Milestones

Births

• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Oct. 30, 2013, a son, Kai Julien Bashford, to Jessica Bashford and David Altstadt of Brattleboro; grandson to Debbie and Bob Bashford of Brattleboro and Ron and Judy Altstadt of Westlake, Ohio.

• In Burlington (Fletcher Allen Health Care), Oct. 13, 2013, a son, Odin Sterling Ahkinga Royar Rabi­nowitz, to Arthina Royar and Moses Rabinowitz of Brattleboro.

Transitions

• Joe Milliken has been appointed as managing partner and editor-in-chief of Cider Magazine, a Bellows Falls-based music and entertainment Web site. He has been a published freelance writer, editor, and music journalist since 2000 and is also currently working on his first book. He has been a staff writer for Cider since its second issue.

• John Lucas, provost and senior vice president for academic programs at the School for International Training in Brattleboro, has been nominated to join this year's Chief Academic Officers Think Tank at the New England Resource Center for Higher Education (NERCHE) - a center of research and policy on higher education.

• Dr. Steven M. Moore, a clinician, and lifestyle medicine coordinator Deborah M. Dittner, RN, have joined Biologic Integrative Healthcare of Brattleboro, a multidisciplinary group of naturopathic and medical doctors, and other practitioners, providing family care with a comprehensive approach to restoring and maintaining health.

School news

• Taegen Fletcher, a Brattleboro senior, has been named the November 2013 Windham Regional Career Center Student of the Month. Taegen was nominated for this award by both Charles Keir, her Emergency Medical Response instructor, as well as by Jennifer Connor, her Technical and Professional English 4 teacher. She is an active Career Center student, having also been enrolled in the center's Medical Human Services program during her junior year. At this time, she is unsure as to whether she'll pursue a health related field in college. The Emergency Medical Responder course is new this year at the Career Center. It is an entry-level emergency medical provider course aimed at preparing students for employment or a volunteer position in a variety of pre-hospital, industrial and first responder settings.

Obituaries

• George Adam Eckert, 82, of Wilmington. Died Nov. 6 at his home. Father of Sean Eckert of Wilmington. Brother of Caroline Eckert of Richmond Hill, N.Y. Born in Queens, N.Y., the son of the late George Rudolph and Ro­sa (Dornbusch) Eckert, he at­tended local schools. Upon graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Army and served during the Korean War-era. He was a member of the New York City Police Department for six years and the Fire Department of New York, retiring after 16 years of service. Af­ter moving to Vermont, he was a member of both the Mount Snow and Haystack Ski Patrol and was a self employed plumb­er and handyman. He was a member of the American Legion, and enjoyed skiing, tennis, and working on his home. He enjoyed collecting anti­ques and in his earlier years he loved to dance. He also enjoyed spending time with his family, es­pecially his grandchildren. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Nov. 16 at Our Lady of Fa­tima Roman Catholic Church in Wilmington. Interment was pri­vate. Donations to Smile Train, in care of Covey-Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilming­ton, VT 05363.

• Lisa Jo Etscovitz, 51, formerly of Brattleboro. Died Nov. 10. Daughter of the late Basil and Beverly (Sherman) Etscovitz. Sister of Sharon Etscovtiz and her husband, Mike Sadulsky, and Mark Davidson and his wife, Melanie. She was a fixture in the Brattleboro community, where she had many friends and acquaintances. She often could be seen in town walking her dog Bill and drinking a cup of coffee. She had been living at the Crescent Manor nursing home in Bennington for the last five years. Previously, she resided at the Laurel Lake Care Center in Lee, Mass. She was a native of Presque Isle, Maine, where her grandfather had settled because it reminded him of his home in his native Russia. She and her family were active members of the vibrant Jewish community in Presque Isle. She was a cheerleader at Presque Isle High School. She left Maine to attend Boston College, where she received her B.A. in Psychology. She arrived in Brattleboro in the early 1980s, and was employed by the Brattleboro Retreat. She enjoyed hosting dinner parties at her home, had an active social life, and travelled to Mexico and California where she relocated for a time in San Francisco. In the 1990s, she belonged to a support group for the chronically ill. A highly intelligent woman and spirited person, she lived her life with enormous courage in spite of the daunting health challenges brought on by Huntington's disease, which she lived with for nearly 30 years. Along with her friends and family, she loved music and animals. Her feisty dog Bill was her constant companion, and she fondly carried with her photos of her childhood pet Toby as well. Memorial information: A memorial will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7, for friends and family to honor her life. All those interested in participating may contact Jon King at 802-254-9653 for more information.

