Births
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Aug. 3, 2013, a daughter, Hanna Jane Petty, to Amy B. Wood and Daemon Petty of Guilford; granddaughter to John Petty and Ellen Proshansky, Andrea Matthews and Thomas Toleno, Douglas Wood, and Bart Bevis and the late Nancy Bevis.
College news
• Eric Yager of Brattleboro graduated from the University of Houston in May with a degree in Business Administration.
• Adam Keil, a sound recording technology major from Putney, was named to the Dean's List for the spring 2013 semester at University of Massachusetts at Lowell.
School news
• The Brattleboro Rotary Club awarded $17,000 in scholarships to six local high school graduates: Taylor J. Coleman of Hinsdale, N.H. (attending Plymouth State University); Megan E. Fisk of Hinsdale, N.H. (attending Keene State College); Marrina-Raine N. Gallant of Brattleboro (attending Pace University); Theresa M. Glabach of Dummerston (attending University of Vermont); and Kiara F. Wilhite of Townshend (attending University of Vermont), each of whom received $3,000; and Tilden M. Remerleitch of Guilford (attending University of Vermont) who received $2,000. The scholarships are funded by The Gateway Foundation, a tax-exempt affiliate of the Brattleboro Rotary Club.
Transitions
• Psychiatrist Amalia Lee has joined Grace Cottage Family Health in Townshend and welcomes new patients. Lee sees children (age five and up) and adult outpatients Monday through Thursday at Grace Cottage. She is a graduate of Mount Sinai School of Medicine, where she also completed her residency. She is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Prior to joining Grace Cottage, Dr. Lee owned her own psychiatric practice for 35 years, the last 15 of which were in Brattleboro.
• Health Care and Rehabilitation Services of Southeastern Vermont (HCRS) has hired Dr. Paul Boutin as a new child psychiatrist for their Brattleboro office. Boutin has been in the mental health field for over 11 years and previously served as the Child Inpatient Unit Chief at the Brattleboro Retreat and Resident Physician for the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Washington's Children's Hospital in Seattle.
• Brattleboro Memorial Hospital has hired Bob Rovella to be its new Director of Finance. Rovella joins BMH after serving as Director of Finance at Central Vermont Medical Center in Barre, Vermont. Previously, he has held similar positions at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, Mass., and Lakes Region General Hospital in Laconia, N.H. Rovella has an MBA from the University of Massachusetts' Isenberg School of Business and a B.S. in Accounting and Business Administration from Connecticut State University.
Obituaries
• Roberta N. Bendig, 99, of Rutland. Died Aug. 12 at Mountain View Genesis. Wife of the late Joseph P. Bendig. Mother of Joseph Bendig Jr. of Starr, S.C., Richard and Neil Bendig, both of Center Rutland, Gladys McKinstry of Rutland, and the late Janet Bendig. Sister of Ada Pearson of South Londonderry. Born in Windham, the daughter of the late Bert and Emma (Rhoades) Howe, she was a member of First Baptist Church in South Londonderry. Survived by 16 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Aug. 18 at the Londonderry Town Hall, with burial in Glebe View Cemetery in South Londonderry. Donations to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 278, South Londonderry, VT 05155.
• Helen J. Connor, 73, of Bellows Falls. Died Aug. 14 at her home. Wife of the late David Lockerby and the late William Connor. Mother of Randy Lockerby of Grafton, Robert Lockerby of Saxtons River, and Renae White and Rhonda Spaulding, both of Bellows Falls. Sister of Stanley Duncan of Texas and Jeffrey Duncan of Oklahoma. Born in Phoenix, Ariz., the daughter of the late Jay and Lois (Edwards) Duncan, she attended schools in Oklahoma, and worked for many years as a waitress at the Grafton Tavern. She also worked as a cook at the Grafton Elementary School, was a longtime employee of the Windham Foundation in Grafton, and retired from Northfield-Mt. Hermon School Food Services. She was active in many Grafton community events, enjoyed her children's and grandchildren's sporting events, and was called “Sugar Grammy” by her grandchildren. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Aug. 20 at Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home in Bellows Falls, with burial in the Burgess Cemetery.
• Joseph A. Fostyck, 69, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died Aug. 14 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Husband of Barbara (Black) Fostyck for 30 years. Father of Joseph R. Fostyck and his wife, Jacquelyn, and Jonathan Fostyck and his wife, Heather, both of Brattleboro. Brother of Virginia Parker and her husband, Warren, of Hinsdale, and the late Lillian Hodgman. Born in Hinsdale, the son of Joseph and Annie (Pelech) Fostyck, he was a graduate of Hinsdale High School, Class of 1962. He operated the family farm in Hinsdale, and although farming took up most of his time, he was an avid New York Yankees fan, and enjoyed watching wrestling on television. He was known to attend many farm auctions, always looking for a deal. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Aug. 19 at St. Joseph's Church in Hinsdale, with burial in Pine Grove Cemetery in Hinsdale. Donations to the Monadnock Humane Society, 101 West Swanzey Rd., Swanzey, NH 03446. Kidder Funeral Home of Northfield, Mass. was in charge of arrangements.
