Obituaries
• Robert E Brooks, 80, of Rockingham. Died Nov. 23 at his home. He was born in Lisbon, N.H. on Sept. 4, 1938, the son of William and Marion (Durant) Brooks. He served in the National Guard and was called to active duty during the Berlin Crisis in 1961-62. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing, and who achieved great success at it. He enjoyed helping people and was well known for his yard sales. Surviving is his son Hunter E. Brooks of Hinsdale, N.H.; daughters Gay Ellen Sayer of Croyden, N.H. and Hope Brooks of Keene, N.H.; Rebecca Leining, who was like a daughter; a sister, Lillian Fenoff of North Haverhill N.H.; three grandsons and two great-grandsons; and Christal, his neighbor, friend, and Angel. He was predeceased by his sisters Margaret Parrot and Mary Potter. Memorial information: There will be calling hours from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8, at Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home in Bellows Falls.
• Walter Lewis Clark, III, 70, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died Nov. 13 at his home following an extended illness. Born in Greenfield, Mass., on Dec. 23, 1947, the son of Walter Clark, Sr. and Beatrice Smith, he was raised and educated in Greenfield. He went on to proudly serve his country in the Army. After he was honorably discharged from active service, he served in the Army Reserve until his honorable discharge in 1973. He was employed at Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, working in the food service department. He retired in 2017 after 20 years of service with the hospital. Previously, he drove for a taxi service in Greenfield. In 1987, he married Deceane (Clark) Weeks, who predeceased him. In 2017, he married Shirley A. James who survives. Besides his devoted wife and caregiver, he leaves one son, Walter Clark, Jr. of Lima, Peru; a daughter, Tricia Clark of Port St. Lucie, Fla., a stepson, Jay Keeney of Glen Rose, Texas; two sisters, Gloria Warchol and Carol Parker, both of Greenfield; and several grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Memorial information: No formal funeral services are scheduled. He will be laid to rest in the Massachusetts Veterans' Memorial Cemetery in Agawam. Donations to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To sign an online register book or send messages of condolence to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Lucille Alberta Laferriere McCaffrey, 99, formerly of Bellows Falls. Died Nov. 10 at Genesis Springfield Health and Rehabilitation Center in Springfield, Vt. She was born April 22, 1919 in St. Johnsbury, the daughter of the late Joseph and Marie (Thibault) Laferriere. She grew up in a large, energetic, hardworking, fun-loving family of 15 children. In 1940, she and Martin McCaffrey were married and they lived and raised their family in Bellows Falls. Lucille received her early schooling in St. Johnsbury, and graduated from hair dressing school when she was 50. Besides working as a hairdresser, she also worked in the kitchen at McGirr Nursing Home for many years, but her favorite job was being a mother and homemaker. She excelled at making nutritious meals, crocheting, knitting, and sewing many of her children's clothes while providing plenty of fun and discipline. Music held a special place in her life, especially the Swing and Big Band eras. She sang in the St. Charles Choir for many years and entertained her nursing home friends with her singing. Her children remember her singing along with the radio, especially with Arthur Godfrey and Frank Sinatra. And she took great pleasure in going to the local coffee shop with her friends every morning. She was a long-time member of the St. Charles Catholic Daughters of America and served as Grand Regent and a Junior Catholic Daughter Leader. She was also a Cub Scout Den Leader and a member of Bellows Falls Post 37 American Legion Auxiliary. She is survived by her four children: Joanne and her husband, Paul Savoie, of Bowdoinham, Maine, Janet and her husband, Richard Forbush of Bellows Falls, James McCaffrey of Saxtons River, and John McCaffrey and his partner, Lora Bothwell, of Monkton; 10 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Martin, 14 siblings, two grandchildren, Allison Forbush and Karen McCaffrey, and a great-grandchild, Garrett Dunlap. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Nov. 29 at St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls, with burial in St. Charles Cemetery in Westminster. Donations to Bayada Hospice, 1222 Putney Rd., #203, Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Elva Brookes Pogar, 91, of Brattleboro. Died Nov. 19 at Thompson House Nursing Home. Born in Belchertown, Mass., on Sept. 19, 1927, the daughter of George and Maude (Bush) Brookes, she attended schools in Belchertown prior to moving to Brattleboro with her family. She graduated from Brattleboro High School with the Class of 1945 and was a member of the Silver B Society. A devoted homemaker, prior to getting married she was a secretary/clerk for the Vermont Highway Department's central office in Montpelier. She married John Pogar in 1955 in the chapel at Centre Congregational Church in Brattleboro. Her