Births
• In Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (Lebanon, N.H.), Jan. 2, 2015, a daughter, Suzanna Aralia Hoskins, to Helen O'Donnell and Noah Hoskins-Forsythe of Dummerston.
College news
• Nicole Winot of Brookline, a cinema production major and member of the Class of 2018, was named to the Fall 2014 Dean's List at Bob Jones University in Greensville, S.C.
• Zachary Howe of Westminster, a student-athlete at Castleton State College, was recently named to the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) All-Conference Team for the fall 2014 football season. Howe was one of Castleton's 13 All-Conference honorees as announced by the ECFC.
• Eric Ginter of Townshend, a junior Global Studies major at Castleton State College, will spend the spring semester of his junior year in Chengdu, China studying foreign language and culture after recently being named the recipient of a prestigious national study abroad scholarship, the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship. The highly competitive Gilman Scholarship program allows U.S. undergraduate students to participate in credit bearing, career-oriented study and intern abroad programs worldwide. Ginter, who participated in Leland & Gray Union High School's Journey East program, is the third Castleton student in the past three years to win this prestigious national scholarship, and the first to study abroad in China.
• Emily Dow of Brattleboro was named to the Fall 2014 Dean's List at Lasell College in Newton, Mass. Dow, a member of the class of 2016, is majoring in event management.
School news
• The following area students were named to the Honor Roll at Vermont Academy in Saxtons River for the first trimester of the 2014-15 academic year:
High Honors (a grade point average of 3.67 or above): Seniors & Postgraduates: George Atkins of Saxtons River, Sally Densmore of Wardsboro, Abby Hart of Chester, Emma Hoser of Rockingham, Elkanah Linder of Townshend, James Lumley of Putney, Nevada McOwen of Brattleboro, and Samuel Svensson and Sebastian Wu of Saxtons River. Juniors: Evan Ray of Brookline. Sophomores: Elizabeth Adams of West Townshend, Oliver Annson of Northfield, Mass., Jahyde Bullard of Bellows Falls, McKenzie Curtis of Brattleboro, Francis O'Keefe of Walpole, N.H., and Allegra Wu of Saxtons River. Freshmen: Brian Anderson of Walpole, Elijah Cooper of Brattleboro, Logan Cota of Bellows Falls, Dariel Echanis of Saxtons River, Ian Fenn of Brattleboro, Conor Harrington of Walpole, Daniel Houder Jr. of Westmoreland, N.H., Niklas Johnson of Marlboro, and William Svensson of Saxtons River.
Honors: (a grade point average of 3.33-3.66): Seniors & Postgraduates: Mary Anderson and Thomas Durnford of Walpole, Matthew Gendron of Alstead, N.H., Riley Johnson of East Dummerston, Wyeth Olmsted of Westmoreland, and Domenic Senerchia and Julian Stolper (Walpole). Juniors: Ronan Khalsa of West Dummerston, Maxwell McLaughlin of Westmoreland, and Courtney Prentiss and Aidan Therrien (Alstead). Sophomores: Katherine Brennan of Saxtons River and James Gallagher of South Londonderry.
Dean's List: (a grade point average of 3.00-3.32): Seniors & Postgraduates: Blanca Carreno Paredes of Saxtons River, Mackenzie Reilly of Rockingham and Cameron Wright of West Dummerston. Juniors: John Derwin of Walpole, Devin Hogan of Alstead, and Whitley Neumeister of Vernon. Sophomores: Brendan Therrien of Alstead. Freshmen: Nadya Grisczenkow of Landgrove.
Head of School's List: (grade point average of 2.67-2.99): Juniors: Kelsey Parker of Dummerston. Sophomores: Riley McIntosh of Saxtons River.
Transitions
• Brian Richardson, Director of Emergency Services at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, has been elected co-chair of the Vermont Hospital Emergency Preparedness Coordinator (VTHEPC) Committee, which is comprised of emergency preparedness coordinators from 14 participating Vermont hospitals and the state Department of Health.
