College news
• The following local students were honored for academic achievement in the fall 2018 semester at Northern Vermont University: From Brattleboro, Victoria Higley, President's List, Griffin Lynde, Dean's List, Shealine Rivera Caraballo, President's List, and Christian Ruse, Dean's List; from Dummerston, Haley Frechette, Dean's List; from Searsburg, Felicia Mizula, Dean's List; from Stratton, Michael Johnson, Dean's List; and from Vernon, Matthew Miller, Dean's List. To be named to the Dean's List, a student must achieve between a 3.50 and 3.99 semester grade point average, while a student on the President's List must achieve a 4.00 semester grade point average.
• Carolina Curvo, a member of the Class of 2019 from Brattleboro, made the Dean's List for academic achievement for the fall 2018 semester at Regis College in Weston, Mass.
• Elkanah Linder, a Doctor of Pharmacy student from Townshend, was named to the fall 2018 Dean's List at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.
• The following local students were honored for academic achievement for the fall 2018 semester at Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y.: Kristina Wittler of South Newfane, a physics major and member of the Class of 2019, earned the Dean's Award with Distinction, and Ethan Paasche of Guilford, an economics major and member of the Class of 2021, earned the Dean's Award for Academic Excellence.
• The following local students were named to the fall 2018 Dean's List at Western New England University in Springfield, Mass.: Brennen Zolnoski, a biomedical engineering major from Brattleboro, and Tyler Clement, an electrical engineering major from Vernon.
Obituaries
• Lois M. Alexander, 80, of Londonderry. Died Feb. 21, 2019 in Springfield, Vt.. She was born June 11, 1938, in Ticonderoga, N.Y., the daughter of Lester and Joan Griswold. She graduated from Chester High School in 1956 and married Roger Alexander on May 10, 1957. She was employed by several local businesses throughout the years, most recently, the Bryant House in Weston. She enjoyed puzzles, knitting, sewing, working in the yard, fishing, visiting family and friends, motorcycle rides and, of course, her dog, Cheyanne. Survivors include two sons, Alan Alexander of Barre, and John Alexander of Londonderry; one grandson, Justin Alexander, and one great-grandson, Jack Alexander; as well as several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Roger Alexander; son, Edward; and all of her beloved siblings. Memorial information: At Lois's request, there will be no calling hours or funeral service. Private burial will be held at a later date. Donations to the Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 911, Londonderry, VT 05148.
• Ann H. Canedy, 80, of Guilford. Died Feb. 22, 2019, after a long battle with cancer. Born on Jan. 2, 1939, she was raised in Saxtons River, graduated from Castleton State College, and lived most of her life in the close knit community of Guilford. Ann loved the outdoors and was usually found in her flower gardens, mowing her lawn. or “sprucing up the place,” as she would say. Visiting Lake Champlain or the Maine Coast (with a side of lobster roll), brought her great joy. Her friends from her teaching years and from the community were her constant companions before and, especially during, her illness. She was predeceased by her husband, Ralph Canedy. She leaves behind her daughter Colleen, her “daughter” Kelly Milotte of Sullivan N.H., her stepson Bill of Rutland; her sister Honora of Cambridge, N.Y.; and many loved ones. Memorial information: Family and friends will be contacted at Ann's request for a celebration of her life at the Baker Cemetery in the spring. Donations to Brattleboro Area Hospice, 191 Canal St., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Edward P. Chapman, 94, formerly of Brattleboro. Died Feb. 22, 2019. He was the husband of the late Barbara (Blake) Chapman and the late Delia (Wood) Chapman. He was born in Brattleboro on Feb. 1, 1925, the son of the late Edward A. and Jane E. (Tidd) Chapman. He served in the Marines during World War II and fought at Iwo Jima, and was the recipient of the Purple Heart. He later served with the Springfield (Mass.) Police Department for 30 years, retiring in the early 1980s at the rank of captain. During this time, he received a B.A. in criminal justice from Western New England College. He was a parishioner of St. Patrick's Church in Springfield, belonged to American Legion Post 452 in Chicopee, Mass., and was a past member of the Knights of Columbus. He also enjoyed golf and fishing. He leaves his two sons, Phillip R. and his wife, Linda Chapman, of East Longmeadow, Mass., and David E. and his wife Valerie Chapman, of Wilbraham, Mass.; two grandchildren, C.J. and Brian Chapman; and a great granddaughter, Ella Chapman. He also leaves 12 stepchildren, 29 step-grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by a sister, Eleanor Mellish. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Feb. 28 at St. Patrick's Church in Springfield, with burial with military honors in St. Michael's Cemetery in Springfield. Donations to the Wounded Warriors Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-8517 or to Target Cancer Foundation, 955 Massachusetts Ave., #343, Cambridge, MA 02139.
