Transitions
• The Board of Directors of Kurn Hattin Homes for Children in Westminster has named veteran educational administrator and nonprofit leader Stephen Harrison as the organization's new Executive Director, following the retirement of Connie Sanderson. Harrison brings to the job a depth of expertise in fundraising, fiscal management, and long-range institutional planning, as well as three decades of leadership experience in residential and independent school environments around the country. He has served as Head of School of two independent Episcopal schools--St. John's Parish Day School, Ellicott City, Md., and St. Richard's Episcopal School, Indianapolis, Ind., and as Assistant Head of School and Middle School Director at Cape Fear Academy in Wilmington. N.C. Prior to coming to Kurn Hattin Homes, he was Executive Director of Central Maryland Regional Transit.
• Brattleboro Retreat announced that its board of trustees has appointed Louis Josephson, Ph.D., as the hospital's new president and chief executive officer. He will start on March 1 after moving to Brattleboro. Josephson, a native of New York City, comes to the Retreat from Los Angeles, where he has served as the president and chief executive officer of Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services since 2013. Prior to moving to Los Angeles, he served for eight years as president and CEO of Riverbend Community Mental Health in Concord, N.H. During that same period, Josephson was also vice president of behavioral health at Concord (N.H.) Hospital. Before joining Riverbend, he served as assistant commissioner in the Office of Child and Adolescent Services for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and as director of Family Court Mental Health Services for the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation. He holds a doctorate in clinical social work from NYU, a master's degree in social work from the Columbia University School of Social Work, and bachelor's degree in English from Tufts University. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Josephson succeeds outgoing President and CEO Dr. Robert E. Simpson, Jr., who will step down on Dec. 31 after nine years with the organization.
Obituaries
• Sylvia Hattie DeCell Ballantine, 87, of Wardsboro. Died Oct. 30 at Grace Cottage Hospital, following a brief illness. Wife of the late Donald Ballantine for 38 years. Mother of Rick Ballantine and his partner, Kim Leary, of Dummerston; Royal Ballantine of Wardsboro; Cheryl Coburn and her husband, Clem, of West Wardsboro; and Tracy DeCell of Brattleboro. Brother of Edward DeCell of Brattleboro. Also survived by six grandchildren, a great-grandchild, and many nieces and nephews. Born on the family farm in Landgrove, the daughter of the late Ervin and Hattie (Wilder) DeCell, she was one of 14 children. She was raised in Weston, where she attended public school. She wed Mr. Ballantine in 1948, and a decade later, they moved to Wardsboro where they raised their family. Along with raising her own children, she helped raise her younger brothers, nieces and nephews over the years. A devoted homemaker, her life centered around her family, whom she loved spending time with. She enjoyed cooking, baking, camping, watching birds (especially hummingbirds), and maintaining her garden of hollyhocks. She was a member of the West River American Legion Auxiliary and was an avid Boston Red Sox fan. Memorial information: Graveside committal services were held Nov. 7 in the family lot in Round Hill Cemetery in West Townshend. Donations to Wardsboro Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Wardsboro, VT 05355. To sign an online register book or send messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Alberta Ruth Bellville, 91, of Brattleboro. Died Oct. 31 at Pine Heights Nursing Home. Wife of the late Kenneth Bellville. Mother of Peter Bellville of Galt, Calif., Jeffrey Bellville of Brattleboro, Jan Bellville of Brattleboro, and Lynn McCarty of Acampo, Calif., and the late Gail Lamson. Sister of the late Albert and Robert Magoon, Maxine Smith, Virginia Taylor, and Anita Stone. Also survived by 12 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Born in Putney, daughter of the late Watson and Kathryn (Kingsbury) Magoon, she was raised and educated in Putney and Brattleboro, attending Putney School, Canal Street School and was a graduate of Brattleboro High School, Class of 1943. She had worked most of her career as a switchboard operator, and was employed at the former Windham College, Brattleboro Retreat, and New England Telephone when the offices where located in the Barber Block on Main Street. In her earlier years, she had worked at the former Spalding Sporting Goods in Brattleboro. With her husband, she co-owned Johnny's Drive-In in Hinsdale and Page's Dairy Bar in Brattleboro. They also provided foster care for many local children, providing them with a loving and safe home. Her faithful and devoted husband of 70 years predeceased her on March 18, 2015. Steadfast in her walk of faith, she was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, where she was active with the church's Relief Society. She was a devoted homemaker who enjoyed time spent with her family and enjoyed knitting, crocheting and quilting. Memorial information: Graveside committal services were held Nov. 6 in the Bellville family lot in Christ Church Cemetery in Algiers. Donations to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To sign an online register book with messages of condolence to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Elizabeth “Betty” Davidson, 77, of Walpole, N.H. Died Nov. 3. Wife of the late George R. Davidson Jr. Mother of Peter Davidson and his wife, Anne, of Westminster and Sue-Ann Hindes and her husband, Bernie, of Bellows Falls. Brother of James Frederiksen and his wife, Gerry, of Keene, N.H., and Karen Frederiksen and Nan Grasmuck and her husband, Skip, all of Keene. Also survived by three grandchildren. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., the daughter of Gerhardt and Elin (Karby) Frederiksen, she was a graduate of Walpole High School and worked at Lisai's Cash Market for 30 years. She was a member of the American Legion and VFW Auxiliaries. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: Services will be private, at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are being handled by Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home of Bellows Falls.
