College news
• The following local students were awarded associate degrees from the Community College of Vermont on June 6 at Norwich University's Shapiro Field House: Kathryn Coburn and Amanda Lefevre of Bellows Falls; Lorina Drumheiser, Laurie Favreau, Dennise Neilson, Joshua Pacheco, Adam Rumrill, Anne Senni, and Amanda Williams of Brattleboro; Owen Diamondstone-Kohout and Bridget Bolster of Dummerston; Patricia Gilbert and Anne Tefft of Jacksonville; Karley Basinger, Elizabeth Kelton, and Alyssa Moffit of Putney; Katherine Johnson of South Newfane; Abigail Wicker of West Townshend; Melinda Maddolin of Westminster; Brittany Poulen of Whitingham; and Zachary Richter of Wilmington.
• Madison M. Hinrichs of West Halifax received her B.A. in mathematics at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H.
• Mackenzie Skye King of Vernon graduated cum laude from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa., on May 17 with a B.A. in international studies and Russian.
• Genevieve M. Darling of South Newfane has been named to the Dean's List at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., for the spring 2015 semester.
• Meg Hudson of Putney was recently named to the President's List for the spring 2015 term at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y.
• The following local students were recognized for academic achievement during the spring 2015 semester at Community College of Vermont: Denise Kingsbury of Bellows Falls; Madeleine Bonneau, Roxanna Daims, and Nicole Koziara of Brattleboro; Albry Crowley of Dummerston; and Stevie-Tao Roberts and Abigail Wicker of West Townshend were all named to the Dean's List. Adam Rumrill and Everest Witman of Brattleboro were named to the President's List.
Transitions
• Shela Romo has joined Berkley & Veller Greenwood Country Realtors of Brattleboro and West Dover. Romo has been active in the Deerfield Valley and southeastern Vermont real estate markets for nearly 15 years, and produced more than $50 million in personal sales volume since 2009.
Obituaries
• Robert Joseph “Bob” Blum, 81, of Guilford. Died June 6 at his home. Husband of Arlene Yeaw Blum for nearly 59 years. Father of Craig Blum of Guilford, Philip Blum and his wife, Carrie, of Stanhope, N.J., Cameron Blum of Brattleboro, and Sheila Pollica and her husband, Richard, of Brattleboro. Brother of the late Marilyn Giovinazzo. Born in Glen Cove, N.Y., the son of the late F.J. and Mary (Smith) Blum, he was raised and educated in New York and later served in the Army Reserve for nine years. He was discharged at the rank of Specialist-6 in 1966. He first came to Vermont in 1951 for a two-week vacation and stayed to work with his father at F.J. Blum, Inc. for 45 years until the business closed. He later worked part-time for Gary's Power Equipment in Winchester, N.H. He enjoyed classic cars, watching Western movies, collecting owl figurines and memorabilia, taking cruise vacations, and time spent with his family. Memorial information: In accordance with his final wishes, there are no formal funeral services planned. His cremated remains will be buried in Baker Cemetery in Guilford. Donations to the Guilford Volunteer Fire Dept. 108 Guilford Center Road, Guilford, VT 05301, or Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302. Atamaniuk Funeral Home of Brattleboro is in charge of arrangements.
• Cary Nicholas Carpender, 90, of Putney. Died Feb. 13 at his home, following an extended period of declining health. Born in New Brunswick, N.J., the son of the late Moncure Conway and Elisabeth (Nicholas) Carpender, the family lived for many years in Short Hills, N.J. He attended the Pingry School, as had his father before him, and entered Williams College at the beginning of World War II. While there, as a Naval Reservist, he completed his studies in three years. In April 1945, he was commissioned as a line officer in the Navy and served on board ships in the South Pacific. Following his naval career, he joined the investment firm of J.P. Morgan in 1955. He later worked as a private investment counselor. His ties to Putney were early and deep. The family spent summers here from 1924 and bought Overhills as a summer residence in 1926. Following the death of both his parents, he moved permanently to Putney in 1978. A thoughtful and kind man, he quietly gave long term support to several families in the area. He was a Putney auditor for a number of years, and served as a chairman of the Brattleboro Union High School board for 10 years. These and other community endeavors were performed with characteristic thoroughness and precision. He was an avid and highly skilled hunter and fisherman, hunting on his own woodland and on three occasions traveling to Africa and returning with several big game trophies. He is survived by people who cared for him deeply; especially the good people of Comfort Keepers, who provided him with superb care, exciting adventures, and wonderful humor in his last years. He is predeceased by a half-brother, Moncure C. Carpender, Jr. Memorial information: A memorial service was held June 13 at Ker-Westerlund Funeral Home in Brattleboro. Burial will be held at a later date in the Carpender Family plot in New Jersey.
