College news
• The following local students were awarded degrees at Keene State College's Commencement on May 7: Alyson Jones of South Newfane graduated with a B.S. in Elementary Education, Olivia Capponcelli of Brookline graduated Cum Laude with a B.S. in Nursing - Pre-Licensure, Beth Freeman of Brattleboro graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.A. in Psychology, and Emma Parro of Vernon graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. in Political Science.
• Kevin Ameden and Jason Bean, both from Jamaica, were among the 537 undergraduates who received their associate and bachelor's degrees at Champlain College's 138th Commencement in Burlington on May 14.
• Miles Schelling of Putney has been awarded a Davis Projects for Peace grant to start an after-school program in a remote Himalayan village. The program will provide children in Dunagiri, India, with a supplemental arts, music and environmental education. Schelling is a 2012 graduate of Northfield Mount Hermon School. He is majoring in mathematics at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine.
• Nicole Winot, a third-year cinema production major from Brookline, was named to the spring 2016 President's List at Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C.
• Caitlin Marie Persa, a member of the Class of 2016 at Connecticut College, was awarded the Sally L. Taylor Prize, for consistent excellence in the field of botany offered by the botany department in honor of Sally L. Taylor, Professor Emeritus of Botany. Persa was presented with the award at the annual Honors & Awards ceremony at Connecticut College in New London, Conn., held on May 3.
Transitions
• Alex Beck and Lisa Ford recently joined the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance (DBA) Board of Directors. Beck, an SIT graduate, works at Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) and is involved with the Southern Vermont Young Professionals group. Ford has more than 20 years experience in local nonprofits, has lived in downtown, and currently runs an AirBnB inn. Her husband's business, Recycle Away, is also located downtown. DBA is a nonprofit and the official downtown organization for the town of Brattleboro, whose mission is “working to bring people downtown and delight them when they're here.”
Obituaries
• David E. Bevis, 72, of White Oak, Texas, formerly of Chesterfield, N.H. Died May 6 at Good Shepherd Medical Center in White Oak. Born in Chesterfield on Nov. 8, 1943, son of the late Shirley and Esther (Darling) Bevis, he attended Chesterfield Elementary School and graduated from Brattleboro Union High School in 1961. He served in the Army from 1964 to 1967, stationed in Germany. He was employed at Fibermark for 35 years before retiring and moving to Texas in 2003. He was a member of Chesterfield American Legion Post 86. Before his health issues, he was an avid fisherman and enjoyed watching sports and taking pictures of deer and other wildlife around the East Texas area. Survivors include his wife, Dona (Goodnow), of Brattleboro; daughters Tammy Therrien of Whitingham, Heidi Feliz of Mesa, Ariz., and Kristin Burns of Phoenix; a son, Scott Bevis of White Oak; his sisters, Dot Temple of White River Junction and Ann Lavala of Hinsdale, N.H.; his brother, George “Steve” Bevis of Hinsdale; and 11 grandsons, two granddaughters and a soon-to-be great-grandson,. His brothers, Chester “Chet” Bevis and Harry Bevis, both of West Chesterfield, died earlier. Memorial information: A service will be held in October at the West Chesterfield Cemetery, as he was fond of the New England fall weather.