Obituaries
• Eleanor “Cookie” Allen, 69, of Vernon. Died Dec. 31 of anaplastic thyroid cancer at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. Mother of Melissa Allen of Wilmot, N.H. Sister of John Skibniowsy of Vernon and the late Allie, Donald, and Peter Skibniowsky Jr. A lifelong resident of Vernon, she was born at home on the family farm, the youngest of five children of the late Peter and Marie Chudzik Skibniowsky. It was only later in life that she found that her biological father was Walerian Milewski, with whom she retained a close relationship until his death. She started her education at the South School, now the site of the Vernon Historians one-room schoolhouse museum. She graduated from Brattleboro Union High School in 1963. She went on to graduate from the University of Bridgeport with a degree in elementary education, and returned to the area to teach in Bernardston, Mass., and Guilford elementary schools for several years. Following the birth of her daughter, she turned to other employment in the community. She ran her own day care for several years before becoming a rural route carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. Growing up on the family farm influenced her life. The farm way of life was always important to her and she worked hard to insure its preservation. She especially admired the Amish and made many visits to Amish country, as well as bus trips to other parts of the United States. She continued to be very involved in farming and farming organizations within Vernon, such as the town Farmland Preservation Committee, Farm Days, and the Vernon Historians, among others. After leaving the Postal Service, she became very actively involved with Seniors in Vernon, working as the Senior (now Town) Van bus driver and acting as their advocate to insure that they were being treated fairly. She will be remembered for her seemingly boundless energy, in the caring for her animals and home, and for her many kindnesses to others. Memorial information: A graveside memorial service will be held at Tyler Cemetery in Vernon in the spring.
• Natalie A. (Paynton) Brooks, 86, formerly of Bainbridge, N.Y. Died Dec. 19 at Pine Heights Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Brattleboro after a long illness. Wife of Stewart M. Brooks Sr. Mother of Marshall Brooks and his wife, Stephanie Greene, of Dover. Sister of William Paynton of Attleboro Falls, Mass. Grandmother of Isaac and Graham. Born in Jersey City, N.J., she was a 1945 graduate of Manasquan New Jersey High School and a 1949 graduate of Montclair (N.J.) State Teachers College. A teacher at the Highland Manor School for Girls in West Long Branch, N.J., she was also a substitute teacher for many years in the Newton, Mass., school system and, later, along with her husband, was a member of the Newton-Wellesley Hospital School of Nursing nursing sciences staff. She also co-edited with her husband public health and nursing-related textbooks, manuals, and handbooks. As a team, they saw some 50 books, including dozens of books authored by Stewart, through the press over a period of more than 50 years. A lover of history, reading, and the Jersey Shore, she was also a knowledgeable, generous gardener among her many diverse interests. Memorial information: Those wishing to remember Natalie are invited to make a donation in her and Stewart's name to the Fenimore Art Museum, P.O. Box 800, Cooperstown, NY 13326.
• Edward Donald Dunham, 64, of Brattleboro. Died Jan. 2 at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in White River Junction after a courageous three-year battle with liver disease. Former husband of the late Eileen Rinfret. Former longtime companion of the late Patricia Dessaint. Father of Jeffrey Dunham and his fiancée, Irina, of West Chesterfield, N.H., and Jacquelyn Dunham Ethier and her husband, Paul, of Chesterfield, N.H. Brother of Eugene Dunham and his wife, Lois, of Hinsdale, N.H.; James Dunham and his wife, Kathy, of Putney; Elaine Dunham Laraway and her husband, Thomas, of Greenville, N.C.; and the late Elmer Dunham Jr. Born in Putney, the son of the late Elmer and Esther (Frink) Dunham, he was raised in Putney and attended St. Michael's Parochial School and was a graduate of St. Michael's High School, Class of 1968. He served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. He worked as a machine operator for 20 years at FiberMark in Brattleboro. Previously, he worked for an electrical contracting business while residing in New Bern, N.C. He was a lifetime member of the VFW Carl M. Dessaint Post 1034 in Brattleboro. An avid family man, his top priority was to spend as much time as he could with his loved-ones. He also enjoyed reading, camping, hunting, boating and vacations spent in Maine and on cruises. Memorial information: A memorial gathering was held Jan. 10 at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles in Brattleboro. Donations to the Disabled American Veterans (D.A.V.) Van Fund, 215 North Main St., White River Jct., VT 05009, Attn: Jeff Snow. Arrangements were under the direction of Atamaniuk Funeral Home of Brattleboro.