• Freddick Leslie “Fred” Coburn, 83, of Marlboro. Died June 7 at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass. Born in Waltham, Mass., to the late Donald A. and Blanche C. (Akerly) Coburn, he was the youngest of five children. He attended schools in Newton, Mass. Although he wasn't born in Vermont, he was a true Vermonter through and through. He lived on Augur Hole Road in Marlboro for over 50 years. He enjoyed hunting, trapping, fishing, snowmobiling, and riding his four-wheeler on his land. It was the same land where he had spent his summers with his family. He got much satisfaction precisely cutting, splitting, and stacking his firewood. He took much pride and care in whatever the task. He worked as a cook, truck driver, equipment operator, and retired from Haystack Ski Area, working nearly 20 years at a job he loved, caring for the grass on the golf course. He arguably had the best kept lawn on Augur Hole Road. He loved and cared for many dogs, and was an avid Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots fan. Memorial information: His body will be cremated, with half of his ashes going to Medfield, Mass. to be laid to rest next to his father, while the other half will be scattered in the Auger Hole Road Brook from a bridge he built in his back yard. He is survived by his sister, Nancy Mailing of Foxboro, Mass.; his nephew, Ricky Doig and his wife, Janelle Doig of Maine; and his good friends, Mikey Branciforte of Connecticut and John Galanes of Marlboro.
• Richard Henry Coutant III, 67, of Guilford. Died June 7 at his home, six weeks after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Husband of Verandah Porche. Father of Oona Adams and Emily Julia Coutant. Sister of Christopher Emily Coutant. Born in East Orange, N.J., the son of Richard Henry Coutant Jr. and Florence Marjorie McElrath, he moved with his family to Vermont in 1953. His father operated Coutant's Country Center in East Bethel, a small grocery store and gas station, while his mother refinished and sold antiques out of their garage. He and his sister attended elementary school across the street in an octagonal, one-room schoolhouse with a wood burning stove and outhouse. He spent his childhood in East Bethel riding his bicycle, playing baseball, fishing, collecting baseball cards, and exploring the woods, where he acquired his lifelong love of history, represented by abandoned buildings and crumbling foundations. In sixth grade, he scored at “genius” level on an IQ test, and his thrilled parents insisted that he go to a private school. Finding himself suddenly thrust into the social and economic world of the Loomis Chaffee School while on academic scholarship provided his first real life challenge. All he really wanted was to come home. He put his energies into a combination of misbehavior and academic antics that got him expelled after three years, and he finished his secondary education at Montpelier High School. That same year, he became a National Merit Scholar. He graduated with honors from Marlboro College in 1969, where his unique brilliance was valued and where he finally felt at home. It was there that he met many who became lifelong friends. A few were able to visit him in his last weeks. For many years, he ran the CETA (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act) office in Brattleboro and became well known for his compassion and creativity. In 1983, he began work towards a law degree at the Vermont Law School from which he graduated J.D., magna cum laude, in 1986, and acted as Head Notes Editor of the Law Review. He began work in Bellows Falls for the Salmon & Nostrand law firm in 1986, became a partner two years later, and remained with the firm until his death. He was a skilled mediator and believed in alternative dispute resolution. He will be remembered by his fellow lawyers and clients as a man of great skill, gentleness, manners and wit. He privately assisted friends and neighbors with legal issues, often refusing compensation for that work. After a brief first marriage, he met and wed Verandah Porche in 1979. He and Verandah divorced in 1995, reunited in 2001 and remarried on May 3, 2014. He loved old cars, maps, and the ruins he traveled the world to see. A brilliant photographer, he often focused on the beauty found in rusting cars, the curve of a tree trunk, and the faces of those he loved. He was a collector of cameras, artifacts, and hundreds of friends. All will miss him. Memorial information: He was buried by his family and friends, hours after his death, on the property of Packer Corners Farm in Guilford, where he lived. A memorial service will be held at a future date to be announced. Donations to Vermont Legal Aid or the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
- Michael Dale, 71, of Brattleboro. Died June 10 at home. Father of Nancy Dale of Townshend. Brother of Jeanne Mathey and Jimmy Dale, both of Turners Falls, Mass., and the late Ann Urban. Born in Montague, Mass., the son of the late Herbert and Mary (Crowley) Dale, he attended school in Montague and graduated from Turners Falls High School, Class of 1962. He worked in and around the Turners Falls area until called to military duty in 1965. After training, he was deployed to Vietnam and assigned to the Army's 605th Transportation Company at Phu Loi, performing helicopter maintenance and support. In 1970, he married Judith Gorey of South Newfane. The marriage ended in divorce, but they remained lifelong friends. She predeceased him in 1999. A voracious reader with a passion for history, he was an avid collector of postage stamps, a hobby that he began at the age of 12. Memorial information: Graveside committal services with full military honors were conducted June 17 in Williamsville Cemetery. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302. Atamaniuk Funeral Home of Brattleboro is in charge of arrangements.
