Births
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Nov. 5, 2014, a daughter, Aubree Kathleen Moore, to Alice Gay and Benjamin Moore of Williamsville; granddaughter to Gary Gay, Stephanie Fouriner, Barbara Pacific, David Moore, and Kathleen Moore.
College news
• Sarah Harlow of Putney was inducted into the Colby-Sawyer College chapter of Alpha Chi on Oct. 19. Harlow is a member of the class of 2016, majoring in nursing.
Transitions
• Ian C. Sullivan and Jennifer Rowe have joined the Brattleboro law firm of Fitts, Olson & Giddings, P.L.C., as associate attorneys. Sullivan's practice focuses on litigation in criminal, civil, and probate courts, family matters, estate planning, and transactional work. He was raised in Jericho and received a B.A. from the University of Vermont. He completed his J.D. at Vermont Law School in 2013, was a law clerk in the Windsor and Windham County State's Attorney's Offices. Rowe practiced law with a New York trusts and estates firm. Her areas of practice include estate planning, Medicaid planning, taxation, probate, real estate, and student loan law. She grew up in Wells River and is a 2011 honors graduate of Albany Law School. She also holds a B.A. from Amherst College and a Ph.D. from Columbia University.
• BMH Physician Group has added Nancy J. Redfield, RN, MS, ARNP, BC to its Post-Acute Care Services. Redfield will work with Eric Pofcher, MD to provide direct care for patients from the time of discharge from Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, or another acute care facility, to admission at a skilled nursing facility. An Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner with 17 years' experience, Redfield holds a master's degree in nursing from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and is frequently invited to speak at care facilities throughout the region on the subjects of pain management, hospice and palliative care.
• Amanda J. Hepler, MD and Jeff Meckling, PA-C, have joined Brattleboro Family Medicine and are accepting patients. A graduate of Jefferson Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Dr. Hepler served her family medicine residency at Latrobe Family Medicine in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. She is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. She most recently worked at Gifford Medical Center in Randolph. Prior to that, she spent two years at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, N.H., where she supervised nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Hepler also spent four years maintaining a solo family practice in Rangeley, Maine. Meckling spent 11 years practicing medicine in the Schenectady area after graduating with honors from the Hudson Valley/Albany Med Physician Assistant program in New York State. He has been with Brattleboro Primary Care for the past three years. He also has more than a decade of experience as a firefighter, paramedic and emergency department technologist.
School news
• The Brattleboro Lodge of Elks honored four students from Brattleboro Union High School as their Students of the Month for September. Gregory Wood, Grade 11, is the son of Albert and Carol Wood in Dummerston. He is involved in Future Business Leaders, and a member of the JV Lacrosse and Bowling Teams. Alec Fleming, Grade 12, is the son of Patrick and Gay Fleming. He is enrolled at the Windham Regional Career Center and is President of the Future Farmers of America, a member of the Future Business Leaders, and a member of his town's Fire Department. Jacob Sullivan, Grade 12, is the son of Michael and Noela Sullivan. He is a very academically solid student with a good attitude. His hobbies include fishing, hiking, and basketball. Jeremiah “JJ” Booker, Grade 10, is the son of Eugene and June Booker of Brattleboro. He is a talented artist who also enjoys reading.
