Births
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), April 13, 2013, a daughter, Grace Lynn Cobb, to Katie Kennison-Cobb of Townshend and Larry Cobb III of Aurora, Maine; granddaughter to Carlena Lee of Townshend, Kathy Cobb of Aurora, and Larry Cobb Jr. of Orland, Maine.
School news
• Alexandra Miskovich, a fifth-grader at Green Street School, won first place, and Ruby Diamondstone, a sixth grader at Green Street School, won second place in the 2013 Vermont Foreign Language Association Essay Contest. They had to write a 150-word essay in English on the topic, “What language besides your own would you like to learn?” and a 75-word autobiography in French. Alexandra and Ruby traveled with their parents and their teacher, Alice Charkes, to Montpelier on April 10, to accept their awards, to meet Gov. Peter Shumlin, to get a tour of the State House, to attend and be introduced to the House Education Committee, and to meet state Reps. Mollie Burke and Valerie Stuart.
College news
• Jonah Stoller, a sophomore from Brattleboro, presented research on “That Smells Delicious! - Olfactory Cues in Food Consumption” at the 37th annual Beloit (Wis.) College Student Symposium on April 11. Stoller majors in psychology. Symposium Day at Beloit College is an academic forum at which students publicly present their research to the college community. All classes are cancelled to allow students, faculty and staff to attend the presentations. Topics range from scientific studies to interpretations of literary works. Each of the nearly 90 students participating in the program prepare a half-hour oral presentation or make poster presentations of original research conducted during the 2012-2013 academic year. Symposium Day participants are honored at a closing reception.
Transitions
• Arthur “Art” Magnaghi Jr. of Brattleboro has been named to the Board of Governors at Tufts Medical Center in Medford, Mass. Magnaghi is the former owner and president of DeWitt Beverage and the past president of the Board of Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. He first became involved with Tufts Medical Center in 2007, when he suffered from his second heart attack, and it was discovered that he was showing early signs of congestive heart failure. He received a heart transplant that year and, thanks to the lifesaving care that he received from Dr. David DeNofrio and his team at the CardioVascular Center, Magnaghi is now healthy and has become an enormous advocate for organ donation. Magnaghi's work with the New England Organ Bank (NEOB) helped introduce legislation in Vermont, which passed in 2011, that created a council that worked to raise awareness and improve the number of registered organ and tissue donors through the enhancement of an updated organ and tissue donor database at the DMV in Vermont. Since its inception, the DMV database is registering donors at a 75 percent rate of licensed renewals. Magnaghi and his wife, Wendy, have also supported Dr. DeNofrio's work through several of Tufts Medical Center's signature events, in particular the annual Harbor Walk and Run, where Dr. DeNofrio has his own team of walkers called, “The Heartthrobs,” all of whom are former patients and heart transplant survivors like Magnaghi.
• On April 4, the Brattleboro Lodge of Freemasons installed their new officers for 2013-14. Installing Master was Worshipful Robert Baldauf, Past Master, and installing Marshal was Most Worshipful Past Grand Master Brian L. Carley. Officers are Philip Bailey, Treasurer; Jeff Anderson, Junior Warden; Brent LaDeau, Worshipful Master; Ed Morse, Secretary; Marshal Patton, Tyler; Steve Farrington, Chaplain; Robert Baldauf, Marshal; Brian Carley, Most Worshipful Past Grand Master; and Kris Johnston, Junior Deacon.
• James Valente of Brattleboro was elected vice-chairman of the Vermont Democratic Party on April 13. Valente is the chair of the Brattleboro Town Democratic Committee and formerly served as secretary of the state committee.
• Connie Baxter, Bereavement Care Coordinator for Brattleboro Area Hospice, recently attended Comprehensive Bereavement Skills Training at the internationally recognized Center for Loss and Life Transition in Fort Collins, Colo. The course was taught by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D., a noted author, educator and grief counselor.
• Diagnostic Imaging Technologists Susan Gautot and Ellen Wapner of Brattleboro Memorial Hospital successfully completed requirements to become Certified MammaCare Specialists. MammaCare is the recognized standard for teaching and performing clinical breast examination in breast cancer screening clinics. The certification authorizes Gautot and Wapner to teach MammaCare practices to women and other health care professionals.
Obituaries
• Leland “Lee” J. Coleman, 73, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died April 13 at his home. Husband of Elizabeth “Bonnie” (Bly) Coleman for for 55 years. Father of Tracie Warner and her husband, Butch, and Todd Matthews. Brother of Mary Lee and the late Charles Coleman. The son of the late James and Cora Coleman, he was born in Jacksonville, where he spent his childhood and attended school. He served in the Navy as a seaman aboard the U.S.S. Proctor until his honorable discharge. He went on to be employed as tree surgeon at New England Tree Co. He was also employed for 43 years at Boise Cascade, later known as Fibermark, in Brattleboro, until his retirement. He had a lifelong love of the outdoors. He spent his free time fishing, hunting, gardening, and boating. He was an avid Red Sox and NASCAR fan. He and his wife enjoyed many years of purchasing and renovating homes in many surrounding towns of Vermont and New Hampshire. Memorial information: Per his wishes, there will be no memorial services in his honor. Condolences and memories may be sent to P.O. Box 656, Hinsdale, NH 03451.
