Obituaries
• Paul Henry George Appel, 91, of Gatlinburg, Tenn. Died Oct. 16. Husband of the late Jeanette Ida (Schwartz) Appel for 65 years. Father of Paul L. and Susan Appel of Elijay, Ga; Tom and Teri Appel of Brattleboro; and Rick and Deborah Appel of Vero Beach, Fla. Born in Alpena, Mich., the son of the late Rev. Edmund Appel and Alvena (Peper) Appel, in 1942 he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and trained to become a pilot. He was stationed in various locations throughout the United States. His aircraft were the B-25, B-26, and A-26. He was honorably discharged after the war with the rank of first lieutenant, and joined his wife as an educator. He continued his education at several Michigan colleges and received his doctorate of education in 1962 from Michigan State. He went on to serve as school administrator in Highland Park, Niles and East China Township Schools. He retired after 18 years as superintendent in the East China School District in Michigan. He was a member of Rotary International for more than 60 years and served as an officer in various clubs. He received a Lifetime Service Award and was named a Paul Harris Fellow. The Appels retired to Gatlinburg in 1980, and became involved with many church and community organizations in their new adopted home. Memorial information: A memorial service was held Oct. 21 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Gatlinsburg. Donations to Home At Last, a nonprofit providing housing to veterans, at P.O. Box 6104, Brattleboro, VT, 05302.
• Gordon D. Barton, 76, of Londonderry. Died Oct. 24 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. Husband Shirley (Arabia) Barton. Father of Bonnie Cobb and her husband, Danny, of South Londonderry; Keith Barton of Manchester; Gary Barton and his wife, Margaret, of Londonderry; Diane Ireland and her husband, Dan, of Lincoln, Maine; Gordon Barton and his wife, Leigh Ann, of Tulsa, Okla,; and the late Cheryl Casey. Brother of Irene Baker, Elwin, Wendell, and Craig Barton; and the late Norman, Ronnie, and June Barton. Born in Greenfield, Mass., the son of the late Douglas and Marguerite (Canedy) Barton, he grew up in Leyden, Mass., and graduated from Greenfield High School where he played varsity football. He worked mainly as a carpenter and pool installation contractor, operating his own business. He loved hunting, fishing, tending to his vegetable garden, sports, playing horseshoes, and polka dancing. He was a former member of the Manchester Eagles and Mt. Lebanon Lodge F&AM. Memorial information: A memorial service was held Oct. 28 at the Londonderry Town Hall (the temporary location of the First Baptist Church). Burial will take place in the spring, Donations to the First Baptist Church, in care of Brewster Funeral Service, P.O Box 885, Manchester Center, VT 05255.
• April Hope Bishop, 35, of Fitzwilliam, N.H. Died Oct. 19. Mother of Breana Adel Finnell of Swanzey, N.H., and Kayden James Gagnon of Fitzwilliam. Born in Brattleboro, the daughter of Clay J. Bishop and Wendy A. Beaman, she graduated from Hinsdale High School in 1994 and she worked several years at Chittendon Bank as an underwriter. She was a very hard worker and a genuine people person. She loved socializing with friends and family. Her life revolved around her children. Her favorite things included nature walks and bedtime stories. She loved the outdoors, Jeeping, and four wheeling. Memorial information: A memorial service was held Oct. 27 at the United Church of Winchester, N.H., with burial in Evergreen Cemetery, Winchester. Donations to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302.
