Obituaries
• Ruthmae Bridges, 87, of Keene, N.H., formerly of Brattleboro. Died Jan. 16 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. Wife of the late Ansil Roland “Jimbo” Bridges for 57 years. Mother of Ruthmae Bridget Gardner and her husband, Bruce, of Guilford; and the late Ronald W. Bridges. Sister of the late James K. Bacher. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., the daughter of the late James and Ruth (Bergstrom) Bacher, she was raised and educated in Brooklyn. She had worked as a sales associate for JC Penney in the former Brattleboro store. For several years, she was co-owner of the Mud Hut, a small craft shop located on Main Street in Brattleboro. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Brattleboro and the Reformation Lutheran Church in Lakeland, Fla., where she wintered. She was a former member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She enjoyed traveling, shopping, and playing Scrabble. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Jan. 25 at Trinity Lutheran Church, with burial in Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302. Online condolences may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Marion “Marnie” H. Bruce, 90, of Vernon. Died Jan. 19 at Vernon Hall Assisted Living in Vernon. Wife of the late Ernest E. Alger and the late Walter L. Bruce. Mother of Christine Swain and her husband, Robert, of South Acworth, N.H.; Dr. Bradley Alger and his wife, Lindsay, of Baltimore; and Clifford Alger and his wife, Jeannie, of Milford, Conn. Stepmother of Doug Bruce, Sandra Harris, Mary Boelen, and Margaret Bruce. Sister of the late George Hess. Born in Somerville, Mass., the daughter of the late John Wesley and Josephine (Blake) Hess, she grew up in Lexington, Mass., where she graduated from Lexington High School in 1940. She then went on to receive a bachelor's degree as a registered nurse from Simmons College School of Nursing in Boston. In 1958, her family moved to Fairfield, Conn., where she resided for 33 years. For many years, she was employed with the Boston Visiting Nurse Association. She also worked in pediatrics, private duty, and as a surgical nurse for 25 years before retiring in 1988. After relocating to Vermont, she quickly involved herself in a walking club, served the Vernon Seniors as president, became involved with the early planning of the Vernon Senior Housing Project, and was a devoted member of the Vernon Union Church. She was a former board member of the Windham Chapter of the American Red Cross, and the Vernon Historians. For many years, she volunteered tirelessly at the “Loaves and Fishes” soup kitchen and at R.S.V.P. Her family and friends were most important to her. She was thankful for every opportunity to spend time with them she had. She was a wonderful cook and known for her hospitality. An avid reader, she read an average of eight books a month and kept a careful log with her personal ratings. She loved word puzzles and games and kept her mind sharp. She was known for her amazing recall of dates, places, and events. She will be remembered by those who knew her as a person who genuinely cared, gave easily, and helped selflessly. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Jan. 26 at Vernon Union Church. Burial will be held at Tyler Cemetery in the spring. Donations to the Vernon Union Church, 2631 Fort Bridgman Rd., Vernon, VT 05354.