• Grace A. (Akley) Crowningshield, 92, of North Heath, Mass. Died May 16 at the Charlene Manor Extended Care Facility in Greenfield, Mass. Born on Feb. 8, 1925 in Marlboro, daughter of the late Bertram and Marion Akley, she married Ken Crowningshield in 1951 and they moved to Heath and started Kengra Farm. She loved her farm, raised rabbits, chickens, and cows. She loved her cat Tiger and was avid at donating to every charity for animals, veterans and children. She had four sisters: Bertha Akley and Florence Mary Brown, both of Readsboro, Ruth Davis of Wilmington, and the late Mildred Helen Wright. She also leaves several nieces and nephews. Memorial information: A funeral service was held May 18 at Heath Union Church, with burial in North Heath Cemetery. Donations to Charlene Manor Extended Care Facility Activities Fund, 130 Colrain Rd., Greenfield, MA 01301; Heath Agricultural Society, Main Road, Heath, MA 01346,; or the Heath Volunteer Fire Department, c/o Ken Gilbert, 63 Avery Brook Rd., Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
• Harald Thorgeir Holm, 83, of Brattleboro. Died May 8 at home at Bradley House. A true Renaissance man, he spoke many languages, played many instruments (piano, harmonica, mandolin, kokle), and loved singing, skiing, hiking, biking, dancing, woodworking, furniture building, knitting, reading, and gardening. Born in Skien, Norway, he came to the U.S. in 1958, and worked for Proctor & Gamble in Cincinnati, Ohio, for two years. He then moved to Longview, Wash., where he and Martha Wayrynen were married in 1963. They moved to Seekonk, Mass., in 1973 and to Clearwater, Fla, in 1977. There, they joined the Sons of Norway Suncoast Lodge where Harald led De Glade Norske (The Happy Norwegians) folk dancers. They also sang in De Glade Norske choir and in the Unitarian Universalist Church choir. In 1987, they moved to Brattleboro and immediately joined All Souls Church. He sang in the choir until two weeks before he died. He retired in the late 1990s, and his beloved Martha died in 2000. He continued to support many All Souls' programs and events, serving on the board, and creating the newsletter and annual report. He also worked for Brattleboro Community Television from 2001-2010, where he received a national award for his work on BCTV's on-screen community bulletin board. In 2011, he moved to Bradley House, where he received loving care until he died. He is survived by his daughter, Vibeke Arentz, and his “son-out-law” (as Harald lovingly called him) Jeff Kacirk of Sausalito, Calif.; his sister, Anniken Mandt, of Eidsborg, Norway; his sister-in-law Edith Tokola of Vancouver, Wash., and loving nieces and nephews. Memorial information: A celebration of Harald's life was held May 21 at All Souls Church in Brattleboro. Donations to BAYADA Home Health Care, 1222 Putney Rd., P.O. Box 8081, Brattleboro, VT 05302; or Bradley House, 65 Harris Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Elizabeth “Betsy” Cleveland Howe, 66, of Wilmington. Died May 14 after battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) for several years. She is best remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Leonard Howe; her daughter, Deborah Tirrell and her husband, of Wilmington; her brother, Richard Cleveland of Northfield, Mass.; her sister, Prudence Cleveland, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and her seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Born October 12, 1949 in Northfield, daughter of Lawrence and Bessie Cleveland, he attended school in Northfield and Brattleboro. She married Lenny Howe in 1967 and settled in Wilmington. She was a valued member of the community. For five years, Betsy ran a daycare in her home for many local children, as well as many other jobs around the valley, but she is best remembered for her 20 years as owner and cook at Beemer's Restaurant with its posted slogan, “This ain't Burger King, you'll take it my way.” She was also well-known as a supporter of Wilmington athletics. She faithfully attended nearly every one of her children's sporting events, home or away, and was also a longtime member of the Wilmington High School Booster Club. Some of her favorite memories included road trips to Yellowstone National Park during her husband's snowmobile racing days. Above all, she just enjoyed spending as much time as possible with her family. Memorial information: A memorial gathering was held at the Howe residence on May 21. Donations to the Deerfield Valley Rescue Squad.
• Edith L. Morse, 69, of Guilford. Died May 19 at her home. A complete obituary will be published in the June 1 edition of The Commons. Memorial information: A memorial gathering will be held Saturday, May 28, from noon until 4 p.m. at her home, 1263 Barney Hill Road, Guilford. Atamaniuk Funeral Home of Brattleboro is in charge of arrangements.
