College news
• Tyler S. Clement of Vernon has been named to the President's List at Western New England University in Springfield, Mass., for the spring 2019 semester. Clement is working toward a BSE in electrical engineering.
• Cassidy Santorelli of Bellows Falls, a student at Fairleigh Dickinson University's Florham Campus in Madison, N.J., has been named to the Honors List for the spring 2019 semester.
Transitions
• Stevens & Associates (S&A) congratulates Benjamin Harwood, PE for earning his license to practice as a professional structural engineer in the state of Vermont. Harwood's enthusiasm for structural engineering is inspired by his early exposure to the construction trades; working hands-on in the fields of excavation, logging and sawmilling, and traditional carpentry with his father. After receiving a B.S. in civil and environmental engineering from Tufts University, Harwood returned to his hometown of Brattleboro and worked as a consultant engineer providing construction inspection and testing services for government and commercial projects. As an engineer at S&A, Harwood's experience includes renovations of historic structures, structural assessments of existing buildings, stabilization of historic façades, and numerous new construction projects. Harwood is interested in historic preservation and adaptive reuse projects, and is passionate about the character and uniqueness of Brattleboro and its surrounding communities. In addition to his responsibilities as a structural engineer, he volunteers within the community, supports local school STEM programs, and participates in S&A's Career Shadowing program.
Obituaries
• Howard William Bell, 87, of West Brattleboro. Died peacefully Sept. 4, 2019 at Pine Heights Nursing Home in Brattleboro, following a period of declining health. Born in the village of Green River in Guilford on Oct. 8, 1931, the son of Frank and Ethel (Aldrich) Bell, he was raised and educated in Guilford and had attended Brattleboro High School. He went on to proudly serve his nation in the Army, enlisting in 1952. He was stationed in Germany during the Korean Conflict and was honorably discharged from active service in 1956. After he returned home, he later served in the Army Reserve. He worked as a truck driver for Washburn Vault Company in Brattleboro, which he retired from in 1995 following 30 years of faithful service with the company. Additionally, he worked on a part-time basis for many years opening graves for funeral homes in the greater Brattleboro area. In his younger years, he worked with his twin brother, logging the old fashioned way using teams of horses. Steadfast in his walk of faith, he was a longtime member of West Brattleboro Baptist Church where he served as an Elder and Deacon. At the time of his death, he was the oldest elder within the church. He enjoyed music and playing the guitar and was a member of several area groups that included The Tracers and the Maple Valley Boys, and played with a gospel band in area nursing homes. Additionally, he enjoyed the outdoors, cutting firewood, puttering around his home, and time shared with his family. Howard was known as a devoted family man and a hard worker. He will be remembered for his spirit of friendship. In 1958, he married Ruth Putnam. His beloved wife of 43 years predeceased him in 2001. Survivors include: two sons, Rodney (Maureen) and Randy (Shirley) Bell both of West Brattleboro; two daughters, Wendy (Fred) Kendall of Horn Lake, Miss. and Cynthia (Eric) Susee of West Brattleboro; two brothers, his twin brother Henry Bell of Galatin, Tenn., and David Bell of West Brattleboro; three sisters, Dorothy Hastings of Saint Cloud, Fla., Elizabeth Meunch of Hendersonville, Tenn.,and Nancy Bobee of Whitingham; 11 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandson and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by three brothers, Francis, Alden and Benjamin Bell, and a sister, Eleanor Schoenert. Memorial information: A funeral services was held Sept. 9 at West Brattleboro Baptist Church. Burial with full military honors followed in the Bell family lot in West Brattleboro Cemetery on Mather Road. Donations to West Brattleboro Baptist Church, 978 Western Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301, or the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To sign an online guestbook with messages of e-condolence to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Penny (Eaton) Harrington, 65, of Brattleboro, formerly of Brookline. Died Aug. 29, 2019. Born the middle child of Henry and Lorena (Sherman) Eaton on July 1, 1954 in Randolph, she attended elementary schools in Townshend and Newfane. She graduated from Leland & Gray Union High School in 1972. That same year, she married Dennis Harrington. They moved to Brookline and lived there until 2016. She is survived by her husband, her son Michael and his wife, Mellany; her daughter Jessica and her partner, Michael Lepkowski; her grandsons Elias and Brady Schopman and Connor and Tristan Harrington; her sisters Sophia Sanderson and Tonilyn Fletcher; brother-in-law David Chaves; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is predeceased by her parents, sisters Vicki Brown and Patrice Chaves, and brothers-in-law Ronnie Brown, Pete Fletcher, and Robert Sanderson. Memorial information: A celebration of life will be held at the American Legion in Brattleboro on Sunday Sept. 22, 2019, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dress comfortably and bring a dish to share. Donations to NewBrook Fire Department in Newfane.
• Annie Martine Suquet, 70, of Brattleboro. Died of cancer at her home on July 29, 2019. Annie was born in L'Isle Adam, France on April 23, 1949, the second child of René Suquet and Marie-Louise (Fischer) Suquet. She graduated from L'Université de Paris in 1969 with a major in English. In 1973, she received a full scholarship to attend the MAT Program at The School for International Training (SIT) in Brattleboro, where she obtained her MAT degree (French and English as a Second Language) in 1974. In 1997, she obtained certification from the state of Vermont to teach Spanish. After graduating from university, she taught English for two years at the Lycée de Luzarches. In 1971, she accepted a French language teaching assistantship at The Experiment in International Living (EIL) and SIT. There, she taught students in the graduate and undergraduate programs at SIT, adults from the community, and high school students prior to their summer homestays with families in France. As part of her MAT studies in 1974, Annie did a homestay in Córdoba, Mexico, where she taught English and began her acquisition of Spanish. In 1975-76, she taught English at the Lycée Prosper Kamara in Bamako, Mali, West Africa. In 1977, she was hired by EIL to teach French to future Peace Corps volunteers for West Africa in training programs in Putney and Savannah, Ga. While working at SIT in 1973, she met Patrick Moran. In 1978, they were married in Brattleboro. Their son, Jean-Christophe, was born in 1984. In 1980, she began teaching French at Leland & Gray Union High School in Townshend. In her 35 years there, “Ms. Suquet” taught all levels of proficiency in French and introductory Spanish. She organized and led biannual field trips to France. She was a dedicated teacher, a supportive colleague, and an advocate of language learning and cultural understanding. Annie maintained close relationships with her families in France, Nebraska, and Vermont. With her spouse and son, she returned every summer to France for an extended stay with her parents, and later, with her brother and her sister. She was also connected to her husband's family and made annual trips to reunions in Nebraska. She was a devoted spouse and mother. Annie loved the sunshine, the seaside, and her favorite swimming hole on the West River. She had a flower garden and flowers in the house year-round. She tried out recipes from the internet and from culinary magazines. She documented her life history in several albums of photographs she had taken. She jogged, cycled, and walked the roads in the neighborhood. In the winter, she cross-country skied at the golf course nearby. She was quick to laugh, speak her mind, engage in conversation, stand her ground, and find humor in every situation. Annie is survived by her spouse and her son, both of Brattleboro, also in France by her brother and his wife, Jean-Claude (Maria Mercedes) Suquet; her sister and her husband, Brigitte (Thierry) LeSech; her niece, nephews, and numerous cousins. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held at The International Center on the SIT campus on Kipling Road on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 2 p.m.