College news
• Peyton Eisler, a nursing major from Wilmington, was named to the fall 2019 Dean's List at Endicott College in Beverly, Mass.
• Liam McNeil, a mechanical engineering major from Brattleboro, was named to the Dean's List for the fall 2019 semester at Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y.
Obituaries
• Ronald John “Ron” Apuzzo, 77, of Bellows Falls. Died suddenly of natural causes in mid-February of this year. Born on Dec 29, 1942 in New Haven, Conn., Ron was a photographer, teacher, jeweler and welder. He enjoyed working with young people and teaching them his trades. Ron was the heart of this area and there aren't many souls he hasn't touched. Ron is survived by his daughters, Diana Jones of Bellows Falls and Isabel Vinson of Brattleboro, as well as his cousins John and Joseph Mastriano of New Haven, and several ex-wives. Memorial information: Ron's memorial service will be held at the Flat Iron Exchange at 51 The Square in Bellows Falls on Sunday, March 15, at 1 p.m. Donations to In-Sight Photography Project at www.insightphotography.org/support.
• Barbara Ann (Magnaghi) (Nickerson) Dunn, 87, of Brattleboro. Died Feb. 24, 2020 at Pine Heights Nursing Home in Brattleboro, where she had resided for the past 17 months. She was born on Jan. 4, 1933 in Greenfield, Mass., the daughter of Charles J. and Geneva 'Dolly' (Johnson) Magnaghi. Barbara graduated from Brattleboro High School in 1950 and from Lasell Junior College in 1952. Over the years, she was employed in hospitals in Massachusetts and Connecticut, for First Vermont Bank in Brattleboro, by her father at C.H. Eddy Bottling Co., and by the Town Crier in Brattleboro. Of her many interests, Barbara especially enjoyed her collection of teddy bears and association with various teddy bear clubs, antique toy collecting, writing poetry, and reading. In her later years, she enjoyed being a recreational volunteer at Pine Heights Nursing Home. She was a lover of nature and animals. She was predeceased by her parents and three cousins: Joannie (Magnaghi) Staro, Arthur Magnaghi, Jr., and Webster R. Laviolette. She is survived by cousins, Anne (DeGiso) Winters, Lynne (DeGiso) Maguire, Frank L. DeGiso, Charles R. DeGiso, and Shelley Magnaghi, all of Florida; Donna (Cox) Kozlowski of New Hampshire and Keith Allen Johnson of Vermont. Memorial information: There will be no visiting hours or service. Her ashes will be scattered in Maine at a later date. Donations to either the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05301, or Alley Cat Allies, 7920 Norfolk Ave., Suite 600, Bethesda, MD 20814-2525.
• Cressy Alan Hudson, 68, of Brattleboro. Died March 1, 2020. Earlier in the day, he had played the piano for the Pastor's solo on It Is Well With My Soul at all three services at Grace Community Evangelical Free Church. Born Oct, 6, 1951 in Westfield, Mass., a son of Dorr W. and Mary A. (Dugas) Hudson of Hinsdale, N.H., the family moved to Brattleboro in the summer of 1957 and Cressy remained there the remainder of his life. He graduated from Brattleboro Union High School in 1969, at which time he was given a three-year letter for choir and a Tyler Award for choir. The following year he attended Glen Cove Bible School in Maine and was a member of the choir there as well. By 1971, Cressy was a student at Thompson House for Practical Nurses and in March 1972 he received his diploma from that institution. Less than a month later, he was directing an ensemble from the Bible Institute of New England at St. Johnsbury which presented a musical adaptation of The Cross and the Switchblade at Emmanuel Bible Baptist Church in Brattleboro. Thus Cressy lived his life, nursing and ministering with music. He worked in nursing homes in Vermont and New Hampshire before spending several years traveling back and forth to Connecticut. In February 2010, he began working at Pine Heights in Brattleboro and remained there until his passing, often working more after his “retirement.” He was an accomplished pianist, organist, singer, and choir director. At various times, he served at Highland Lake Bible Conference in New York, at the former Christian Heritage School in Brattleboro, and traveled about with The Echoes of Faith Choir. He played and sang at weddings, he was organist and/or pianist at several area churches, and he was a faithful and long-standing member of Grace Community Evangelical Free Church in Spofford, N.H. Additionally, he enjoyed cooking and interior design, traveling (including a trip to Israel), and in his younger years, skiing. Cressy was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Doreen Winchester; and brother-in-law, G. Paul Colburn. He is survived by two sisters, Alberta Colburn and Loretta Martin; and two brothers-in-law, Terrance Martin and Rodney Winchester. He is also survived by 10 nieces and nephews, 22 great-nieces and nephews, and 35 great-great nieces