College news
• Cadet First Class Jeffrey Daniel Kahler of Brattleboro graduated from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy on June 27 with a degree in marine transportation.
• Katherine E. Koes of Vernon recently graduated with a B.S. in health science from Wichita (Kan.) State University. She was also named to the Dean's Honor Roll for the spring 2017 semester.
• Katherine Weir of Newfane recently graduated from Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash., with a B.A. in botany and scientific illustration.
Transitions
• Dr. Leonard Giordano Jr., of Freehold, N.J., is joining the practice of Professional Dental Care in Brattleboro. Giordano is a recent graduate of Rutgers School of Dental Medicine and graduated from Wagner College in New York prior to attending dental school. He and his wife Julianne, originally from Massachusetts, are moving here with their 1 year old son, Leo. Giordano will be providing a wide range of dental services starting in August, and can be contacted at 802-254-9644.
Obituaries
• Becky A. Atwood, 77, of Bellows Falls. Died July 1 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. She was born on May 8, 1940, eldest daughter of Raymond F. and Ruth White Griggs. She graduated from West Lebanon High School in 1958, and married Caleb F. Atwood from Plainfield, NH. They moved to a dairy farm in Westminster, where her kids were raised. Later, she moved to Bellows Falls. She loved to cook, sew, and knit. Many of these skills she taught as a local 4-H leader. There were often extra people for meals and always extra children. She happily fed them all. She also loved to swim and was known for taking carloads of children to the Westminster swimming hole to teach them how. Once her kids were grown, she worked as a cook at T-Bird Mini Mart in Bellows Falls. In later years, she also worked as an LNA, giving much compassion to all under her care. Her grandchildren were the light of her life. She spent hours baking cookies, playing games and just enjoying their antics. She is survived by her children: Kelly (Rick) Clough, South Ryegate; Bryan (Carolyn) Atwood, Bellows Falls; Sherry (Sam) Gifford, Wendell Depot, Mass; and Caleb Atwood and fiance Jacques, Chesterfield, N.H.; sisters Paula Tucker of Concord N.H and Lorraine Varnese, Plainfield, N.H.; stepbrothers Edson Keith of Farmington, N.H. and William Keith of West Lebanon; nine grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind two very special aunts; Polly Kelley and Gerri Griggs; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was predeceased by her parents, her stepfather Edson Keith and her sister, Master Sergeant Deborah Bingham. Memorial information: At her request, there will be no services.
• Estelle Eleanor “Topsy” Barry, 92, of Bellows Falls. Died July 2 at her home, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Claremont, N.H., on May 28, 1925, to Stella (Frenette) and James O'Connor, she became known as the “Top Baby,” hence her nickname, “Topsy,” was also born. She was lovingly known as “Nanny Tops” to her 15 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She was raised in a home that valued faith and family above all else. She spent her childhood in Bellows Falls and was a 1943 graduate of Bellows Falls High School. From there, she went on to graduate with an RN from the Bishop DeGoesbriand School of Nursing in Burlington. In 1947, she married the love of her life, John P. Barry. They enjoyed 63 happy years together, until his death in 2011. In the early 1950s, John and Topsy moved back to Bellows Falls where they raised their five children. She was a wonderful mother and always had an open, welcoming home to all friends and relatives. She had a special love for children and honored their free spirit. Her living room still has boxes of toys for any child who visits. She was an insightful, creative person and had a gift for saying just the right words to people in need. She was an avid reader with a curious mind and pursued a bachelor's degree later in life from St. Joseph the Provider College in Rutland. She also enjoyed cooking, birding and nature. She always enjoyed the beauty of an ordinary day; she could be found in the woods and fields picking the pussy willows and May flowers of spring, or she could be found standing on her front porch to enjoy the first snowfall of winter or a beautiful rainbow in summer. She was a lifetime communicant of St. Charles Church, Bellows Falls, and a woman of very strong faith. She prayed the rosary every day. She is survived by her five children and their spouses: Chris and Julie Barry, Mary Kay and Tim Pfadenhauer, Julie and Ray Chamberland, Barbara and Michael Janiszyn, and Steve and Valerie Barry. She is also survived by her only brother, Robert O'Connor and his wife, Elizabeth, of Littleton, N.H. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held July 7 at St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls, with interment in St. Charles Cemetery.