Obituaries
• Richard John “Dick” Guthrie, 75, of Brattleboro. Died Nov. 18 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Wife of Marjorie (Worden) Guthrie for 50 years. Father of Craig Guthrie and companion Karen Larivee of Barre; Doreen Guthrie and companion, Terry Isham, of Essex Junction; and Paula Starkweather of Brattleboro. Brother of Paul “Gene” Guthrie of Brattleboro, Kenneth Guthrie of Hampton, N.H., Mary Higley of Temple, N.H., and the late James Guthrie. Born in Brattleboro, the son of Paul and Frances (Cummings) Guthrie. He attended St. Michael's Parochial School and was a graduate of Saint Michael's High School, Class of 1958. Following high school, he went to work in the pressroom at the Brattleboro Reformer from 1958 to 1961, and later proudly served his country in the Vermont National Guard during the Vietnam War. He had a career goal of serving in law enforcement and, in 1961 he joined the Brattleboro Police, eventually becoming police chief for two terms, 1984 to 1985 and 1996 to 1997. He also served on the Windham County Sheriff's Department from 1987 through 1996, becoming Sheriff for Windham County. During his tenure with the Sheriff's Department, he also became acting Police Chief for the town of Vernon for one year. He also worked on a part-time basis for many years as a funeral service associate for Westerlund Funeral Home, Fleming Funeral Home and the Atamaniuk Funeral Home, all of Brattleboro. Active civically, he volunteered for many years as crossing guard for St. Michael's School, and was active for many years with the Big Brother Big Sister program, the Windham County Court Diversion Program, was a trustee and board member at the Thompson House Nursing Home and was a former board member for Rescue Inc. Additionally, he was a board member at the former Linden Lodge Nursing Home. A devout Catholic, he was a lifelong communicant of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church. where he served on the Parish Council. He was a longtime member of American Legion Post 5 in Brattleboro, where he served two terms as Post Commander. He also held membership in the Vermont Police Chief's Association. He was the proud recipient of the Friends of Education Award in 1982 from the Windham Southeast Supervisory Union for helping to establish law enforcement programs in area schools. Known for his spirit of friendship, he enjoyed helping those in need, always ready to lend a helping hand. He enjoyed giving presentations on current events and Brattleboro history to area nursing home residents, puttering around his home, and gardening; he was known for his Gilfeather turnips. He was proud of his community and loved Brattleboro history. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on Nov. 22 at St. Michael's Catholic Church, followed by burial with full military honors in St. Michael's Parish Cemetery. Donations to St. Michael's School, 47 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, in care of Elaine Beam, principal. Arrangements were under the direction of the Atamaniuk Funeral Home of Brattleboro.
• John Henry Hayward, 68, of Boston. Died Nov. 17 in Boston after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Partner of Peter M. Johnson for nearly 30 years. Former husband of Judith Poole. Father of Suzanne of Santa Margarita, Calif., Jennifer of Wooster, Ohio, Samuel of Berkeley, Calif., and Rachel Anna of Port Jefferson, N.Y. Brother of Gordon of Westminster West and Peter of New Hartford, Conn. Son of the late Jack and Helen Seaton Hayward of the Nepaug section of New Hartford, he grew up on the family fruit farm and graduated from Regional #7 High School in Winsted, Conn., in 1964. He later graduated from Tufts University in 1968. While at Tufts, he was president of the Leonard Carmichael Society, a student group that volunteered its services by tutoring and helping underprivileged children in Boston. After graduation, he moved to Berkeley, where he began a long career as an inspiring teacher of high school English and history. His first teaching job was at McClymonds High School in Oakland, Calif. He also taught for two years at Durdham Park, a progressive elementary school in Bristol, England. From 1978 to 1980, he taught at Brattleboro Union High School, followed by 20 years teaching history at Watertown (Mass.) High School. He retired from teaching in 2003, and is remembered fondly by his students, many of whom remained in touch with him for years, as a mentor and friend. Alzheimer's and related illnesses plagued him after his retirement, but he never lost his sense of humor or his love for his friends and family. Memorial information: A memorial service has been scheduled for June 13, 2015, at the New Nepaug Cemetery, with a reception to follow at Hayward Farm, Hayward Road, in New Hartford, Conn. A scholarship fund has been established in his memory at Watertown High School. Donations to The John Hayward Scholarship Fund, in care of Watertown High School, 50 Columbia St., Watertown, MA 02472.
