College news
• The following area students have been named to the fall 2015 Dean's List at the University of Vermont: Isabel Stewart of Brattleboro, Megan Siggins of Brattleboro, Greer Cowan of Putney, Savannah Nesbitt of Wilmington, Cleo Rohn of Brattleboro, Linnea Jahn of Brattleboro, Jennifer Hutton of Brattleboro, Oliver Pomazi of Brattleboro, John Sawyer Shaw of Brattleboro, Isaiah Ungerleider of Brattleboro, Roxanna Daims of Brattleboro, Tilden Remerleitch of Guilford, Aliza Racine of Marlboro, Lachlan Francis of Putney, Sylvie Littledale of Putney, Tyson Pond of Putney, Katherine Amidon of Vernon, Ursula Casey of West Dover, Ethan Illingworth of Westminster, Jordan LaBonte of Wilmington, Jamie Martell of Brattleboro, Colby McGinn of Brattleboro, Giannina Gaspero-Beckstrom of Guilford, Stephen Scott of Jamaica, Cade Nesbitt of Wilmington, Shannon Lozito of Wilmington, Ryan Borgesen of Newfane, and Kevin Knapp of West Dover.
• Emily Dow, an event management major in the Class of 2016 from Brattleboro, was named to the fall 2015 Dean's List at Lasell College in Newton, Mass.
• Olivia Milne of Brattleboro qualified for the fall 2015 Dean's List at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.
School news
• Theresa Snow of West Dover was named the Windham Regional Career Center's December Student of the Month. Snow has been taking Career Center courses since her junior year. Despite a full class schedule, she also is a volunteer for West Dover Fire Department and works part-time. She will be attending Southern Maine Community College in the fall, where she plans to major in both fire science and paramedicine, with a goal of joining the fire service full-time after graduation.
Transitions
• Michelle Bos-Lun of Westminster was elected to the Board of Directors of The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Vermont (NAMI Vermont) for a three year term. She has worked in education and social services for more than two decades, including work which provides housing, job development, and mentoring for youth with mental illness and other disabilities at Youth Services in Brattleboro. She is a family member with extensive knowledge and experience regarding mental health issues and previously has taught NAMI Vermont's Family-to-Family course three times.
Obituaries
• Audrey Virginia “Dollie” Acquaviva, 87, of Whitingham. Died Jan. 1. Wife of the late William P. Acquaviva. Mother of Peter J. Acquaviva and his wife, Elizabeth, of Whitingham; William R. Acquaviva and his wife, Miriam, of Putney; Michael G. Acquaviva of Arundel, Maine; James A. Acquaviva and his wife, Jacqueline, of Kennebunk, Maine; AudreyAnn King and her husband, Richard, of Kent, Conn.; Thomas P. Acquaviva and his wife, Thanaporn, of Baton Rouge, La.; Anthony J. Acquaviva and his wife, Wendy, of Whitingham; and TinaMaria Acquaviva of Whitingham; Sister of Frances Spinazzola and her husband, Anthony, of Raymond, N.H., and the late Assunta, Frank, and Richard Mafera. Also survived by 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Born in Revere, Mass., the youngest of five children, to the late Juanita M. (Merrick) and Frank J. Mafera, she grew up in the Point of Pines in Revere and graduated from Revere High School and Burdett College in Boston. She married in 1950, and she and Bill lived and raised their family in Reading, Mass. She loved life, treasured her friends, and cherished her family. She possessed a unique and powerful strength garnered through her deep faith and spiritualism. She has left behind an indelible mark and contribution through her spirit of volunteerism. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: Private services were held with her children in Townshend. Her children are planning a Celebration of Life Mass in Reading, Mass., in April for family and friends. Donations to the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 38 Park Place, Brattleboro, VT 05301. Condolences may be offered at www.kerwesterlund.com.
