College news
• The following local students were named to the Dean's List at the University of Vermont for the fall 2017 semester: Cornelia Cating of Londonderry, Simon Bupp-Chickering of Saxtons River, Sebastian Wu of Saxtons River, Allegra Wu of Saxtons River, Seth Wilkins of South Londonderry, Zachary Streeter of Westminster, Giannina Gaspero-Beckstrom of Guilford, Colby McGinn of Brattleboro, Eve Pomazi of Brattleboro, Isabel Stewart of Brattleboro, Everest Witman of Brattleboro, Stephen Scott of Jamaica, Kira Boucher of Putney, Eben Collins of Putney, Baxter Cragin of Putney, Olivia Diorio of Putney, Sylvie Littledale of Putney, Cullen Paradis of Putney, Caroline Merkle of Vernon, Kyla Lavoy of Wilmington, Clayton Sanderson of West Townshend, Kira McCloskey of Wilmington, Andrew Hollar of Bellows Falls, Jacquelyn Nutter of South Londonderry, Roxanna Daims of Brattleboro, Sophie Zimmerman of Guilford, Eden Hubert of East Dover, Olivia Reilly of West Townshend, Ian Minearo of West Wardsboro, Caitlin Hunt of Wilmington, and Ana Taylor of Wilmington.
• Madison Derosia, a sports management major from Brattleboro, and Natalie Lam, a forensic science major from South Londonderry, were both named to the Dean's List at the University of New Haven for the fall 2017 semester.
• The following local students were named to the Dean's List at the University of New England for the fall 2017 semester: Anthony D. Mueller of Bellows Falls, Bridget F. Duff of Brattleboro, Kaleigh O. Orsucci of Grafton, and Quinn D. Lawrence of Saxtons River.
• Preston Stachelek of Stratton was named to the University of Rhode Island Dean's List for the fall 2017 semester.
• Jacob Metcalfe of Bellows Falls was named to the Dean's List for the fall 2017 semester at Emmanuel College in Boston.
• The following local students were named to the Dean's List at Johnson State College: Quinn Lambert and Mikayla Weinzierl of Bellows Falls, Victoria Higley of Brattleboro, Haley Frechette of Dummerston, and Ellen Boles of Wilmington.
• Zephyr Pope-Mcgraw of Brattleboro and Nathaniel Tyler of Brattleboro were both named to the Dean's List at the Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I., for the fall 2017 semester.
School news
• The following local students were recognized for academic achievements during the fall 2017 semester at Northfield Mount Hermon School: Lillian Alice Richards of Brattleboro, Lars Eric Andrews of Halifax, and Kimberly Michelle Tian Amidon of Vernon earned high academic honors, while Leah Sutton-Smith of Brattleboro, Michaela Sophia Lawyer of Brattleboro, and Suzanna Patricia Toledo Cornman of Brattleboro earned academic honors.
Obituaries
• Volitia “Litty” Elliott, 82, of Marlboro. Died Jan. 15, 2018 at Thompson House Nursing Home in Brattleboro. Born in Marlboro on Sept. 28, 1935, the daughter of the late Harold and Alice (Snow) Whitney, she attended local schools and graduated from Wilmington High School as Valedictorian of the Class of 1953. That year, she married Bob Elliott. She worked as a bookkeeper in her husband's business for many years, and also served as Town Treasurer and School Director in Marlboro. The Elliotts were members of the Green Mountain Squares Dancing Club for years, and they both loved traveling. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and sewing, and cherished times spent with her family. In addition to her husband of nearly 65 years, she is survived by her children Robert Elliott and his wife, MaryAnn, of Orlando, Fla., David Elliott and his friend Lisa of Marlboro, and Melinda Coombs and her husband, Bill, of Jacksonville; her sister Margaret Crafts of Springfield, Mass.; and six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Katherine Dix, and her brother, Harold Whitney Jr. Memorial information: Graveside funeral services will be announced later in the spring. Donations to the Alzheimer's Association, in care of Covey-Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363.
