Weddings
• Rachel Hesse and Matthew Johnson were married on July 2 at Fountain's Abbey in Ripon, England. The bride, born in Williamsville, attended Newfane Elementary School, Leland & Gray Middle School, and the Putney School before graduating from Brattleboro Union High School in 2000. After completing a B.S. degree at McGill University in Montreal, she relocated to England, where she met her future husband while they were both pursuing graduate degrees at Oxford University. The groom, born and raised in Compton, England, is currently a professor of modern British history at Durham University. The couple currently lives in Durham, England.
College news
• The following students have been named to the Dean's List at the University of New Hampshire for the spring semester of the 2015-16 academic year: Emily Perry of Bellows Falls earned Highest Honors and Carli Gossard of Dummerston earned Honors.
• Rachel Hesse completed her Ph.D. in classical zoo-archeology at Merton College at Oxford University in England. A graduate of Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 2000, she earned her B.S. at McGill University in Montreal and her M.S. at Oxford. She currently resides and writes in Durham, England.
Obituaries
• James T. Abbot, 73, of Brattleboro. Died Aug. 10 at Charlene Manor in Greenfield, Mass. He was born June 16, 1943 in Lawrence, Mass., the son of the late Hartwell and Wilma (Corliss) Abbot. He had been a Brattleboro resident since 1997. He served his country in the Air Force. He was employed as an electrician with IBEW Local 300 until his retirement. He was a member of American Legion Post 5 and would walk over daily to have lunch with his friends. He was an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan. He enjoyed antiquing, attending auctions, dancing, leisurely scenic drives, and traveling. He was very social; he loved telling jokes and making people laugh, but most importantly he valued his time with family and friends. He will be remembered as a loyal partner, father, grandfather, and friend. He is survived by his partner, Janet Walkiewicz of Brattleboro; two daughters, Kimberly Jean Abbot of Vermont and Elizabeth Abbot Shaw and her husband, Geordie, of Georgia; a brother, Brownie Abbot and his wife, Jean, of Florida; three sisters, Susan Gerbig and her husband, Lee, of Indiana, Elaine Parsons and her husband, Charles, of Delaware, and Betsy Hannah of Vermont; two stepchildren, Lauren and Michael Walkiewicz; five grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A celebration of his life was held Aug. 16 at Ker-Westerlund Funeral Home in Brattleboro. Burial will be private at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph Center. Donations to The Jimmy Fund, P.O. Box 849168 Boston, MA 02284-9168 or to The Michael J. Fox Foundation , P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014. Condolences may be offered at www.kerwesterlund.com.
• Glenna Bowyer Annis, 85, of Dummerston. Died Aug. 6 at her home following a period of declining health. Wife of the late Donald Annis for 47 years. Mother of Glenn and his wife, Charlotte, and Grant and his companion, Cindy Darcy, all of Dummerston, and Eric and his wife, Sharon, of Brattleboro. Also survived by four grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by three brothers and one sister. She was born in Simcoe, Ontario, on May 26, 1931, the daughter of Rex and Ethel (Butler) Bowyer. She was raised and educated in Simcoe and was a graduate of St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing, where she received her RN degree. She got married in 1954 and moved to Brattleboro with her husband. They planned to stay for a year. Instead, they chose to raise their family in Southern Vermont. She worked at the Brattleboro Retreat from 1969 until her retirement in the late 1990's. Previously, she worked in the Emergency Department at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and. prior to her position at BMH, was a nurse for the late Dr. John Houpis, on Park Place. She was a longtime member of Centre Congregational Church and was a past member of the church choir. She enjoyed her gardens, travel, playing Bridge, bird watching, and her many pets. Her life centered around her family and friends. She especially enjoyed time shared with her grandchildren. She was extremely proud of being a Canadian. