College news
• The following local students are now members of the Class of 2022 at Castleton University: Haley Brown of South Newfane, Kyle Derosia of Vernon, Lucy Lawlor of Saxtons River, Jenner Lyman of Grafton, Benjamin Nelson-Betz of Dummerston, and Jordan Wright of Brattleboro.
• Ellis Oliver of West Marlboro is enrolled at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., as part of the Class of 2022.
Obituaries
• Jane (Waldron) Ambler, 86, of Sebec, Maine. Died unexpectedly at home on Aug. 24, 2018. Born in New Brunswick, N.J., on April 9, 1932, the daughter of Jerome H. and Anita Mary (Blake) Waldron, she was educated at Annabel School, Hamilton School. and Highland Park High School, graduating in 1949. She attended two years with Class of 1953 at New Jersey College for Women, now known as Douglass College. She and Donald A. Ambler were married in 1951 and their honeymoon was spent at the Ambler camp in Bowerbank, Maine. They first had an apartment in New Britain, Conn,, while Don was employed with Stanley Tools. Then they moved back to the New Brunswick area and a home in Wynnwood in Piscataway, N.J. Jane served as a dental assistant for her brother-in-law, Walter W. Ambler, DDS, in Highland Park for 10 years, during which time she studied and earned her certification for dental assisting. Their daughters, Jenifer and Brenda, were born in 1961 and 1963. Vacations were spent at Sebec Lake, as well as many long weekends. In January 1964, they moved to Maine year round, first renting the first floor of a home on Lincoln Street, then owning a home on Winter Street, both in Dover-Foxcroft, and then building a house in Sebec in 1973. She was employed as a medical secretary part time for several years for Dr. Lloyd Van Lunen in the Mayo Medical Offices, and for 40 years she was a loyal volunteer, holiday decorator, and brownie baker at the cancer clinic at Mayo Regional Hospital. Survivors include her husband of Sebec; her daughter, Dr. Jenifer W. Ambler, of Guilford; granddaughter Katherine “Kate” Anne Maisner, of Guilford; sister, Marcia W. Dunne of Unionville, Conn.; six nieces, two nephews, and a sister in law, Roberta Ambler of Monroe Township, NJ. She was predeceased by her parents; a daughter, Brenda W. Ambler; son-in-law Thomas P. Maisner; and a sister, Sara W. Bassett. Memorial information: A memorial honoring her life will be scheduled at a later date. Burial will be private in the family plot in Sebec Corner Cemetery. Donations to the Tracy Hibbard Kasprzak Cancer Treatment Center, Mayo Regional Hospital, 897 West Main St., Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426, or Pine Tree Hospice, 883 West Main St., Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426. Messages of condolence and memories may be expressed at www.laryfuneralhome.com.
• Cheryl Martha (Martin) Cook, 72, of Jamaica. Died Aug. 28, 2018 at her home. She was born on Sept. 1, 1945 in Brattleboro to Winchester and Sybil (Ellis) Martin. In 1964, she married her high school sweetheart, Theodore L. Cook, and they have faithfully remained by each other's side for 54 years. She enjoyed managing a small cheese shop and lunch counter and was a volunteer social worker serving as a mentor to unwed teen mothers. She also worked as a LNA at Linden Lodge Nursing Home for close to 20 years. She had an unwavering faith in Jesus Christ and had been active in church for many years and she loved being a Sunday school teacher. She deeply loved her brothers and sisters, and was totally devoted to her family. She always set time aside to make special memories with each of her children and grandchildren. She truly enjoyed the simple things in life and encouraged others to do the same. Some of her favorite things were soft serve ice cream, maple candy, and wildflowers. Her face always lit up whenever a child handed her a handpicked dandelion. Some of her precious treasures included homemade gifts and cards, her family Bible which she stuffed with little glimpses of her life, books that she'd “pass on” to others, and mementos from her various “adventures.” She loved walking on the beach in Maine and was often caught just gazing up at the beauty of the sky. Cheryl affected many lives, teaching them not just with her words but with her actions. She always rooted for the underdog and gave everyone the benefit of the doubt. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Mary, and her brothers, Butch and Preston Martin. She is survived by her husband and their children, Laura (Cook) Rowe and her husband, Hank, Ellen (Cook) Moore and her husband, Michael, Brian Cook and his wife, Diana, and Ernest Holder. She is also survived by her siblings, Kit Martin, Deborah Johnson, Cindy Martin, and Carlotta Woodruff, as well as her six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Memorial information: A graveside service for family and friends was held Sept. 2 at West Cemetery in Athens.