• Thomas G. Fahner, 58, of Westminster. Died Jan. 6 at his home at Kurn Hattin Homes in Westminster after a strong three-year battle with cancer. Husband of Donna (Niebuhr) Fahner for 34 years. Father of Kelly Fahner and her fiance, Brendan McArdle, of Manhattan, N.Y., Kim O'Connor and her husband, Lt. Timothy O'Connor, of Annapolis, Md., and Christopher Fahner and his wife, Lynsey (Nally) Fahner, of Boston. Brother of Robert Fahner and his wife, Terry and Steven and his wife, Cindy. Born in Queens, N.Y., the son of Andrew and the late Dorothy Fahner, he spent his childhood years playing in the Great South Bay in East Islip, N.Y., where he graduated high school and met many of his lifelong friends. He received his B.A. in physical education from State University of New York at Brockport in 1978, where he also met his wife. He then continued his education, receiving his Masters in School Administration from Springfield College in 1980. He believed that every child deserved a childhood and began a long career of community service to children in Vermont. In 1980, he began his career at Austine School for the Deaf in Brattleboro. In 1990, he joined New England Kurn Hattin Homes for Children and served for 25 years as principal and the director of Residential and Educational Services. In 2009, he was named Vermont's Middle School Principal of the year. He loved his family dearly and he bettered the lives of everyone around him. Outside of work, he was an avid hiker, skier, tennis player, and dedicated basketball coach. He remained active in the community as a Rotarian, a member and former president of the NFCCE for more than 20 years, and served as a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a trusted and beloved mentor to many. Throughout his life, he had an incredibly strong Catholic faith and enjoyed being a lector at St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Jan. 10 at St. Charles Catholic Church in Bellows Falls. Burial will be held at a later date. Donations to New England Kurn Hattin Homes, P.O. Box 127, Westminster, VT 05358. Arrangements were under the direction of Ker Westerlund Funeral Home of Brattleboro.
• Norman Arthur Flynn, 65, of Newfane. Died January 5, 2015 at Vibra Healthcare of Western Massachusetts in Springfield following a lengthy illness. Husband of the late Michelle Irene Ethier for nearly 23 years. Father of Tasha Landman and her husband, Calvin, of Brattleboro. Brother of John Flynn of Newfane and the late Edward Flynn. Born in Patchogue, N.Y., the son of the late Norman E. and Jeannie (Fuller) Flynn, he was raised in Patchogue and was a graduate of Patchogue High School, Class of 1968. He went on to attend the New Hampshire Police Academy and, while a resident of Jackson, N.H., worked as a police officer for the Jackson Police Department. With his late wife, he owned and operated Lawn Care Associates, a landscape/property management business serving clients mainly in the West River Valley area. He was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Brattleboro Lodge #1499, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Brattleboro Aerie #2445, and had been a volunteer member of NewBrook Fire & Rescue in Newfane. He enjoyed fishing, puttering around his home, and was an avid NASCAR and NHRA racing fan. Memorial information: In accordance with his final wishes, there will be no formal funeral services. A memorial gathering will be held at the NewBrook Fire Station on Route 30 on Sunday, Jan. 18, from 2 to 4 p.m. Donations to NewBrook Fire & Rescue, P.O. Box 77, Newfane, VT 05345. Arrangements are under the direction of the Atamaniuk Funeral Home.
• Robert Jackson “Jack” Forcier, MD, of Newfane. Died Jan. 3 as a result of cardiovascular and Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Forcier, a very private person, lived his life to its fullest with humor, courage, and humility. He died at home on hospice care surrounded by his immediate family: his wife, Diane (Dion) Eleftherakis, and his beloved cats, Victor and Yasmini. At his request, there will be no memorial service and this obituary is to contain a minimum of details regarding his personal life. Memorial information: Donations to the Newfane Congregational Church Ladies Aide, P.O. Box 24, Newfane, VT 05345, or the Windham County Heat Fund, 679 Weatherhead Hollow Road, Guilford, VT 05301. Arrangements are under the direction of Atamaniuk Funeral Home.
