College news
• Alexandra Harris of Bellows Falls was inducted into the Colby-Sawyer College chapter of Alpha Chi on Oct. 22. Harris is a member of the Class of 2019 majoring in sociology. Alpha Chi National Honor Society promotes academic excellence and exemplary character among college and university students. To be eligible for membership, a student must rank in the top 10 percent of the junior or senior class and demonstrate the Alpha Chi values of truth and character.
Obituaries
• Beverly Alberts, 89, of Brattleboro. Died Oct. 20. She was born in 1928 to Rose and Morris David in Newport, R.I., where she was raised amidst her seven siblings and developed her lifelong love of the ocean. She married Murray Alberts in 1949 and they lived in southern New Hampshire and the Boston area for 25 years. The marriage ended in divorce, although they remained friends until her ex-husband's death 10 years ago. In 1973, Beverly moved to Putney to complete her college education at Windham College and she lived in Putney, Westminster West, and Brattleboro for nearly the rest of her life, leaving only to receive a master's degree and to teach for several years at a community college in New York State. She found her true home for decades as a member of the All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church at West Village Meeting House congregation in West Brattleboro, where she was nourished spiritually and as a participant in a deeply caring community. She was active in the church and as a hospice volunteer. She was well known in the Brattleboro area as a great lover of and supporter of the arts, volunteering at Windham Arts Gallery and the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center and, for a time, representing individual artists in the region. She loved The Yellow Barn music series and appreciated the wealth of classical music available in Guilford and Marlboro as well. She was a seeker and took advantage of educational opportunities throughout her life. Survivors include daughter Lynne Beck and her husband Geoffrey Beck; daughter Laurie Alberts and husband Tom O'Neill; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two sisters; and myriad nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Her son, Charles Alberts, predeceased her. Memorial information: A memorial service at West Village Meeting House will occur at a later date. Donations to the All Souls UU Church at West Village Meeting House in West Brattleboro.
• Lester M. Chickering, 91, of Westmoreland, N.H. Died Oct. 22 at Maplewood Nursing Home in Westmorland. He was born at home in West Chesterfield, N.H., on Jan. 2, 1926, the son of Louis and Ida (Bennett) Chickering. He attended Kurn Hattin School in Westminster, Vermont and was a graduate of Brattleboro High School. He later attended Keene State College, majoring in power engineering. He proudly served his country in the Navy during World War II and was honorably discharged from active service in 1945. He then enlisted in the Army in 1949 and served during the Korean War, receiving a second honorable discharge at the rank of staff sergeant in 1953. He had been employed as a mechanic at Timken Super Precision in Keene, retiring in 1998 after 44 faithful years with the company. He also worked at the former American Optical Company in Brattleboro for 13 years and at Pittsburgh Plate Glass in Keene. He was a member of American Legion Post 5, VFW Carl M. Dessaint Post 1034, and the F.O. Eagles, Brattleboro Aerie #2445. He also was a member of both the Chesterfield and West Chesterfield Fire Departments for 44 years, serving as captain and was a constable for the town of Chesterfield for many years. A man of faith, he was a communicant of the former Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Chesterfield. In 1942, he married Edythe L. Giroux, who predeceased him. Survivors include two daughters, Marcia Knuepfer of Hinsdale, N.H., and Diana MacLeod of Chesterfield, seven grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Memorial information: Graveside committal services with full military honors were held Oct. 30 in Chesterfield West Cemetery. Donations to Maplewood Nursing Home Activities Fund, 201 River Rd., Westmoreland, NH 03467. To send messages of condolence to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Christopher Bradford Johnson, 45, formerly of Brattleboro. Died unexpectedly on Oct. 5 of natural causes in Portland, Ore. Born in New York City to Veronica E. (Waggoner) and Edward D. Johnson on Oct. 5, 1972, he spent his early years living in Brooklyn, N.Y. The family moved to Brattleboro when he was 12. Growing up, he excelled in school and loved baseball and skiing, and being on the debate team. In the summers of 1986 and 1987, he attended Camp Pemigewassett in New Hampshire and went on to become a counselor there for 5 years. He graduated from Haverford College in 1990 with a degree in economics, after which he worked at the Federal Reserve Bank in New York City for several years. He then obtained a law degree from Boston College Law School. In his usual unconventional way, to prepare for the law boards he spent the summer camping in national parks throughout the West. He practiced law for several years in Minneapolis, Minn., and then moved to Portland, where he worked in film distribution. He had many interests including riding his bike, baseball (he was an avid Yankees fan), writing short stories, and painting. He was known for his quick, clever sense of humor and was loved and respected by a wide circle of friends from all over the country. He was a loving son, nephew, cousin, and friend. He will be sorely missed. He was preceded in death by his father, Edward Johnson, and his grandparents. He is survived by his mother, Veronica Johnson of Brattleboro, his aunt, Jane LoMonaco, and his cousin, Marcia LoMonaco.