• Alexis June “Lexy” Giallella, 15, of Brookline. Died Nov. 12 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., following a courageous battle with cancer. Survivors include her mother and step-father, Cherish and Randy Clark of Brookline; her father, Robert Giallella of Guilford; a brother, Caleb Giallella of Vernon; stepsisters Amelia Clark of Hinsdale, N.H., and Hillary Clark of Brattleboro; maternal grandparents Richard and Bonnie Thomas of Townshend; paternal grandmother, Betty Porter of Brattleboro; paternal grandfathers, Michael Giallella of Guilford and Ray Porter of Hinsdale, N.H. Born in Brattleboro, she was raised in Brookline where she attended the Brookline Elementary School, a member of the last class to graduate from the school prior to its closing. She was a member of the sophomore class at Leland & Gray High School in Townshend. A gifted athlete, she played both middle school soccer and softball. She loved the outdoors and enjoyed snowmobiling, four wheeling and fishing and hunting with her family. She recently received her Vermont driver's permit and enjoyed driving her Chevy pick-up. Her many other leisure time activities included vacations at Old Orchard Beach, Maine, shopping and time shared with her family, especially her cousins and many friends. She also loved a good party and get-togethers. Throughout her illness with cancer, she was an inspiration to many with her non-stop display of courage and her spirit of optimism. She always found the shiny side of a rusty nail. She was devoted in her walk of faith and, in July, was baptized at the Mountain View Seventh Day Adventist Church in Vernon, which she attended. Memorial information: A memorial service will be conducted Saturday, Nov. 23, at 1 p.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Church on Walnut Street with pastor Arthur Miller officiating. A reception will follow the services to be held at the Elk's Home on Putney Road. Visiting hours will take place at St. Michael's Church on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. Donations to a special scholarship trust - the Lexy Scholarship Fund - at Leland & Gray High School, in care of River Valley Credit Union, P.O. Box 8366, North Brattleboro, VT 05304. Arrangements are under the care of the Atamaniuk Funeral Home.

• Faith Adams Griefen, 97, of Lexington, Mass. Died Nov. 1 at her home at Brookhaven in Lexington. Wife of the late Jack Griefen for 71 years. Mother of John Adams Griefen of St. Avit-Senieur, France, Michael W. Griefen of Dummerston, and Ed­ward M. Griefen of Maplewood, N.J. Born in Worcester, Mass., the fourth daughter of the late Charles Per­kins (C.P.) and Mary (Gayle) Adams, she graduated from Vassar College in 1937 and then went to work for the Gorham Silver Company where she met Jack and began their lifelong romance. They were married in 1940. She was a gentle person, deeply committed to racial justice and generous in her support of wor­thy causes and liberal politics. She called herself a “profes­sional volunteer,” serving as chair­man of the Board of Boston Travel­ers Aid Family Services and of the Board of Travelers Aid International. She was active in the Cambridge YMCA and their work on racism. She was an early donor and on the Advisory Board for “Eyes on the Prize,” the PBS documentary series by Henry Hampton on the Civil Rights Movement. As part of the Cambridge Mothers Club, she went with Mary Peabody to work on a voter registration drive in Mississippi in the 1960s, sleeping on the floor of her host's home to avoid getting shot by passing white supremacists. A longtime resident of Worcester and then Belmont, Mass., she lived for many years at Broo­khaven, which she called Brook Heaven. Memorial information: A family committal service took place at Lynwood Cemetery in Weston, Mas­s. Donations to Travelers Aid Family Services, 727 Atlantic Ave­., Boston, MA 02111.

