-sized vehicles, he continued to excel as a guitar player and as a father. Memorial information: A service of remembrance has been planned for Saturday, Sept. 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Book Mill in Montague, Mass.
• Oliver Wentworth “Went” Hubbard, 83, of Walpole, N.H. Died Sept. 8 at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, N.H. Father of Dale and wife, Colleen, of Walpole; Jeff and wife, Patty, of Durham, N.C.; Jan Jefferis and husband, Gary, of St. Peters, Mo., and Heidi Crotty and husband, Pat, of Walpole. Brother of Robert Hubbard of Walpole. Born in Walpole, the son of the late Oliver and Dorothy (Penniman) Hubbard, he was a 1950 graduate of the University of New Hampshire. He served in the Army's Second Infantry Division during the Korean War, where he received a Bronze Star. He was President/CEO and Business Administrator for Hubbard Farms from 1962 to 1986. He later was president of Tulsa Baseball Inc. from 1986 until present. He served through the years one time or another at the following organizations - American Egg Board, New Hampshire Poultry Growers Association, New Hampshire Agricultural Conference, 4-H Foundation of New Hampshire, Kurn Hattin Homes, other civic and organizational involvement. He was the chair of the Walpole School Board for seven years, vice-president of the Rockingham Memorial Hospital Board, a director of BankNorth and the National Broiler Council, a member of the New Hampshire Agricultural Advisory Council, trustee of Vermont Academy, and for many years was involved with the Walpole American Legion Baseball program. Memorial information: A memorial service was held Sept. 11 at Walpole Congregational Church. Burial will be private at the convenience of the family. Donations to Kurn Hattin Homes, Kurn Hattin Road, Westminster, VT 05158.
• John A. “Jack” Hunter, 70, of Marlboro. Died Sept. 8 at home after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Husband of Laura (Drifmeyer) Hunter for 29 years. Father of Stephanie LeMein and her husband, Scott, of Natick, Mass., and Erica Hunter and Alex Hunter, both of Marlboro. Born in Worcester, Mass., the son of the late George and Leona (Robidas) Lussier, he grew up in Worcester and graduated from Worcester Boys' Trade High School and went on to become a Master Electrician. Over the years, he worked in many industrial settings including a ComElectric power plant in Sandwich, Mass.; Genesee Beer in Rochester, N.Y.; Motorola in Austin, Texas and Omega Optical in Brattleboro. He served in the Air Force during the Vietnam era in the Strategic Air Command and worked on the flight lines for B-52 bombers. After retiring, he continued to do electrical work part-time and wired many homes in the Marlboro area. He loved to work in his garage and workshop and always had a “project” going. He loved to spend time with his wife, children and many friends. He was happiest when there was a party going on or an event his family was involved in. He will be deeply missed by many. Memorial information: No service information provided. Donations to the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Oncology Department, 17 Belmont Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301, or the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org.
• James Harold “TurtleBear” “BubbaHawk” “BubbaBubbie” Hutchins Jr., 40, of Brattleboro. Died Sept. 5 after battling illness for a long period of time. Husband of Lynn Ann Sarkisian-Kennedy Hutchins for 12 years. Father of Athenia Lagerberg, Venessa Sarkisian-Kennedy, and Joshuah Kennedy. Brother of Michael Hutchins and April Nephew. Born in Long Beach, Calif., the son of James H. Hutchins Sr. and the late Carol Ann (Fitzmorris) Barry, he worked as an excavation laborer. He was a member of the Cooking Club of America and the Handyman Club of America. He was an avid reader and a fan of WWE, the Patriots, Red Sox, and Bruins, and the UConn Huskies. He enjoyed fishing and spending time with his five granddaughters. Memorial information: A memorial service was held on Sept. 15. Donations to Forest Moon-Celebrating Cancer Survivorship, 38 Park Place, Suite 2C, Brattleboro, VT 05301. Assistance for the family to help with funeral costs should be directed to P.O. Box 1813, Brattleboro, VT 05302.
• Carlene A. Simonds, 73, of Bellows Falls. Died Sept. 13 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. Wife of Gerald Simonds for 55 years. Mother of Brenda Doherty and her husband, Tim, of Rockingham; Sheila Benware of North Walpole, N.H.; and Gary Simonds and his wife, Lynn, of Springfield. Sister of Carl Williams and his wife, Kay, of California and Richard Williams of Bellows Falls. Born in St. Johnsbury, the daughter of the late Ernest and Marion (Dopp) Williams, she was a 1957 graduate of Bellows Falls High School. She married her high school sweetheart and spent many happy years traveling across the country with her husband. She enjoyed spending time at the ocean, playing Bingo, and going to the casinos. She was also an avid animal lover, especially cats. Memorial information: There will be a private service at the convenience of the family. Donations to TARPS, P.O. Box 274, Chester, VT 05143.
Births
• In Dummerston, Aug. 31, 2012, a daughter, Kai Rani Bossard-Kruger, to parents Chandra Bossard and Erich Kruger, and sister Tara Bossard-Kruger. Grandaughter of Carla and Earl Bossard of Davis, Calif., and Marjorie and Ronald Kruger of Sunnyvale, Calif. Great-granddaughter of Rosalie Radtke of Franklin, Wis.
In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), June 5, 2012, a son, Sawyer Hansen, to Christa (Harty) and Christian Hansen of Bellows Falls; grandson to Veronica Harty of Brattleboro, the late Randy Harty, and the late Donna Mason; great-grandson to Thomas and Joan Harty of Barre, Mass., and Kay Long of Bellows Falls.
College news
• Kori Huffman of Brattleboro has been admitted to American International College in Springfield, Mass. A graduate of Brattleboro Union High School, Huffman is a Sports & Recreation Management major.
Transitions
• William “Bill” Wood, MD, is opening a new practice in Brattleboro. Southern Vermont Ear, Nose, and Throat Associates is a new Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Physician Group practice for patients seeking an ear, nose, and throat surgeon or an ENT allergy specialist. A graduate from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Wood completed his residency in Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in 2009. Wood will begin seeing patients on Sept. 24 at his office located at 28 Belmont Ave., across from the hospital. Appointments can be made by calling 802-257-8355.
• Richard Ewald of Westminster West is the new executive director of Forest Moon: Celebrating Cancer Survivorship, a nonprofit that offers free and low-cost programs to improve the quality of life of cancer survivors and their families, primarily in northern Massachusetts, southern Vermont and southwestern New Hampshire. Ewald most recently was director of planning and development at the Connecticut River Watershed Council, an environmental non-profit based in Greenfield, Mass. Previously, he was Community Development Director for the Town of Rockingham. Ewald staffs Forest Moon's new office at 38 Park Place in Brattleboro with newly-hired executive assistant Carolyn Conrad.
Honors
• State Rep. Ann Manwaring, D-Wilmington, was one of 48 state leaders from across the country that participated in the prestigious Toll Fellowship Program, sponsored by The Council of State Governments, in Lexington, Ky. earlier this month. Manwaring was nominated for the annual week-long seminar - which seeks to develop the next generation of leaders from all three branches of state government - by Speaker of the House Shap Smith, with endorsements from Appropriations Chair Martha Heath, Rep. Helen Head and former Rep. David Larsen. Manwaring, who has served three terms in the Vermont House, founded and ran a small business for 23 years that emphasized family friendly policies. She has long been active in local affairs, serving on the Wilmington Selectboard for 12 years, three of those as chair. She has a B.A. degree in Economics and Business Administration from Ohio Wesleyan University and a Master's Degree in Information Technology from Marlboro College Graduate School.