husband of 30 years predeceased her in 1985. Mrs. Pogar also worked as a secretary at the Holstein-Friesian Association, Clay Insurance, Bradley Labs, and Hoffman Insurance, all in Brattleboro. Besides residing in Belchertown and Brattleboro, she was also a resident of Berlin, Vt., before returning to the Brattleboro area to live in Guilford. Mrs. Pogar was a former member of the Riverton (Vt.) Community Church for 28 years and served in all offices except as a trustee. Upon returning to the Brattleboro area, she became a member of Guilford Community Church in Algiers. Known for her spirit of friendship, she loved the outdoors, gardening, and her church involvement. Survivors include a brother, Tom Brookes and his wife, Penny, of Montana; a sister, Maude Higley and her husband, Arthur, of Guilford; a sister-in-law, Lillian Brookes of Dummerston; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. She was predeceased by siblings Beverly Knapp, Helen Gardner, George Brookes, and Walter Brookes. Memorial information: Services will be held in the springtime at a place and date to be announced by the funeral home. Burial will be in Dwight Station Cemetery in Belchertown, where she will be buried in the family lot. Donations to Guilford Community Church Youth Fund, 38 Church Rd., Guilford, VT 05301. To send messages of condolence to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Eugene R. “Rummy” Sullivan, 95, of Wilmington. Died Nov. 23 at his home. Born in Wilmington on June 22, 1923, the son of the late Eugene F. and Mertie (Boyd) Sullivan, he was part of the many families that farmed the land under Lake Whitingham known as Mountain Mills. He attended Wilmington schools, graduating from Wilmington High School, Class of 1941. Upon graduation, Eugene enlisted in the Navy, serving in World War II. After being honorably discharged, he owned and operated a television repair business. He then worked as a crane operator for New England Box Company and was part of the team that cleared and built the original Carinthia Ski Area. He later worked for the Wilmington Highway Department and retired from the Vermont State Highway Department. Eugene loved hunting, fishing, and camping, and did so all over Maine and Vermont. He enjoyed boating, water skiing, and listening to the Boyd family members make music. He was an avid reader, especially books about World War II. Rummy was referred to as “the local historian” and was relied on by family, friends, and the Historical Society for details about the Deerfield Valley as his memory was so broad and accurate. He was a member of the American Legion Nelson E. Pickwell Post 16 in Wilmington, the VFW in Brattleboro, and the National Rifle Association. Eugene is survived by his children: Edward Sullivan and his wife, Julie, of Wilmington, Shirlee Sullivan of Whitingham, Jo-Ann Ward of Hudson Falls, N.Y., Sandra Gilderdale and her husband, David, of East Randolph, Eugenia Shearer and her husband, William, of Colrain, Mass., and Joni Sullivan and her partner, Reginald, of Whitingham; 15 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, nine great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his wife, Hannah Nolan Sullivan, whom he married in Wilmington in 1946. She was the love of his life and partner in all things called family until her death in 2008. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Nov. 30 at Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church in Wilmington, with interment in the family lot in Intervale-Cutting Cemetery in Wilmington. Donations to the Old School Community Center, located at the high school that he and all six of his children graduated from, or the Deerfield Valley Rescue Squad, in care of Covey-Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215 Wilmington, VT 05363.
• Barbara E. Suraci, 82, of West Dover. Died Nov. 26 at her home. She was born in Jersey City, N.J., on Aug. 25, 1936, the daughter of the late Robert Leigh Eilenberg and Josephine Rehak-Peroh. Barbara studied ballet with the Mortkin Ballet Company of New York City. In 1952, she moved to London, England with her family and continued with her ballet studies. She danced with the Corp de Ballet in France. In addition, she studied concert piano with Moira Hess. In 1956, Barbara returned to the United States and graduated from Jersey City State College with a B.A. in Education. She earned a Master of Arts degree in 1961 from Seton Hall University and completed the academic studies for her doctorate in school psychology at New York University. Barbara was very active in the Windham Sailing Club, owned and operated Leigh's Curios in West Dover, and cherished times with her family, especially raising her grandchildren. Barbara is survived by her grandchildren Anthony Samani and Chelsea Samani of West Dover, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband of 28 years, Anthony B. Suraci, Ph.D., who died in 1991. Memorial information: Graveside funeral services were held Dec. 3 at Union Cemetery in Clinton, N.J. A celebration of life service in Vermont will be announced at a later date. Donations to the American Heart Association, in care of Covey Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363.