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: Funeral services were held Aug. 12 at Centre Congregational Church in Brattleboro, with burial in Dummerston Center Cemetery. Donations to Centre Congregational Church, 193 Main St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, or to Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 379, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To sign an online register book or send messages of condolence to the Annis family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Joan Baird Edgar Bernhard, 91, of Brattleboro. Died Aug. 6 at her home. Born on Dec. 18, 1924 at Flowers Hospital in New York City, she was the daughter of Margaret O'Brien Edgar and Jason Baird Edgar; her siblings were Margaret, Mary Jane, and James Edgar. As a young woman, she had a successful modeling career in New York City, working for the Conover Model Agency in Manhattan. She eventually launched and ran her own modeling agency in New York until 1947 at which time she moved to Lyme, N.H., to raise a family with her husband, Manfred E. Bernhard. Her love of travel took her to Ireland and Spain where she and her five children lived from 1963 to 1971. After returning to the States, Joan lived in Scottsdale, Ariz., and San Francisco, Santa Monica, and San Raphael, Calif., before finally settling in Brattleboro in 1998, where she lived for the remainder of her life. During her time in Brattleboro, she could often be seen doing her errands downtown with a succession of trusty guide dogs. She was an avid gardener, writer, and painter, all of which she continued to actively engaged despite diminished eyesight caused by macular degeneration. She was a vastly creative and curious person, at various times throughout her life studying and practicing the arts of interior design, furniture restoration, theatre, acting, astrology and numerology. She was active in Ex-Sighted Artists and participated in several writers' groups. Just prior to her death, she completed work on her first novel, “El Coctel,” which will be published in the coming months. Roman Catholic by choice in her late teens, she was also a long-time practitioner of yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong. During the last two decades of life she became dedicated to Tibetan Buddhism and found her way to reconciling traditions, and for a time considered herself a “Catholic Buddhist.” Until recent years, Joan attended St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro. She was a student of Lama Gersam, who significantly inspired her Dharma practice, in addition to studying and practicing with several other teachers. She practiced with various Vermont Buddhist groups in Brattleboro, Springfield, and Manchester. Though she was less active than in previous years due to her health, she continued to host a regular weekly practice in her home beginning in 2009, which continued until just weeks before she died. She leaves her children: Woody Bernhard and his wife, Susan Kunhardt, of Marlboro; Lucienne Bernhard of Meadow Vista, Calif,; Damaris Bernhard of Brattleboro; Robert Bernhard and his wife, Eva Bernhard; stepchildren Jem Villamar of San Francisco and Peter Bernhard, of Milford, Conn; six grandchildren and her most recent guide dog, Snickers. She was predeceased by her daughter, Mercedes La Guardia Bernhard, and by both parents and her three siblings, as well as her beloved guide dogs, Axel and Tamari. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A celebration of her life will be held Sunday, Aug. 21, from 2 to 4 p.m., in the parlor at the Centre Congregational Church, 193 Main St. Brattleboro. All are welcome. Donations to Brattleboro Area Hospice (brattleborohospice.org) and Guide Dogs for the Blind (guidedogsfortheblind.org).
• Mark A. Boyd, 62, of West Brattleboro. Died July 27 at his home. He is survived by his son, Jeremy Boyd-Luke of Brunswick, Maine, as well as many extended family members and close friends. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A celebration of his life was held Aug. 13 at Ker-Westerlund Funeral Home in Brattleboro, with burial in the Boyd Family Cemetery.
• Jerry Levin, 89, of Dunedin, Fla. Died July 24 at Suncoast Hospice in Palm Harbor, Fla. Born in Baltimore, Md., on Sept. 1, 1926, the son of the late Ben and Ida Levin, he graduated from Baltimore City College/Eastern High School and served honorably in the Army Air Corps in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Selling furniture was his job. His passion was writing, directing, acting in musicals. In retirement, he relished running his own small business at flea markets in the Tampa area. Through his lifetime, he enchanted everyone he encountered, particularly his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Those who met him, even briefly, will remember his gentle humor and his kindness. He was married twice. His second wife, the late Fran Levin, resided with him from 2000 to 2003 at Morningside Commons in Brattleboro. He is survived by his sister, Marcia Hecht; daughters Karen Hesse of Brattleboro and Randy Letzler of Wilton, Conn.; sons Barry Levin of Dunwoody Ga., and Lt. Col. (ret.) Mark Donald of Lakeland, Fla.; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his partner of 12 years, Doris Dubinsky of Dunedin. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: Interrment will be at Sylvan Abbey Cemetery in Clearwater, Fla.