• Kathleen Michele “Kathy” Burda, 58, of Guilford. Died Jan. 19 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital after a 27 year struggle with multiple sclerosis. Wife of Thomas “Tom” Burda for 31 years. Sister of Linda McCallum and her husband, Phil, of Wilbraham, Mass.; Allen Moyer and his wife, Donna, of Naperville, Ill. Born in Westfield, Mass., the daughter of the late John and Estelle (Krawczyk) Moyer, she was raised and educated in Westfield, graduating from Westfield High School. She went on to attend Framingham State College where she graduated in 1976, summa cum laude, with a B.S. in foods and nutrition. At Framingham she minored in both biology and home economics education. Before her illness prevented her from continuing her career, she served as in-service educator at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester from 1981 to 1984. She previously was employed in Brattleboro at Eden Park Nursing Home from 1979 to 1981 as dietary manager. During the late 1970s, she worked as a clinical dietitian at Franklin County Public Hospital in Greenfield, Mass. She loved her home on Sugar House Hill Road in Guilford and enjoyed interior decorating, cooking, and spending time with her family. Steadfast in her walk of faith, she was a communicant of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Brattleboro. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Jan. 23 at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, with burial in St. Michael's Parish Cemetery. Donations to St. Brigid's Kitchen & Pantry, 47 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301. Online condolences may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Gwendolyn J. Hitchcock, 82, of Saxtons River. Died Jan. 24 at Genesis Home in Keene, N.H. Wife of the late Robert Hitchcock. Mother of John Hitchcock and his wife, Mary, of Wilder; Robert E. Hitchcock and his wife, Heidi, of Bellows Falls; Jean Brown and her husband, Tom, of Saxtons River; Patricia Tenney of Saxtons River; and Mary Beth Powden and her husband, Michael, of Mooresville, N.C. Sister of Donald Saunders and his wife, Marion, of Waldoboro, Maine. Born in Springfield, Mass., the daughter of the late Edward and Alberta (Felch) Saunders, she was a graduate of The MacDuffie School in Granby, Mass., worked for Kurn Hattin Homes for 15 years, and retired after 20 years from Tenney's Lumber Mill. She was a member of Christ's Church in Saxtons River, where she also sang in the choir. She was also a member of the Saxtons River PTA, the Saxtons River Nature Club, the Saxtons River Art Guild, the Keene Pops Choir, and as a Girl Scout leader. Memorial information: Services will be held at a date to be announced.
• Bryant Davis Jones, 71, of Burlington. Died Jan. 13 after a brief, valiant struggle against cancer. Father of Douglas B. Jones of Mechanicsburg, Pa., and Amy B. Patton of New Providence, N.J. Brother of Deborah Jones Cope and her husband, Robert, of San Antonio, Texas. Born in Brattleboro, the son of the late Howard Sutton Jones and Corrine Richardson Jones, he was an honors graduate of Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 1959. Bryant attended Middlebury College for more than two years and then served in the Army from 1962 until 1965. He was stationed at the U.S. Army Language School, The Presidio, in California, and then in Germany and at Fort George G. Meade in Maryland. After earning his mathematics degree at the University of Vermont in 1968, he taught for many years at Shelburne Middle School and Champlain College. He was a long-time bridge player, teacher, and director, and he also umpired for the Babe Ruth Baseball League of Chittenden County for many years. Most recently, he volunteered as a math tutor at Tuttle Elementary School in South Burlington. Memorial information: He was accepted into the University of Vermont Anatomical Gift Program. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Donations to Burlington Bridge Academy, in care of Pat Nestork, 2456 Dorset St., Charlotte, VT 05445; Vermont Babe Ruth - District 2, in care of Jeffrey Brosseau, 52 Dufresne Dr., Winooski, VT 05404; or to Vermont Respite House, in care of Sharon Keegan, 99 Allen Brook Lane, Williston, VT 05495.
• Stan Louderback, 83, of Wilmington. Died at home on Nov. 26, 2012, after a period of declining health. Husband of Judith S. Ellis for 23 years. Former husband of Shirley Bachman Morrison. Father of Cynthia L. Schutt and her husband, Eugene, of Charlottesville, Va. Stepfather of Paul R. Ellis and his wife, Monika, and Jameson S. Ellis and his wife, Jill. Born in Ottumwa, Iowa, the son of the late Verne T. Louderback and Ruby E. (Eakins) Louderback, he was educated in the public schools and graduated in 1947. Working as a mechanical roustabout at Morrell Meat Packing Co., he put himself through the University of Iowa, graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in 1951. On graduating, he was commissioned into the Air Force through ROTC and immediately called to active duty as a second lieutenant. After two years on active duty, he remained in the Air Force Reserve until retiring as a captain in 1962. He had a successful career of 22 years in insurance, beginning with the Connecticut General Life Insurance Co. as a group and pension trainee. He concluded his career as executive vice president and general manager of Reliance Insurance Co. in early 1976. After retiring at the age of 46 and spending nearly two years in Sarasota, Fla., he visited Vermont where he had previously vacationed with his family. Finding the Mountaineer Lodge in West Dover for sale, he made a very quick decision to buy it and so became an innkeeper. Considering the visitors to be “guests in his home,” he ran the business in a very personal style from 1977 to 1986. In 1991, in honor of his distant cousin Frances Burkhalter, his favorite cook, he and his second wife opened Fannies Mainstreet Restaurant in Wilmington - a popular local comfort food establishment. They ran it together until 2001. Upon this retirement, he was able to further pursue his hobbies: clock making, antique repair, furniture building, and the study of American history. A lifelong avid golfer and fisherman, he continued these activities as health permitted. Memorial information: A memorial service was held Jan. 26 at St Mary's in the Mountains in Wilmington. Donations may be made to “Rebuild Dots,” or one of the Wilmington funds assisting in recovery from Tropical Storm Irene.