• Dorothy Fair Egbert, 91, of Brattleboro. Died Aug. 29, 2018 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Born on June 3, 1927 in Philadelphia to the late Anna (Girvin) and Louis Glatthorn, she was born and raised in the Kensingston section of Philadelphia and graduated from Kensington High School. After high school, she attended some college, and also worked different jobs, including stints at Tastykake bakery and at a butcher shop. She was the youngest of nine children. She was predeceased by sisters Anna Tucker and Lorna Farmer, and her brothers Edward, Frederick, Bruce, Daniel, Allan, and Louis Glatthorn. She was always “Baby Dorothy” to her brothers and sisters. After all of her siblings died, she sometimes called herself the “The Last of the Mohicans.” In 1948 she married her husband, Nelson Egbert, and they were married for more than 50 years before his death. He always called her Dolly. In 1957 the family moved from Philadelphia to Bennington for a short while, and then to Eagle Bridge, N.Y. Her husband Nelson was the minister of the Center White Creek Baptist Church, and they both served the congregation for 13 years. In 1971, the family moved to Brattleboro, where Dorothy worked for a couple of years at two local restaurants. She then worked overnights for 28 years at Holton Memorial Home, where she cared for the residents, primarily by herself. Her indomitable spirit was shown one night when an intruder entered the building through a back second floor window. Dorothy was well-read and used a line from a P.G. Wodehouse novel to ask him to allow her to escort him to the front door. He did. She greeted life with zest and had an amazing sense of humor and wit. She was known for her witty comebacks, and once explained the art of conversation to a family member as, “it's just like when someone tosses you a ball, you just toss it back.” Dorothy was a lover of literature and learning. She was a voracious reader and a natural writer. She was a poet and was also known for her love of reciting poetry and Bible verses. She was able to pull up a poem or Bible verse from memory for any occasion. She was also a prolific letter-writer, and corresponded with many people over the years. Many said they would hold onto her witty and joyful letters. She passed this love of writing to her family, including her daughter, Barbara, who was also an accomplished poet. Dorothy was always on the go - out for coffee, walking downtown, or looking for treasures at yard sales and flea markets. In later years, she and her husband had a small cabin in the woods in Williamsville, where she loved to go spend the day. Dorothy was a member, and at one time a deacon, at First Congregational Church of Hinsdale, N.H. She loved singing and knew many hymns by heart. Dorothy cherished her family and had a deep and abiding love for her husband and all of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was always so proud of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren's accomplishments; she was their biggest fan. And they were hers. Dorothy was predeceased in death by her husband in 2001, her grandson Drew in 2015, and her daughter Barbara in 2016. She is survived by her son, Nelson Jr., and his wife Jade of Arlington, Va,; her daughter Joan Egbert of Brattleboro; her son James Egbert and his wife, Jennifer, of Baltimore, Md.; her daughter Anne Larnard and her husband, Dick, of Amesbury, Mass., her son-in-law David Benoit of Hinsdale, and her daughter-in-law Jennie Benoit of Hinsdale. She is also survived by eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Memorial information: A memorial service was held Sept. 2 at First Congregational Church in Hinsdale.
• Sally Joyce May, 77, of Brattleboro. Died Aug. 27, 2018, surrounded by family after a hard-fought battle with cancer. She was born April 26, 1941 in Johnstown, Pa., to Fred and Ruth Edwards. She married George Thomas May in 1960 and raised two children. She was totally dedicated to her children in all aspects of their lives. She lived in Brattleboro since 1971. Sally is survived by her husband; her daughter, Laura May-Scott and her husband, Theo, of Manassas, Va.; her son, Thomas May and his wife, Janice, of West Chesterfield, N.H.; and six siblings, Gary, Fred, Jon, Donna, Sandy, and Sue. Memorial information: A celebration of Sally's life will be held at a later date. Donations to Cheshire Medical Center or the Monadnock Humane Society.