• Chester A. Macie, 70, of West Chesterfield, N.H. Died Aug. 11 at his residence. Born in Brattleboro on April 22, 1946, he was the son of the late Loren and Edith Macie. He graduated from Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 1964, and went on to serve his country in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. He was employed for over 30 years at The Book Press and most recently was a warehouse worker for United Natural Foods until his retirement. He also owned and operated Chet's Garage in West Chesterfield. He loved working on cars and built a street rod with his sons. He enjoyed haying, farming, fishing, and square dancing with the Green Mountain Squares. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Theadora (Holcomb) Macie of West Chesterfield; three sons, Chester Macie, Jr. of West Chesterfield, Randy Macie of Marlborough, N.H., and Jerry Macie of West Chesterfield; a sister, Dawn Elliot and her husband, Michael, of Marlow, N.H.; two granddaughters, Megan and Emma Macie, both of Marlborough, N.H.; as well as several nephews and cousins. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A funeral service was held Aug. 17 at Ker-Westerlund Funeral Home in Brattleboro, with burial in Chesterfield West Cemetery in Chesterfield. Condolences may be offered at www.kerwesterlund.com.
• Edmond J. “Ed” Momaney Jr., 61, of Greendield, Mass. Died Aug. 5 at Charlene Manor Extended Care Facility. Born in Brattleboro on Sept. 20, 1954, the son of Edmond J. and Mona Mae (Dove) Monaney, he attended schools in Brattleboro and was a painter in his family painting business. He loved spending time with his grandchildren, hunting, fishing and playing poker. He was a former president of the Brattleboro Eagles #2445. Survivors include his wife of 42 years, the former Deborah Cleveland; his mother, of West Brattleboro; four daughters: Melissa Bacigalupo and her husband, Ken, of Greenfield, Tammy Elliot and her husband, John, of Philadelphia, Heather Momaney and her husband Donald ” Josh” Smith of Marlboro, and Christine Momaney and her husband, Ray Winchester, of West Brattleboro. He also leaves 11 grandchildren, several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews and three brothers and a sister. He was predeceased by his father. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: Services will be private and at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908 or to Shriners Hospitals for Children-Springfield, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA. 01104-2396. Arrangements are under the direction of Kostanski Funeral Home of Greenfield.
• Donna McGoff Rae, 75, formerly of Newfane. Died Aug. 1 at her home in Fall City, Wash. Born June 2, 1941 in Brattleboro, the daugher of the late Lucy McGoff (Howe) and Donald McGoff, she was raised in Newfane and graduated from Leland & Gray Seminary in 1959. She lived in Newfane before moving out west, where she made her home. She was a caring and loving sister and aunt. She was a lover of animals (especially her dog, Heidi), and gave often to local humane societies. She was an avid card player whooften bested her opponents. She is survived by her siblings: Clara Robinson and her husband, Harry, of Jamaica; Marie Perry of Nebo, N.C.; Ada Polianos of Peoria, Ariz.; and Conrad Pratt of Madison, N.Y.; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A memorial service will be held at a later date in Woodlawn Cemetery in Newfane.
• Richard A. Wyman, 75, of Athens. Died Aug. 8 at his home. Born in Bellows Falls on May 6, 1941, the son of Freeman and Margaret (Parker) Wyman, he was a 1961 graduate of Bellows Falls High School. He worked for Melanson & Son in Keene, N.H., and retired from Woodlan Tool in Bellows Falls, where he worked as a machinist. He enjoyed working in his saw mill and getting out firewood, and especially working with Dale on the farm and his time at Danny's shop. He was a master of redesign and fabrication. In 1968, he married Darlene Hutchins, who survives. Also surviving are his sons Danny and Dale Wyman of Grafton; his daughter, Tina Jensen of East Wallingford; his brothers, Myron and Hollis Wyman of Grafton; his sister, Linda Labby of North Carolina; and two grandchildren. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A funeral service was held Aug. 13 at the Community Christian Church in Athens, with burial in the Cambridgeport Cemetery. Donations to the Community Christian Church, P.O. Box 7, Cambridgeport, VT 05141, or to VT & NH Hospice, P.O. Box 1339, White River Junction, VT 05001.