• Cynthia Jane “Janie” Hawthorne, 58, of Brattleboro Died Feb. 7, 2019 at Thompson House Nursing Home, following a courageous battle against cancer. She was born in East Liverpool, Ohio on Dec. 1, 1960, the daughter of Ernest and Norma (Gorrell) Hawthorne. She was raised and educated in East Liverpool, graduating from East Liverpool High School, Class of 1978. While residing in Brattleboro, she worked as a dental assistant in the offices of Dr. Jeremy Hoffman, DDS and, more recently, at Thompson House. While in Ohio, Janie worked in several restaurants in the East Liverpool area. She was known for being an excellent cook. Of her leisure time activities, she enjoyed cooking for her family and friends, baking, playing Yahtzee and card games, traveling and dining at upscale restaurants, as well as spoiling her family. Her life centered around her family, who meant the world to her. Survivors include her son, Justin Johnston, of Brattleboro; two granddaughters, Avery Johnston of Brattleboro and Jasmine Akley of Vernon; one sister, Saundra Hays and her husband, David, of East Liverpool, and several nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, a daughter, Ashley Hawthorne, and siblings Carol Earle, Patricia Martin, and Kenneth Hawthorne. Memorial information: A service in celebration of her life will be held later in the springtime to be announced. She will be laid to rest in the Hawthorne family plot next to her parents in East Liverpool. Memorial contributions in her name, for a special fund to help purchase a cemetery monument, may be sent to the Atamaniuk Funeral Home, 40 Terrace St., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Robert “Bob” James Michalke, 98, of Brattleboro. Died Feb. 22, 2019 at his home. He was born Dec. 21, 1920 to Agnes and Albert Michalke in Meriden, Conn. On July 4, 1942, he married Elizabeth “Betty” Bemont, also of Connecticut. Bob was a builder and owned his own construction business until he retired to Vermont with his wife in the early 1980s. Bob was a Shriner and a Mason and actively participated in countless events and fundraisers. He helped run Monday night bingo at the Shrine Hall in Brattleboro and served as a board member at the Shriners Children's Hospital for many years. One of his favorite contributions to his community was delivering Meals on Wheels with his wife. He enjoyed checking in and visiting with everyone on his delivery route. He enjoyed his church family for many years and was one of the founders of the Memorial Garden at St. Michael's Episcopal Church. His last years of church services included Sunday morning visits to the Newfane Congregational Church, where he made many new friends and touched many hearts. Chances are if you were driving down Route 30, you've passed Bob tending his gardens or restocking his vegetable stand that he took great pride in. Everyone who knew Bob could count on his sense of humor, a good practical joke, his willingness to go out of his way to help anyone, and that he had the tallest, sweetest corn in town. He is survived by his daughter, Betsy Wolmer; his devoted grandchildren Carrie Downes, Heather Cyr, Chuck Wettish, and Matthew Wettish; five great-grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter; and Billy Brooks of Newfane, who he loved like his own son. Bob also leaves behind countless friends who he was grateful for. He was predeceased by his wife; his children James Michalke and Susan Downes, and his late life companion, Irene Brooks. Memorial information: A celebration of Bob's life will be held Saturday, March 9, at 11 a.m. at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Brattleboro. Friends are encouraged to share their stories and fond memories. Coffee will follow downstairs. Donations to the Shriners Children's Hospital in Springfield, Mass.