• Sandra A. Molner, 68, of Wilmington. Died Jan. 24 at her home. Mother of George and his wife, Edith Molner, and Thomas and his wife, Laurie Molner, of Whitingham. Sister of Marianne and Jack Kipnes of Wilmington; Lois and Jim Garrigan of Naugatuck, Conn.; and Genie and Mike Birdsell of Milton, Del. Born in Waterbury, Conn., the eldest daughter of Mary (Bartelli) Coppola and the late James Coppola, she grew up in Seymour, Conn., where she graduated with honors from Seymour High School. She had worked in the Seymour school system prior to the family relocating from Seymour in 1986 to Wilmington, where she was the innkeeper at Nordic Hills Lodge for nearly 20 years. After selling the inn, she worked in accounting at the Windham Southwest Supervisory Union and for Darryl Spirka, C.P.A. She was renowned for her excellent cooking and baking skills. Her cookies, pies, and other treats were enjoyed by the entire community and at her grandson's college. She loved football and was a devoted New England Patriots fan, although she held a special devotion to the Cleveland Browns. She enjoyed being with people, playing Scrabble and - most of all - her grandchildren. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Jan. 29 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Ansonia, Conn., where as a young girl she was a member of the Children of Mary. Donations to either the Patient Resource Fund at the Southwest Vermont Medical Center Cancer Center in Bennington, or the Visiting Nurse Association/Hospice of Vermont and New Hampshire.
• Taylor A. Squindo, 20, of Wilmington. Died Jan. 17 at her home. Daughter of Frank and Valerie (Nimtz) Squindo. Sister of Michael A. Squindo of Wilbraham, Mass. Born in Summit, N.J., she attended Wilmington Middle School, and graduated from Twin Valley High School in Wilmington, Class of 2010. She was working as a sales clerk for Shaw's supermarket in Wilmington at the time of her death. While at Twin Valley, Taylor was a member of the Drama Society, and played basketball and lacrosse. She was also a member of the International Thespian Society, Troop 7111. She enjoyed shopping and had recently taken an interest in photography. She cherished time spent with her family and friends and everyone she came into contact with. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Jan. 22 at Covey-Allen & Shea Funeral Home in Wilmington. Interment was private. Donations to the American Diabetes Foundation, in care of Covey-Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363.