• Alan Lancaster, 75, of Saxtons River. Died at home in February after a long illness. Born Nov. 14, 1942 in New Haven, Conn., to Joan “Joanne” Oak and Stephen Lancaster, Alan, known also as “Steve,” resided in New York City and Long Valley, N.J., before moving to Saxtons River in 1973. He graduated from St. Bernard's School in Gladstone, N.J., studied at Johns Hopkins University, Rutgers University, and received his teaching certification from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He taught English at Pequannock Township High School in Morris County, N.J., and at Springfield (Vt.) High School before joining the faculty of Leland & Gray Union High School in Townshend in 1976 where he taught English, history, and social studies for 10 years. Later, he taught ethics and history as a fill-in instructor at Vermont Academy and English, at Bellows Falls Union High School, while operating, with his wife, his mother's business, producing Scand-Oil. He married his Leland & Gray colleague, Constance Ranney Frederick on Dec. 16, 1978, in Newfane, and they celebrated their wedding anniversary, on Beethoven's birthday, for 38 years. His pursuits and talents were extensively documented through his skills as a writer and photographer. He was active in multiple sports, including horse jumping, auto racing, and motor-cross in his younger years. He took up skiing with his son as a parent volunteer for the local elementary school winter sports program and became a ski instructor at Okemo. He was an avid fisherman for whom the Connecticut River became his go-to place to unwind while fishing from canoes and small boats, including wooden boats he built himself. For years, he ran the Saxtons River Recreation Area children's fishing derby. His Nikon F camera was ever-present, and he was known for sharing the photos he took at races, schools, and local sporting and community events. He combined many of these interests together with his passion for politics in his weekly newspaper columns that ran in the Valley Times Journal from 1994 through 1997. He will be remembered for his devotion to family, dedication to teaching and learning, his intelligence, wit and eloquence, his BMWs and his lifelong affection for collies. He enjoyed classical music, especially Prokofiev. He loved language, spoken and written and could discuss art, literature, philosophy, politics, fishing, sports cars and more with enthusiasm and understanding. He knew how to tell a lively story, and had a boundless supply of stories to tell, anywhere, anytime, to any willing listener. His voice is greatly missed. Predeceased by his parents and infant brother, he is survived by his wife Constance, children Christopher Lancaster (Jessica Anne White) of Reading, Vt., and Sarah Frederick (Christopher Lehrich) of Sherborn, Mass., three grandchildren and his stepmother, Ellen Whitman of Albuquerque, N.M. Memorial information: Friends are invited to celebrate his life on Nov. 4, at noon, at the Saxtons River Inn. Donations to The Connecticut River Conservancy (www.ctriver.org), the Saxtons River Recreation Area, P.O. Box 243, Saxtons River, VT 05154, or Collie Rescue of New England.
• Clayton Maris Stowell, 76, of Kansas City, Mo. Died Oct. 24 after a brief, courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Born Nov. 16, 1940 in Brattleboro, he graduated from Leland & Gray Seminary before enlisting in the Air Force. His love of travel led him to a 33-year career with TWA in Boston and Kansas City, then seven years with Midwest Airlines. He enjoyed taking care of others by being active with Hillside Christian Church's Hope.wrx Backsnack and food pantry program, as well as cooking for UPLIFT homeless ministry. He was preceded in death by his wife Donna; parents George and Della Stowell; and brother Roy Stowell. He is survived by daughters Dorothy Beckham (Chris) and Carrie Stowell; three grandchildren; siblings Irvin Stowell, Walter Stowell (Vicki), and Catherine Howland (Phil), as well as several nieces and nephews. Memorial information: A funeral service took place in Kansas City, with burial on Oct. 30 at Leavenworth National Cemetery. Donations to the Hillside Christian Church food pantry, 900 NE Vivion Rd., Kansas City, MO 64118.
• Olive I. Temple, 86, of Putney. Died Oct. 20 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, following a period of declining health. Born in Pottersdale, Pa. on Dec. 23, 1930, the daughter of Bruce and Theona (Lucas) Wooster, she was raised and educated in Pottersdale, then graduated from Nyack (N.Y.) College where she earned her B.A. in Christian education. In 1958, she married Francis E. Temple and served as secretary of the family business, Temple Plumbing & Heating, for many years. She was a faithful and devoted homemaker whose life centered around her family. Steadfast in her walk of faith, she was a longtime member of the Green Mountain Chapel in Brattleboro where she served as Bible study leader, Sunday School teacher, deaconess, and church librarian for many years. She was known for her kindness, a sweet spirit of friendship, her cheerful personality and beautiful smile. Her grandchildren fondly call her “Sassy.” She enjoyed working in her flower and vegetable gardens, shopping and yard sales. She loved taking day trips with her husband and eating out. She loved time shared with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Besides her loving husband of 59 years, she leaves two sons, Bradley Temple and Dale Temple, both of Putney, one daughter, Marcia Rothra of Raleigh, N.C., seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by three brothers, Norman, Donald and Warren Wooster. Memorial information: A celebration of her life was held Oct. 28 at Green Mountain Chapel in Brattleboro, with burial in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Putney. Donations to the Putney Volunteer Fire Department First Response Squad, P.O. Box 875, Putney, VT 05346, or to The Green Mountain Chapel, 480 Western Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301. To send messages of condolence to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
Services
• Services for Bruce Corwin, a long-time music teacher in Brattleboro and founder/director emeritus of the American Legion Band in town, take place Thursday, Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. at the First Congregational Church in West Brattleboro. Reception to follow at the American Legion Brattleboro Post 5, 32 Linden St., Brattleboro.