College news
• Soren Pelz-Walsh of Brattleboro graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in physical education from Castleton University following the successful completion of the fall semester in December 2016. He was also named to the President's List for the fall 2016 semester. A standout wide receiver for Castleton's football team, Pelz-Walsh was selected as Castleton's most valuable player in 2016 for the second straight season after finishing with 61 catches for 785 yards and nine touchtowns. He was named to the 2016 Eastern Collegiate Football Conference's All-Academic Team.
• Colton Butler of Whitingham has been named to the Dean's List at Elmira (N.Y.) College for the fall 2016 term.
• The following local students were named to the Champlain College Dean's List for the fall 2016 semester: Owen Beattie of West Townshend, Cuyler Cunningham of Brattleboro, Aubrie Gillam of Putney, John Houk of Brattleboro, Connor Little of Guilford, and Jeremy Root of Vernon.
• Kirsten Jobst of Vernon has earned a place on the Dean's List for the fall 2016 semester at Dean College in Franklin, Mass.
• Madison M. Derosia of Brattleboro, a Bachelor of Science candidate in the Lee College of Criminal Justice & Forensics at the University of New Haven, has been named to the Dean's List for the fall 2016 semester.
• The following local students were named to the Dean's List at Keene State College for the fall 2016 semester: Nicholas Ahlgren of Brattleboro, Andrew Clark of Dummerston, Patrick Clark of East Dummerston, Sally Densmore of Wardsboro, Lisa Donnelly of Brattleboro, Randii Elie of Brattleboro, Gabriel Ferrante of Brattleboro, Daija Germain of Brattleboro, Maya Holschuh of Wilmington, Kebrina Howard of Putney, Tori Parker of Londonderry, Kyle Record of Grafton, Kayla Savage of Vernon, Christian Terry of Bellows Falls, Emily Vaccaro of Bellows Falls, and Eliah Young of Brattleboro.
• Genevieve M. Darling of South Newfane, a junior majoring in psychology, has been named to the Dean's List at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., for the fall 2016 semester.
• Preston Stachelek, a nursing major from Stratton, was named to the Fall 2016 Dean's List at the University of Rhode Island.
• The following students have been named to the dean's list for the fall 2016 semester at the University of Vermont: Katherine Amidon of Vernon, McKenzie Brandon of Cambridgeport, Cornelia Cating of Londonderry, Alyssa Cote of Bellows Falls, Baxter Cragin of Putney, Roxanna Daims of Brattleboro, Bridget Dews of East Dummerston, Giannina Gaspero-Beckstrom of Guilford, Andrew Hollar of Bellows Falls, Benjamin Howe of Putney, Linnea Jahn of Brattleboro, Kyra Johnston of Brattleboro, Brittany Lathrop of South Londonderry, Carlyn Madden of Brattleboro, Colby McGinn of Brattleboro, Oliver Pomazi of Brattleboro, Miranda Post of West Dover, Evan Ray of Brookline, Lindsey Robinson of Brattleboro, John Sawyer Shaw of Brattleboro, Nieva Schemm of Saxtons River, Henry Silbaugh of Putney, Honour Solari of Guilford, Emily Stockwell of Townshend, Ana Taylor of Wilmington, Abigail Winrich of Townshend, Everest Witman of Brattleboro, Chloe Wolfman of Brattleboro, Sebastian Wu of Saxtons River, and Jessica Young of Brookline.
• Molly Ann Rice of Brattleboro, a senior majoring in interdisciplinary liberal studies, has been named to the dean's list at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., for the fall 2016 semester.
• Eli Serota of West Dover was recently honored with Ithaca College's Peggy R. Williams Award for Academic and Community Leadership, an award recognizing students who excel academically, perform service to the college community and nation, and represent an exemplary level of accomplishment.
• Alexandra Harris of Bellows Falls has been named to the Dean's List at Colby-Sawyer College in New London, N.H., for the fall 2016 term.