• Ruth F. Gould, 87, of Turners Falls, Mass. Died Aug. 10 at her home. Wife of the late Raymond Gould for 57 years. Mother of Donald Gould and his wife, Linda, of Grand Jct., Colo.; Douglas Gould and his wife, Ruth, of Addison; David Gould of Erving, Mass., and Debbie Smith and her husband, Douglas, of Greenfield, Mass. Sister of Henry Allen and his companion, Lee Ramsey, of Hinsdale, N.H. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and 15 great-great-grandchildren. Born in Marlboro, the daughter of the late Merrill and Florence (Herrick) Allen, she was educated in Marlboro and Townshend schools. She was a devoted farm wife and mother, and was known in the Brattleboro area for her crocheted Christmas balls. She loved quilting, reading, and playing cards. Memorial information: A graveside committal service was held Aug. 17 in St. Michael's Cemetery in Brattleboro. Donations to VNA and Hospice of Cooley Dickinson Hospital, 168 Industrial Dr., Northampton, MA 01060. Kidder Funeral Home of Northfield, Mass., was in charge of arrangements.
• Robert Allen “Bob” Howe, 66, of Vernon. Died Aug. 12 at the Veteran's Administration Hospital in White River Junction. Husband of Christiane Howe for 31 years. Father of Lolly Akley and wife, Holly, of Dummerston; Melissa Lynch and husband, Barry, of Chester; Lynn Akley of Vernon; and the late Mitchell R. Howe. Brother of Deborah Walker of Claremont, N.H.; Stanley Howe and his wife, Tina, of Dummerston; and Carroll Howe and wife, Connie, of Vernon. Son of the late Stanley and Evelyn Howe, he grew up in Vernon. He graduated from Brattleboro Union High School in 1967, and enlisted in the Army in 1968. He is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War, serving with the Fourth Infantry Division. He was a company radio telephone officer, and saw action in the Chu-pa mountains, Ia Drang valley, Plei Me, and Cambodia. During one battle in particular, on Nov. 5 and 6, 1969, his company was overrun by the 33rd NVA regiment. He took over directing mortar fire and kept his company organized. He recorded a tape of the attack, which shows his courage as a great infantry soldier. He also was a “Tunnel Rat,” one of the most dangerous jobs during the war. He came home from Vietnam in 1970, and worked as a carpenter and independent trucker. He later worked at Vernon Elementary School as a custodian for more than 30 years. He loved every child who came through the school and had very close and friendly relationships with all the teachers. He was a man of great faith and attended church every Sunday. He would always put others before himself. He was a humble man who, very often, went without so others could have what they needed. He was full of compassion, wisdom, and loving kindness that will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Memorial information: A celebration of his life was held at the VFW in Brattleboro on Aug. 18.
• Cathy Russell, 66, of Whitingham. Died Aug. 10 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. Born in Whitingham, the daughter of the late Lewis and Kathleen (Tefft) Russell, she graduated from Whitingham High School. She worked at the Readsboro Chair Shop, and then for G.S. Precision for many years. She was a member of the Ladies Benevolent Society and a very active member in the Community Church of Whitingham. She loved to sing as a member of the choir and helped with vacation Bible school. She enjoyed traveling, walking, and spending time with her family, especially her grandnieces and grandnephews. She is survived by her niece, Wanda Dix, and her husband, David, of Whitingham, with whom she made her home. Memorial information: A celebration of her life was held Aug. 17 at the Community Church of Whitingham. Interment was be private. There are no visiting hours. Donations to the Cathy Russell Memorial Fund, in care of Covey-Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363.
• John Anthony Sargent, 80, of Brattleboro. Died Aug. 12 at Pine Heights Nursing Home. Brother of Alfred J. Sargent of Boston and the late Barbara Lyons. Born in Boston, the son of the late Alfred and Rose (Zapponi) Sargent, he was raised and educated in Boston, graduating from English High School, Class of 1951. He later attended Boston College where he received his B.A. in Literature in 1973, and went on to earn his M.A. in English from UMass-Boston. He had been employed for Dunn & Bradstreet in Boston for 17 years and had also worked for Allis-Chalmers (now Siemans) for 15 years. He retired in 1979 and, in 1984, became a resident of Putney. He eventually settled in Brattleboro in 2002. He was a communicant of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Putney and a former parishioner of Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church in Jamaica Plain, Mass. He enjoyed stamp collecting, loved old classic movies and films, and was considered a video aficionado with a personal collection of more than 2,000 videos. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on Aug. 16 at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Brattleboro. Committal Rites and burial took place at St. Michael's Cemetery in Roslindale, Mass. Donations to the AIDS Project of Southern Vermont, P.O. Box 1486, Brattleboro, VT 05302.
• Melvin Saunders, 59, of Vernon. Died Aug. 11 at his home. Son of Jeannine Saunders and the late Melvin Saunders Sr. Father of Tracey Provencher and her husband, Stephen. Brother of Cathy Coulombe, Neal Saunders, Gary Saunders, Keith Saunders, and the late Eric Saunders. He attended Brattleboro Union High School and worked for Loney Construction and Westfield Construction. He served as a volunteer on the Vernon fire department for six years, leaving as a lieutenant. He loved to walk in the woods and loved all animals. A true artist, anyone who knew him got to see the big smile he always wore. His spirit would light up the darkest days. He will be remembered always. Memorial information: Friends and family are invited to come to his home on 26 West Rd. in Vernon on Saturday, Aug. 24, at 1 p.m. to enjoy all his art and celebrate his short stay here.