• Robert E. “Bob” Bristol, 72, of Brattleboro. Died Oct. 19 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., following a lengthy illness. Husband of Mildred “Millie” Bristol for 37 years. Former husband of Susan Hebert. Father of Jesse Bristol and his wife, Paula, and Travis Bristol and his wife, Christine, all of Dummerston. Stepfather of Michael Terenzio of Boone, N.C., Debra Ramacciotti and her husband, Christopher, of Seattle; and James Terenzio and wife, Sarah, of Barrington, N.H. Brother of George, Verne, Donald, Dean, Stewart, Charles, Neil, and Merlin Bristol, Barbara Harris, Elizabeth Wellman, Ginger Gordon, Esther Lamb, Brittany Struthers, and the late Edward, Eugene, and Marjorie Bristol. Born in Brattleboro, the son of the late Everett and Elizabeth (Pratt) Bristol, he was a graduate of Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 1959. Following high school, he served in the Vermont National Guard. He had been employed at C&S Wholesale Grocers, retiring in 2008. Previously, he worked at the Brattleboro Retreat, owned and operated Central Answering Service and Crystal Limousine, and was a medic with Rescue Inc. for several years. During his earlier years, he had worked at the former American Stratford in Brattleboro. He was a longtime member of Rescue Inc., and held membership in the Brattleboro Kiwanis Club where he served as president. He was a communicant of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church. He enjoyed traveling, photography, and time shared with his family especially his grandchildren. Memorial information: A memorial Mass was celebrated Oct. 24 at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church. Donations to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302. Condolences may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Robert Edward DiMauro, 75, of Brattleboro, formerly of Putney. Died Oct. 18 at Maplewood Nursing Home in Westmoreland, N.H., two years after being diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme. Husband of Nancy Eastman DiMauro for 54 years. Father of Richard and his wife, Teresa, of Joppa, Md.; Dean and his wife, Marianne, of Bar Harbor, Maine; and Dale and his wife, India, of Brattleboro. Brother of Jean Miller of Andersonville, S.C., and the late Tom DiMauro and Pat Scanlon. Born in Middletown, Conn., the son of the late Sebastian DiMauro and Sarah Orrock DiMauro, he learned carpentry from his father and was in the Honor Society at Middletown High School. He married his childhood sweetheart in 1958, and graduated from Wesleyan University the following year. The DiMauros then moved to White Plains, N.Y, and Bob began his lengthy career with New York Telephone in Manhattan. He earned a M.S. degree in Mathematics from NYU in 1964, a MS in Human Resources from American University in 1983, and a Liberal Arts certificate from Williams College in 1989. After many years of human resource development work for New York Telephone, he retired to do independent consulting work. In 1976, the DiMauros bought their Putney property overlooking the Connecticut River and built a vacation home, which became their primary home in 1992. He continued his consulting work for several years. He then resumed carpentry work, doing house renovations locally. While in White Plains, he volunteered as Cub Master, sang in the Westchester Choral Society, and was active in his church. In Vermont, he was involved with the Rotary Club, Centre Congregational Church, Brattleboro Museum & Arts Center, and Friends of Music at Guilford. His love of life centered on his wife, his children and grandchildren, and his friends. He enjoyed seasonal sports and woodworking. He enjoyed assisting groups with conflict resolution and team building. He appreciated planning adventures and traveling with his wife as well as spending time together outdoors all year round in the beautiful hills of Vermont. Memorial information: A celebration of his life was held Oct. 27 at Centre Congregational Church in Brattleboro. Donations may be made to Brattleboro Museum & Arts Center, Rotary Club of Brattleboro, Centre Congregational Church, or the Norris Cotton Cancer Center, 1 Medical Center Dr., Lebanon, NH 03756.
• Barbara Dirks, 97, of Brattleboro. Died Oct. 24 at Pine Heights Nursing Home. She lived an interesting life as an educator, a leader in international training, a Red Cross volunteer, an administrator, and a supporter of arts and music. She was born in New York City, daughter of the late Rudolf and Helen Dirks. She and her brother John were part of a family that anchored an artists and writers colony in Ogunquit, Maine and New York City. Her father, and then her brother, wrote and illustrated the “Katzenjammer Kids” comic strip, known later as “The Captain and the Kids.” She graduated from Smith College in 1936 and maintained a lifelong interest in the college. She was a Red Cross volunteer during World War II and served in New Zealand and other Pacific areas. After the war, she taught at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., and began leading summer groups of students for the Experiment in International Living, then based in Putney. Her first group went to Finland. After joining the staff at the Experiment in 1957, she moved in 1959 to San Francisco where she served as the EIL office director. Approached by Lewis and Clark College to set up collaborative programs, she led semester groups to Japan. Returning to Vermont in 1965, she carried out special assignments for the Experiment's School for International Training. This included training Peace Corps groups for Korea, Kenya, and the Marianas Islands, and another stint in San Francisco. She was awarded an honorary master of arts in teaching degree from SIT. When most of her peers were retiring, she took on the job of Resident Director of International House in Washington, D.C., where she worked for 12 years before retiring and returning to Brattleboro in 1994. As a retiree, she remained active in civic and cultural affairs. She was a member of the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center in Brattleboro Music Center and regularly participated in activities at World Learning. Memorial information: A gathering of friends will take place at a later date. Contributions in her memory may be sent to World Learning, the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, or a charity of one's choice.
