College news
• The following local residents graduated from Rochester (N.Y.) Institute of Technology: Eric Cawley of Brattleboro received a B.S. in mechanical engineering from RIT's Kate Gleason College of Engineering, Katherine Given of Brattleboro received a B.F.A. in industrial design from RIT's College of Imaging Arts and Sciences, and Danielle Nutter of South Londonderry received a B.S. in chemical engineering from RIT's Kate Gleason College of Engineering.
Transitions
• Just So Pediatrics welcomes new pediatrician Dr. Heather Lesage-Horton to their group. Dr. Lesage-Horton, who is board certified, most recently worked at the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. A member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, she earned her medical doctorate and bachelor's degree from the University of Vermont, and completed her pediatrics internship and residency at the University of Michigan Health System, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital.
• Chad Simmons was hired by the Building Bright Futures State Advisory Council Inc. to be a regional coordinator for the Brattleboro District. Regional coordinators, with their regional councils, serve as a major artery of networking, communications, planning, and policy recommendations for improvement in the early childhood service delivery system at the local level. Simmons was previously the Media Coordinator for Greater Falls Connections, a community organizing and substance prevention group based in Bellows Falls.
• Ilene Todd was recently elected as president of the Board of Directors of the In-Sight Photography Project in Brattleboro. She will assume the leadership role immediately, taking over from Jon Mack, who has stepped down to manage the Hooker-Dunham Theater. Todd has been on the Board since 2011, contributing her exceptional organization skills and experience. She worked at both World Learning and Federation EIL, the worldwide network of The Experiment in International Living. She retired in June of this year as Director of Federation EIL.
• Landmark College in Putney has hired new leaders in Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and the Department of Safety and Security. Longtime head of Student Affairs Michael Luciani was promoted to Vice President for Student Affairs. He has served Landmark College since 1996 in roles that range from hands-on work with students and families to high level leadership. Stephen Murrell of Putney now directs the Landmark College Department of Safety. Before relocating to Putney, Murrell lived in New Jersey's Andover Township, where he served as a sergeant and patrol officer for more than 15 years. Patrick Connelly of Chester is now Dean of Students. Before coming to Landmark College, Connelly served for a decade in the Office of Student Engagement at Smith College. Dr. Monika Bissell will serve as Vice President for Academic Affairs. She most recently was Associate Vice President for Distance Education and Professional Studies at Rivier University in Nashua, N.H., and previously held positions as a dean and a professor at Daniel Webster College and as the director of the New Hampshire Bureau of Education and Training.
Obituaries
• Judith Newton “Judy” Emery, 78, of Cape Porpoise, Maine. Died July 11, following a brave and gracious fight with metastasized breast cancer. Wife of David Jackson Emery for 55 years. Mother of Beth Emery Horan and her husband, Steve, of Franconia, N.H., and Dwight Emery and his wife, Marin, of Byfield, Mass. Brother of David and Haven Newton. Born in Bellows Falls, she was the youngest child of the late Bernice (Hatch) and Paul Newton. Along with her brothers, she learned to love the frugalities and joys of upcountry small farm life. Early on, she attended a one-room schoolhouse, which she reached by horseback. She developed a passion for cooking and sewing from her grandmother Nina Hatch, which led to a B.A. in Home Economics from the University of Vermont and a lifelong love of feeding family and friends. Over their more than 55 years together, the Emerys created loving homes, first in Sudbury, Mass., then in Chittenden and Wallingford, Vt., before finally settling in Cape Porpoise. Always with a love of music, she played cornet in her high school marching band and sang in church choirs throughout her life. She also loved the outdoors, including gardening, sailing, camping, hiking, and skiing. She enjoyed traveling around the United States, Europe, and Africa and coastal cruising Down East and in the Bahamian and Caribbean islands. A member of the League of Women Voters, throughout her life she was very involved in nonprofits focused on serving others and was always active in church and church choir. Her love of life, and her giving and sharing with others, will be greatly missed by everyone who loved her. Memorial information: A celebration of her life was held July 26 at The Church on the Cape in Cape Porpoise. Donations to the oncology clinics of Mercy Hospital, 114 State St., Portland, ME 04101 and Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, 450 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215; or the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, 11 Hunnewell Rd., Scarborough, ME 04074.
• Ruth Agnes Fisher, 88, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died July 23 at her home following a period of declining health. Wife of the late Roland H. Fisher for 63 years. Mother of Rose Ann Stephens of Hinsdale and Linda Merriman of Springfield, Vt. Sister of the late Lilly Mleczko. Born in Brattleboro on March 15, 1926, the daughter of the late Wilmer and Eva (Barcomb) Baker. She was raised in Brattleboro and attended St. Michael's Parochial School. She had lived in Vernon, Brattleboro and in Monson, Mass., moving back to the area to make her home with her daughter in Hinsdale in 2003. She worked as an occupational therapist at the Brattleboro Retreat and as assistant dietitian at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. While residing in Monson from 1965 to 2003, she had worked for the Sanderson-McCloud Company. She also worked at the former Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates on Cotton Mill Hill in Brattleboro when she was younger. A lifelong Catholic, she was a communicant of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church. She enjoyed knitting, crossword puzzles, gardening, cooking, arts and crafts, and time shared with her family. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held July 29 at St. Michael's Catholic Church, with committal rites and burial in St. Michael's Parish Cemetery. Donations to Home Healthcare Hospice & Community Services, P.O. Box 564, Keene, N.H. 03431. Arrangements are under the direction of the Atamaniuk Funeral Home.
