Milestones

Births

• In Keene, N.H., (Cheshire Med­ical Center), Sept. 7, 2013, a son, Joshua Murray, to Stephanie Lawlor and Richard Dupuis of Bellows Falls.

College news

• Kara E. Piergentili of Dummerston is a member of the class of 2017 at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y. She graduated earlier this year from Brattleboro Union High School.

Transitions

• Tony Blofson, MD has been hired by Brattleboro Memorial Hospital as Medical Director of BMH Physician Group, the hospital's network of primary care providers and medical specialists. In this role, Blofson will be responsible for leading BMH Physician Group practices and providers through quality initiatives including improved patient access and patient satisfaction, as well as transitions brought on by health care reform.

• Tina Blust, associate professor of Nursing at Vermont Technical College in Brattleboro, is one of 13 nurses from across the nation to be selected as a judge for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensure Examination (NCLEX). She was nominated on the basis of clinical specialty and nursing expertise. She has been a nurse for 25 years and is also a nursing supervisor at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. All nurses in the United States and its four U.S. territories must take the NCLEX. The licensing exam identifies those candidates who demonstrate minimal competence to practice nursing at the entry level. Passing the NCLEX exam is one of the requirements necessary for attaining a nursing license.

Obituaries

• Howard “Dr. Bebop” Brofsky, 86, of Brooklyn, N.Y. Died Oct. 17 at his home. Husband of Robin Westen. Father of Gabriel Sky Westen, Alex Brofsky and his wife, Helene Lantry, and daughter Natasha Brofsky and her husband Roger Tapping. Born in Brooklyn, he studied trumpet with Nat Prager of the NY Philharmonic and composition with Nadia Boulanger in Paris. He earned his M.A. and Ph.D at New York Univer­sity in 18th Century Italian classi­cal music. Concurrent with his tra­ditional studies, Brofsky was a jazz performer who absorbed the bebop idiom during its zenith. Brofsky was Professor Emeritus at Queens College; a passionate instructor, he was still teaching 10 days prior to his passing. He also taught at the University of Chicago, University of British Columbia, Boston University, and the University of Oslo. Brofsky re­ceived Fulbright Awards to study and teach in France (1953) and Italy (1972). He spoke five lan­guages. He co-authored the widely used col­lege textbook “The Art of Listen­ing: Developing Musical Percep­tion,” and published numerous arti­cles on 18th century Italian music and jazz. Brofksy was “the primary architect” of the jazz M.A. program at Queens College and was also instrumen­tal in the establishment of the Louis Armstrong House and Ar­chives. As a musician, Brofsky performed as a leader and en­joyed a long tenure in the bands of his friend, artist Larry Rivers. He released an acclaimed CD (“73 Down: Dr. Bebop”) in 2000 featuring his work with Larry Wil­lis, Attila Zoller and other jazz greats. He also performed with Dexter Gordon, Jimmy Heath, Da­vid Amram and many others. He fell in love with the Green Mountain State about 30 years ago when he visited to assist guitarist Attila Zoller with the curriculum for the fledgling Vermont Jazz Center. Since that time, his Brooklyn-heart has re­mained intractably connected to the hills of Vermont. Brofsky, his wife Robin, and their son Gabe moved there in 1992; he served as president of the Board of Di­rectors at the VJC for almost two decades before moving back to Brooklyn. Each May, he celebrated his birth­day at the Vermont Jazz Center in Brattleboro with a concert featuring New York players such as Antonio Hart, Charles McPherson, Jimmy Heath, Jeb Patton, David Berkman, and David Wong. For the last several years of his life, he had a steady gig in DUMBO at 68 Jay St., a venerable artist's hangout where he took special pleasure in per­forming with his accomplished former students from around the world. A gentle man who left be­hind a staggering legacy of accom­plishments, his crown­ing achievement was that he was an authentic man, a loving fa­ther, husband, friend, and mentor. Memorial information: Donations in his memory can be made to the Ver­mont Jazz Center Scholarship Fund, 74 Cotton Mill Hill, #222, Brattleboro, VT, 05301.