• Robert L. “Handsome Bob” Bousquet, 82, of Putney. Died Dec. 27 at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, N.H., following a period of declining health. Former husband of Barbara Anne Conrad. Father of Curtis “Curt” Bousquet and his wife, Betsy, of Putney; Laurie Blair and her husband, Leo, of West Chesterfield, N.H.; and the late Cindy Bousquet. Brother of Cherie Kingery of Richmond, Va., and Jean Granger of Cummington, Mass. Also survived by two grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Born in Springfield, Mass., the son of the late Joachim and Jeannette (Pourier) Bousquet, he was raised and educated in Springfield and was a graduate of Springfield Technical High School. He served in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict, eventually settling in Vermont following his honorable discharge from active service. He worked at the former Windham College, where he was employed as a security supervisor, and later worked for many years as an engineer at Whitney-Blake Company in Bellows Falls. He was a member of American Legion Post 5 in Brattleboro. He enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing, and took great pride in restoring antique and classic cars. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A memorial service will take place at a later date to be announced by the funeral home. Burial of his cremated remains will be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Putney. Donations to Putney Fire and Rescue, 14 Main St., Putney, VT 05346. To sign an online register book or to send messages of condolence to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Dr. Ralph N. Buck, 94, formerly of Westminster. Died Dec. 22 at Springfield Health & Rehab after a brief illness. Known as “Doc Buck,” he was born in Glover, son of the late Dr. Percy and Grace (Dow) Buck. Following his 1945 graduation from Tufts Dental School in Boston, he served as a dentist in the Navy. In 1947, he acquired a dental practice in the Old Arms Block in Bellows Falls, where he practiced for many years. He later built an office building in Westminster where he practiced until his retirement in 2007 at the age of 86. After 60 years in dentistry, his last patient was his great-grandson, John (then 7 months old) having his first dental checkup. Besides his love of his family, his interests included baseball and horses. He played baseball in college and on several local teams in the area. It was at a ball game in Alstead, N.H., that he met Signa Owens, whom he later married on Nov. 20, 1948, and who predeceased him in 2012. His early interest in horses was a throwback from his father, a country doctor who would visit his patients in northern Vermont by horse and sleigh when unpaved roads were impassable in the winter. His love for “The Trotters” remained and, over the years, he owned, trained, and raced several of his own at many New England tracks and fairs. He was a presiding judge at the Harness Races at the Orleans County Fair for over 50 years. He felt very lucky to have been able to see his two great-grandchildren, John and Payton, enjoy his favorite sports. “Old Pop” would be seen at almost every baseball and basketball game of John's and got to see Payton (who has acquired his love of horses) ride, show, and have a horse of her own. He enjoyed going to the senior center and had many nice friends at Riverview Apartments. He was fortunate to have enjoyed his horses, good friends, good health, and his family over so many years. He was friendly, outgoing, and always on the go, looking for something to do. He was a member of the Moose, American Legion, and the Masons, and served on many local boards and committees in the area. He is survived by his children, Dr. Owen Buck and his wife, Donna, of Maine, and Nancy Adams and her husband, Don, of Westminster. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: There will be a service in the spring, at a date to be announced. Donations to the Bellows Falls Senior Center, Westminster Cares, or Kurn Hattin Homes. Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home of Bellows Falls is handling arrangements.