• Robert Penniman Hubbard, 84, of Walpole, N.H. Died Nov. 20 at his home. Born in Keene, N.H., the son of Oliver Jones and Dorothy Penniman Hubbard, he was a longtime resident of Walpole. He was a 1947 graduate of the The Loomis-Chaffee School in Windsor, Conn., attended Harvard College and graduated from Kenyon College with a B.A. degree in Psychology. While at Kenyon, he was president of his fraternity, DKE. In 1974, he was awarded an M.A. in English from the University of New Hampshire. He taught at Wilbraham (Mass.) Academy, and was a teacher of English and Chairman of the English Departments at the following schools: Wassookeag School-Camp in Dexter, Maine; The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla.; and Graham-Eckes Palm Beach Academy in Palm Beach, Fla. He was a member of the Yale Club of New York City and the Harvard Club of Boston. Survivors include his nephews and nieces, Jan Jefferis and her husband, Gary; Dale Hubbard and his wife, Colleen; Heidi Crotty and her husband, Patrick; and Jeffrey Hubbard and his wife, Patty; and many grandnephews and grandnieces. He will long be remembered for his generosity and kindness, as well as being a true gentleman in every sense of the word. Memorial information: At his request, there will be no funeral or memorial service.
• Mary P. McGill, 89, formerly of Brattleboro. Died Nov. 14, in Jacksonville, Fla., where she lived since 2009. Wife of the late Lansing H. McGill for 51 years. Mother of Steven, Lawrence, Susan, and Peter. Born in Lancaster, Pa. to the late Katharine Zook and Thoralf Petersen, she attended Thayer Academy in Braintree, Mass., and received a B.S. from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. She taught home economics at the Amherst (Mass.) Regional High School before marrying. She made the world a more beautiful place with her arts and crafts, her flower gardens, and her easy smile. She was an excellent seamstress; she supplied her family and friends with quilts, teddy bears, dolls, and the like, and she ran a small business selling her wares at craft shows in New England. Her art work, primarily watercolors depicting landscapes and nature, adorns the walls of family members and has been displayed at various venues in Brattleboro. Her colorful flower gardens caught the eye of many and her home was rarely without a floral arrangement. She was active in her church and community. She was a volunteer at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital for 15 years. At the First Congregational Church in West Brattleboro, she served on and chaired numerous committees; she continued her support by donating a quilt each year for their annual bazaar. She was a member of the board of the Brattleboro Drop In Center, Brattleboro Pastoral Counseling Center and UVM Extension. Memorial information: Donations may be made in her name to Northeast Florida Community Hospice, 4266 Sunbeam Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32257.
• Robert Emery Shepard, 85, of Brattleboro. Died on Nov. 7, four days short of his 86th birthday. Husband of the late Carol (DeCell) Shepard. Father of Leanne Powers, Linda Roy, and the late Kurtis Shepard. Also survived by seven grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. He honorably served his country in the Navy and the Merchant Marine, and was a firefighter in St. Albans. He was an avid hunter, and will be best remembered for his stories, and for playing Santa Claus for his grandchildren. Memorial information: He will be cremated and his ashes interred in the family cemetery lot in the spring of 2015.
• Raymond White Jr., 30, of West Halifax. Died Nov. 13 in an early-morning house fire in Halifax. He saved the life of his friend, Ben Potter, yet lost his own while exiting with his dog, Mr. Bailey. Son of Ray and Lisa (Moulton) White. Stepson of Heather-Jo Decatur White. Sister of Alicia White and Ashlee White. Born in Brattleboro, he lived in Brindisi, Italy, and Halifax, along with a few places in between in his 30 years. He went to elementary school in Halifax, and graduated from Wilmington High School in 2002, and furthered his education at the Vermont Technical College in Randolph. He possessed a large contagious smile, which he wore daily, and a sense of humor that was appreciated and envied by all. He had a strong work ethic and held himself to high standards on the job, which continues to show in the work he has left behind. He put the feelings of others and their needs before his own, on a daily basis. He was a creative carpenter, stone mason, hiker, camper, fisherman, charcoal and watercolor artist, and a hunter of turkey, deer, and elk. He loved to laugh and joke, make others laugh, and chose to be happy every day. He enjoyed spending time with his two sisters, helping others, and worked extremely hard on the job. He lived spontaneously and constantly practiced forgetfulness! He recently spent his evenings dedicated to his artwork in the hills of southern Vermont. He loved animals, and shared his life with his dog, Mr. Bailey, whom he ultimately gave his life for. Memorial information: A celebration of his life was held on Nov. 23 at the Halifax Community Hall. A private burial ceremony is being scheduled for the near future.