Births
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), March 26, 2013, a son, Leroy Charles Graves-Critchfield, to Mary Elizabeth Graves and Scott E. Critchfield of Bellows Falls; grandson to Brenda L. Graves and the late Earnest Graves, and the late Marion and Charles Critchfield.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Feb. 20, 2013, a daughter, Margaret April Smith, to Marilyn (Quinn) and Cory Smith of Bellows Falls; granddaughter to Dianne Quinn and William Luce, Art Smith and Sherry (King) Smith.
College news
• Putney's Gregory Turner, majoring in Theatre Studies at Emerson College in Boston, is part of Emerson Stage's production of Shakespeare's Two Gentlemen of Verona as Company Manager.
• Sadie Holliday of Brattleboro, a junior in the Film and Television Studies program at the University of Vermont, received the The Dugan A. Foley Memorial Award. It is presented to an outstanding junior major who best approximates the spirit of the late Dugan Foley, a UVM student who died in 1995.
Transitions
• Main Street Arts of Saxtons River recently elected six new members to its board of directors. Elected at the community arts center's annual meeting were Abigail Golde, Melinda Underwood, and Owen Dodge of Saxtons River, Cass Morgan of Rockingham, and Gina Cote and Erin Hennessey of Westminster. Officers re-elected were James Macri and Peter Stolley, co-presidents, Carol Buchdahl, secretary, and Jeff Dunbar, treasurer. Outgoing board members Jack Keil, Julia Zanes, Kathleen Michel, Susan Warner, and Michelle Ratte were thanked for their service.
• Brattleboro Memorial Hospital appointed George Pierce Terwilliger, MD, to be site director for its Emergency Department. He has been practicing emergency medicine at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, N.H., since 2002. Prior to his current post, he was a member of the ED staff at BMH for two years and spent 10 years practicing emergency medicine at the Gifford Center in Randolph, Vt. He also has seven years' experience as medical director of a family medicine practice in Chelsea, Vt. A native of Pittsfield, Vt., he attended medical school at the University of Vermont, specializing in Family Practice. He did his residency at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester, Mass.
• Lachlan Francis of Putney was elected as vice-chair of the Vermont State Board of Education. Francis, a student at Brattleboro Union High School, was appointed to the board as a student representative in July 2012.
• The AIDS Project of Southern Vermont has three new members joining its Board: Sarah Benton and Patrick Brown of Brattleboro, and Nathan Longtin of Windham. Benton has had close ties for many years with the AIDS Project of Southern Vermont through the agency's Walk for Life. A close friend of the late Robert Torrey, she dedicated her participation in the 2012 Walk to Torrey, a longtime supporter of the AIDS Project. Brown is founder and owner of Brown Computer Solutions in Brattleboro. He has been in business for 15 years and maintains an active role in the community. 2013 will be the third year in a row that Mr. Brown has put together a team from his business for the AIDS Project Walk for Life. Longtin comes to the AIDS Project with more than 10 years of nonprofit experience with AIDS service organizations. He has worked with JRI Health in Boston and is a former member of Massachusetts HIV Community Planning Group.
Obituaries
• Maynard W. “Mike” Carleton, 80, of Londonderry. Died March 27 at his home. Husband of Ellen Griswold Carleton for nearly 58 years. Father of Michael Carleton and his wife, Debbie, of Londonderry; Earle Carleton of Asheville, N.C.; Teresa Johnson of Chester; Nancy Goodrich and her husband, Scott, of Springfield; and the late Douglas Carleton. Brother of Donald Carleton of Utah. Born in Londonderry, the son of the late William H. and Verna (Westine) Carleton, he received his education in Londonderry and served in the Navy. He was happiest spending time with his family and playing golf with his wife and their many golfing friends. Memorial information: A celebration of his life will be held at the Londonderry Congregational Church at a later date. Donations to Neighborhood Connection, P.O. Box 207, Londonderry, VT 05148; or Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad, Londonderry, VT 05148.
• Gary Edward Coughlin, 55, formerly of Brattleboro. Died March 23 in St. Augustine, Fla., where he had been a resident for 23 years. Husband of Mabel Coughlin. Stepfather of Richard Fountain. Brother of Daniel Coughlin of Maine, Michael Couglhlin and his wife, Lynn, of Vernon, and Stephen Coughlin of California. The son of Bernice and the late Michael Coughlin, he grew up in Brattleboro. He went to school at Oak Grove Elementary and graduated from Brattleboro Union High School in 1976, where he enjoyed playing football with his friends. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing with his family and friends. Memorial information: A graveside service was held at Round Hill Cemetery in West Townshend. Donations to Rescue, Inc., 541 Canal St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, or to the Brattleboro Union High School football program.