and nephews. Memorial information: Funeral services were held March 7 at Grace Community Evangelical Free Church, followed by burial at Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery in Brattleboro. Donations to Grace Community Evangelical Free Church, P.O. Box 120, Spofford, NH 03462-0120. To send messages of condolence to Cressy's family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Virginia M. “Ginny” (Burke) Milliken, 83, of Keene, N.H., formerly of West Townshend. Died March 2, 2020, following a period of declining health. Born March 16, 1936 in Waltham, Mass., the daughter of William and Rose Burke, she was one of eighteen children and she learned the value of family at an early age. In 1955, she married the love of her life, Jay W. Milliken, and the two shared many wonderful years together. The couple moved to Vermont after their retirement. Ginny worked for many years in the Cambridge, Mass., school system, where she enjoyed the experience of seeing children learn and grow. She was a devoted member of Calvary Church in Townshend. Volunteerism was something that she devoted much of her time to, especially to activities that were related to children. She was her happiest when she was surrounded by the people that she loved the most, her family, especially her grandchildren and great-granddaughters. She also loved being in the outdoors; feeding the birds, going camping in the White Mountains at the Dolly Copp Campground, or simply enjoying a quiet summer afternoon. She also enjoyed doing crafting projects, especially with or for the kids, or a good game of Bingo. She is survived by her sons, Jay W. Milliken and his wife, Susan, Robert P. Milliken and his wife, Kimberly, Paul L. Milliken, and Steven Milliken and his wife, Michele; her twin brother, Robert Burke and his wife, Rose; brothers Nicholas Burke and his wife, Nancy, Joseph Burke and his wife, Roberta, Jerry Burke and his wife Marilyn. and Elizabeth Havens; nine grandchildren and two great-granddaughters; and numerous extended family members. Memorial information: A memorial service was held March 8 at Foley Funeral Home in Keene. Graveside services will be held in Round Hill Cemetery in Townshend in the spring. Donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or to Castle Center, in care of their Day Program, 312 Marlboro St. Keene, NH 03431.
• Donald Prescott Norman, 91, of Sacramento, Calif., formerly of Brattleboro. Died Nov. 15, 2019, in Carmichael, Calif., just one week short of his 92nd birthday. He was born on Nov. 22, 1927 in Brattleboro to Charles Emmet Norman and Mildred (Prescott) Norman. Don graduated from Brattleboro High School, Class of 1944, and enlisted in the Navy immediately after his 17th birthday in December 1944. He was honorably discharged in August 1946 and re-enlisted in the Naval Reserve from April 1947 to February 1955. Following active duty, Don enrolled at Bryant College (now Bryant University) in Providence, R.I., graduating in August 1948. Following graduation from college, he worked in New York City in the publishing business, two years with Amos Parrish & Co, where he worked for Brides magazine, followed by six years with Ziff-Davis Publishing Co. In 1957 Don moved to California, where he went to work as a salesman for the Union Pacific Railroad. He took early retirement from the Union Pacific in 1983 and enjoyed a very long and active retirement, settling for good in Sacramento. Don is survived by his two sisters, Thelma N. Underwood of Brattleboro and Christine N. Page of Vernon; two nieces, Sheila Blecharczyk of West Roxbury, Mass., and Sharon Viarengo of White River Junction; and several great- and great-great nieces and nephews. A nephew, Brent Harrington, predeceased him in 1980. Memorial information: Don's ashes were spread near the Golden Gate Bridge. Arrangements were handled by The Neptune Society of Northern California.
• Georgette Savoy, 89, of Bellows Falls. Died Feb. 5, 2020 at Springfield (Vt.) Health and Rehab. She was born Oct. 20, 1930, the daughter of Joseph and Emma (Arbere) Noel, in New Brunswick, Canada. She attended school in Canada and worked as a nurse for many years. Georgette enjoyed sewing, which included making dolls for many years. She also enjoyed traveling with her husband and spending time with her grandchildren. On Nov. 25, 1954, she married her husband of 65 years, David Savoy, who survives. She is also survived by her son, Phil Savoy of Westminster; her daughter, Cathy Savoy of Charlestown, N.H.; her sisters, Anita and Emma; her grandchildren, Jessica, Lisa, Laura, Katelyn and Eric; and great-grandson Liam. Georgette was predeceased by her son, Roland Savoy. Memorial information: There are no services planned at this time. Donations in Georgette's name may be made to your local hospice. Arrangements are in the care of Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home of Bellows Falls.