• Dustin Charles Curtiss, 26, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died Oct. 14 at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Wor­cester, Mass. Husband of Han­nah Wiest for nearly five years. Father of Kayln Curtiss. Brother of Krystie Curtiss-Robinson and her partner, Katy, of Newfane. A lifelong resident of Hinsdale, he was born in Brattleboro, the son of Mark and Cindy (Petrie) Curtiss. He at­tended Hins­dale schools and was a graduate of Hinsdale High School, Class of 2005. While attending high school, he played varsity soc­cer his junior and senior years and Babe Ruth baseball, and was known for his ath­letic ability that included long dis­tance running. He competed in several marathons and half-­marathons. He also excelled in the martial arts and was active with Rouleau-Holley's Tae Kwon Do of Brattleboro and continued to train while on active duty in the Marine Corps. He served in the Marines for eight years, including one year in Iraq. He had also been stationed in San Diego and Jacksonville, Fla. He would have been honorably discharged from active service on Oct. 17 at the rank of sergeant. Prior to his military service, he worked on several farms in Hinsdale that included Echo Farms and at Clearwater Farms and at Fireside True Value in Brattleboro. He had a strong work ethic and was known wherever he worked as a valuable employee. He enjoyed body building, me­chanics, working on small en­gines and tinkering on cars. He was a member of the VFW in Hinsdale and a former member of the 4-H Club of Chesh­ire County. He was a communicant of Mary Queen of Peace Parish in Hinsdale. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Oct 22 at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Brattle­boro, with committal rites and burial with full military honors in St. Joseph's Catholic Ceme­tery in Hinsdale, N.H. Donations to Wounded Warrior Campaign Proj­ect 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256. Arrangements were under the di­rection of the Atamaniuk Funeral Home.

• Damon Jay Griswold, 45, of Brattleboro. Died Oct. 16 at his home following an ex­tended illness. Son of Allan and the late Doris (Squires) Gris­wold. Stepson of Julie Griswold. Brother of Mark Griswold and his wife, Karla, of Guilford, and Keith and Brian Griswold, both of Brattle­boro. Stepbrother of Kim Brooks of Burlington. Born in Brattleboro, he was raised and edu­cated in Guil­ford and had at­tended Brattle­boro Union High School. He had been employed as a construction worker for sever­al area firms that included Baldwin Excavation and Zaluzny Construc­tion. Previously, he worked on several farms in Guilford, including the Boyd Farm. He enjoyed gardening, picking fiddleheads, and fishing. He had fished just about every little brook in the greater Brattleboro area. Memorial information: A memorial service was held Oct. 23 at Guilford Community Church, with burial in Bak­er Cemetery in Guilford. Donations to the American Diabetes Associa­tion, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312, or to David's House, P.O. Box 660, 461 Mt. Support Rd., Lebanon, N.H. 03766. Arrangements were under the di­rection of Atamaniuk Funeral Home.

• John Howard Nissen, 69, of Manchester. Died Oct. 6 of prostate cancer. Husband of Mary Andersen for 40 years. Father of Erica Andersen-Nissen and her husband, Tom Nowak; and Mark Andersen-Nissen and his significant other, Carolyn Davis. Brother of Barbara Bartlett. Half-brother of Herbert Nissen. Son of the late Catherine Mullins and Hans Nissen, he graduated from Bergen Catholic High School in 1962, and earned a B.A. and M.A. from Providence College. He served as a college administrator at Dominican College, Lawrence University, Windham College, Marlboro College, the School for International Training, Bennington College, the International School of Geneva, Rhode Island College, the American University of Paris, New York University School of Dentistry, and Landmark College. In 1999, with colleagues and friends, he initiated Service Learning in Paris, a program which immersed high school students in language, culture, and service projects. He will be remembered for his lifelong engagement with politics, history, religion, education, and mentoring of students and colleagues. Memorial information: A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 11 a.m.. at the Christ Our Savior Parish St. Paul Church, 398 Bonnet St., Manchester Center.

• Jacob J. Petrovsky, Jr., 90, of Huntington, Mass. Died Oct. 12. Husband of the late Marjorie (McCagg) Petrovsky. Father of Dawn Petrovsky of Dummerston, Jacob J. Petrovsky III, A. Michael Petrovsky; Mary Ellen Dauphineau, Elizabeth Martinat, Catherine Shannon and Deborah Guerriere. Born in Springfield, Mass., the son of the late Jacob J. Petrovsky, Sr. and Anna (Rodeski) Petrovsky. he was a punch operator for the former Sterling Radiator in Westfield, Mass. He was a communicant of the Holy Family Parish in Russell, Mass. He loved the outdoors, especially taking long walks and feeding the birds. He loved music and baseball (he was a Yankees fan). He loved to reminisce about his life and he loved all kinds of animals. He was an avid coin collector. He was a good friend to many people. He has been lovingly cared for by his daughter Dawn and his granddaughters Jessie and Beth Casella and their father Joseph Casella, along with the nurses and aides at the Governor's Center in Westfield, Memorial information: A graveside service was held Oct. 19 at St. Thomas Cemetery in Huntington.