• Margaret Louise (Lake) Gates, 85, of Grafton. Died April 2 at her home after a long illness. Wife of Charles Morton Gates for 55 years. Mother of Lisa, of Orlando, Fla.; Christopher, of North Granby, Conn.; and the late David Gates. Sister of the late Mary, Edward, Norman, and Henry Gates. She was born in Grafton, the daughter of Henry and Maude Lake. She enjoyed square dancing, tag sales, making pickles and hand-braiding wool rugs. Many of the rugs can be seen in homes throughout Grafton, at the Grafton Inn, and in homes throughout the United States. She was also known for her baking, especially breads and pies. She was involved with many activities in Grafton, including the Grafton Parent Teacher Group and the Grafton School Board. She spent many winters in Bradenton, Fla. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held June 1 at 1 p.m. at the Grafton Congregational Church. Interment and graveside services will follow in the Houghtonville Cemetery in Grafton. Donations to Grafton Cares, P.O. Box 134, Grafton, VT 05146; the Grace Cottage Foundation, P.O. Box 1, Townshend, VT 05353; or Bayada Hospice, 316 Main St., Norwich, VT 05055.
• Florence M. Haskins, 78, of Brattleboro. Died March 31 at Pine Heights of Brattleboro. Longtime life partner of the late Shirley Foley. Mother of Raymond Haskins of Brattleboro; Katrina Jacobs and her husband, Arthur, of Brattleboro; Sondra Haskins of Brattleboro; Alice Matteson of Vernon; and the late Howard Haskins Jr. Sister of the late Richard Widrick, Arlene Harrington, Doris Brigitta, Harriet Widrick, and Nellie Place. Born in Syracuse, N.Y., the daughter of the late Frank and Florence (Homan) Widrick, she was educated in the Syracuse school system. She relocated to Brattleboro with her family in 1963, and has remained a resident since. She was employed as a chef for the Brattleboro Retreat for many years before her retirement. She loved spending time with her grandchildren. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, fast cars, cooking, and hosting the holidays for family and friends. She will be best remembered by those who knew her as a devoted mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. Memorial information: Per her wishes, all services are private. Donations may be made to Rescue, Inc., 541 Canal St., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Thelma J. Herbert, 95, of Newfane. Died April 5 at her daughter's home following an extended illness. Wife of the late Wilbur Herbert. Mother of Patricia Sargent of Newfane and Romaine Herbert of Canon City, Colo. Sister of the late Hazen Winchester, Ruby Robinson, Nora Winchester, and Helen Hager. Born in Newfane, the daughter of the Wilson and Lillie (Gates) Winchester, she was raised and educated in Newfane and was a graduate of Leland & Gray Seminary, Class of 1935. She had worked in the health care field as a nurse's aide at Grace Cottage Hospital for the former Dr. Carlos Otis and later with Dr. Robert Backus. She retired from Grace Cottage in 1999 following 40 faithful and dedicated years with the hospital. Known as “Sunshine,” she thoroughly enjoyed her position at Grace Cottage and was a loving and devoted caregiver. She was a longtime member of the Newfane Congregational Church. She enjoyed birds, especially hummingbirds, working in her flower garden, going fishing with her husband, needlepoint and knitting. Memorial information: In accordance with her final wishes, graveside committal services in Woodlawn Cemetery will be private for the family. Donations to the Grace Cottage Foundation, P.O. Box 1, Townshend, VT 05353.
