College news
• Halie Lange, an environmental studies major from Brattleboro, was named to the Dean's List at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, for the fall 2016 semester.
School news
• The following local students, members of the Class of 2017 at Northfield Mount Hermon School, have been named to the Cum Laude Society: Eve Pomazi of Brattleboro, Diego Torres of Brattleboro, and Pete Paasche of Guilford. This independent-school national honor society is the secondary-school equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa. Each year, students with outstanding NMH academic records for their junior and senior years are elected to membership in the society.
• Nicholas Benelli, a member of the Class of 2019 from South Londonderry, was named to the Winter 2016-17 Honors List at Pomfret (Conn.) School.
Transitions
• Stevens & Associates welcomes Allyson Bedard to their team as an architectural designer. Bedard has received a B.S. in architecture from Keene State College. During that time, she was awarded first place in the 2014 NESEA Net-Zero Energy Student Design Competition for the Residential Retrofit category. The following year, Bedard received a second place award for the 2015 Marvin Design Studio Challenge. Her experience includes drafting, building materials, project management, and designing. She says she is passionate about sustainability and restoration with a desire to apply her knowledge of retrofitting within the community focusing on historic preservation.
Obituaries
• Ellen E. Beals, 77, of Westminster. Died April 10. Born March 3, 1940 in New London, N.H., the daughter of Kenneth and Pearl (Cilley) Danforth, she was a graduate of Chester High School and worked at Ralph's and Buffum's supermarkets. Some of the things she enjoyed, besides life itself, were yard sales, wind chimes, blue glass, and flowers. She truly loved her family and cherished her Laila girl and Pusser. She had a wonderful sense of humor and would harass anybody she had the chance to. She was dearly loved and will be missed greatly. She is survived by her daughters Lynda Sleeper and Kathleen Golec and her husband, Joseph; her brother Russell Danforth and Shirley Damon; her granddaughter Bobbi Lynn Sleeper and two great grandchildren, She was predeceased by her parents, her sisters Shirley Pelkey, Lucille Bowlan, Marion DeWalt, and Elsie Ballentine, and her brothers Harold, Robert, Richard, Donald, and William Danforth. Memorial information: There will be a celebration of her life from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 6th at the Westminster Fire House. Donations to Westminster Fire & Rescue or Westminster Cares.
• Janice R. Knapp, 63, of Marlboro. Died April 4 at her home. Born in Brattleboro on Jan. 27, 1954, the daughter of Philip and Louise (Forrest) Rice, she attended Wilmington schools, graduating from Wilmington High School. She worked most recently at the Cup & Saucer, C&S Convenience, and North Star Bowl in Wilmington. Previously, she worked at Deerfield Valley Supply, where she started in automotive and then worked her way into propane service, where she became the first practicing woman certified in the state of Vermont. She enjoyed creating stained glass art, knitting, and crocheting. She was an avid reader. She traveled to Greece, and enjoyed her cat and spending time with her family. She is survived by her brother, William Rice and his wife, Priscilla; her sons Silas and Hiram and his wife, Alison; a grandson and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Donna Ayers and Gloria Rieger. Memorial information: Funeral services for Janice will be announced at a later date. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, in care of Covey-Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363.
• Robert Walter Rondeau, 69, of Brattleboro. Died April 3 at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, following his battle with degenerative lung disease. The disease overtook his life before a donor lung became available, and he faced this struggle with the quiet stoicism, patience and extraordinary grace that characterized his life. He is survived by his wife, Jude Roberts Rondeau of Brattleboro; siblings Bernice (Rondeau) Durbin of Crossville, Tenn., Harvey Rondeau Jr. of Deltona, Fla., Lori (Rondeau) Stone of Dallas, Texas, and Susan Rondeau of Santa Rosa, Calif.; and a sister-in-law, Carol (Rondeau) Moore of Vernon. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Maurice Rondeau. Born on May 7, 1947 in Norwich, Conn., the son of Harvey Raymond Rondeau and Anita (Morrisseau) Rondeau (who was a native of Brattleboro and attended St. Michael's High School). He grew up in Connecticut, attending Norwich Free Academy and the Paier School of Art in New Haven, where he graduated with a BFA. Drafted into the Army in 1969, he served with distinction in the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Bronze Star. In 1974, he married Jude Roberts, and they settled in Brattleboro that same year. His gifts as a creative artist, teacher, and problem solver were central to his life. His career spanned 40 years as a graphic artist and product designer with such firms as Cersosimo Inc., Tree Spirit, and Clear Solutions. He became a much-loved technology teacher at St. Michael's Catholic School, introducing students to the intricacies of the computer world. He was also a member and president of the Brattleboro Area Flyers club - designing, building and flying radio-controlled sailplanes with which he competed in both regional and national competitions. He inspired and taught several generations of Brattleboro-area flyers and leaves behind him the echoes of a basement teeming with youngsters building gliders. Together with his wife, he skated with the Brattleboro Figure Skating Club - where for two decades he built most of the annual ice show sets, designed the club's programs and posters, and was good-naturedly roped into performing roles on ice such as Elvis and Dr. I. Cycle, the mad scientist. During skating season, he could frequently be found ice dancing with Jude at the rink or on the Retreat Meadows. His life was permeated with creativity, insightful humor, and a high level of personal integrity. He will be greatly missed. Memorial information: A celebration of Robert's life will be held on Saturday, June 24, at 11 a.m., at Hilltop Montessori School, 99 Stafford Farm Hill, Brattleboro. Donations to the BWH Lung Transplant Family Fund in care of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Lung Transplant, 75 Francis St., Boston, MA 02115, Attn: Shawna Evans; or to the HealthWell Foundation at www.healthwellfoundation.org/ways-to-give/tributesmemorials.