• Betty G. Freres, 96, of Townshend. Died Jan. 5 at West River Valley Assisted Living. Wife of the late Robert N. Freres for 21 years. Mother of Donna Freres of Sacramento, Calif., Joanne Blount and her husband, Thomas, of Bella Vista, Ark., Lee Hoag and her husband, Rick, of Littleton, Colo., Kay (Freres) Caspersen of Choconut, Pa., and Terri Finigan and her husband, Kevin, of South Wardsboro, and the late Connie Jean Freres. Sister of the late Donald Gibson. Born in Chicago, the daughter of the late David “Archie” and Sarah “Sadie” (McGrann) Gibson, she was raised in Racine, Wis., graduating from St. Catherine's High School. She attended Marquette University, majoring in English and business. It was on the train commute to Marquette where she met her future husband, whom she at first thought was “pushy and somewhat arrogant.” She worked at Sterling Tool Company in Racine, Wis., as office manager since 1962, following the death of her husband. Sterling Tool was a 2nd generation company (Bob, Jim and Don) at that time with Nicholas Freres at the helm. She retired from Sterling in 2002 at the age of 84. A well-remembered and thought-of fixture in Racine, she moved to assisted living in Townshend in 2007 and was one of the first to occupy the West River Valley facility. She enjoyed her years in Vermont at West River Valley. Bingo topped the list for Betty, followed by crafts, exercise, and balance classes. She also very much enjoyed the excellent productions at Leland & Gray High School, the Wardsboro Fourth of July Festivities, the annual Guilford Fair, and the New England Youth Theatre. She was never able to put together a foursome for her beloved bridge, but enjoyed playing cards with “anyone game.” A devout Catholic, she was a communicant of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Townshend. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on Jan. 10 at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Townshend. Committal rites and burial will be held in the Freres family lot in Holy Cross Cemetery in Racine. Donations to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302, or to Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, P.O. Box 246, Putney, VT 05346. Arrangements are under the direction of the Atamaniuk Funeral Home.
• Frederick G. “Ted” Grant, 84, of Brattleboro. Died Jan. 3 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Husband of Elaine Grant for 45 years. Father of William Grant and Patti Grant Swift of Florida, Stephen Grant of Virginia, Jeffrey Grant and his wife, Jenn, of Gorham, Maine, and Tim Grant and his wife, Ramona, of Pownal, Maine. Stepfather of Paul Crandall and his wife, Sheila, and John Crandall and his wife, Joni. Born in South Portland, Maine, son of the late Donna Sargent and George Brown, he was later adopted by his stepfather, Kenneth Grant. He was educated in South Portland, and worked many years in the corrugated business as a salesman. He was vice president and general manager of Vermont Container Corporation in Bennington for 26 years. He was an avid golfer and belonged to the Brattleboro Country Club for many years. He was a Rotarian and in the 1970s was president of the Brattleboro Rotary for a year. He was an active member of the First Congregational Church in West Brattleboro. He took great pride in his home and enjoyed gardening and puttering in his workshop in his leisure hours. Memorial information: Memorial services were held Jan. 10 at the First Congregational Church in West Brattleboro. Donations to the church, 860 Western Ave., West Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• David Charles Phillips, 91, of New Orleans, formerly of Athens. Former husband of Dolly F.H. Stevens of Athens. Father of Emretta May Phillips Hinman of Anchorage, Alaska, Lee James Phillips and his wife, Sarah of New Orleans, and Ronald William Phillips and wife, Lauren, of Westerville, Ohio. Brother of the late Emretta Helen Phillips, Lee James Phillips, and his twin brother, Harold Phillips. Half-brother of the late Albert Phillips. Son of the late Francis R. and Elizabeth May (O'Noon) Phillips. Born in Independence, Mo., 14 days after his 17th birthday, he joined the Navy on Jan. 10, 1941. He received his flight training at Naval Air Stations in Corpus Christi, Texas, and Camp Kearny, Calif. He served as tail gunner aboard a Liberator search plane attached to Patrol Bombing Squadron 116, known as the Blue Raiders, during World War II. He participated in 55 combat missions in the Pacific, which included action in the Marianas, Palau, the Philippines, and Iwo Jima. He took part also in bombing and strafing raids on enemy held airfields on Wake Island, Penayse, and Truk. He spoke about his most exciting combat experience, when his plane battled with an attacking Japanese fighter player, which subsequently was shot down in flames during a low-altitude gunnery duel. He received his honorable discharge in 1947 with the following medals: Asiatic-Pacific (three battle stars), American Area, American Defense, Good Conduct, and the World War II Victory. Back in the United States, he worked at several aircraft companies, including Pratt & Whitney in North Haven, Conn., which he retired from. In 1961, he was chosen by Robert Sargent Shriver, Jr. for one of the first Peace Corps projects. After training with the Experiment in International Living in Putney, he was sent to East Pakistan. After his tour with the Peace Corps, he returned to Vermont to work for the Experiment in 1964. While working in St. Thomas, V.I. with a Peace Corps training project in 1965, he met and later married Dolly. He always said he wouldn't ever be older than 39, so he celebrated it 51 times and was only six days shy of celebrating it for his 52nd time. Memorial information: His body was donated for use by science, then his remains will have a military private burial at the convenience of the family at the G.W. Stevens Estate Cemetery in Athens.