• Roger H. Katz, 65, of Dummerston. Died April 1 at home following an extended illness. Son of Edward and the late Genevieve (Kocot) Katz. Brother of Marsha Katz and her husband, Bob Liston, of Missoula, Mont. Born in Detroit, he was raised and educated in the Detroit area and graduated from Royal Oak Dondero High School, Class of 1965. A resident of the Brattleboro area since 1965, he attended Marlboro College, where he majored in Physiology. He soon fell in love with the area making it his home for the past 48 years. Well known in the community as a professional photographer, he established two photography shops, Elliot Street Camera and Photo 101, then located on Main Street. His current business, Black Mountain Studios, was operated out of his home in Dummerston. At the time of his death, he was employed at Omega Optical in Brattleboro, working for his close friend Robert Johnson. In conjunction with his passion with photography, he enjoyed cycling, contra dancing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and time spent in the woods. He was a quiet, unassuming man who was always seen around town with his camera equipment in hand. His extensive photography portfolio may be seen at his Facebook pages at “Roger's Photos” or “Roger H. Katz.” He was a member of several local bicycle and contra dance groups. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held at a future time and date to be announced by Atamaniuk Funeral Home. Services are also scheduled for family members back in the Detroit area. Burial of his cremated remains will be in Wilder Cemetery in Dummerston sometime during the summer after the cemetery reopens. Donations to The Vermont Center for Photography, 49 Flat St., Brattleboro, VT 05301; In-Sight Photography for Youth, 45 Flat St., Suite 1, Brattleboro, VT 05301; Marlboro College, 2582 South Rd., Marlboro, VT 05344; or to Bayada Hospice and Homecare, 23 Marlboro Rd., #101 Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• John H. Kennedy, 91, formerly of Pittsfield, Vt., and Quakertown, Pa., Died April 1 at Cedar Hill Continuing Care in Windsor following a long illness. Husband of Helen Schmidt Kennedy for 64 years. Father of Lynn Kennedy of Bellows Falls and Lisa McGinley of Washburn, Wis. Brother of the late Katherine Oberland. He was born in Pittson, Pa., the son of Joseph and Mary (Fisher) Kennedy. He graduated from St. Mary's School in Pittson and eventually moved to New York City, where he was working in advertising design until the start of World War II. He enlisted in the Army and was selected for the 603rd Engineer Camouflage Battalion. He was part of a unit of soldiers who helped create illusions/camouflage to deceive the German Army during operations such as D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge. Following the war, he graduated from the Philadelphia Museum School of Art in 1948 with a degree in advertising design. After graduation, he worked as an art instructor for the Moore College of Art, freelanced, and worked for the Philadelphia Bulletin. In 1965, he was hired by TPF&C (now Towers Watson) in Philadelphia as an art director. Later, he became the first corporate art director for the company. He retired in 1982, but continued to work as a design consultant for Talone and La Braska, with special projects like the Rodale Theater in Allentown, Pa. He was past president of the Philadelphia Art Directors Club and worked on local planning commissions and other community groups. He was a member of Richland Meeting in Quakertown, Pa. In 1985, he and his wife moved to Pittsfield. He was active in volunteering, especially for the Billings Farm and Museum in Woodstock. He also continued his cartooning art; some were featured in The Saturday Evening Post and a weekly series in the Herald of Randolph called “Local Color.” He enjoyed gardening, music, playing baseball, tennis, the environment, landscaping, creative stone walls, nature, animals, pets, and Vermont. Memorial information: There will be no funeral service. Burial will be at the Vermont Veterans Cemetery in Randolph Center.
• Janet S. Orvis, 85, of Bellows Falls. Died Feb. 22 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. Wife of the late Oliver O. Orvis for nearly 33 years. Mother of William G. Orvis of Bellows Falls; Nancy Bennett and her partner, Joe Szuch, of North Walpole, N.H.; and Lynn Akey of Brattleboro. Sister of Patricia Carruth of Montpelier. Born in Lawrence, Mass., the daughter of the late George and Victoria (Paskowska) Story, she graduated from Bellows Falls High School in 1946 and went to Katherine Gibbs Business College. She worked for E & G Television and Appliance in Bellows Falls, as a secretary at Saxtons River Elementary School, as an insurance agent for Bliss & Lawlor in Bellows Falls, and for North Shore Community College in Beverly, Mass. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Memorial information: A private burial will be held at the convenience of the family. Donations to TARPS, 1758 Route 103 South, Box 274, Chester, VT 05143.
