Births
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), June 22, 2014, a daughter, Johanna Ushindi Odhuno, to Heavenlight (Costa) and Daniel Omondi Odhuno of Brattleboro; granddaughter to Claris Odhuno, Costa Mushi, and Feliciana Mushi.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), June 19, 2014, a son, Orin Elijah Gehring, to Daniel and Jamie (Harrison) Gehring of Dummerston; grandson to Don and Martha Gehring of Wilmington, John and Kathy Harrison of Salisbury, Md., and Dave and Linda Murdocca of Lakeland, Fla.
College news
• Michael Sanderson of Putney graduated on May 10 from the New England School of Communications at Husson University in Bangor, Maine, with a B.S. in media studies.
• Robert Attley of Townshend graduated from Syracuse University on May 11 with a B.S. in mechanical engineering.
• Elizabeth Aekus of Whitingham has been named to the Dean's List for the spring 2014 semester at Curry College in Milton, Mass.
• Aimee Johnston, a chemistry major from Brattleboro, and Colby McGinn, a biology major from Brattleboro, are among the 196 incoming first-year students who have joined the University of Vermont's Honors College. Admission to UVM's Honors College is by invitation; the Honors College works with the Office of Admissions to review the academic records of the university's entering class each year and invites top performers to enroll.
School news
• Company of Muses, a non-profit whose mission is to provide for education in the performing arts of youths and adults in the New England area, recently awarded the inaugural Kathleen Keller Higher Education scholarship to Caitlin McCloskey-Meyer of West Brattleboro. McCloskey-Meyer, 18, began taking classes at Brattleboro School of Dance when she was two years old. She has studied both ballet and modern dance during the past 16 years. Now that she has graduated from Brattleboro Union High School, McCloskey-Meyer plans to major in dance performance and choreography at Adelphi University in Garden City, New York this fall. The Kathleen Keller scholarship, named for BSD's founder, is awarded in recognition of a student's dedication to the art form of dance and continued pursuit of excellence through higher education in the field of dance performance and choreography.
Transitions
• Brattleboro OB/GYN welcomes new nurse-midwife Meredith Merritt, CNM, to the practice. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Vermont in Burlington and her Master of Science degree in Nursing from Frontier Nursing University in Hyden, Kentucky. She resides in Brattleboro with her husband Peter, their five-month-old daughter Zora, and their dog Gary, who came to them through rescue two years ago.
Obituaries
• Helen B. Atkins, 92, formerly of Bellows Falls. Died July 5 at the Sullivan County Nursing Home in Unity, N.H. Wife of the late Paul C. Atkins for 59 years. Mother of William C. Atkins of Charlestown, N.H., and Edward P. Atkins of Claremont, N.H. Sister of Edward Narkiewicz of Florida, Adelaide (Delia) Mack of Rockingham, Theresa Schneider of Tilton, N.H., Caroline Szuch of Bellows Falls, Frances Hutcheson of Kentucky, and the late John, Henry, Jacob and Joseph Narkiewicz. Born in Westminster, the daughter of the late Michael and Jadwiga (Minkowski) Narkiewicz, she attended schools in Bellows Falls. She worked for the shoe shop in her early years and for Margolin's Pocketbook Factory in Bellows Falls and Brattleboro. She retired from AT&T, where she worked as a telephone supervisor. She was a member of the Sacred Heart Church and served as organist and in the choir since her youth. She enjoyed taking bus trips with her husband. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held July 9 at St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls, with burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Westminster.
• Kathleen Ziter Galanes, 84, of Brattleboro. Died July 7 of complications from pneumonia. Wife of the late Philip Galanes for 27 years. Mother of Philip of New York City, Michael of Hollywood, Fla., and John of Marlboro. Sister of Dr. Richard Ziter of West Stockbridge, Mass., and the late Edward “Teddy” Ziter, Dr. Fred Ziter, and the Rev. Nelson Ziter, S.S.E. Born in North Adams, Mass., the daughter of Michael and Zarifa (Morin) Ziter, she graduated from St. Anne's Academy in Marlborough, Mass., in 1947, and Our Lady of the Elms College in Chicopee, Mass., with a B.A. in Education in 1951. For many years, she was a teacher in the elementary, middle and high schools in the Brattleboro area. Previously, she taught in North Adams, and for the U.S. government in Paris, France, and Frankfurt, Germany. More recently, she worked as a psychiatric therapist at the Greylock Pavilion at North Adams Regional Hospital. She was an avid cook and grandmother, and scheduled annual trips to the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. A great proponent of the power of education to transform lives, she served for several years as the president of the School Board at St. Michael's School in Brattleboro. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held July 10 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro. Donations made to St. Michael's School, 48 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301. Arrangements were under the direction of Atamaniuk Funeral Home of Brattleboro.