• Michelle Irene Flynn, 60, of Newfane. Died July 21 at her home following a courageous battle with ovarian cancer. Wife of Norman Flynn. Mother of Tasha Flynn of Brattleboro. Sister of Scott, Rick, and Michael Ethier, all of Dummerston. Born in Brattleboro, the daughter of George and Lucille (Levasseur) Ethier, she attended St. Michael's Parochial School and was a graduate of Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 1972. With her husband, she owned and operated Lawn Care Associates, a landscape/property management business serving clients mainly in the West River Valley area. Previously, she worked for many years for the former Vermont National Bank in its operation center on Putney Road. She was a member of the F.O. Eagles, Brattleboro Aerie #2445 and was a communicant of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church. She enjoyed gardening, fishing and time spent with her family. She was also an avid NASCAR fan. Memorial information: In accordance with her final wishes, there are no formal funeral services scheduled. A memorial service in celebration of her life will be conducted at a later date at a time to be announced by the funeral home. Donations to NewBrook Fire & Rescue, P.O. Box 77, Newfane, VT 05345. Arrangements are under the direction of Atamaniuk Funeral Home in Brattleboro.
• Janet Nancy Stowell, 76, of Townshend. Died July 19 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. Wife of Irvin P. Stowell for 46 years. Mother of Mitchell Putnam of Townshend, Laurie Nystrom of Townshend, Sarah Stark of Hinsdale, N.H., and Andrea Royce of Townshend. Sister of John Gould of Lyndonville, Larry Gould of Townshend, Martha Morrison of Brookline, Mary Merrill of Townshend, and the late Betty Eriksen. Born in West Townshend, the daughter of the late Donald and Ruth (Ballantine) Gould, she was raised and educated in Townshend and was a graduate of Leland & Gray Seminary, Class of 1956. For many years, she served as Lister and held various offices for the town of Townshend. She also drove the school bus in the Townshend area on a part-time basis. She loved her home and family and was a faithful and devoted wife and loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She enjoyed helping others and was very active within her community. She served as membership chairman for the American Legion Auxiliary, West River Post #16, was a representative for Townshend and served on the Board of Senior Solutions, and was an active member of the Leland & Gray Alumni Association. Additionally, she was a member and served as treasurer of the Townshend Ladies Church Circle and was a member of the Happy Homemakers Club. Memorial information: Graveside committal services will be conducted Thursday, July 31. at 1:30 p.m. in Oakwood Cemetery in Townshend. Donations to Leland & Gray Alumni Association, Townshend Ladies Church Circle, or Grace Cottage Hospital. Arrangements are under the direction of the Atamaniuk Funeral Home.
• Anna Catherine “Shirley” Tyler, 89, of Brattleboro. Died July 18. Wife of Frederick “Fred” Tyler for 67 years. Mother of Kate Tyler of Westminster, Deborah Tyler of Brattleboro, Martha Tyler Gouger and her husband, Jeffrey, of Brattleboro; Brian Tyler and his wife, Jill, of Brattleboro; and the late Kevin Tyler. Sister of Paul Hubner Sr. and his wife Donna, of Chesterfield, N.H., Cynthia “Cindy” Clark, and her husband, Edward, of Guilford, and the late Frank Hubner, Jr., Elizabeth “Betty” Whitehouse and Jean Hubner. Born in Brewster, N.Y., the daughter of the late Frank and Anna (Delohery) Hubner, she was raised in Danbury, Conn. She moved to Chesterfield in 1936, and was a 1943 graduate of Brattleboro High School. She graduated from Keene Teacher's College (now Keene State College) with a teaching degree in elementary education, and was proud to be inducted as a member of Kappa Delta Pi. After student teaching in Keene, her first teaching assignment was fifth grade in Concord, N.H. Also during her teaching career, she worked as a substitute teacher at Canal Street School and Brattleboro Junior High School. She married her high school sweetheart and, while raising their five children, was very active with the Brattleboro Parent Teacher's Association. Her love of education and dedication to the children of Brattleboro continued as she served for numerous years on the Brattleboro Town School Board, Brattleboro Union High School Board, and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) board. Vermont Gov. Richard Snelling appointed her to the Vermont State Board of Education. Additionally, she served on the Vermont State Lottery Commission, and on the Town of Brattleboro Finance Committee. She was well known for her baking and cake decorating skills, and even had a cake decorating business which provided special occasion cakes for many families. She was proud to have made each of her children's wedding cakes. She took great pride in her home and was active for many years with the Brattleboro Home Demonstration Group. Never an idle person, she also enjoyed ceramics, painting with oils, photography, and travel. She most cherished her trips to Ireland, Scotland, and Wales with her husband. She was a faithful and devoted wife and loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose life centered around her family. Memorial information: A memorial service will be conducted at a future date. Memorial contributions in her name may be made to the Brattleboro School Endowment, PO Box 2534, Brattleboro, VT 05303; Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05301; or Brattleboro Fire Department, Elliot Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301. Arrangements were under the direction of Atamaniuk Funeral Home.