College news
• The following local students have been named to the Dean's List for the fall 2013 semester at the University of Vermont: Carlyn Madden of Brattleboro, a undeclared major; Jamie Martell of Brattleboro, a civil engineering major; Cleo Rohn of Brattleboro, an English major; Nicole Thomas and Rachel Tseng of Brattleboro, both psychology majors; Eben Viens of Brattleboro, an Anthropology major; Jordan Wyckoff of Brattleboro, an Early Childhood Preschool major; Chelby Nystrom of Brookline, a business administration major; Rebecca Potter of Guilford, a global studies major; Jonah Ullman of Jamaica, a music major; Jillian Blaisdell of Londonderry, a communication science & disorders major; Devin Brown of Londonderry, an undeclared major; Rachel Peloquin of Londonderry, an Elementary Education K-6 major; William Nupp of Newfane, an undeclared major; Marion Major of Putney, an environmental studies major; Shad Payne-Meyer of Putney, a geography major; Kailey Rinder of Putney, a studio art major; Guillaume Sparrow-Pepin of Putney, a computer science major; Janne Yang of Putney, an engineering major; James Morton of Saxtons River, a mechanical engineering major; Jacqueline Dezendorf of Townshend, an Anthropology major; Katherine Amidon of Vernon, a biochemistry major; Elizabeth Doiron of Vernon, an animal sciences major; Thomas Orner of Vernon, a business administration major; Shannon Lozito of Wilmington, a biology major; and Jenny Newton of Windham, a psychology major.
• Kerry A. Howard, a member of the Class of 2015 from Londonderry, was named to the Dean's List for the fall 2013 semester at Stonehill College in Easton, Mass.
• The following local students at the Community College of Vermont were named to the fall 2013 President's List: Abigail Wicker of West Townshend, Owen Diamondstone-Kohout of Dummerston, Genevieve Pennington-Fitzgerald of Putney, Ella Young of Vernon, Patricia Gilbert of Jacksonville, and Allison Paquette of Brattleboro,
• The following local students at the Community College of Vermont were named to the fall 2013 Dean's List: Abigail Storm of Brattleboro, Bridget Dale of Brattleboro, Rebecca Bird of Vernon, Emmy Bascom of Guilford, Karley Basinger of Putney, Justin Garciadealba of Grafton, Alison Cornellier of Brattleboro, Lisa Moll of Brattleboro, and Sarah Miller of Vernon.
• Megan Walker of Brattleboro was named to the Dean's List at the University of New Haven (Conn.) for the fall 2013 semester.
• Leland Hayford, a senior majoring in accounting and economics from Wilmington, has been named to the Dean's List for the fall 2013 semester at Nazareth College in Rochester, N.Y.
• Rachel Schleimer of Springfield was named to the Dean's List for the fall 2013 semester at the State University of New York at Brockport.
• The following local students have been named to the Dean's List for the fall 2013 semester at the University of Rhode Island: Jennifer Spero of Londonderry, Dustin Powell of Westminster, Rachel Hill and Sarah Lagasse of Brattleboro, and Natasha Cummings of Windham.
• Abigail Thomas of West Dummerston, a member of the class of 2016 at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., earned term honors for the fall 2013 semester.
Obituaries
• Thomas R. Abare, 79, of Saxtons River. Died Feb. 1 at Maplewood Nursing Home in Westmoreland, N.H. Husband of Jeannine (Dion) Abare for 56 years. Father of Kimberly Cuiffo of Bayville, N.J., Reginald Abare of Westminster, Michael Abare of Ventura, Calif., Christopher Abare of Los Angeles, and Jason Abare of Springfield. Born in Barre, the son of the late Reginald T. and Eloise (Rickert) Abare, he was a graduate of Spaulding High School in Barre. He attended the Massachusetts Radio & Telegraph School in Boston for two years, graduating with a Certificate of Completion. He worked for New England Telephone as a toll tester, owned and operated Saxtons River Cable Co. and Vermont Amusement, and worked as a DJ with WOOL-FM in Bellows Falls. He was a member of the American Legion, the BPOE 1619, Polish American Club, and the Moose Lodge, all in Bellows Falls. He was a great ham radio operator and was a former member of the Bellows Falls Fire Department. He was the president of the former local Junior Chamber of Commerce and served as a Bellows Falls Trustee. He also served in the National Guard. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held at St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls on Feb. 4, with burial in St. Charles Cemetery. Arrangements were under the care of Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home in Bellows Falls.