• Pastor Ronald Stephen Getchell, 83, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died Jan. 18, 2018 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital after a period of declining health. Born on Jan. 2, 1935 in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada, to Hector Leroy and Carolyn Alwida (Campbell) Getchell, he graduated from St. Stephen High School in 1952. He went on to graduate from Zion Bible Institute in 1961. In 1958, he married Erma Thelma Marie Hill. He served as a pastor for most of his life and retired from North Hinsdale Community Church. He is survived by a daughter, Carolynne (David) Seiffert of Hinsdale; a son, Stephen (Sophia) Getchell of Pittsburgh, Pa.; four grandchildren and three sisters, Beverley Cosman of Fredericton, N.B.; Tina Beausoleil of Fredericton, N.B. and Carole Waye of Cobourg, Ontario. He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, his parents, and siblings Eric Hector Getchell and Eleanor Grace (Getchell) Laslie. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Jan. 22 at Whetstone Church in Brattleboro. Burial in Oaklawn Cemetery in Hinsdale will take place in the springtime. Donations to the National MPS Society, P.O. Box 14686, Durham, NC 27709-4686. To sign an online guestbook with messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Nancy Lois Kelley, 82, of West Brattleboro. Died January 15, 2018 at her home, following a brief illness. Born in Brattleboro on Dec, 26, 1935, the daughter of Erwin H. and Marion (Ainsworth) Johnson, she was raised in Brattleboro and attended public schools, including Brattleboro High School. Throughout the years, she worked at several Brattleboro area businesses that included Dunkin' Donuts on Main Street, the former Green Door Restaurant on Upper Canal Street, and the Brooks House. She also waitressed at the Putney Diner and worked at AMP Keyboards on Cotton Mill Hill. Most importantly, she was a faithful and devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She enjoyed vacation trips and visits to the coast of Maine, liked playing video games and time shared with her family. For many years, she devoted much of her time taking care of her youngest son, who is handicapped and currently a resident at Thompson House Nursing Home. In 1958, she married Richard W. Kelley, who predeceased her in 2012. Survivors include three sons, Alfred of Manchester, N.H., Richard, Jr. of Westminster, and Todd of Brattleboro; two daughters, Katherine of Dayton, Fla., and Charlotte of West Brattleboro; one brother, Thomas Johnson of Dummerston; and a sister, Barbara Howe of Hinsdale, N.H. Additionally, she leaves 19 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a daughter, Amy Murray. Memorial information: A graveside committal service will be conducted on Saturday, May 5, in Locust Ridge Cemetery in Brattleboro at a time to be announced in the springtime. Donations to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302.
• Jean Helen Letterio-Anderson, 57, of Dummerston. Died Jan. 1, 2018 at her home. Born in Brookline, Mass., on Aug. 10, 1960, the daughter of John E. and Geraldine R. (Lombardi) Letterio, Jr., she was raised and educated in Watertown, Mass., and graduated from Watertown High School, Class of 1978. She was a secretary for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, working out of the Hadley, Mass., office. She began her career with the agency at age 16 and retired in 2013 following 35 years of faithful and devoted service. She loved the outdoors, camping, and trips to the beach. She was an avid reader with Stephen King her favorite author. She held a deep love of dogs especially her beloved pets, Angus, Spirit, and Jingle. She was known to be somewhat of a shy person, but will be remembered for her caring and warm heart and spirit of friendship. In 2003, she was married Charles A. Anderson, Jr. who predeceased her in 2013. Survivors include stepdaughters Jaime Behmke and her husband Gary of Beacon Falls, Conn., and Stacy Lovern and her husband, Jesse, of Peachtree Corners, Ga. Additionally, she leaves a host of friends in the Brattleboro and Hadley areas. Memorial information: In keeping with her final wishes, there are no formal funeral services planned. She will be buried beside her husband in Wilder Cemetery on Rice Farm Road in Dummerston. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302.