• Wilmot Whitney Jr., 85, formerly of Weston, Mass., and Croydon, N.H. Died Jan. 18 in Vermont. Husband of Martha “Marty” Whitney. Father of Laura Whitney Ribbins of Grand Cayman; Wilmot “Chip” Whitney III and his wife, Tiffany, of Grafton, Mass.; Hallie Whitney and her husband, Rob Cowen, of Durango, Colo.; and Marianna Jacobs and her husband, Richard, of Putney. The son of the late Wilmot and Margaret Whitney of Weston, he graduated with the Class of 1946 from St. Paul's School in Concord, N.H. He served in the U.S. Navy before attending Harvard University and Marlboro College. As a passionate real estate agent and community member, he established Wilmot Whitney, Inc., Real Estate in Weston in 1973. He was elected president of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board, was a former member of Weston Rotary, the Weston Police Department, Weston Golf Club, and The Hollywood Club in the Adirondacks. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed skiing, boating, hunting, fishing and camping with family and friends. Whether he was at the helm of Avatar, or sailing to Africa with his grandchildren in the backyard dinghy, his laughter and power of the human heart impacted all of those who shared his life. Memorial information: A celebration of his life will be held on Friday, Feb. 22, at 2 p.m., at the First Parish Church in Weston. Donations to The Student Conservation Association, P.O. Box 550, Charlestown, NH 03603. Online condolences may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
Births
• In Burlington (Fletcher Allen Health Care), Jan. 9, a son, Dylan Robert Dolan Markey, to Sarah (Miner) and Drew Markey of Essex Junction; grandson to Francis and Claire Markey of Brattleboro, and Hilda and Robert Hawkins of Enosburg Falls; great-grandson to Shirley Dubuque of Enosburg.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Dec. 19, 2012, a daughter, Emma Boku, to Wabalem Waka and Mersea Boku of Brattleboro.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Dec. 16, 2012, a son, Clayton G. Dingman, to Ashley Moore and Wayne Dingman of Chesterfield, N.H.; grandson to Tracie and Butch Warner, and Karen and Wayne Dingman.
College news
• Kyra Pelz-Walsh of Dummerston was named to the Dean's List for the fall 2012 semester at the University of Connecticut.
• Kori Huffman, a junior majoring in Sport & Recreation Management from Brattleboro; and Shannon Weatherup, a senior majoring in International Studies from Vernon, were both named to the Dean's List for the fall 2012 semester at American International College in Springfield, Mass.
• Samantha Harris, a sophomore classics major from Brattleboro; Megan Majonen, a sophomore exploratory major, from Guilford; and Sophie Zschirnt, a freshman exploratory major, were named to the Dean's List for the fall 2012 semester at St. Michael's College in Colchester.
• Emma Frances Barre, a junior nursing major from Putney; Amy Sigrid Blazej, a freshman from Windham; and Sarah Jane Harlow, a freshman Nursing major from Putney, were named to the Dean's List for the fall 2012 semester at Colby-Sawyer College in New London, N.H.
• The following students have been named to the Dean's List at the University of New Hampshire for the fall 2012 semester: Robert Meyer of Brattleboro earned honors; Rebecca Procter of Brattleboro earned highest honors; Drummond Biles of Putney earned honors; and Amanda Oles of Vernon earned high honors.
• Sarah French, a freshman in actuarial mathematics from Vernon; and Stacy Stockwell, a senior in international business in marketing from Brattleboro, were named to the Dean's List for the fall 2012 semester at Bryant University of Smithfield, R.I.
• Landen T. Elliott-Knaggs and Emma L. Gaskill, both of Brattleboro, were named to the Dean's List for the fall 2012 semester at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y. Both students are members of the Class of 2013.
Transitions
• The Rev. Heidi Carrington Heath of Dover has been appointed as pastor of the Marlboro Meeting House, a seasonal congregation, starting this summer. It is her first solo pastorate.
• Tamara Mount has been appointed as the next Head of School at Hilltop Montessori School in Brattleboro, effective July 1. The daughter of a Montessori Head of School herself, she attended Montessori school and has her Montessori Elementary Certification from Princeton Center Teacher Education. Mount has been an educator in a variety of realms for the past 15 years. She is currently working at Cherry Blossom Montessori School in Hillsborough, N.J., where she has been both a toddler teacher and lead teacher in a lower elementary classroom over the past seven years.
• Newfane Wellness Center welcomes Carol Anne Fitzgerald, licensed acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist, to join their team of alternative health practitioners. Fitzgerald, originally from New York, moved to Williamsville just over a year ago and has been practicing acupuncture and herbal medicine at Brattleboro Holistic Health Center, where she can be found on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She is broadening her practice to provide acupuncture closer to her home community in Newfane on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and weekends by appointment.