• Lois “Verle” (Rogers) Rivers, 91, of Brattleboro. Died March 9 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. Wife of the late Dr. Franklin Musser Rivers for 69 years. Mother of Franklin Musser Rivers Jr., MD of Belton, Texas; Robin Rivers of Crystal City, Texas; Heather Laurie (Rivers) Biernat of Palestine, Texas; Michele Elise (Rivers) Cartafalsa of Houston, Texas; and Melissa Lee (Rivers) Rice of Brattleboro. Sister of the late Bonnie Mabel (Rogers) Dawson, Geneva (Rogers) Monts, and Arthur Doyle Rogers. Born in Hope, Ark., to the late Arthur Alvin and Sadie Lee (Camp) Rogers, she spent her early years on her family's cotton farm and attended the Hempstead County one-room schoolhouse. When the family lost their farm in the Great Depression, they moved into town. She shared many memories of those hard times and, like so many of her generation, those years shaped her into a wise, frugal, and stoic woman. She graduated from Hope High School in 1939, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and the Salutatorian of her class. Education was extremely important to Verle and although her parents were unable to pay for college, she continued to educate herself through her love of reading. She met the man who would be her husband during her senior year and married at age 19. They lived in New Orleans while Dr. Rivers attended medical school, and then moved to Baton Rouge. La. Her love of travel began in 1947 when her husband was a captain in the Army Medical Corps in southern Germany after the end of World War II. While there, they lived in the town of Garmisch. After returning from Germany, they lived in McAlester, Okla., then Denver, Colo., finally settling in Houston, Texas, for well over 50 years. She relocated to Brattleboro in 2009 to be near her youngest daughter. She was part of the frontline of women who helped to change our country's cultural expectations surrounding the role of wives and mothers. She started an antique business, Gold Mine Antiques, in the early 1970s. She was a proud member of the Houston Antiques Dealers Association. Her interest and appreciation for fine antiques continued after her retirement in 2000. She was a member of the Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Houston and taught Sunday school there for a time. When she moved to Brattleboro, she became a member of the Centre Congregational Church. She was an exceptional woman of wit, charm, and grace. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 27, at 12:30 p.m., in Houston at the Memorial Oaks Funeral Home and Cemetery. Donations to Operation Smile or Doctors Without Borders.
• Phyllis Rogers, 95, of Londonderry. Died March 24 at Springfield Health and Rehab Center. Wife of the late William Rogers for 72 years. Mother of Lois Foster and her husband, Jerry. of Weston, and Michael Rogers of Florida. Sister of Della Rogers of Randolph, Connie Dubray of Kentucky, and the late Lucy Russ, Helen Lemery, Clara Bidwell, and Herbert Wilson. Daughter of the late Frank and Myrtle (Stone) Wilson. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held Friday, April 26, at 7 p.m., at the Second Congregational Church in Londonderry. Donations to Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 911, Londonderry, VT 05148, or Mountain Valley Medical Clinic, P.O. Box 310, Londonderry, VT 05148.
• Mary H. Sampson, 75, of Bellows Falls. Died April 2 at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, N.H. Wife of the late Herman Sampson. Mother of Mark Sampson of West Springfield, Mass.; Stephen Sampson and his wife, Susan, of Rutland; Cathy Chamberlin and her husband, Ernest, of Bellows Falls; Jo-Ann Badar and her husband, Jeff of Fairview Park, Ohio; Janice Grassie and her husband, Ian, of Holmer, N.Y. Sister of the late Philip “Bud” Tidd. Born in Bellows Falls, the daughter of the late Iola (Barrows) and Philip Tidd Sr., she attended St. Charles School and was a 1955 graduate of Bellows Falls High School. She was also a graduate of the New England School of Fashion & Design in Boston, Mass. She lived in Boston, and was a buyer for Grover Cronin in Waltham, Mass. until she married. She was the Bellows Falls Bicentennial Queen in 1953. She worked at McGirr Nursing Home for 31 years. She enjoyed knitting, sewing, and gardening. She loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held April 6 at St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls, with burial in Oak Hill Cemetery. Donations to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 485, Williston, VT 05495.
• Aaron Ellsworth “Cy” Struthers, 86, formerly of West Brattleboro. Died April 5 at Vernon Green Nursing Home following a period of declining health. Husband of the late Beatrice Fisher for nearly 55 years and Brittany Olliver for more than two years. Father of Sharyl “Sherry” Lenkowski and her husband, Tom, of Bennington and the late Aaron E. Struthers. Born in Brattleboro, the son of the late Clarence and Fanny (Adams) Struthers, he was raised and educated in Brattleboro attending Academy School and Brattleboro High School. He worked as a mechanic for the former Book Press in Brattleboro for over 18 years, retiring from the company in 1990. Previously, for 18 years he had been employed at the former Crosby Milling Co. also in Brattleboro. In between his positions at the Book Press and Crosby, he drove trucks for Maple Farms Dairy. He was a longtime member of First Congregational Church in West Brattleboro and was active in church activities for many years. Of his leisure time activities, he enjoyed gardening, especially growing tomatoes. He also liked music, playing the guitar and travel. Memorial information: A funeral service was held April 10 at First Congregational Church, with burial in Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery on Orchard Street. Donations to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302, or to Vernon Green Nursing Home, 61 Greenway Drive, Vernon, VT 05354.