• Mary Lou Strassburger Treat, 89, of Putney. Died April 1 at her home, after a long and eventful life. An inveterate and adventuresome traveler, librarian, lifelong student, and citizen of the world, she raised five children with her husband, Bob, while working, volunteering, and participating in the arts. Born August 1, 1927 in Steubenville, Ohio, to Dorothy Dix Anglin and Julius Hersch Strassburger, she attended public schools in Steubenville, graduated from Connecticut College in 1949 with a B.A. in economics and a M.L.S. from Simmons College in 1974. After college, she set off for New York City and worked as Assistant Editor on the Engineering News Record for several years. In 1954, she married Robert Treat, and a year later, they moved to Putney, where the educational philosophy of The Putney School's founder, Carmelita Hinton, was to be an influence for the rest of their lives. After nine years at Putney School, they moved to the Barlow School in Amenia, N.Y., where her husband held the position of Headmaster and she was Librarian. At Barlow, she oversaw the design and construction of an award-winning library, a challenge she would undertake again as Head of Libraries at Northfield Mount Hermon School, where she oversaw libraries on two campuses and construction of the new Dolben Library. After retiring to Putney in 1993 after 23 years at NMH, she served on the planning committee for the new Putney Public Library, which opened in 2005. She worked for peace and human rights all her adult life. In 1964 she and Bob traveled to Alabama and were part of the march from Selma to Montgomery during the Civil Rights era, an experience they never forgot. Helping others and fighting racial inequality were always big concerns of hers. Together, the Treats purchased land on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia in 1955 and built a house that became the center of her family's summers. They carried out their commitment to conservation and the environment by protecting the land and public access to it through the Nova Scotia Nature Trust. Upon retirement, the Treats were very involved in All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in West Brattleboro. She also sang in the Brattleboro Community Chorus for 19 years. A Board member of the Morningside Homeless Shelter for many years, she volunteered on the Hotline of the Women's Crisis Center for five years, and was a member of Circles of Support affiliated with the Brattleboro Restorative Justice Center. She worked for the adoption of civil unions and marriage equality in Vermont, volunteered with the Putney Historical Society, and was a Board member of Yellow Barn. She was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, and is survived by her sister, Marjorie Anne Lowe of Sedona, Ariz., and her children, Sharon Treat and partner, Robert Collins, of Hallowell, Maine; Roger Treat of Westminster; Carolyn Treat and husband Chip Flanagan of Portland, Maine; Rory Treat of Santa Cruz, CA; and Jessica Treat of Sheffield, Mass. Memorial information: There will be a memorial service in June at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in West Brattleboro. Donations to Morningside Shelter or the All Souls UU Church.
• Edward C. “Chip” Walker III, 55, of Newfane. Died April 5 at his home. Born in Townshend on Feb. 6, 1962, the son of the late Edward C. and Letitia E. (Slason) Walker, he was raised and educated in South Londonderry. A licensed massage therapist for the last 10 years, he was self-employed, serving clients in the southern Vermont area. Prior to establishing his own practice, he worked as a paraprofessional at Kindle Farm School in Newfane. Previously, he had worked at the Stratton Mountain Resort in their water treatment plant, In his earlier years, he worked at Cersosimo Lumber Company in Vernon. He was baptized on April 7, 1985 at First Baptist Church in South Londonderry and was a friend of Bill W. An ardent outdoorsman, he enjoyed kayaking, hiking, golf, snowboarding and gardening. He was always up for a gathering of friends and family. He loved his dogs. He had an appreciation of art and looked forward to attending the monthly “Gallery Walk” in Brattleboro. He will be remembered for his kind spirit, helping nature, and friendly personality. Survivors include his sisters Judy Cobb and her husband, Peter, of South Londonderry; Jean Jordan and her husband, Bob, of Landgrove; Betsy Miller and her husband, Mark, of Jamaica; and Bonnie Stevens and her husband, Doug, of South Londonderry. Memorial information: A memorial service was held April 15 at the First Baptist Church/Town Hall in South Londonderry. Donations to Grace Cottage Hospital, P.O. Box 216, Townshend, VT 05353, or to First Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 278, South Londonderry, VT 05155. To send messages of condolence to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• A graveside service for Elaine A. Cole, who died on Jan. 6, 2017, will be held on Saturday, April 22, at 1 p.m., in Oakwood Cemetery in Townshend.
• Friends of Elizabeth “Tiz” Garfield of Townshend, who died on March 8 2017, are invited to gather and share memories of her life on Saturday April 29, at 11 a.m., in the lower level of Calvary Chapel in West Townshend (next to the country store). This space is wheelchair-accessible. A light lunch will be available. Feel free to bring dessert to share.