• Jerry Arland Brown, 55, of Brattleboro. Died July 6 at his home. Born in Brattleboro on August 14, 1961, the son of Merle and June (Harris) Brown, he was a lifelong resident of Brattleboro. He attended the former Francis Hicks School and also schools in Rutland. For several years, he worked at Linden Gardens in Brattleboro. A quiet unassuming man, he was known for his spirit of friendship and pleasant smile. He enjoyed music, taking walks around town, and time spent at his favorite haunt, Bruegger's Bagel Shop in the Price Chopper plaza. He was an avid Boston Red Sox and Celtics fan. Survivors include, his mother, June Lawrence of Brattleboro; one sister, Sandra Mattison of Brattleboro; a nephew, Dale Hutchins, also of Brattleboro; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. He was predeceased by his father, Merle Brown, and his stepfather, Stewart Lawrence. Memorial information: Funeral services were held July 12 at the Mountain View Seventh Day Adventist Church in Vernon, with burial in South Newfane Cemetery. Donations to Rescue Inc., PO Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To send messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Nora E. Fletcher, 85, of Townshend, formerly of Saxtons River. Died June 30 at her home. Born Jan. 12, 1932 in Newfane, the daughter of Emmons and Ruby (Winchester) Robinson, she attended Leland & Gray Seminary in Townshend. In 1949, she married William “Billy” Fletcher Sr. She worked at Vermont Academy and Whitney-Blake. She was a member of the Bellows Falls Moose, BF Senior Center, Abenaki Snowmobile Club, and the Red Hats group, the Gadabout Girls. She spent many summer weekends watching Bill play baseball as well as watching her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in later years and also watching her beloved Red Sox. She also spent many hours sewing, quilting, and making many crafts for family and friends. She spent many wonderful years in Morgan in their family camp and had many lasting friendships around Lake Seymour. She is survived by three daughters, Ellen Wheeler and her partner, Bruce Howard, of Venice, Fla., Sherry Bartlett and her husband, Tom, of Venice, Fla., and Debi Stevens and her husband, Mike, of Milton; her daughter in law, Maureen Fletcher of Saxtons River; three brothers, Bernard Robinson and his wife, Elaine, of Florida, Wayland Robinson and his wife, Nancy, of Perkinsville; and Wallace Robinson of Michigan; three sisters in law, Marion Robinson of Newfane, Ruth Warren of Georgia, and Cora Fletcher of Athens; eight grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her husband; a son, William Scott, Jr.; and brothers Oscar and Fred Robinson. Memorial information: A funeral service was held on July 8 at Community Christian Church in Athens, with burial in Houghtonville Cemetery. Donations to the Bellows Falls Senior Center, 18 Tuttle St, Bellows Falls VT 05101, or to the Abenaki Snowmobile Club, c/o Scott Falzo, P.O. Box 55, Bellows Falls, VT 05101.
• Joan M. Hall, 78, of Keene, N.H. Died June 26 at her home. Born at home on March 1, 1939 in Brattleboro, the daughter of Edward and Bertha (O'Neill) Willette, she was a 1957 graduate of St. Michael's Catholic School. She worked for National Grange Mutual Insurance Company in Keene and, for many years, at Fleming Oil in Brattleboro. She was a 4th degree member of the Mt. Pistareen Grange and worked with the organization on various projects that were geared toward youth. When she was in high school, she was a member of the band and enjoyed playing various instruments. Music was a large part of her life. She was a talented knitter and made sweaters and blankets for her family. She was also an avid reader. She was a devoted mother and was known as the “cool mom” when her daughter Jen was growing up. She was compassionate and giving and always ready to share her warm smile with those she met. She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Smith, and her husband, Peter, of Spofford, N.H.; brothers Edward Willette and his wife Trish of Missouri. and John Willette and his wife, Pam, of Spofford; sisters Kathryn Wolfe of Wilmington N.C., Margaret Willette of Brattleboro, and Christine Shakespeare and her husband, William, of Marlboro; two grandchildren, a great grandson, and several nieces,nephews and extended family members. She was predeceased by her daughter Linda Hall. Memorial information: Services will be private and will be held at a later date. Donations to Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center in Greenfield, N.H., at crotchedmountain.org/donate.
• Lucy P. Howard, 79, of Brattleboro. Died July 4 at her residence. She was born in Greenfield, Mass., on Feb. 2, 1938, the daughter of the late Ernest and Julia (Millington) Putnam. She was a lifelong area resident and was employed as a waitress at the Putney Inn until her retirement. She enjoyed doing crosswords, going to the beach, traveling (especially to Nantucket), eating out, taking rides, cooking, reading, and tending to her plants. She especially loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She is survived by a son, Michael Higley of Hendersonville, Tenn.; a daughter, Kathy Del Toro of Pittsfield, Mass.; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Memorial information: Services will be held by the family at a later date. Donations may be made to KidsPLAYce, 20 Elliot St., Brattleboro, VT 05301. Condolences may be offered at www.kerwesterlund.com.
