College news
• Hayley Cartwright of Brattleboro, a first-year student at the University of Tampa (Fla.), was named to the Dean's List for the fall 2017 semester. She is majoring in entrepreneurship, with a minor in marketing.
Transitions
• The membership of the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) elected Gordon Faison, Charles Mallory, and Dick Thall to the museum's Board of Trustees at the annual meeting of the museum's members on March 6. Faison graduated from Williams College, where his father, Lane Faison, was a legendary professor of art history. Faison and his wife, Eleanora Patterson, joined the BMAC Board of Trustees in 2010 and served two three-year terms each. Mallory co-founded one of the nation's leading shipping brokerage firms, Stamford, Conn.-based MJLF Associates. He later founded Greenwich Hospitality Group, which now owns and operates several award-winning boutique hotels and restaurants, including the Four Columns Inn in Newfane. Thall is a retired orthodontist and connoisseur of contemporary American fine art photography. Thall joined the BMAC Board of Trustees in 2011 and served two consecutive three-year terms.
Obituaries
• A. Peter Benware, 82, of Hooksett, N.H., formerly of Brattleboro. Died March 19, 2018 at Catholic Medical Center, following a brief illness. He was born in Brattleboro, son of Leon J. and Gladys A. (Labatt) Benware. He was educated in Brattleboro before joining the Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He owned and operated West River Paint and Wallpaper Center in Brattleboro for many years. He loved being outdoors. He enjoyed fishing, and hunting big game in Montana and Vermont. He enjoyed Sunday drives with his family and antique cars. He liked organic gardening, telling jokes, and playing cards. Above all, he enjoyed spending time with his family. Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Maureen A. (Paquette) Benware; five daughters, Jane Ballou of Templeton, Mass., Pamela Colman of South Paris, Maine, Shelly Mattson of Marlboro, N.H., Davita LeClerc of Hooksett, and Christine Blezard of Lee, N.H.; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by one sister, Doris Ann Momaney. Memorial information: Burial with military honors took place on March 26 at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen.
• Leslie Lynn Dancosse, 56, formerly of Saxtons River. Died suddenly at home in Farmingville, N.Y., on March 13, 2018. Born in Willimantic, Conn., on May 27, 1961, to Henry and Sandra Dancosse, her family moved to Saxtons River in 1974. She graduated from Bellows Falls Union High School in 1979. She was an accomplished professional dog handler and breeder. Under the guidance of her parents, she started in the business of showing German Shepherds while still in high school. They apparently taught her well, as she soon became one of the top breeders and handlers in the German Shepherd world. She was a regular exhibitor at the annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. At the time of her death, she co-owned and operated MARDAN German Shepherds in Farmingville with her partner, Sue Condreras. Leslie was well respected by her peers and the American Kennel Club (AKC) for her contributions to the German Shepherd breed, as well as to the dog community in general. She had a passion for all the young handlers who represented the future of the GSD community. She never hesitated to reach out to mentor these young handlers to help mold them into strong, capable, accomplished young adults. She herself, never forgot what it was like to be a young girl in the big ring and got most of her joy out of helping others become great handlers. In 2015, she received the coveted Lamar Kuhns award, which recognizes outstanding presentation and grooming of dogs and creating of good will for German Shepherd Dogs. In addition to her partner, she is survived by her mother Sandra J. Dancosse of Bellows Falls; her brother David Dancosse and wife, Michele, of North Westminster; and her niece Trista Lynn Brown and husband, Matt, of Saxtons River. She was predeceased by her father, Henry J. Dancosse, and grandmother Myrtle “Cookie” Chappell. Memorial information: A celebration of her life was held March 24 at Forrester Maher Funeral Home in Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
• Andrew Brian Louis Hale, 12, of Brattleboro. Died at home unexpectedly on March 12, 2018. He was born in Brattleboro on May 17, 2005, the son of Justin L. Hale and Crystal M. Willard. He attended Guilford Central School and Green Street School, and had been attending Brattleboro Area Middle School. He enjoyed basketball, football, bowling, and skateboarding, and skiing with his classmates at school.He was a fan of the Chicago Bulls, Green Bay Packers, and Boston Red Sox. He made friends with every animal he came in contact with. His favorite color was blue and he loved popcorn. Andrew also enjoyed video games, laughing and making others laugh, and collecting bottles and cans to return them and donate the money to the Windham County Humane Society. He also loved spending time with his friends and family. He very much loved music, playing the drums, guitar and briefly played the clarinet. Survivors include his mother, Crystal M. Willard, and his father, Justin L. Hale, both of Brattleboro; two sisters, Shaeleigh Willard of Brattleboro and Jasmyn Hale of Concord, Vt.; a brother, Alexxander LaBounty of Brattleboro; his maternal grandfather, Brian “Bump Bump” LaBounty of Guilford, VT and maternal grandmother, Jodi Clement of Hinsdale, N.H.; his paternal grandmother Lisbeth Gee of New Hampshire; maternal great-grandfather Jerome Clement, Sr. of Hinsdale and paternal great-grandmother, Rosemary “Nona” Haselton of Brattleboro; and several aunts and uncles, cousins, and great aunts and uncles. Memorial information: A spring burial will be held at the convenience of the family. Contributions to assist the family with expenses may be made to Brian LaBounty, 214 Trailer Park Drive, Guilford, VT 05301. The Ker Phaneuf Funeral Home and Crematorium in Brattleboro is in charge of arrangements. To view Andrew's online tribute, send condolences to the family, or for more information, visit www.phaneuf.net.