• A memorial service will be held for Amelia Hancock on Sunday, May 5, between the hours of 2 and 4 p.m., at the Brooks Memorial Library, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in her name to any of the following organizations: The Brooks Memorial Library, River Gallery School of Art, or The New England Youth Theater.
• Edward D. Sprague, 92, formerly of Vernon. Died Dec. 16, 2012, in his home in Fitchburg, Mass. Husband of Barbara (Rowe) Sprague for 65 years. Father of Carolyn Hawrylciw of Brockton, Mass., Dr. Edward Sprague Jr. of Fitchburg, and Marcia Sprague of Silver Spring, Md. Born in Lynn, Mass., the son of the late Benjamin and Doris (Dubois) Sprague, he was a veteran of the Army Air Corps during World War II and was honorably discharged. He was a graduate of University of Massachusetts-Amherst in 1948 and Duke University in 1950 with degrees in forestry. He was employed by Lane Cedar Chest, White Partitions Inc., Hitchcock Furniture, and finished his career in the U.S. Forest Service. He was a member of Centre Congregational Church in Brattleboro, the American Legion Post 5 Color Guard, the Brattleboro Lodge of Masons and the Shriners. He was very proud of his involvement with the Oratorical Contest, sponsored by the American Legion. He volunteered his time to the Boy Scout troop in Vernon, local politics, Meals on Wheels, and for many years drove the Vernon Seniors van. Memorial information: A memorial service was held April 20 at Centre Congregational Church in Brattleboro. A private burial took place at North Cemetery in Vernon. Donations to Centre Congregational Church, 193 Main St., Brattleboro, VT 05301; or Vernon Boy Scouts, in care of the Vernon Recreation Center, P.O. Box 56, Vernon, VT 05354.
• James Bradford Sutton, 68, of Brattleboro. Died April 12 at Franklin Baystate Medical Center in Greenfield, Mass. Former husband of Margaret Kavanagh of Greenfield, Mass. Father of Amy Socquet and her husband, Paul, of Greenfield; Aaron Sutton and his fiance, Eric Liu, of Brighton, Mass.; Aric Sutton of Brighton; Adrian Gilmore and her wife, Hayley, of Greenfield; Annie Silva and her husband, David, of Allston, Mass.; Ashley Sutton and her partner, Talia Williams of Essex Junction; A.J. Sutton, Andrew Sutton, Alyssa Sutton, Akeya Sutton, Ajoshua Sutton, and Aydon Sutton, all of Greenfield, and the late Mark Christopher Sutton. Brother of Sherry Rice, Gary Sutton, Suzanne Spencer, Kevin Elliott, and Terry Elliott. Born in Greenfield, Mass., the son of the late James and Patricia (Wagstaff) Sutton, he grew up in Turners Falls, Mass., and graduated from Turners Falls High School in 1962. He joined the Army in 1965, and served for three years during the Vietnam era. He was stationed at Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Paris, France and Mons, Belgium. He was honorably discharged in 1968, achieving the rank of Specialist 5. He was hired at the Greenfield Recorder in 1968 as the Circulation District Manager. While working there, he attended Greenfield Community College and received associate's degrees in Liberal Arts and Business Management. By the time he left the Recorder in 1981, he had worked his way up to Business Manager. He continued his career in the newspaper industry until 1986, last serving as the Business Manager at the Catholic Observer in Springfield, Mass. He became passionate about working with the elderly while earning his bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in Human Resource Administration in 1989. Through the years, he was employed by various companies, including Mount Saint Vincent Home in Holyoke, Mass., and The Nursing Care Center at Kimball Farms in Lenox, Mass. He found his ideal job in 1991 when he was hired as the Administrator of Thompson House Nursing Home in Brattleboro. He spent an amazing 18 years at Thompson House, transforming the nursing home community into a friendly, active, and well sought-after home environment. He wasn't your average administrator; he was the kind of man who knew everyone on a first name basis, including all of his employees, every resident and all the families that were involved with Thompson House. He retired in 2009, but after a few months he decided that he missed working. He spoke with a friend who had a nursing home in Southern Vermont and set out to help her. Jim spent a little over a year working as the Administrator at Cedar Hill Continuing Care Community in Windsor before retiring a second time to spend time with his family. He was a gentle, loving, and generous father to all 12 of his children. He had an incredible sense of humor and could make anyone laugh. He was a dedicated Red Sox fan and enjoyed sports, tag sales, family vacations to Ocean City, N.J., apple picking with his kids, auctions, hot black coffee, Haagen-Dazs ice cream, and spending time with his children and grandchildren. Memorial information: Per his wishes, services were private. Condolences and memories may be sent to 91 Smith St., Apt 206, Greenfield, MA 01301. Arrangements were under the direction of Eternal Blessings of Guilford.