• Richard Edward “Dick” Knapp, 72, of Brattleboro. Died June 29 at home, after battling a long illness. He was born on March 1, 1945, in Greenfield, Mass., the son of the late Ray and Erma Knapp. He retired from Fibermark in Brattleboro in 2010 after 46 years of service. He loved fishing, traveling, repairing lawnmowers, and spending time with his grandsons. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Kathryn (Smith) Knapp; his children: David Knapp of Hinsdale, N.H., Floyd and Penny Knapp of Alburgh, Kevin and Rhonda Knapp of Brattleboro, and Heidi and Sam Clement of Vernon; his sister, Katherine Tatro, of Hinsdale, N.H.; two grandsons, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by a sister, Nadine Tedford. Memorial information: A celebration of his life was held on July 9 at American Legion Post 5 in Brattleboro. A graveside service at Pine Grove Cemetery in Winchester, N.H., will be announced at a later date. Donations to the American Cancer Society.
• Erika Maria Agnes Patch, 85, of Bellows Falls. Died July 2. Born in Berlin, Germany ,on March 18, 1932, the daughter of Willie and Frieda (Wurl) Klemrath, she attended school in Germany and worked as a private housekeeper. In 1975, in Germany, she married Robert Patch, who survives. Also surviving is her stepdaughter Judy Johnson and her husband Daniel; her grandchildren Chase and Ashlyn Johnson; her brother Ernst Klemrath; and her sisters Christa, Rosemarie, Anita, Sigrid, and Sabina. Memorial information: Per her wishes, there will be a private service at the convenience of the family.
• Wilfred J. “Will” Sheehan, 92, of Brattleboro. Died July 4 at Holton Home, where he had been a resident since 2012. Born in Clinton, Mass., on Oct. 21, 1924, the son of John J. and Leona (Lashua) Marine Sheehan, he was raised and educated in Springfield, Vt., graduating from Springfield High School. While in high school, he became a journeyman machinist, which later led to a full-time position with the former Fellows Gear Shaper Co. in Springfield. A proud veteran of World War II, he served his country in the Navy in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations, including the battle to capture the island of Saipan in 1944. Following his honorable discharge from active service, he returned home to attend the University of Vermont, graduating from UVM in 1953. After college, he worked for Jones & Lamson in Springfield for two years. In 1955, he took a position with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Soil Conservation Service. He worked 10 years in St. Johnsbury and 10 years in Randolph before moving to Brattleboro in 1976, working out of the Brattleboro office. He retired in 1986 following 30 years of faithful service with the USDA. He spent the summer of 1961 in Alaska, one of his more memorable assignments. In 1969, he married Joyce Gray Shepard, who predeceased him in 2013. A devout Catholic, he was a communicant of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro. With his wife, he loved square dancing and was a member of the Green Mountain Squares for 25 years and held several offices within the club. He was also active with the Windham County Chapter of AARP and the American Red Cross Blood bank in Brattleboro. He also enjoyed spending time at his hunting camp in Newbury with family and friends. He loved to hunt and was a member of the St. Johnsbury Rifle & Pistol Shooting Club. He is survived by a sister, Eileen Sandstrom of Littleton, Colo.; four stepdaughters, Judith Jacobson of West Barnstable, Mass., Jane Howe of Tunbridge, Sylvia Cooley of Leverett, Mass., and Sharon Sault of Randolph; seven grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. He was predeceased by four siblings. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held July 8 at St. Michael's Catholic Church, with burial in St. Michael's Parish Cemetery. Donations to the Holton Home, 158 Western Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301; or to St. Michael's School, 48 Walnut St. Brattleboro, VT 05301. To send messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Garrett W. Waterman, 18, of Springfield, Vt. Died unexpectedly in Bellows Falls on June 29. He was born on July 13, 1998, in Claremont, N.H., the son of Matthew W. and Mirinda L. (Wharton) Waterman. He attended Springfield High School, Bellows Falls Union High School, and U-32 High School in East Montpelier. He was employed as a welder and metal fabricator with Frank the Welder in Bellows Falls. He enjoyed motocross and was a history and geography buff. He is survived by his father Matthew Waterman and stepmother Justina; mother Mirinda Waterman and stepfather Chad Sanborn; two brothers, Damian Sanborn and Carter Waterman; one sister, Rylea Waterman; paternal grandparents, Ruth and Ernie Titus and Eben Waterman; step-maternal grandmother Louanne Wharton; and several aunts, uncles, and numerous cousins. He was predeceased by his maternal grandfather Clyde “Bill” Wharton and maternal grandmother Lydia Wharton. Memorial information: A celebration of life service was held on July 6 at Davis Memorial Chapel in Springfield.