• David J. Harty, 29, of Bellows Falls. Died unexpectedly on March 19, 2018. Born March 20, 1988 in Santa Cruz, Calif., the son of Randy and Veronica (Gruenberg) Harty, he was a 2006 graduate of Leland & Gray High School. Officer Harty joined the Vermont Department of Corrections on March 10, 2014 as a correctional officer, graduating with the 126th class of the Vermont Correctional Academy. He became a member of the local emergency response team Oct. 3, 2014 and was part of the Alert Team. He was a member of Flex Fitness, where he worked out every day and participated regularly in spin classes and kick boxing. He was also a member of Team AMA, having earned a blue belt in Jiu Jitsu. He was an amazing uncle, spending time with his nieces and nephew and taking them to sporting events. He was a hardworking team player, affectionately called “Lurch” by his co-workers because of his size. He was a gentle giant who would give you the shirt off his back. He is survived by his mother Veronica of Bellows Falls; his foster mother Pauline Casanova of Newfane; his newborn daughter Adelina Harty; his sisters Elisabeth Harty of Nashua, N.H., and Christa Harty of Bellows Falls; his grandmother Joan Harty of Barre, Mass; his aunts and uncles Susan and Michael Larose and Christopher Harty of Barre, Mass.; four nieces, one nephew, and several cousins. He is predeceased by his father. Memorial information: A funeral service was held March 28 at the United Church in Bellows Falls, with burial to follow in the Oak Hill Cemetery.
• Erin Whitney Thomas, 42, of Mount Pleasant, S.C. Died on Feb. 6, 2018 at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, from injuries suffered after a fall. She was born Oct. 9, 1975 in Burlington, Vt., to David and Jane M. LaMarche of Fort Myers, Fla., formerly of Brattleboro. Erin married John Michael Thomas in 2008, and had been employed by Global Financial Services, U.S. State Department in North Charleston, S.C., as well as Dunes West Golf Club since 2006. She graduated from Rice Memorial High School in Burlington in 1993 and St. Michael's College in Colchester in 1999. She pursued additional graduate studies at Boston University School of Theology and was in the thesis stage for a Masters of Psychology at The Citadel in Charleston. She was a local and global volunteer since childhood including OLM Outreach on Johns Island, the Sisters of St. Joseph ministries in Boston, and international service in Russia. She was an avid swimmer, cyclist, runner and world traveler. She was a blood donor with the American Red Cross and an organ donor with the New England Donor Service. Erin is survived by her parents, her spouse, eight siblings - Kateri, Anthony, Nicole, Megan, Kyle, Dana, Nathan, and Eben; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother, Andrew. Memorial information: A memorial service took place on March 3 in Mount Pleasant. Interment will be at the convenience of the family in Springfield, Vt. Donations to Brigham and Women's Hospital, 116 Huntington Ave., 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02116.
• Florence A. “Flo” Wilson, 65, of Wilmington. Died March 20, 2018 at the Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center following an extended illness. The daughter of Henry and Margaret (Harpootlian) Morgan, she was born in Bennington on February 1, 1952. She received her education in Wilmington, graduating from Wilmington High School with the Class of 1971. Flo had worked at The Book Press in Brattleboro and as a self-employed housekeeper. For the past several years, she has worked alongside her longtime companion of 25 years, Eugene “Sonny” Gates, as the manager and bookkeeper of Sonny's Cup & Saucer and C&S Store. She enjoyed crafts especially making cards and stamping. An avid candlepin bowler, she bowled at the North Star Bowl and King's Bowling Alley, where she was featured on a television show. In earlier years, she enjoyed fishing and had always loved playing Bingo. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary of Wilmington, and she and Sonny were honored for their contributions to the community as recipients of the Wilmington Citizenship Award. In addition to Sonny, she leaves her son, Donald Wilson, and his wife, Alexandra, of Heath, Mass.; daughter Wendi Wilson of Philadelphia; and stepdaughter Jen Labadie of New Hampshire; brother Nishon Morgan and his wife Katy of Dummerston; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her brothers Michael, John and Harry Morgan. Memorial information: Calling hours will be held at the Covey, Allen & Shea Funeral Home on Saturday, March 31, from 5 to 7 p.m. Services will be held in the spring with burial in the family lot in Riverview Cemetery. Donations to the Deerfield Valley Rescue or Wilmington Fire Department, in care of Covey Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363. Also, the family and the Cup & Saucer will be holding a pancake breakfast by donation in Flo's memory on Saturday, April 21, at the Dover Town Hall, beginning at 9 a.m. Join them in celebrating her life of generosity and sharing your fond memories over breakfast. Donations will go to support local services and charities that were near and dear to Flo's heart. To send personal condolences, visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.