College news
• The following area students will be awarded associate degrees from the Community College of Vermont on June 1: Beatrice Amidon of Cambridgeport, Jason Garciadealba of Grafton, Rachel Stebbins-Navy of Saxtons River, Sarah Choquette of Westminster Station, Lisa Burgess of Guilford, Rachel Damon of Brattleboro, Alexander Francis of Brattleboro, Ashley Frost of Brattleboro, Jasmine Martin of Brattleboro, Donald Matthews of Brattleboro, Tanya Mayhew of Brattleboro, Alison Phillips of Brattleboro, Ronnie Raymond of Guilford, Robin Shannon of Brattleboro, Kristina Willette of Brattleboro, Hilary McAllister of Brattleboro, Heather Chamberlin of Newfane, Aaron Connor of Newfane, Amanda Franklin of Vernon, Michelle Rondeau of Vernon, Amber Crone of West Wardsboro, and Alicia Harris of Wilmington. This year, CCV will award 614 associate degrees in total, reflecting the largest graduating class in the school's history.
• The following local students graduated from Keene State College on May 11: Ignazio Macaluso of Brattleboro earned a B.F.A., Cum Laude; Stephanie Brown of Townshend earned a B.S., Cum Laude; Amy Duffy of Jamaica earned a B.S., Cum Laude; Jocelyn Hill of Brattleboro earned a B.S., Magna Cum Laude; Tierney Dwyer of Brattleboro earned a B.A.; Kimberly Johnson of Brattleboro earned a B.A.; Elisha Wamsley of Brattleboro earned a B.S.; Chantelle Albin of Townshend earned a M.Ed.; and Mary Head of Putney earned a M.Ed. It was Keene State's largest-ever graduating class, with a total of 1,219 degrees awarded to 1,146 students.
• The following local students graduated from Lyndon State College on May 19: Rosalyn Devincentis of Brattleboro was awarded a B.A. in Psychology & Human Services, Dustin Ameden of Jamaica was awarded a B.S. in Business Administration, Riley Childs of West Dover was awarded a B.S. in Music Business & Industry/Business Management, and Jayme Ayotte of Londonderry was awarded a B.S. in Mountain Recreation Management.
• The following local students were named to the Dean's List for the spring 2013 semester at Keene State College: Kimberly Anne Johnson of Brattleboro, Ignazio Enzo Macaluso of Brattleboro, Melanie Ashley Murphy of Dummerston, Jaclyn Annette Toney of Brattleboro, Elisha Rose Wamsley of Brattleboro, and Olivia S. Capponcelli of Brookline.
• Stacy Lynn Stockwell of Brattleboro earned a B.S. in International Business/Marketing from Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I., on May 16.
• Dane Phonsai Sengaloun-Homsab of Brattleboro graduated with a B.A. in History from St. Michael's College in Colchester on May 12.
• Sierra Mae Zschirnt of Whitingham was awarded a B.A. in Administration of Justice from Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I., on May 19.
• Troy Scott of Marlboro received a B.A. degree from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on May 18.
• Ashley Morgan of West Townshend, a senior majoring in chemical engineering, and William Parker of Guilford, a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering, were both named to the Dean's List for the spring 2013 semester at Worcester (Mass.) Polytechnic Institute.
• Elizabeth Aekus of Whitingham was named to the Curry College Dean's List for the spring 2013 term.
• Derik Johnson of Westminster was named to the Honors List for the spring 2013 semester at the New England School of Communications in Bangor, Maine.
School news
• Alexandra Morrow of Townshend, a senior at Leland & Gray Union High School who will be attending Nichols College this fall, was one of 18 high school seniors in New England to be awarded a $5,000 Hood Sportsmanship Scholarship. To be considered for the scholarship, applicants had to have a minimum 3.0 grade point average, participated as a varsity-level athlete, volunteered in the community, and showed a high level of sportsmanship as a high school athlete. Morrow, a four-year starter on the girls' basketball team, received the scholarship from New England Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski during a ceremony at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., on May 19.
Awards
• Brattleboro Memorial Hospital named Denny Rivers, MLT, as its 2013 Employee of the Year during an employee appreciation event held May 16. A member of the Laboratory Services secretarial staff since 1995, Rivers was nominated for the award in recognition of her problem-solving abilities, among other qualities. She holds a Medical Laboratory Technician certification from University of Vermont, which her peers say makes her a fast worker and thinker while guiding patients. Her nominators say Rivers is committed to life and the hospital and that she's the first person that pops into your mind when anyone is looking for someone to help solve a problem. The staff in the laboratory thinks of Rivers as a “human physician's desk reference.” Outside of BMH, Rivers is an active member of her church and volunteers time with the Girl Scouts of America and the Humane Society. She and her husband, Mark, have two children, Janelle and Ben.
Obituaries
• Cynthia Ann “Cindy” Bousquet, 52, of Brattleboro. Died May 19 at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, N.H., following a courageous battle with renal cell carcinoma. Daughter of Robert and Barbara (Conrad) Bousquet of Putney. Sister of Laurie Blair and husband, Leo, of West Chesterfield, N.H., and Curt Bousquet and his wife, Betsy, of Putney. Born in Palmer, Mass., she was raised in Palmer and Putney, where she attended Putney Central School. She was a graduate of Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 1979. She was employed as a shift supervisor at Putney Paper Co., starting with the company at age 18. She was a dedicated and faithful employee at Putney Paper for over 30 years. She was an active member and served as treasurer and vice-president of the Tri-Park Association, where she resided. She was also a member of the F.O. Eagles Auxiliary, Brattleboro Aerie #2445. She was an avid Boston Red Sox fan, and enjoyed playing Bingo and time shared with her family and friends, as well as with her beloved pets. Memorial information: A memorial service was held May 26 at First Congregational Church in West Brattleboro, followed by interment in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Putney. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302. Arrangements are under the direction of the Atamaniuk Funeral Home.