• Genevieve Pennington-Fitzgerald, an applied exercise major from Putney, has been named to the Dean's List at Springfield (Mass.) College for the fall 2016 term.
Transitions
• Lisa Eaton has joined Grace Cottage Hospital as Chief Nursing Officer, replacing Jeanne Fortier, who retired and moved to Cape Cod. Most recently, Eaton was Director of Inpatient Services at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, where she focused on patient education, patient satisfaction, streamlined billing, and staff development. At Grace Cottage, she will be responsible for all administrative oversight for inpatient services and radiology. Eaton holds a Master's degree in Health Care Administration from Marlboro College, as well as undergraduate degrees in nursing and psychology. She lives in Keene, N.H. with her spouse.
• The Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies Group (SeVEDS), an organization driving the regional economic development dialogue for the Windham region) has announced several new additions to its board of directors. The following members were elected officers for fiscal year 2017: Bob Stevens of Stevens & Associates will serve as Chair. Meg Streeter of Meg Streeter Realty will serve as Vice-Chair. Patrick Moreland with the Town of Brattleboro joins the leadership team as Treasurer, while Bill Colvin of Bennington County Regional Commission will join as Secretary. The following new members were voted onto the Board of Directors: Stephen Dotson of One Report, Josh Druke of WW Building Supply, Mary Ann Kristiansen of the Hannah Grimes Center, and Bethaney LaClair of World Learning and the School for International Training.
Obituaries
• Edwin Barton, 31, of Brattleboro. Died Dec. 23 at his residence from an epileptic seizure. He was born in Northampton, Mass., on March 10, 1985, to Kathleen Ready and the late Allen “Bud” Barton. A child prodigy and tech savant, he taught himself how to both build and program computers at the age of 9, inspiring his younger sister to pursue the same passion. Ed attended both Hinsdale Elementary School and Hinsdale High School, graduating in 2003 with an Award of Excellence in Calculus. He was very well-known both in and out of school for his green thumb, computer hacking skills, and intelligence. His house was frequented by many of his local peers, whether to jam or just for a safe place to crash. No matter the reason, he always welcomed, without judgment. The more the merrier, he thought. An empathetic conversationalist, he was able to connect with people from all walks of life. He was a confidante to many; his charm, smile and laughter were contagious. His unrivaled passion for knowledge kept him learning - anywhere, any way he could, every day of his life. If he did not have an answer, he would find one. He lived big, loved big, and cared with all of his being. He was a unique soul who will be remembered and deeply missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his mother, Kathleen Ready of Hinsdale; and his sister, Emily Barton of West Dover. Memorial information: No service information available.
• Eileen E. Cantrell, 68, of East Dover. Died Jan. 14 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. Born in Hartford, Conn., on Oct. 18, 1948, the daughter of the late Thomas J. and Mary E. (Ellsworth) Kerry, she received her education in South Windsor, Conn., schools, and graduated from Weaver High School in Hartford. She loved flower gardening and making and distributing Christmas cookies. She enjoyed traveling, listening to pop music and was an avid New England Patriot and Boston Red Sox fan and enjoyed following the UConn women's basketball team. She enjoyed her home and cherished times spent with her family especially her grandchildren. She was precious and treasured by her immediate and extended family. She is survived by her husband, Lonnie J. Cantrell, whom she married in 1971; her son Josh Cantrell and his wife, Mary, of Raleigh, N.C., two grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and their families. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Charmaine Cantrell, who died in 1977, brothers John H. Bancroft and Thomas J. Kerry, Jr, and sisters Mary Schultz and Helen Fry. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Jan. 21 at East Dover Baptist Church, with interment in the family lot in Dover Center Cemetery. Donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, in care of Covey-Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363.