• Edwin E. Haskell Jr., 92, formerly of Hinsdale, N.H. Died Oct. 25 at Maplewood Nursing Home in Westmorland, N.H. Husband of the late Ruby I. Stevens Haskell for 57 years. Father of Harold D. Haskell of Lubbock, Texas, Jacqueline H. House of Salt Springs, Fla., Merry B. Haskell of Hinsdale, and the late Edwin Haskell III. Brother of the late Helen Carpenter. Born in Brockton, Mass., the son of the late Edwin E. and Eva (Godbout) Haskell, he was raised and educated in Manchester, N.H., and was a graduate of Central High School, Class of 1938. He served in the Army during World War II, After the war, he lived in Manchester, N.H. until 1970, when he moved to Hinsdale with his wife. He worked as a printer for Colonial Press in Clinton, Mass., Concord Litho Graphics of Concord, N.H., Vermont Print of Brattleboro, and a print shop in Turners Falls, Mass. He was a member of the B.P.O. Elks #1499 and American Legion Post 5. He was also a communicant of St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Brattleboro. He enjoyed motorcycle riding, hunting, and fishing. Memorial information: A graveside committal service was held Oct. 29 in Village Cemetery in Sutton, Vt. Donations to Maplewood Nursing Home Activities Fund, Attn. Steve Wilson, 201 River Road, Westmoreland, NH 03467. Condolences may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Jeremy D. Knowlton, 39, of Westminster. Died Oct. 19 at his home. Significant other of Heidi Monty. Father of Alex and Jaycee Knowlton of Portland, Ore. Brother of Joni Cormier and her husband, Lance, Colleen Bazin and her husband, Bruno, and the late Henry and Timothy Knowlton. Born in Nuremburg, Germany, the son of the late Timothy and Linda (Christian) Knowlton, he was a 1991 graduate of Bellows Falls Union High School. For the past three years, he was owner and operator of Knowlton's Kitchen in North Walpole, N.H. - the dream of Jeremy and his late mother. Jeremy has run it himself for the past 15 months. He was strong, smart, and caring. He was weak, sarcastic, and a know-it-all. He made amazing food, loved to hunt, but would rather nap. He loved his family, especially his children. His eyes lit up at photos of his nieces and nephews. He loved to tease and hear what they were up to. He was lucky so many times, but never got a break. His laugh was infectious and the twinkle in his eye usually got you to do whatever he wanted. We couldn't ask for more from the artist, carpenter, chef, reader, napper, father, uncle, and brother. Memorial information: A graveside service was held Oct. 27 at Westminster Cemetery.
• Katherine Robinson McCabe, 85, of Londonderry. Died Oct. 20 at home due to acute leukemia. Wife of Robert Emmet McCabe Jr. for 58 years. Mother of Elsie Smith of Bondville, Coco McCabe and Rue Sherwood, both of Ipswich, Mass., Robert McCabe III of Delmar, N.Y., and Kay McCabe of Norwich. Sister of Powell Robinson Jr. of Duxbury, Mass., and Charles Robinson of Mendham, N.J. Born in Glens Falls, N.Y., she was a 1948 fine arts graduate of Radcliffe College, and held a master's of art and education from Columbia University and studied at the Art Student's League and Pratt Institute, both in New York. She began her career as a medical illustrator in New York City. She was a painter, printmaker, sculptor, and winner of numerous awards in group shows. Her solo exhibitions from 1974 to 2005 included two at Southern Vermont Art Center in Bennington. She was secretary of Londonderry Historical Society and president of the National Society of Colonial Dames of America in Vermont. She was an avid gardener, a member of Green Mountain Gardeners, and she also enjoyed worldwide travel and playing tennis. Memorial information: A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. Donations to Mountain Valley Medical Clinic, 38 Vermont Route 11, Londonderry, VT 05148.