• Brony Budzik, 91, of Saxtons River. Died May 17 at his daughter's home in Grafton. Husband of the late Marion Tenney Budzik. Father of Stanley Budzik of Saxtons River, Sandra Donaldson of Grafton, and the late Allen Budzik. Brother of Sophie Goodnow of West Swanzey, N.H. and the late Alex Budzik. Born in Winchester, N.H., the son of the late Felix and Alexandria (Erunski) Budzik, he attended schools in Winchester and served in the Army during World War II. He worked for the town of Rockingham, and was also a foreman at Tenney's Lumber Mill. He enjoyed gardening. Memorial information: Services were held May 21 at Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home in Bellows Falls, with burial in the Saxtons River Cemetery.
• Kamil Jumaane Nashoba Rune Middleton Burrows, 3, of Marlboro. Died in March in Cameroon, West Africa, from an allergic reaction to medication given at the local hospital to treat an infection. Son of Ingrid Burrows and Adé Bayo Middleton of Marlboro. Brother of Judah Middleton Stone of New Mexico and Ajah Middleton Stone of Pennsylvania. Grandson of Andy and Elise Burrows of Guilford and Marie Pendergraph of Los Angeles. His family was traveling in Cameroon, working part time for Mocha Joe's Coffee Roasting Co. of Brattleboro on a direct trade coffee project with local farmers. They also spent time working on organic farms and visiting and playing music with a former Brattleboro resident, Cameroonian recording artist Georgette Beighle. Kamil had a wonderful time, making many new friends. He especially loved eating fufu and other local foods, playing with goats and chickens, and drumming with Georgette's traditional dance troupe. Memorial information: A celebration of his life was held May 25 at the West Village Meeting House in West Brattleboro. Donations to the family may be made through PayPal to [email protected] or sent to Ingrid Burrows, 47 Levi Howard Rd., Brattleboro VT 05301.
• Gabrielle Caron, 92, of Windham. Died May 19 at her home. Wife of Edward Caron for 69 years. Mother of Marc Caron of Rockingham and Edward “Ned” Caron III of Bakersfield, Vt. Sister of Doris Fisk of Huntington, Mass. Born in Holyoke, Mass., the daughter of the late Adelard and Cordelia (Mariem) Gobeille, she graduated from high school in 1939, and the Shepard School of Nursing in Concord, Mass. She worked as a nurse in Boston during World War II, and later worked at hospitals in the Boston and Woonsocket, R.I., areas. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held May 22 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Chester, with graveside committal services and interment on May 29 in the Vermont Veterans Cemetery in Randolph.
• Richard Allen “Zork” Hall, 57, of Bellows Falls. Died May 10. Born in Denver, the son of Bonnie (Baker) and William Hall, he graduated from high school in Colorado before enlisting in the Navy in 1983, serving for 10 years. In the Navy, he loved landing the planes on the ships and working on the planes. After his Navy service, he moved to Massachusetts and fell in love with New England. He worked at local factories and then began his career as a volunteer at the Brattleboro Area Drop-In Center. He eventually moved to Bellows Falls, where he became a dedicated volunteer at Our Place Drop-In Center. He enjoyed hiking, oldies music and working on computers. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held at Hetty Green Park in Bellows Falls Saturday, June 1, at 1 p.m., with a reception following at Our Place, 6 Island St. Donations to Our Place Drop-In Center, P.O. Box 852, Bellows Falls, VT 05101.
• Ann (Senchak) Parry, 83, of Fairfield, Conn. Died May 19. Wife of Raymond W. Parry. Mother of Kevin Parry and his wife, Calle Bailey, of Brattleboro; Timothy Parry and his wife, Ursula, of Bridgeport, Conn.; Deborah Liptak and her husband, Steve, of Fort Worth, Texas; Maura Cain and her husband, John, of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; and the late James Parry. Born in Bridgeport, daughter of the late John and Anna (Swatt) Senchak, she was a lifelong resident. She was a remarkable homemaker and always involved in her children's schooling and functions. She was a room mother at Riverfield Elementary School and an assistant Den Mother with the Cub Scouts. She loved to travel, cook and entertain, especially on Christmas Eve and St. Patrick's Day. She had an amazing ability to stay connected to her family even being miles apart from some. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held May 24 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Fairfield, Conn., with interment in St. Thomas Cemetery. Donations to the St. Thomas Building Fund, 1719 Post Rd., Fairfield, CT 06824.
• Laura A. Roberts, 42, of Westminster. Died May 22 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Wife of Ricki Roberts for nearly 12 years. Mother of Jessica Roberts of Westminster. Sister of Shane and Craig Koproski. Born in Stamford, Conn., the daughter of Florence (Bates) and the late Rocco Fiordelisi, she attended schools in Stamford and attended Catherine Gibbs Secretarial School, art school in Greenwich, and paralegal schooling in Georgia. She worked for General Electric in Atlanta, Hines in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the School for International Training and Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC, both of Brattleboro. Memorial information: A funeral service was held May 29 at Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home.
• Kevin “Bucky” Vetre, 48, of Putney. Died May 8 after living with multiple sclerosis for about 10 years. Son of Jean and the late Sam Vetre. Brother of Skip and Joey Vetre. He grew up in Watertown, Conn., and won a full scholarship to The Taft School, from which he graduated in 1984. He was a gifted math teacher, a loyal Green Bay Packers fan, and a fighter who chose to live independently with the disease that would eventually claim his life. He loved the outdoors and he died out on his back porch, looking over the field behind his house. Memorial information: No service information provided. Donations to St. Jude's Hospital or the ASPCA.