• Mary Wollenberg “Maisie” Dexter, 86, of Townshend. Died May 15 at West River Valley Assisted Living in Townshend. Wife of the late Richard Dexter for 59 years. Mother of Wendy Needham and her husband, Tom; Holly Dexter Barrett; and Lynn Dexter and her husband, Patrick Gibbons. Sister of the late Bill Wollenberg. Born in Hartford, Conn., daughter of William and Irene Wollenberg of Farmington, Conn., she was a 1947 graduate of Farmington High School and went on to receive her nursing degree from the Hartford Hospital School of Nursing in 1950. She and her husband helped build the family business, Dexter Caterers in Southington, Conn. She had a remarkable talent for playing the piano without ever having taken any lessons, enjoyed playing tennis in her early years and, together with her husband, instilled a love of travel in her children. They enjoyed many family vacations throughout the United States and Europe. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held Aug. 15, at 11 a.m., at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Townshend, to be followed by a burial at Round Hill Cemetery in West Townshend. Family and friends are invited to attend. Donations to Grace Cottage Hospital, P.O. Box 1, Townshend, VT 05353, Attn.: Andrea Seaton, or to Alumnae Association of Hartford Hospital School of Nursing, 560 Hudson St., Hartford, CT 06106.
• Linda Jean (Grant) Herrick, 72, of Brattleboro. Died June 4 at Pine Heights Nursing Home in Brattleboro, after a period of declining health. Wife of Leonard “John” C. Herrick for nearly 54 years. Mother of Sandy Wyckoff and her husband, David, of Brattleboro; Sherri L. Spittle and her husband, Eric, of Sharon; Shelley A. Cloutier and her husband, John, of Danbury, Conn.; and the late Susan Bills. Sister of June A. Kemp and her husband, Paul, of Orange, Mass.; Gayle I. Gramarossa of Greenfield, Mass., and Robert A. Grant and his wife, Linda, of Tinton Falls, N.J. Born in Greenfield, Mass., the daughter of the late Muriel L. (Loveland) and Edric A. Grant, she was educated in Greenfield and graduated from Greenfield High School, Class of 1961. Later, she received her A.A. in early childhood education from Castleton State College. She worked at St. Michael's School in Brattleboro for five years as a preschool teacher before retiring in 2005. She previously worked at the Holstein Association as a registrar, in the Brattleboro Public Schools as a teacher's assistant, and for Metropolitan Life Insurance in Brattleboro as an administrative assistant. She was a member of the First Congregational Church in Brattleboro for many years. She enjoyed traveling, reading, and spending time with her family. Memorial information: A celebration of life service was held June 11 at First Congregational Church in West Brattleboro, with burial in the family lot at Round Hill Cemetery in Townshend. Donations to Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave., 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001.
• Leonard “Alan” Jordan, 61, of Brattleboro. Died June 9 at his home. Husband of Ellen Smith. Father of Anya Smith-Jordan of Washington D.C. Brother of Robin Henry and her husband, Anthony, of Yellow Springs, Ohio. Born in Columbus, Ohio, the son of the late Edgar and Charlotte Jordan, he was a high school and college athlete who, in his later years, enjoyed hiking, camping, mountain biking, and kayaking. He was a lover of barbeque, scotch, great music, and cigars. He liked nothing better than hanging out on his deck with family and friends. He dedicated nearly 30 years to the residents of the Brattleboro Retreat as a mental health worker. He took great pride in caring for those in need. Memorial information: A memorial service was held June 14 at Hilltop Montessori School, with a celebration of life immediately following. Donations to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, for the compassionate care provided this past year, or to Brattleboro Area Hospice.