• Katharine Payne Moseley, 70, of Grafton. Died Oct. 4, near her family home. Daughter of the late George Van Horn and Katharine Payne Moseley. Sister of Henry and the late George Moseley. After attending Woodstock Country Day School, she studied at Barnard College and Columbia University, earning her Ph.D. in Sociology. Her academic teaching career included Vanderbilt University, the University of Connecticut in Storrs, and then teaching and Fulbright Scholarships across Africa. She entered the Foreign Service in 2000, continuing her work with the African people. She enjoyed art, literature and movies, especially languages, music and dance. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Oct. 27 at St. Luke Episcopal Church in Chester, with burial in Cobb Cemetery in Grafton.
• Donna Lucille Smith, 69, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died Oct 25 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., following a lengthy illness. Sister of Robert Smith and his wife, Rosemary, of Keene, N.H. Born in Brattleboro, the daughter of Sidney and Marion (Greene) Smith, she was a graduate of Hinsdale High School, Class of 1961. She went on to attend Thompson School for Practical Nursing in Brattleboro where she earned her LPN. She later attended Southern Vermont College in Brattleboro where she received her R.N. degree. She had been employed for all of her nursing career at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, which she retired from following more than 40 dedicated years. For many years, she devoted her life caring for her mother. She loved her home, cooking, and sharing time with her family and her beloved cat, Charlotte. Memorial information: Committal services and burial took place on Oct. 27 in Oaklawn Cemetery on Meetinghouse Road in North Hinsdale. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302. Condolences may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
Births
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Oct. 2, 2012, a son, Jax Michael Flynn, to Jennifer (Hill) and Michael Flynn of Newfane; grandson to Elaine Hill of Townshend, and Timothy and Barbara Flynn of Newfane; great-grandson to Raymond and Mary Curran of Mamou, La., Louise Hill of Venice, Fla., and Grace Festa of Seaside Park, N.J.
• In Los Angeles, (Cedars-Sinai Hospital), Sept. 20, 2012, a son, Patrick Renzi Gustafson, to Melissa Anne Renzi and Robert Peter Gustafson of Los Angeles; grandson to Paul and Karen Gustafson of Putney, and Howard and Genevieve Renzi of Wyncote, Pa.; great-grandson to Kathlyn Alberta Renzi of Norwalk, Conn.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Sept. 16, 2012, a son, Anthony Allen Sara, to Suzanne Severance and Wesley Sara of Putney; grandson to Cheryl Butler, Lois Butler and the late Harry Butler, Tim Severance, Tammy and Jay DeBono, Mac and Mary Jones, Carol and Jack Brady, Barbara Jones, Janet Severance and the late Donald Severance, Linda Torres and Bill Torres.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), June 27, 2012, a son, Jeddon Harlen Berger, to Terry (Davison) and Jennings Berger of Brookline; grandson to Mary and Donald Merrill of Townshend, Donald Davison of Londonderry, Daranna and Michael Bradley of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Bobby and Serena Berger of Pearsall, Texas; great-grandson to Darwin Gidel of Henderson, Nev.
College news
• Marlboro College welcomed Katherine Rickenbacker, professor of sociology; Boukary Sawadogo, professor of French; and Sara Salimbeni, professor of physics for the fall 2012 semester. Rickenbacker earned her masters and doctorate in sociology from Northeastern University, with an emphasis in environmental sociology and the sociology of disaster and vulnerability. Sawadogo was born and raised in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, and received his doctorate in francophone studies from Louisiana State University. Salimbeni, a native of Rome,received her laurea in physics from the University of Rome, La Sapienza, and her doctorate in astronomy from The University of Rome, Tor Vergata.