• Bernice E. Barton, 79, of Putney. Died Jan. 31 at her home. Mother of Gary Barton of Putney; Tony Barton and his wife, Stacy, of Lakewood, Colo.; Jeannie Quest and her husband, Benjamin, of Putney; and Elaine Howard and her husband Kevin of Deltona, Fla. Sister of the late Arthur Page. Born in Springfield, Mass., the daughter of the late Pearl Vielleux, she was a longtime Putney resident. She was employed for more than 30 years at Basketville in Putney. She also worked at DJ's in Brattleboro and in the deli at the old Putney General Store, where she was known as “Ma Barton.” She loved spending time with her grandchildren and her cat Clyde. She enjoyed shopping with her daughter, bowling, doing crossword puzzles, watching football and loved attending the Masterbatters softball games in Putney. She will be best remembered by her family as a great mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. Memorial information: A celebration of her life was held Feb. 8 at the Elks Lodge in Brattleboro, VT 05301. Burial will be private. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302.
• Larysa Lisai Howard, 93, of Bellows Falls. Died Feb. 2 at Springfield Hospital. Wife of the late Edward Howard Jr. Mother of Edward Howard III of Bellows Falls, David Howard of Bennington, Ellen Howard of Saxtons River and the late Gregory Howard. Sister of Clara Wylie of Verona, Va., Barbara Shufeldt of Hurley, N.Y., and the late Leonard and Pauline Lisai. The daughter of the late Anthony and Lena (Kissell) Lisai, she was a 1938 graduate of Bellows Falls High School and a 1942 graduate of Simmons College School of Library Science in Boston. She worked in the reference and children's sections at the Fitchburg (Mass.) Public Library. She was librarian at the Winchester (Mass.) High School and, during World War II, she was assistant librarian at Chelsea (Mass.) Naval Hospital. She later became librarian at the Central Elementary School, Cherry Hill School and Saxtons River Elementary School. She was a Girl Scout leader for 10 years, and served two years as secretary for the YMCA. She was a member of the Bellows Falls Woman's Club and the Bellows Falls Country Club, and served as trustee for Rockingham Free Public Library and Justice of the Peace for the Town of Rockingham. She was former chairman of the State Library Board. After retirement, she enjoyed traveling, including trips to Russia, Europe and the Caribbean. She also enjoyed watching movies. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held at St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls on Feb. 7, with burial in St. Charles Cemetery. Donations to to Rockingham Free Public Library, for benefit of the children's section, 65 Westminster St., Bellows Falls, VT 05101. Arrangements were under the care of Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home in Bellows Falls.
• Stanley E. Noga, Sr., 87, of Montague, Mass. Died Feb. 3 at Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, Mass. Husband of the late Gladys A. (Kurtyka) Noga. Father of Stanley E. Noga Jr. and his wife, Patricia, of Brookline; Gary B. Noga and his wife, Sharon, of Greenfield, Mass.; and Pamela J. Guilmet and her husband, Thomas, of The Villages, Fla. Born in Montague, the son of the late John and Michalina (Nonacki) Noga, he attended Turners Falls High School. He joined in the Army as World War II was ending, obtaining the rank of Technician Fifth Grade. He served as railroad manager for the 22nd Railroad Division. He worked as a shipping manager at the Strathmore Paper Company for 45 years, where he was Employee of the Year. He was a communicant of Our Lady of Peace Church in Turners Falls, Mass. He loved making birdhouses and was best-known as “The Birdman.” He and his wife would spend many weekends at the Newfane Flea Market selling his birdhouses and other various items. He enjoyed playing Bingo and was a New England Patriots fan. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Feb. 6 at Our Lady of Peace Church in Turners Falls, with burial in Mater Dolorosa Cemetery in Greenfield. Donations to the American Lung Association of Western Massachusetts, 393 Maple St., Springfield, MA 01105. Arrangements were under the direction of the Kostanski Funeral Home of Northfield, Mass.
• Bruce Edward “Bub” Stratton, 72, of Weston, W.Va. Died Jan. 30 at his home. Former husband of Ellen Fuller of Townshend. Father of Angela Stratton of Wardsboro, Wilma Stratton and her companion, Brian Robertshaw, of Jamaica, Rebecca Stratton-Goodband and husband, Asa, of Windham, Jode B. Howe and his wife, Wanda, of Jamaica, and Melissa Towle and her husband, Wayne, of Spofford, N.H. Brother of Merilyn Brown of Agawam, Mass., and the late Shirley Stratton. Born in Brooklyn N.Y., the son of the late Aubrey Edward Stratton and Wilma Pence Stratton, he grew up on his family's farm in Townshend. He later graduated from Leland and Gray Seminary and he spent time in the Vermont National Guard. Throughout the years, he worked in road construction and maintenance and spent years as a self-employed logger. He retired to his property in West Virginia. He will be remembered by those who loved him for his kindness, intellect, ingenuity and inquisitive nature. He loved sitting next to a fire smoking his pipe, discussing politics, religion and the meaning of life. He was a natural storyteller. Those who knew him will remember his self-deprecating humor and the twinkle in his eye. His children will always remember the long hikes and many picnics they enjoyed with him over the years. Memorial information: Condolences may be mailed to P.O Box 162 Townshend VT 05353, in care of Ellen Fuller. His family will announce arrangements for memorial services to be held in the spring for his friends in West Virginia as well as his family and friends in Vermont.