• Ann Elizabeth (Powers) Leskowitz, 87, of Woodbridge, Conn. Died May 24 at her home, following a brief illness. Wife of the late Irving Leskowitz for 60 years. Mother of Fred Leskowitz and his wife, Zina, and Joel Leskowitz. Stepmother of Jesse Fenn. Sister of the late Wallace Powers and his wife “Rusty,” and Barbara Powers Kinoy and husband Ernest Kinoy. Born in Rockingham, the daughter of the late Guy and Ethyl Valentine Goewey Powers, she was raised in Athens, then Brattleboro, and attended Colby Junior College in New Hampshire. In 1949, she moved to Philadelphia and worked as a secretary for the microbiology department of the University of Pennsylvania. There she met her husband and love of her life, Irving. They married on Sept. 2, 1950 in Brooklyn, N.Y., and lived in Levittown, Long Island, where their three children were born. In 1962, they moved to Bethany, Conn., where she resided until moving to Woodbridge in 2011 after the loss of her husband. She worked for more than 30 years as a secretary in the Department of History of Science and Medicine at Yale, where it was agreed that she kept everything running as smoothly as she did at home. A devoted wife, mother and friend, she was a supporter of causes to improve the lives of others. She participated in campaigns, picket lines, boycotts, and quietly took part in innumerable individual efforts to promote social progress. She loved traveling across the country on family camping trips, swimming, nature walks, visiting historical and cultural sites, theater, musical concerts, and family traditions. An avid reader, intrepid gardener, lively conversationalist, and genuinely mild-mannered gentlewoman, in her later years, she took great pleasure in reading her library books, and enjoying the company of her family, new neighbors, and friends. Memorial information: Donations to the Woodbridge Town Library, 10 Newton Rd., Woodbridge, CT 06525.
• Lavenia (Aubertine) Batchelder Mowe, 93, formerly of Readsboro. Died June 7 at Vernon Green Nursing Home. Wife of the late Louis Lincoln Mowe for 55 years. Mother of Lorrie J. Massari and her husband, Peter, of Brattleboro; Frank Batchelder and his wife, Gayle of Clarksburg, Mass.; and the late Randy Batchelder. Sister of Frank Brooks of Wilmington and the late Evelyn Moran, Irene Pratt, Marion Furlon, Edna Yorke, Albert and Calvin Aubertine. Born in Readsboro, the daughter of the late Pearle and Emma (Bouvier) Aubertine, she attended local schools. She was last employed at Snow Lake Lodge near Mount Snow. Prior to that, she worked at Deerfield Glassine, Clark Biscuit, Hunter Outdoor Products, Readsboro Falls Findings, GS Precision, and Vermont Hardwoods. She was a communicant of St. Joachim's Church in Readsboro and was a member of its St. Anne's Society and the Readsboro American Legion Auxiliary. She was a Girl Scout troop leader and worked at the Rocky Mountain Day Camp. She enjoyed dancing, church bazaars, dinners, and reading. She especially enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held June 12 at St. Joachim's Church in Readsboro, with burial in Southview Cemetery. Donations to Vernon Green Nursing Home.
• Richard “Dick” A. Perham, 68, of Bernardston, Mass. Died June 9 at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass. Father of Bonni Brittain and her husband, Thomas; and Lesley Parkinson and her husband, Andrew, both of Hinsdale, N.H. Longtime companion of Leatha Foster and her son, Travis Foster. Born in Greenfield, Mass., the son of the late Richard and Catherine (Mecheski) Perham, he was educated in Hinsdale, N.H., schools and was a 1964 graduate of Hinsdale High School. His early career as a mechanic started at Lang's Garage in Erving, Mass., then Royce's Garage in Hinsdale, N.H., and Beaman Lumber in Winchester, N.H. In 1981, he opened Dick Perham's Garage in Hinsdale, where he worked until his retirement. He was a former member of the Hinsdale Fire Department, and a member of the National Rifle Association. His passion was building hot rods, including his favorite “Casper,” a 1936 Chevy. He enjoyed going to car and engine shows, and loved hunting and fishing. Memorial information: A celebration of his life will be held at a future date. Donations to the Hinsdale Alumni Association, in care of Diane Diorio, 588 Brattleboro Rd. Hinsdale, NH 03451. Kidder Funeral Home of Northfield, Mass., is in charge of arrangements.
• Forest Lea Woodruff, 59, of Jamaica. Died June 4 while on a fishing trip off the coast of Maine. Husband of Carlotta Woodruff for nearly 37 years. Father of Chad Woodruff and his wife, Marcia, of Vernon and Chet Woodruff and his wife, Felicia, of West Wardsboro. Brother of Barbara West, Walter Woodruff and his wife, Mary Lou, Skip Woodruff and his wife, Maureen, and Peggy and Teri Arnett. Born in Townshend, the third son of Margaret (Chase) & Stockton Woodruff, he was a man of many skills. He was constantly aware of the environment and nature, and was a vault of knowledge. He was a master carpenter and a fishing legend, known and respected far and wide. He enjoyed his life to the fullest in everything he did and will be greatly missed by numerous nieces, nephews, and dear friends. Memorial information: A potluck memorial was held June 14 at his son's home in Vernon.