• Victor P. Burdo, 87, of Dummerston. Died Jan. 3 at home. Husband of Mary H. Burdo for 63 years. Father of Ann (Carl) Suhrie, Therese Burdo (Robert Miragliuolo), Paul (Laura) Burdo, Peter Burdo, Lucy (Charlie) Hutchison, and the late Tom Burdo. Brother of Benito (Margarete) Burdo and the late Sal Burdo. Also survived by eight grandsons. He was born in Long Island City, N.Y., to the late Salvatore and Concetta (Lampo) Burdo. He began learning English when he started kindergarten, and ultimately graduated from the New York School of Printing. He was skilled as a compositor and proofreader. He served in the Army during the Korean War, twice receiving orders to go overseas and twice his orders were changed. He met his future wife while serving in Atlanta, and they were married in Decatur, Ga. They moved to Brattleboro and then Dummerston where they lived for over 50 years. After retiring from printing, he worked in real estate and continued working on his beloved property as landlord for his barn apartments until his death. He was a gardener, cook, walker, birder, singer, painter, writer, photographer, conversationalist, and a tinkerer. He taught himself carpentry and all of the building skills that enabled him to convert a 150-year-old post-and-beam barn into beautiful living spaces. He kept goldfish for his grandchildren to enjoy, and a canary for the jubilance of its song. He raised pigs and sheep and then ate them, to the horror of some of his children, and then turned to raising chickens for their eggs, as well as a raucous flock of guinea hens to eat the ticks. He loved his family and called his brothers, his children and his grandchildren often, just to say hello. Sometimes that hello turned into an hour-and-a-half conversation, ranging from how he had started this season's tomato seedlings under the pilot light in the stove, to a story about growing up in Queens, to a reminder about the sugar-on-snow dinner coming up, to the latest musical/artistic/athletic/academic performance of his grandsons. He had a gift for sharing himself and his joy in life. Every interaction was an opportunity to engage, to build a connection, to make a friend. He was optimistic and saw what was good in everything and everyone, and spoke of it. He expressed his gratitude for the gift of life in the way he lived his life. He had a deep reverence and faith, and always shared that God is Love. He was a gentle, encouraging spirit, with a wise perspective. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A funeral Mass was held at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro, VT on Jan. 8. Donations to the Vermont Foodbank. To sign an online register book or to send messages of condolence to the Burdo family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Arlene Maria Buzby, 89, of East Dummerston. Died Jan. 6 at Thompson House in Brattleboro, where she had been a resident for the past month. Wife of the late Howard K. Buzby for 61 years. Mother of Sue Precourt and her husband, Donald, of Westminster West, and the late Timothy Buzby. Sister of the late Glen and Fayette Crapo, Helen Tuttle, and two twin brothers who died during infancy. Survivors include four grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Born in Brattleboro, the daughter of the late Glynn and Frances (Averill) Crapo, she lost her mother at age two and was raised by her aunt and uncle. She attended school in Wilton, N.H., where she graduated from Wilton High School. She worked all of her career as a bookkeeper employed at Motel 6, formerly Susse Chalet Motor Lodge, and previously had been employed at Brattleboro Union High School as bookkeeper and payroll clerk. She had also been employed at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. She was a gambler at heart and enjoyed day trips to Foxwoods. She also liked to play cards and Bingo, assemble jigsaw puzzles, and loved the time shared with her family. She was known for her cooking and baking and, for many years, she made beautiful wedding cakes for many area newlyweds. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: In keeping with her final wishes, there are no calling hours or formal funeral services. Sympathy cards are welcome and can be sent to her daughter Sue at 43 North Goddard Hill Road, Putney, VT 05346. To sign an online register book or to send messages of condolence to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Eric William Childs, 44, of Brattleboro. Died Jan. 4 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., where he had been a patient since August, 2015. Born in Brattleboro, the son of Mary Childs Tier and Andrew Craig of St. Albans, he was raised and educated in Brattleboro, attending the Esteyville School. He was a graduate of Brattleboro Union High School. At the time of his death he was a sales associate and delivery driver for Advance Auto Parts on Putney Road. Previously, he worked at several other Brattleboro area businesses that included Achille Agway, C&S Wholesale Grocers. BJ Wholesale, Putney Paper Company, and Winter Panel. He was known for his spirit of friendship and willingness to help others in need. He was a hard worker who exhibited a strong work ethic wherever he had been employed. He displayed tremendous inner strength and resolve during his lengthy battle with cancer and had a personal connection with God. He enjoyed working on cars, watching action movies, listening to 1980s music, playing cards and games, and time shared with his family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle. He was married to Mandy Thomas. Although their marriage ended in divorce, the couple retained a close friendship. Survivors include his children Kasandra Childs and boyfriend Maudiel Palacious of Penacook, N.H.; Kourtney Childs of Lowell, Vt.; Selena Goulas of Bellows Falls; and Koree Childs and Ryan Childs, both of Brattleboro; and two brothers, Seth Tier of Brattleboro and Jerod Tier of Hinsdale. He was predeceased by one brother, Joseph P. Childs. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A memorial gathering at VFW Post 1034 on Black Mountain Road in Brattleboro will be held on Sunday, Jan. 24, from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. A potluck luncheon will be served, please bring your favorite dish.