• Robert Earl Pierce, 80, of Windham. Died Feb. 13, 2019 at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, from complications with pneumonia. Born on Feb. 26, 1938 in Hinsdale, N.H., he was the son of Earl and Bertrice (Pickett) Pierce, and the brother of Janet Doolittle and Joyce Parrish. He attended Thayer High School in Winchester, N.H. Robert was an established carpenter, building houses and log cabins all over the Deerfield Valley. He was also known for his Registered Walker Hounds, and took home many trophies in show and performance categories. He had a great sense of humor and was well known for his sarcastic attitude. In his later years, he was a school bus driver and became very close to many in the Windham Central Supervisory Union. He loved his students, and the families and staff there. He considered them family and spoke of them often. He leaves behind daughters Sally Prouty (Pierce) and her husband, Todd, and children Gavin and Grace, Heather Pierce, Tracy Clark, Ronnie, and Barry; his two sisters, Janet and Joyce, as well as many close friends that he took in as his own. Two of those who were with him until the day he died were Kent Boyd and Mark Castillo. He also leaves behind a cat, She, who was adopted by one of his students. Memorial information: The immediate family would like to hold a celebration for him in July at the North Star Bowling Alley in Wilmington, and will confirm the date on Facebook. Donations can be made to Grace Cottage Hospital, where he was a patient and close friend to Dr. Robert Backus.
• James P. “Jim” Waters, 67, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died Feb. 20, 2019 at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, N.H. Born in Brattleboro on June 28, 1951, the son of Paul and Catherine (Juscen) Waters, he was raised and educated in Hinsdale, graduating from Hinsdale High School, Class of 1969. He worked most of his career as a sales representative in the optical field, employed by Omega Optical in Brattleboro, where he retired from in 2016. Previously, he worked for the former Janos Optical Company in Townshend and New England Telephone in Brattleboro. He served on the Hinsdale Board of Adjustment. For many years, he worked with area youth coaching Little League Baseball both in Hinsdale and Brattleboro. Jim was known for his generosity and commitment to the boys he coached through the years. Jim also was an active member of the Hinsdale Lions Club for many years. He enjoyed hunting, four wheeling and time spent with family. He loved all New England sports teams and was a big fan of the Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, and Boston Celtics. When it came to hockey, however, he was a traitor and loved the Montreal Canadiens. Survivors include one sister, Paula Hale and her husband. Jeffrey, of Hinsdale; one nephew, Ryan Hale of Guilford; a niece, Mindy Hale of Port Richey, Fla.; and several cousins. Memorial information: A celebration of his life will be held on March 10, from 1 to 3 p.m., at the Brattleboro Eagles hall on Chickering Drive. Donations to the Brattleboro Little League, P.O. Box 8323, Brattleboro, VT 05304. To sign an online register book or send messages of condolence to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Ellen Augusta Dunn Zimmerman, 78, of Westminster. Died unexpectedly from a heart attack on Feb. 23, 2019, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. Born on Nov. 25, 1940, in Boston, she was the daughter of the late Richard Byam Dunn, Sr. and Margaret Myers Dunn. She graduated from Stephens College in Columbia, Mo., then attended Denver University where she obtained her bachelor's degree with a major in zoology and a minor in history. While living in Denver and skiing at Breckenridge, she met Russ Zimmerman, whom she married in 1963. In 1965 they moved to Chico, Calif., where she earned a teaching certificate, thereafter teaching in Gilroy (Calif.) Elementary School. Her first daughter, Anna, was born in 1970. They then moved east to Vermont where, in 1974, Sarah was born. They all moved to Westminster West in 1976, where they built a house and where her heart has been ever since. Sarah still lives in the home Ellen and Russ started to build in 1976. Although divorced in 1995, Ellen and Russ remained friends and close over the years. She was a longtime employee of the Windham Northeast Supervisory Union, where she worked as a paraprofessional in the schools until she retired in 2013. She also worked performing respite services for local families through HCRS. Ellen volunteered regularly until her death, giving her time to the Westminster West Public Library; the Compass School, where her grandson Benjamin is currently a junior; the Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association, of which she was a founding member; and 4-H. She loved spending time with her family and friends, reading, gardening, scrapbooking, puzzling (jig saw and crossword), crafting, camping, Scrabbling, and watching documentaries and the Great Courses classes. She was an avid Red Sox fan. Ellen is survived by her daughters, Sarah (Zimmerman) Allaire and husband, Dana Allaire, and Anna Goulet Zimmerman and husband, Martin Goulet; siblings David Tong and his wife, Kin, Richard Dunn, Jr. and his wife, Hedy, Erica Dunn Hussell, and Philip Dunn and his wife, Patricia Baker; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Memorial information: A memorial service and celebration of Ellen's life will be held over Memorial Day weekend on Saturday, May 25, at 2 p.m., at the Westminster West Congregational Church. Anyone wishing to be put on a list to get further details can email [email protected]. Donations to either the Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association or the American Heart Association's “Go Red for Women” campaign.