• Maxine Elinor Fuller (Loken) of Putney. Died Jan. 17 at her home. She was surrounded by family, including her husband, Dr. Ames Fuller, and her children, Thara Marija Ames Fuller and Dr. Ithiel Loken Ames Fuller. Her talent and love for song, art, and play live on in her three granddaughters, Cordelia, Miranda, and Emma. Memorial information: A small gathering in her honor was hosted by All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in Brattleboro on Jan. 21. Donations to Brattleboro Area Hospice (brattleborohospice.org) or to All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church (ascvt.org).
• Barbara Brewster Hoag, 96, of Brattleboro. Died Jan. 16 at Vernon Green Nursing Home, where she had been a resident since 2015. She was born in Peterborough, Ontario on July 26, 1920 to Benjamin Yates Brewster and Marjorie Jessop Brewster. In 1943, she married Elmer Danforth Hoag, who died in 2002. She is survived by her children, Eric Hoag of Buxton, N.C., Wendy Houlihan of Brattleboro, Robin Russo of Bradford, Peter Hoag of Milford, Mich., Joan Bicknell of Newark, Vt., and Jennifer Hoag of Williston. A son, Keith Hoag, predeceased her in 1999. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, a daughter-in-law, Eugenia Hoag, and two sons-in-law, Patrick Russo and James Bicknell. After graduating from The White Mountain School, she studied music at Smith College, but left before graduating to help the war effort as a “Rosie the Riveter” at Chance Vought Aircraft in Stratford, Conn., during World War II. After her marriage, she and her husband bought a small farm and she became a subsistence farmer until they moved with their growing family to Milford, Conn. Years later, after raising her family, she returned to school to continue her studies in music, eventually earning a Ph.D. from New York University. Her interest in early music led her to found an early music group that performed for a number of years. That interest also inspired her to learn how to build some of the early musical instruments herself, in between three sets of tennis a day, and regular laps in the pool. At various times in her life, she was an organist, a choir director, and a hospital chaplain. Moving to Keene, N.H., in 1986, she became director of the bell choir at St. James Episcopal Church, which performed regularly under her direction. She also nurtured her lifelong interest in geology with studies at Keene State College, and created a memorable garden at their home, as she did again when she moved to Brattleboro in 2008. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held on Friday, Jan. 27, at 11 a.m., at St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 16 Bradley Ave., Brattleboro. A reception following the service will be held at 78 Buttonwood Dr., Black Mountain Estates, Brattleboro. Donations to the Brattleboro Music Center, 38 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT, 05301, or the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., FL 17, Chicago, IL 60601.
• Philip James Pierce, 19, of Middlebury. Died Jan. 9 while visiting Boston and intrepidly exploring its neighborhoods. Son of Elizabeth Gander of Middlebury and Dean L. Pierce of Shelburne, and the much-loved younger brother of Nellie Pierce, he graduated in 2015 from Middlebury Union High School, where he was a member of the Scholars Bowl team. He briefly attended Sterling College in Craftsbury before returning to his hometown. In or out of school, he read voraciously and on a wide range of subjects. Through that reading he regularly - but humbly - amazed members of his family with his encyclopedic knowledge of politics and international affairs. His interest reached beyond mere facts and into the realm of the possible, in detailed simulation games where he constructed speculative histories. His wealth of knowledge filled him with an urgent conviction that we not repeat history, as well as the tremendous and painful sense of responsibility that attends all such efforts to imagine a better world. Camera-shy and resolutely private, he also enjoyed gardening and cooking and regularly sought to understand different cultures through their food. He also loved caring for his family's pets and the pets of others. In addition, he was and will forever remain his father's most trusted hiking partner. Aside from Philip's sister, parents, and parents' respective partners, he leaves behind his maternal grandmother Isabelle Gander of Brattleboro; his uncles Mac Gander of Brattleboro and Jim Gander of Amherst, Mass., together with aunts and cousins; and long-time friends, including Eric Podraza of Middlebury. He was predeceased by his maternal grandfather, Roderick M. Gander, and paternal grandparents Philip M. Pierce and Therese B. Pierce. Memorial information: No public burial service is planned at this time. Donations to Turning Point Center of Addison County, Homeward Bound (Addison County Humane Society), or your favorite international humanitarian organization or charity. Plans for a memorial service will be announced at a later date.