• Sylvia C. Poirier, 99, of Am­herst, Mass., formerly of West Brattle­boro. Died Oct. 15 at the Center of Extended Care in Amherst. Wife of the late Ernest Bishop. Mother of Robert Wheeler of Northampton, Mass., Terrence Pelletier and Harold Pelletier of Florida, Anthony Streeter of Greenfield, Mass., Shirley Andrews of Florida, Christine Beausoleil of Colrain, Mass., and the late James Pelletier, Cliff Wheeler, and Patty Ann Pelletier. Born in Putney, the daughter of the late Bertie Gehial Phelps and Delphine Edna Wright, she loved to play Bingo. She and her husband, who died in 2009, were always headed somewhere to play, even when they were at the Center of Ex­tended Care. She also loved to have parties, bake pies, take pic­tures, and watch the Red Sox. One of her favorite things to do was to get the family together whenever possible. Memorial information: A graveside service was held Oct. 22 at East Putney Cemetery. Donations to the Residential Council Fund for Activities, Center for Ex­tended Care, 150 University Drive, Amherst, MA 01002

• Helen Grignon Hutt Ross, 83, formerly of North Walpole, N.H., and Bennington. Died Oct.1 at the Westmount Health Facility in Queensbury, N.Y., after a long illness, sur­rounded by her family. Wife of the late Franklin Hutt Sr. and the late Jim Ross. Mother of Franklin Hutt, Jr. of Gaff­ney, S.C., Kay Hutt of Queensbury, N.Y., and Dorothy Breon of Con­cord, N.H. Sister of Leo­na Hazen of Chester and John Grignon of New Ipswich, N.H. Daugh­ter of the late Atwell and Catherine (Reardon) Grignon, she is a grad­uate of the Bel­lows Falls High School, Class of 1947. In 1948, she married Mr. Hutt in Bellows Falls. He predeceased her in 1967. She then married Mr. Ross in 1968 and moved to Bennington. He predeceased her in 2001. While living in Bennington, she was very active at Sacred Heart/St. Francis de Sales par­ish. She taught religious educa­tion, was involved in the Faith Sharing Group, the RCIA, and Daughters of St. Anne. She also volunteered for the Mercy Meal Program and for HIS Food Pantry at the church. She had also worked at the Chamber of Com­merce in Bennington for a time. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She understood the significance of family, and found pleasure in sharing her love for baking and knitting with her family and friends. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Oct. 19 at Sa­cred Heart/St. Francis de Sales Church in Bennington, with interment in the family lot in Park Lawn Ceme­tery.

• David Lester Williams, 76, of Londonderry. Died Oct. 13 at his home. Husband of Jane Rachel Foster for 54 years. Father of Donald Williams and his wife, Robin, of Cuttingsville; Larry Williams and his wife, Karen, of Wallingford; Catherine Neronski and her husband, Craig, of Springfield. Brother of Albert Williams and his wife, Mary, of Andover; Arlene Shattuck of Hampton, N.Y.; Arnold Williams of Rutland; Marie Hart and her husband, Donald, of Weston; Elise Harrington and her husband, Keith, of Ticonderoga, N.Y.; and the late Robert, Charles, and Roger Williams. A lifelong resident of Londonderry, he was the son of the late Cressy and Jessie Williams. He attended Leland & Gray High School and was a member of the Vermont National Guard. He retired from Stratton Mountain Ski Resort as a lift mechanic after 42 years of service. He also served as cemetery commissioner at Riverside Cemetery in Londonderry. David enjoyed his antique Fords, car shows, bluegrass, NASCAR, snowmobiling, and riding his ATV. Memorial information: A funeral service will be held Oct. 19 at the Second Congregational Church in Londonderry, with graveside committal services and burial in the Riverside Cemetery. Donations to the Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad. P.O. Box 911, Londonderry, VT 05148.