• John Edward Kinnare, 68, of West Chesterfield, N.H. Died July 6 at his home with his family following an extended illness. Husband of Sheila Landon Kinnare for 45 years. Father of Brian Kinnare of Ventura, Calif., Jennifer Ingham and her husband, Robert, of Manchester, N.H., and Lisa Kinnare Kopcha and her husband, Michael, of Spofford, N.H. Brother of Thomas Kinnare of Godfrey, Ill., and William Kinnare and Jean Kinnare, both of Guilford, Conn. Born in New Haven, Conn., the son of Thomas and Edna (Whitmore) Kinnare, he was raised and educated in Guilford, Conn., and was a graduate of Guilford High School, Class of 1964. He went on to attend the University of New Haven. He served in the Army Reserve during the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged in September 1971. A former resident of Madison, Conn., he was a licensed insurance agent and owner of the Kinnare Insurance Agency in Guilford, which he operated for 23 years. Upon his retirement in 1991, he moved to West Chesterfield where, with his wife, he established Hemlock Hill Antiques. A life-long Catholic, John was a communicant of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Brattleboro and was a former parishioner of St. George Catholic Church in Guilford. While in Connecticut, he was a member of the Guilford Lions Club. He enjoyed golfing, antiques, landscaping, refinishing furniture and long drives through the country. He was especially proud of his children and grandchildren and his home on Cross Road, where he loved puttering around. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held July 10 at St. Michael's Catholic Church. Burial with military honors took place July 11 at Chesterfield West Cemetery on Poor Road. Donations to Prospect Place, 361 Court St., Keene, N.H. 03431, or to Chesterfield Fire & Rescue, P.O. Box 95, Chesterfield, NH 03443. Arrangements were under the direction of Atamaniuk Funeral Home.
• Knute H. Marine, 86, of Brattleboro. Died July 9 at Pine Heights Nursing Home in Brattleboro, where he had been a resident since September 2011. Husband of the late Agnes D. (McNamee) Marine for 59 years. Father of Robert Marine of Brattleboro, James Marine and his wife, Lorrie, of Easton, Mass., Rusty Marine and his wife, Penny, of Guilford, Patricia Cote and her husband, Dennis, of Brattleboro, and Kathleen Marine of Watertown, Mass. Brother of the late Eric, George, and Fred Marine. Born in Brattleboro, the son of the late Hilmer and Gerda (Johnson) Marine, he was raised and educated in Brattleboro and attended Brattleboro High School. A veteran of World War II, he proudly served his country in the Navy in the Asiatic/Pacific Theater of Operation. Upon his honorable discharge from active service, he returned home to Brattleboro. He worked as a pressman at the former Book Press for 15 years and, in 1963, joined the Brattleboro Post Office. He was a postal carrier in Brattleboro, retiring from his position following over 30 years of faithful service. For many years, he served as a caretaker for St. Michael's Parish Cemetery, and was a lifelong communicant of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Leo Council #917 and American Legion Post 5. He enjoyed wintering with his wife in Port Charlotte, Fla., taking walks, bicycle riding and taking mystery rides on Saturday evenings. A faithful and devoted husband and loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, he especially enjoyed time spent with his family. Memorial information: A memorial Mass was held July 11 at St. Michael's Catholic Church. Committal rites and burial with full military honors will take place in St. Michael's Parish Cemetery at a future date and time to be announced by the funeral home. Donations to St. Michael's School, 48 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, in care of Elaine Beam, Principal. Arrangements are under the direction of Atamaniuk Funeral Home.
• Lillian Nellie Bartlett Downing McDurfee, 79, of Brattleboro. Died July 7 at Pine Heights Nursing Home in Brattleboro. Wife of the late Douglas A. McDurfee for 48 years and Gordon Earl Downing Sr. Mother of Gordon E. Downing II, Jerry M. Downing, Crystal R. Thompson, Cindy J. Pike, Deborah L. Lavalley, Melody R. Dupree, Georfrey O. Downing, Roxanne McDurfee, and Douglas A. McDurfee II. Sister of Sidney S. Bartlett Sr., Dexter W. Bartett Sr., and the late Kenneth Bartlett and Hazel Madore. Also survived by 28 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Born in Morrisville, the daughter of Sidney E. Bartlett and Eunice Dunham, she was employed as a laundry attendant for many years at Spic & Span Laundry in Brattleboro. She enjoyed Bingo, fishing, and crafts, and was an avid Red Sox fan. Memorial information: Services are pending. Burial will be in Morningside Cemetery. Donations to Pine Heights Nursing Home, 187 Oak Grove Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301.