• Lester W. “Pete” Powers Sr., 89, of Marlboro. Died Aug. 23, 2018 at Thompson House in Brattleboro, where he had been a resident since February. Born at home in South Newfane on Feb. 13, 1929, the son of Leon and Jenny (Stratton) Powers, he was raised and educated in South Newfane, where he attended public school. In 1945, he started with the Brattleboro Public Works Department, and worked there for 50 years until his retirement in August 1995. For most of that time, he was a grader operator. Recently, he was asked if he thought he still could operate a grader and, without missing a beat responded, “Absolutely!” A true lover of nature, he enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman. His hunting buddies fondly referred to him as “One Shot Pete.” He also enjoyed spending time on the family farm, taking day trips on the back roads of Windham County, and time shared with his family. In 1950, he was married to Winifred Lavalley, who predeceased him in 1966. Survivors include three sons, Lester Powers, Jr. and his wife Martina of Pinellas Park, Fla., James Powers of Tucson, Ariz., and Timothy Powers of Marlboro; four grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by one son, Jeffrey Powers, who died in 2012; and two sisters and three brothers. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Aug. 29 at Atamaniuk Funeral Home in Brattleboro, with Fr. Justin Baker, pastor of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church. officiating. After a procession down Main Street led by several DPW vehicles, Mr. Powers was buried in St. Michael's Parish Cemetery, where he was laid to rest next to his wife. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302, or to the Thompson House Activities Fund, 80 Maple St., Brattleboro, VT 05301. To sign an online register book with messages of condolence to the Powers family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Helen P. Secrest, 87, of Brattleboro. Died peacefully Aug. 26, 2018, with her children at her bedside. She was kind, generous, accomplished, and well-loved. Born Helen Pietrowski, she grew up with German immigrant parents in Moreland Hills, an eastern suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. After graduating from Orange High School in 1949 as the valedictorian of her class, she went on to receive a diploma in nursing from St. Luke's Hospital in Cleveland. She later received a B.S. in Nursing degree from Teachers College, Columbia University. Helen worked as a pediatric nurse at St. Luke's Hospital, then moved to Boston and worked at Children's Medical Center. She later worked at what was then the Boston Lying-In Hospital (now Brigham and Women's) for the National Institute of Health-sponsored Collaborative Perinatal Research Project, which eventually brought her to the research study's office in the Washington, D.C. area. From 1965 until his death in 1992, she was married to David W. Secrest, journalist and public affairs consultant, with whom she had two children, Jonathan and Amy. After raising them and her two older step-children, Martin and Cary, Helen went back to nursing research at Westat, Inc., Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and the Center for Vaccine Development at the University of Maryland at Baltimore. She retired at age 73 and, in 2016, moved to Brattleboro to be near her son's family. She was actively involved in PTA board and volunteer work at her children's schools, and as an elected official in local government. She was proud to be a charter member, board member, and volunteer of the Chevy Chase (Md.) Historical Society for many years. She is survived by her son, Jonathan Secrest and his wife, Kerry, of Brattleboro; and their children, Alina and Aleksa, and by her daughter, Amy Secrest Cropp, and her husband Brian, of Bethesda, Md., and children, Robert and George. She is also survived by her three stepchildren: Cary Secrest and his wife, Jennifer, of Silver Spring, Md., and their sons Nathan and Daniel; Martin Secrest and his wife, Moira, of Arlington, Va., and their children, Declan and Anna; and Gillian Clark and her husband David, of Gilbert, Ariz., and their children, David Jr. and Lauren. Memorial information: A small gathering for family and friends will be held in the fall in Chevy Chase. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Chevy Chase Historical Society, or to Thompson House in Brattleboro.
• Philip Elmer “Phil” Smith, 96, of Jamaica. Died August 25, 2018 at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, N.H., following a brief illness. Born at home in Jamaica on Sept. 10, 1921, the son of Elmer Benjamin and Liza Pecolia (Pitts) Smith, he was a lifelong resident of Jamaica and got his education in a one-room schoolhouse. He enlisted in the Army in 1942 and proudly served his country during World War II in the European, African, and Middle Eastern Campaigns. He was honorably discharged from active service in 1945, at which time he returned home and went to work as a logger. He worked for several local contractors, his last position with Michael Babbit Logging of South Wardsboro. An ardent outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, vegetable gardening, and time shared with his family He took great joy in taking his grandchildren on hunting trips and fishing expeditions, with most occasions ending up as an adventure. He also was an experienced and skilled dowser, having many successful attempts through the years. In 1942, he married Mildred Thomas. His faithful and devoted wife of 55 years predeceased him in 1997. He leaves a large family that includes one daughter, Bonnie West and her husband, Garry, of Jamaica, nine grandchildren, 15 great- grandchildren, 12 great-great grandchildren, five great-great-great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. Additionally, he leaves two sisters-in-law, Irene Smith of Townshend and Florence Smith, with whom he made his home in Jamaica. He was predeceased by seven brothers, Raymond, Kenneth, Clyde, Chauncey, James, Oscar, and Elmer Smith, Jr.; three sisters, May Wendell, Marie Burnette, and June Thomas; a stepson, Victor Giroux, a stepdaughter, Virginia Bolster; a grandson, Wayne Landman; and a great-great granddaughter, Ashlynn Harris-Nilges. Memorial information: Graveside committal services with full military honors will take place in the family lot in Pleasant View Cemetery in Jamaica on Saturday, Sept. 8, at 1 p.m. Donations to Grace Cottage Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 1, Townshend, VT 05353, or to the Wardsboro/Jamaica Community Food Pantry, P.O. Box 179 Jamaica, VT 05343. To sign an on-line register book with messages of condolence to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
Services
• A memorial service for Peter Issac “Pete” Diamondstone, who died at the age of 82 on Aug. 30, 2017, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 8, from 1 to 3 p.m., at the Putney Friends Meeting House on Route 5 in Putney. There will be music and light refreshments after the service. All are welcome.