• Wilfred R. “Willie” Rounds Sr., 83, of Vernon, formerly of Putney. Died Jan. 16 at Pine Heights Nursing Home in Brattleboro, where he had been a resident since October 2016. Born in Jamaica at the home of Albert and Pearl Magoon on July 23, 1933, he was the son of William and Florence (Magoon) Rounds. He worked many jobs, including at the Townshend Furniture Company, Basketville, Putney Paper and, for many years, at The Book Press. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing cards, and camping. In 1953, he married to Edith (Coomes) Rounds, who predeceased him on Dec. 11, 2016. He is survived by his daughter, Diana Holden of Westminster; sons Wilfred Rounds, Jr. and fiancée Judy Pagella of Guilford and Keith Rounds of Putney; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; siblings Maynard Rounds of Vernon, Wayne Rounds of Townshend, Lorraine Varney and Barbara Rounds of Zephyrhills, Fla., and Millie Austin of Hinsdale, N.H.; a sister-in-law, Anita Coomes of Putney; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by his parents; a son, Ronald Rounds; and brothers-in-law George Varney, David Austin, and Harris Coomes. Memorial information: At his request, there will be no funeral services. At a later date, Willie and Edie's cremated remains will be buried in the family plot in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Putney. Donations to Grace Cottage Hospital, P.O. Box 216, Townshend, VT 05353. To offer messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• James Leland “Jim” Watson, 97, of Brattleboro. Died Jan. 12 at the Bradley House in Brattleboro. A lifelong resident of Brattleboro, he was born on Jan. 16, 1919, the son of Joseph and Fannie (Holden) Watson. He was raised and educated in Brattleboro and was a graduate of Brattleboro High School, Class of 1937. He went on to attend Bay Path Institute and later Northeast Missouri State University, where he was a pre-med major. He proudly served his country during World War II in the Army Air Corps with the Eighth Air Force, 385th Bomb Group, 551st Bomb Squadron. Stationed in Great Britain, he flew as a co-pilot and completed 25 bombing missions over Europe that included the infamous Schweinfurt/Regensburg (Bloody Thursday) mission on Aug. 17, 1943. Towards the close of the war, he returned to the United States and continued flying, helping to deliver 13 new B-29 bombers for the 7th Ferry Command to destinations in the Pacific Theatre. For his wartime service, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters. In conjunction with his duties as a pilot, he also served as an operations officer prior to his honorable discharge from active service at the rank of first lieutenant. After the war he returned home to Brattleboro and went to work at the American Optical Company and later for the U.S. Postal Service. He worked out of the Brattleboro Post Office on Main Street, which he retired from following many years of faithful service. He was a member of American Legion Post 5 in Brattleboro, and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. He enjoyed golf and held membership in the Brattleboro Country Club. With his wife, he was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Brattleboro. He enjoyed gardening, sports in general, antiquing, and had a deep love for dogs. In 1951, he married Helen K. Martin, who predeceased him in 2008. He is survived by several nieces and nephews as well as his extended family at the Bradley House Residential Care Facility. He was also predeceased by a sister, Sylvia Elizabeth, and two brothers, Verne Lyndon and Harold William. Memorial information: Funeral services were held Jan. 22 at Atamaniuk Funeral Home in Brattleboro. Committal services and burial with full military honors will be held in Morningside Cemetery later in the springtime when the cemetery reopens. Donations to The Bradley House, 65 Harris Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• A memorial service for George Francis Lewis will be held Saturday, Jan. 28, at 11 a.m., at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Brattleboro. Mr. Lewis died Dec. 18, 2016, after a period of declining health. To view his full obituary and sign an online guestbook with messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.