• Paul Schwippert, 66, of Wardsboro. Died Dec. 30 at home after a long battle with a brain tumor. Husband of Diane Dubois for 31 years. Father of Eric and Adam Schwippert. Brother of Carl and Karen Schwippert. Born in Buffalo, N.Y., he graduated valedictorian of the Class of 1966 from Cheektowaga (N.Y.) Central High School. He received his MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he was a brother of the Alpha Tau Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi. He moved to Vermont in the early 1970s and bought Dover Service Center with Mike Russo, his fraternity brother, and operated it for 10 years. He then started a real estate brokerage. Along with snowplowing, photography, and landscaping, he also created his own company, Vermont Skateboards, three years ago. He was an active member in the community, volunteering at town events and coaching dozens of teams at elementary and high school levels. He participated on the Zoning Board, Board of Civil Authority, School Board, Selectboard, and Planning Commission, and served as the Republican Party Committee Chairman. His charisma, hard work, and outgoing personality made him a local celebrity. Memorial information: A celebration of his life was held on Jan. 11 at Dover Forge. Donations to Grace Cottage Hospital or Wardsboro Fire and Rescue.
• Preston R. Sprague, 86, of Readsboro. Died Jan. 4 at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington. Husband of Francis (Tower) Sprague and the late Velma (Hughes) Sprague. Father of Stephen Sprague of Brunswick, Maine, Michael Comai of Bennington, Marsha Morgan of Vancouver, Canada, Geraldine Smith, Patricia Edwards, and Marcia Bisson, all of Florida, Jody Parsons and Diedra Moore, both of Wilmington, Dean Sprague of Bowdoin, Maine, and Nicki Sprague of Readsboro. Brother of Marshall Sprague of Readsboro, Phillip Sprague of Bennington, Thelma Hoover of Stockbridge, Mass., and the late Gilbert Sprague. Born at his grandparents house in Whitingham, the son of the late Vernon and Blanche (Reynolds) Sprague. He was raised on their farm on North Hill in Readsboro and attended the local school. He served in the Navy during World War II and, upon his discharge, worked as a truck driver for many years. He enjoyed gardening, cooking, brewing his own beer, and making wine. He was a big history buff, enjoyed hunting and fishing, and loved to sing and play guitar and cards. He enjoyed being with his friends and spending time with his family. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Jan. 9 at Covey-Allen & Shea Funeral Home in Wilmington, Vermont. Interment will be held in the spring in Village Cemetery in Readsboro. Donations to the Wounded Warrior Project, in care of Covey-Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215. Wilmimgton, VT 05363.
• Irwin Steinberg, 94, of Brattleboro. Died Dec. 29 at his home. Husband of Dominique Moyse Steinberg. Father of Mark Steinberg and his partner, Patrizio Fradiani, Steven Steinberg, and Beth Wickham and her husband, Kent. He grew up in Chicago in a large extended immigrant family and graduated from the University of Chicago. After serving as a first lieutenant in the Army Air Corps during World War II, he began a long and venerable career in the music industry, co-founding Mercury Records in Chicago and serving as its CFO and CEO for a number of years. Eventually, he moved on to become chairman and CEO of Polygram Records, with which he was affiliated for over 30 years. After retiring from Polygram in 1981, Irwin developed a graduate curriculum in the recorded-music business for Columbia College of the Arts in Chicago, where he taught for almost 20 years. During those years, he was also an innovator in the digital music industry, consulting several avant-garde enterprises including MusicMaker. He will be remembered for his great spirit, intellect, wit, his love of golf, his passion for politics and education, and his capacity for nurturing long-lasting relationships, including loyalty to the Chicago Cubs. Above all, he loved and adored his family and was the pillar for so many. Memorial information: None provided.