• Timothy James O'Connor Jr., 81, of Brattleboro. Died on Jan. 16, 2018, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. The first modern Democrat to be elected speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives, he was born on Dec. 13, 1936, in Brattleboro, son of Timothy J. and Agnes (Gilbo) O'Connor Sr. He graduated from St. Michael's High School in Brattleboro in 1954, College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., in 1958 and Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., in 1961, the same year he attended President John F. Kennedy's inauguration. He married Martha Elizabeth Hannum of Putney in 1961, and, last year, they celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary. Admitted to the Vermont Bar Association in 1961, he worked as a lawyer for a half-century - and as a municipal court judge early in his career - until his retirement in 2011. First elected to the Vermont House in 1968, O'Connor won election in 1975 as the first modern Democrat to serve as its speaker, even though Republicans held a slight majority of the 150-member chamber. He won 77 votes with a campaign seeking “cooperation rather than confrontation.” He was re-elected to two more speaker's terms in 1977 and 1979 before leaving the Legislature in 1980. Returning to Brattleboro, he served in a variety of volunteer capacities, including town moderator for more than two decades until stepping down in 2013. Survivors include his wife; a son, Kevin O'Connor of Brattleboro; two daughters, Kate O'Connor of Brattleboro and Kerry (Robert) Amidon of Vernon; three grandchildren, Daniel, David and Jacob Amidon of Vernon; and a brother, W. Brian O'Connor of Amherst, Mass. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Jan. 20 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro. Donations to the St. Brigid's Kitchen renovation fund, in care of St. Michael's Catholic Church, 47 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301. Arrangements were handled by Atamaniuk Funeral Home of Brattleboro.
• Mark Pluff, 56, of Jamaica. Died Jan. 13, 2018. The beloved son of Mary and the late Robert E. Pluff, he leaves his wife, Joanne, and their daughter, Grace, of Grafton. He also is survived by his siblings James Pluff of Colorado, Brian Pluff of Nantucket, Mass., and Christopher Pluff and his wife, Kelley, of Newfane, Ann-Marie Plank of Charlotte, Vt., and Elizabeth Cipolla and her husband Donald of Torrington, Conn. He attended Bement School in Deerfield, Mass., and Stratton Mountain School in Stratton, before graduating from Leland & Gray Union High School in 1980. He was very good with his hands and was an experienced carpenter. He worked for various contractors in the area, including his friend Scott Velsur, for many years. He loved skiing until knee injuries kept him off the slopes and he was excited that his daughter Grace was learning to ski on his home mountain of Stratton. They had many lively discussions about skiing on the mountain during the ski season. He loved muscle cars and his first love was his 1970 Pontiac GTO. He loved attending local car shows including the Manchester Car Show. His eyes lit up when he saw a classic muscle car in perfect condition. He took pleasure watching sports, including football and the Patriots. However, hockey was his passion. He loved the Boston Bruins and had recently begun to familiarize his daughter with the Bruins history and teach her all aspects of the game. In later years, he began to play golf and was on the Stratton Golf League for some years. He also enjoyed playing pool and was part of the Brattleboro Pool League for many years. He was a great player and valued the technical aspects of the game. Always willing to share his knowledge of the game, he spent many happy evenings playing pool at the West Townshend Village Café with his friends. He loved rock and roll, and nothing made him happier than to blast his music loud and hang out with his friends. He enjoyed listening to music with his daughter and immersed her in it from a very early age. Many of his friends remember the “House on the Hill” that he lived in with his brother, Topher, and later with Joanne. Many people remember playing pool and fuzz ball there late into the night. He loved the galley kitchen at the house and was a “Master of the Grill.” Many fun days and nights were spent with good food, spirits, and friends, as well as one of the most creative croquet courses ever seen. Those times will live on in the memory of Joanne and all his many friends. He was honest and you always knew where you stood with him. He had some hard struggles over the last decade, and his love for his daughter was a strong motivator in his hard-fought efforts in the last five years to overcome those struggles. Joanne was his rock and support system that was always there for him. To make Mark laugh was a great experience; he appreciated dry wit and was known to be a great storyteller himself with a life of accumulated adventures to regale you with. Memorial information: A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, Jan. 27, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the NewBrook Fire Department in Newfane. Donations may be made to Grace Pluff, in care of River Valley Credit Union, P.O. Box 8366, North Brattleboro, VT 05304.