• Darrell H. “Dusty” Rhodes, 86, of Dummerston. Died May 11 at his home following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's disease. Born in Rockaway, N.J., on April 26, 1930, the son of the late James Ira and Gladys Marie (Cox) Rhodes, he was raised in New Jersey where he attended Rockaway public schools. He went on to proudly serve his country in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War. Following his honorable discharge, he returned home to New Jersey. He was a member and past commander of the VFW Post in Middlesex, New Jersey. He was also a past member of Rotary International. He worked all his career as an electrical contractor employed by several contractors in the Princeton, N.J., area before moving to Dummerston in 1987. He established his own business, Dusty Rhodes Electrical, which he operated locally for 20 years. He enjoyed the outdoors, including hiking, fishing, and puttering around his home which he loved. He also cherished time spent with his devoted partner of 42 years, Jane W. Smith, who survives. He leaves his two daughters, Virginia Donelson of Hillsborough, N.J., and Shirley Rhodes of Matthews, N.C.; a sister, Jean Bragg of Succasunna, N.J.; three granddaughters, three great-granddaughters and several nieces and nephews. Other survivors include Jane's brothers and sister, Sherwood Smith of Dummerston, Lee Smith of Somerville, N.J., and Cynthia Smith of Anderson, S.C. Memorial information: In keeping with his final wishes, services will be private with burial of his cremated remains in Dummerston Center Cemetery. Donation to Brattleboro Area Hospice, 191 Canal St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, or to Dummerston Volunteer Fire Department, 1523 Middle Rd., East Dummerston, VT 05346. To sign an online register book or send messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Donald White “Don” Stockwell, 94, of Brattleboro. Died May 14 at Vernon Green Nursing Home, where he had been a resident since November 2007. Born in Brattleboro on Sept.13, 1921, son of the late Hazen E. Stockwell and Marguerite White Stockwell, he was a direct descendent of Peregrine White, who was the first child born on the Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor in 1620. His ancestors served in the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, the Civil War, and World War I. A lifelong resident of Brattleboro, he attended Brattleboro High School and graduated from Governor Dummer Academy in Byfield, Mass, in 1939. Following graduation, he attended Bryant & Stratton Business School in Boston, Mass., where he received a B.A. degree in 1942. He served in World War II in the medical field with the North American Division of the Air Transport Command of the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942-1946. He served 18 months in the European, Middle East, and North African Theatre of Operations in the Azores. He received the Good Conduct medal, the European North African Theater Campaign and American Theater Campaign Ribbons, and the Victory Medal. He received an honorable discharge in February 1946. He was employed by Hooker, Corser & Mitchell Co. in Brattleboro and was manager of their plant in Springfield. In 1948, he joined Dunham Brothers as a Sales Development Manager in the shoe manufacturing business and ultimately became their District Sales Manager, retiring in 1978. Following his retirement he worked part-time with Gateway Homes, Tri State Automotive, and Red Circle Toys in Brattleboro. He also worked for 32 years at Hogback Mountain Ski Area in Marlboro. For many years, he was the manager of the Medical Professional Building at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. In 1953, he married the former Alice Howe Anderson of Brattleboro, who survives him. He leaves a son, Mark A. Stockwell and his wife, Nancy, and a daughter, Martha E. Momaney and her husband, Mitchel. Another son, William E. Stockwell, died in 1992. Other surviving family members include a stepdaughter, Donna Frechette of Vernon; a sister, Jean F. Strong of Meriden, N.H.; and a half-sister, Dr. Sally Stockwell Metro and her husband, Will, of Williston. He was a founder and charter member of the Brattleboro Rotary Club since 1950. He served as a past president and was the recipient of two Paul Harris Fellowship Awards, the most recent being in 2008. He was a member of American Legion Post 5 and VFW Post 1034. He was also an active member of the Brattleboro Lodge of Masons #102, Scottish Rite Bodies, Cairo Temple and Royal Order of Jesters, and the Cairo Temple Oriental Band. He was a former director of the Brattleboro Shrine Holding Corporation serving as its Treasurer for many years. Additionally, he was a 31-year director of the Brattleboro Savings & Loan Association, retiring in 1996. He was a member of Centre Congregational Church in Brattleboro since 1936. He was one of the founders of the Brattleboro Little League and was coach of the Yankees for many years. He enjoyed fishing, skiing, genealogy, gardening, Civil War study, and European Travel. Memorial information: A funeral service took place May 19 at Centre Congregational Church, with a private burial service at Prospect Hill Cemetery. Donations to Brattleboro Rotary Club Gateway Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 6433, Brattleboro, VT 05302, or the Vernon Green Nursing Home, Activities Dept., 61 Greenway Drive, Vernon, VT 05354. To sign an online guestbook with messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.