• Linda Jane (Sanville) Cook, 69, of Kingsport, Tenn. Died Jan. 4 at home after a long and painful battle with COPD. Born in Westfield, Mass., the daughter of the late Marie Louise (Frechette) and Almon Eugene Sanville, she was preceded in death by one brother, five brothers-in-law, two sisters-in-law, and two nephews. Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 50 years, Dale E. Cook Sr., two children and their spouses, Rochelle (Larry Warriner) of Kingsport and Dale (Doe Cook) of Ellsworth, Maine, five grandchildren and their spouses, six great-grandchildren, 12 sisters, and one brother. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: It is the family's request that donations in her namebe given to the St. Jude's Children's Hospital by going to stjudes.com, clicking on “ways to donate,” and entering Linda (Sanville) Cook.
• Debra Mary Kozlakowski, 61, of Guilford. Died Nov. 19, 2015, at her home after a very courageous battle with cancer. Wife of Joseph Kozlakowski. Mother of Jeannette M. Langlois-Barrows of Brattleboro and Gail L. Stout of Harrisville, R.I. Stepmother of Joey and Stacey Kozlakowski of Northampton, Mass. Sister of Catherine Butterfield of Greenfield, Mass., Doreen Breed of Wales, Mass., and Cindy Molitoris of Guilford. The daughter of Jeannette M. (Seymour) and George J. Butterfield, she graduated in 1972 from Easthampton (Mass.) High School. While raising her two daughters, she worked as a licensed home health care nurse. She was also a Girl Scout troop leader, a very active member of the local PTA, and a Sunday school teacher at Notre Dame in Easthampton. In 1985, she moved to Guilford and worked for Vermont National Bank (now People's United) for more than 10 years as a customer service representative in investment banking. Eager to grow in her profession, she took many classes and seminars in banking. She also worked for Comcast as a customer service representative. From 2010 until her retirement in 2013, she worked at the Northeastern Family Institute in Brattleboro helping teenage girls. She loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren; baking; knitting; going dancing and to the beach; and watching comedies. She also loved traveling, seeing new places, meeting new people, and trying new activities (zip lining!) She volunteered frequently during the holidays, helping those less fortunate. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: None provided.
• John Ira Nestel, 94, of Putney. He is survived by his sister, Sally (Rusty) Yesko of Coconut Creek, Fla.; his five children: Jane (Penny) Nestel-Patt and her husband, Jeffrey, of Lexington, Mass.; Peter Nestel of Armonk, N.Y.; John Nestel Jr. of Cohasset, Mass.; Nicole Nestel and her husband, Andrew Cuniberti, of Haleiwa, Hawaii; Gad Nestel and his wife, Melissa, of San Anselmo, Calif.; and six grandchildren. The oldest of three children born to Paul and Adele Nestel in Hunts Point, Bronx, N.Y., an immigrant neighborhood full of Jewish families of all levels of income, he played stickball in the neighborhood and attended Stuyvesant High School, to which he commuted from the Bronx to lower Manhattan. His passion as a boy was aviation, and on weekends, he hung around his uncle's flight school where his love of flying was given room to grow and where he learned to fly. Just as the United States was becoming engaged in World War II, he was accepted at Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana. At Purdue, he lived in a house for Jewish students, many of whom were eager to join the war effort to fight the Germans. He interrupted his studies to enlist in the Army Air Corps, where he excelled in cadet and flight training at Yale, Kansas, and Texas. He was sent to the Marianas to fight in the Pacific Theatre as part of the 9th Bombardment Group that flew B-29 bombers. As a young Captain, he became a critical member of the squadron, not only training new pilots and crews, but also moving to headquarters as a group flight engineer, planning and leading bombing missions from Tinian Island that led to eventual surrender of Japan. As a result of his service, he received many commendations and awards, including the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Air Medal. He resumed his studies at Purdue after the war and, in 18 months, graduated with degrees in aeronautical and mechanical engineerig. Following graduation, Mr. Nestel responded to an ad seeking experienced pilots and became one of the members of the first flight crews that launched Israel's first airline company, El Al, in 1948. For three years, he lived in Israel and flew commercial routes from Israel to Africa and Europe, continuing to pursue his lifelong passion for aviation. Returning from Israel to New York in the early 1950s, he had two children and directed his passion for aviation and leadership to engineering and flight testing as co-founder/CEO of Consolidated