• Frances B. (Ingalls) Lougee, 66, of West Chesterfield, N.H. Died Nov. 5 at her home, after a period of declining health. Wife of the late Ronald W. Lougee for 43 years. Mother of Kimberly F. L. Chicoine and her husband, James, of Williston; Daniel W. Lougee of Keene; and Andrew W. Lougee and his wife, Bobbi Sue, of Chesterfield. Sister of Myron “Bob” Ingalls of Chesterfield, Nancy Evans and her husband, Harry, of Guilford, Helen Hebert of Chandler, Ariz., Bette Page and her husband, Chip, of Swanzey, N.H., and Debbie Wartluft and her husband, Kevin, of Gettysburg, Pa. Born in West Chesterfield, the daughter of Myron and Hazel (Aldrich) Ingalls, she was a 1964 graduate of Brattleboro Union High School. For many years, she was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Marl-Harris Fire Department and was also an EMT for Marl-Harris. For more than 20 years, she worked at Troy Mills. Prior to that, she worked at Ramada Inn and for Douglas Toys, sewing toys from the comfort of her home. She was a very compassionate and caring person who loved her family and those around her very deeply. She was quick to offer a smile and to make enduring relationships with the many friends she had come to have over the years. She had a very strong faith and a sense of spirituality, which encompassed all aspects of her life. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially with her grandchildren, whom she loved to play various games with. Vacationing in Maine was also something that she was very fond of, especially her visits to Nubble Light House. Memorial information: A funeral service was held at the Foley Funeral Home in Keene, N.H. Burial was private. Donations to Home Healthcare Service and Hospice, 312 Marlboro St., P.O. Box 564, Keene, N.H. 03431.

• Anthony Thomas Maisto, 91, of Denver. Died Nov. 7 at his home. Husband of Fernanda Vistarini. Father of Karen Maisto Folger, and her husband, Paul, of Ft. Collins, Colo., and Kathy Maisto and her husband, Jerry Carbone, of Brattleboro. Born in Jamestown, N.Y., to immigrant parents from Gaeta, Italy. He was one of eight brothers and sisters. He met his future wife while stationed in Rome, Italy, with the Army during World War II. In 1945 they were mar­ried in the Ba­silica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. The couple relocated to Den­ver in 1946. He grad­uated with a B.S. in Ac­counting from Denver University. He was a regional vice presi­dent for Transamerica Title Insur­ance Company. He worked in ti­tle insurance for more than 40 years in Denver. He enjoyed sports and was an avid reader of a variety of genres, including mysteries, history, and biography. In retirement, he enjoyed volun­teering at Denver University's Penrose Library. He was also a member of the Friends of Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro. He lived a life of integrity, hu­mor and elegance. Memorial information: Donations to Friends of Brooks Memorial Library, 224 Main St., Brattleboro, VT 05301.

• Sheila Prouty, 79, of Brattleboro. Died Nov. 14. Daughter of the late Guy and Isabel (Gordon) Prouty. Mother of Jolene and her husband, Scott Lane, of Vernon. Twin sister of Shirley and her husband, Harry Hoyt. Born in Brattleboro, she was a lifelong resident and attended Brattle­boro area schools. She spent her life as a homemaker, caring for her loving family as well as working at Green Street School in the lunch program for many years. She was a warm, loving person who could find a friend anywhere she would go. She loved knitting and made countless clothing items, in­cluding Christening gowns and sweaters and other items she would sell and donate to the Re­former Christmas Stocking pro­gram. Some of her favorite pas­times were crossword and jigsaw puzzles. In her last few years at Pine Heights, she made many new friends and was very active in ac­tivities, including Bingo and bowl­ing. Memorial information: A private graveside service and interment took place Nov. 18 at Lo­cust Ridge Cemetery in Brattle­boro. Donations to the Reformer Christmas Stocking, P.O. Box 703, Brattleboro, VT 05302-0703. Arrangements were under the care of Ker-Westerlund Funeral Home of Brattleboro.

• Frank A. White, 51, of Westminster West. Died Nov. 11. Son of Mathew White and Irene Styles Hurd. Father of Carrie Johnson. Brother of Raymond and Mi­chael White and Mary Merkle. He attended schools in West­minster West and Bellows Falls and worked at area lumber mills. Memorial information: A graveside service will take place at a later date in the Westminster West Cemetery. Arrangements are in the care of Fenton & Hennessey Fu­neral Home.