• Mark E. Drew, 63, of Bernardston, Mass. Died Nov. 5 at his home. Husband of the late Becky (Miller) Drew for 27 years. Brother of Mary Jane Raymond of Bernardston, Martha Walker of Bernardston, Jacqueline Gaines and Carol Killay, both of Guilford, Joan Bitters of Greenfield, Mass., and the late Norma Jean and John Drew. Also survived by his mother-in-law, Jean Miller of Bernardston, and many nieces and nephews. Born in Montague, Mass., the son of Norman F. and Eileen (Coogan) Drew, he was educated in Bernardston schools and graduated from Pioneer Valley Regional School in 1969. He served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. He owned his own lawn care business and often, very generously, helped individuals with their grounds work as a kindness. He served as custodian for the former St. Mary's, now Our Lady of Peace Church in Turners Falls, Masa., and for St. Patrick's Church in Northfield, Mass. He also cared for Cushman Park and the Old Cemetery in Bernardston. He loved trips to the ocean, especially Cape Cod, being outside, and maple sugaring. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A Catholic prayer service was held Nov. 9 at Kidder Funeral Home in Northfield. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. In his remembrance, do an act of kindness for someone. To send condolences, visit www.kidderfuneralhome.com.
• Carolyn Mae Jones, 83, of North Hinsdale, N.H. Died Nov. 2 at Applewood Healthcare in Winchester, N.H. Wife of the late Hugh K. Jones Jr. for 53 years. Mother of Damon Jones and his wife, Donna, of North Hinsdale; Michele Jones of Weare, N.H.; Nola Corbeil and her husband, Gary, of Vernon; Dawnette Brailey and her husband, Will, of Winchester; and Delvina Kearney and Paul Furgat of Westminster Station. Sister of the late Lois Johnson. Also survived by nine grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Born in Hinsdale, the daughter of the late Henry and Mildred (Bennett) Grover, she was raised and educated in Hinsdale, graduating from Hinsdale High School, Class of 1950. For more than 40 years, she worked in the meat departments of several Brattleboro grocers - first at Super Duper, then located on lower Main Street, then at P&C Foods at the same site, and finally at Price Chopper on Canal Street. She also had been employed as a nurse's aide at Vernon Green Nursing Home and had worked part-time at the former Vermont Market on Elliot Street. She was a devoted homemaker whose life centered around her family. For many years, she attended the North Hinsdale Community Church. She enjoyed knitting, word and crossword puzzles, gardening, and tuning into her favorite TV show, Law & Order. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov. 14, at 10 a.m., at the North Hinsdale Community Church. Burial will follow in Oaklawn Cemetery next to the church. A reception will follow the services at the Millstream Community Center in downtown Hinsdale. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302; Monadnock Humane Society 101 West Swanzey Road, Swanzey, NH 03446; or to Applewood Healthcare Activities Fund, 8 Snow Road, Winchester, NH 03470. To sign an online register book with messages of condolence to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Grace W. Newell, 94, formerly of Bellows Falls. Died Oct. 28 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Born in Springfield, Vt., daughter of Harriet (Fowler) and Harvey White, she lived in Vermont until 1998 where she was employed as a bookkeeper and printer for various organizations. She was active in the Grange and Saxtons River Church choir. She was an avid reader and enjoyed crossword puzzles. She was known for her wit and ability to remember poems and song lyrics. Preceded in death by Maurice C. Newell, her husband of 61 years. Survived by her children, William Newell and his wife, Susan Hopp, and Carole Elwell and grandchildren Silvia Newell and William James Newell. Predeceased by siblings David White and Alice Woods. Memorial information: None provided.