Airborne Systems, Inc., a successful aeronautical engineering company that developed, manufactured and sold avionics for private, commercial and military aircraft. Consolidated's innovative fuel gauges and engine measurement devices were quickly recognized as essential for nearly every airplane manufacturer in the world, an achievement that placed both Mr. Nestel and Consolidated at the forefront of the aviation industry boom. For his contributions, in 1974, the Purdue School of Engineering honored him with a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award and in 1981 he was named a Purdue Old Master. Mr. Nestel's business leadership earned him an invitation to join the Young President's Organization (YPO) and, later, its 49ers group, memberships for CEOs and business leaders that he enjoyed throughout his life. One of the highlights of his life and career included the years he spent first attending (as the only civilian member of his graduating class in 1973) and then teaching at the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School in Patuxent, Md. He relished flying and testing fighter planes with the best pilots in the world, many of whom became friends for life. During this time he also conducted flight testing of his own company's avionics and flew the company's twin-engine Aero Commander and then its twin Beechcraft Baron. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, he had three more children and when the aviation industry began to consolidate, he sold Consolidated Airborne Systems (the company he led and listed on the New York Stock Exchange) to Bendix/Allied Signal, companies that were eventually merged into Honeywell. In 1978, he moved his youngest children with him to Putney, where he could ski, play tennis and fly his Cessna 182, commuting for work and pleasure. His children and friends have many fond memories of flying with Mr. Nestel, who was considered an extremely safe and competent pilot. He amassed more than 25,000 hours as pilot in command of 30 different aircraft throughout his life. As work and family commitments began to free up more of Mr. Nestel's time, he devoted himself to tennis, playing nearly every day, well into his 90s. In recent years, he could also be found in science and math classes at the local high school, and mentoring aspiring engineers and business leaders in college. Anyone who knew him was well aware of the distances he would travel to be with his five children and six grandchildren. At different junctures in his life, he traveled to Massachusetts, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, California, and even Kenya, Spain and Hungary to be with children or grandchildren. His last trip was to California in December 2015 to visit one of his sons, his daughter-in-law and two of his grandchildren to celebrate the holidays and his 94th birthday. Following a heart attack, he died there, peacefully, with his son and daughter-in-law at his side. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: Mr. Nestel's favorite place in the world was atop Dusty Ridge in Putney, in his beloved home where he would sit and watch the sun rise from his picture windows. A memorial service will be held there on Sunday, May 15, 2016, time TBD. Donations to The Putney Public Library, where he sat on the Board of Trustees.
• Norman H. Smith Jr., 73, of Wardsboro. Died Jan. 4 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. Husband of Laura Smith. Father of Shawn St. Francis of St. Albans; David Smith and his wife, Jessica, also of St. Albans; Robert Smith of Colorado; Debra Smith and her husband, Demian Johnston, of Turners Falls, Mass.; Rebecca Brisbois and her husband, Jeremy, of Chesterfield, Mass.; and Amy Smith and her husband, Steven Freckleton, of Brattleboro. Brother of Herbert Smith of Swanzey, N.H.; Mary Perusse and her husband, Robert, of West Brattleboro; Nancy Perusse. also of West Brattleboro; Norma Struthers and her husband, Clarence, of Vernon; and the late Richard and Paul Smith. Also survived by several grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Born in Brattleboro, the son of Mayolyn (Winter) (Smith) Arsenault and the late Norman H. Smith Sr., he was a lifelong area resident. He worked as a construction supervisor for many years for H. Loney Construction in Brattleboro, and then for Wesfield Construction in Chesterfield, N.H., until his retirement. He was an avid fisherman, and a very creative woodworker, a maker of wine and maple syrup, and enjoyed working his property on his tractors. He especially loved spending time with his family. He would always be willing to share his time and his many talents with his family, friends, and neighbors. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: Burial will take place in the spring. Donations to Wardsboro Fire & Rescue, P.O. Box 151, Wardsboro, VT 05355. Condolences may be offered at www.kerwesterlund.com.