College news
• The following local students were awarded degrees during the University of Vermont's 220th commencement ceremonies on May 28: Anya Alden of Putney, Ema Baldauf of Brattleboro, Aubrey Brimmer of Vernon, Ginger Brown of Jamaica, Sheldon Burnell of Marlboro, Kira Cincotta of Wilmington, Baxter Cragin of Putney, Bridget Dews of East Dummerston, Emily Fryer of West Dover, Calvin Gooley of Brattleboro, Elijah Kapral of Dummerston, Lukas Ladner of Guilford, Quinn Lambert of Bellows Falls, Christopher McAuliffe of Brattleboro, Braden Meyer of Brattleboro, Lenore Noe of Brookline, Taylor Nowicki of West Wardsboro, Jacquelyn Nutter of South Londonderry, Cullen Paradis of Putney, Elias Pereira of Brattleboro, Evan Ray of Brookline, Mackenzie Rizio of Wilmington, Lindsey Robinson of Brattleboro, Keltsey Rushton of Grafton, Lloyd Salasin-Deane of Marlboro, Honour Solari of Guilford, Zachary Streeter of Westminster, and Sarah Warren of Brattleboro.
• The following local students were awarded degrees during Castleton University's virtual commencement on May 16: Gabrielle Carpenter of Vernon, Dara Davison of West Dover, Alison Josselyn of Londonderry, Benton Winrich of Townshend, Spencer Butter of Brattleboro, Jordan Gouger of Brookline, Joshua Hanson of Guilford, Logan Hazard of Jamaica, Brittany Pellerin of South Londonderry, Cassidy Yrsha of Londonderry, and Morgan Derosia of Vernon.
• The following local students recently received degrees with the Class of 2020 at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colo.: Christian Kennedy of South Londonderry graduated with a degree in computer science and Marta Sola-Pfeffer of Bellows Falls graduated with a degree in psychology.
• Ronan Khalsa, a sports communication/marketing major from West Dummerston, recently received his bachelor's degree from Bradley University in Peoria, Ill. He was also named to Bradley's Dean's List for the Spring 2020 semester.
• Connor Tripp, of Vernon, graduated from Northeastern University in Boston last month with a bachelor of fine arts degree, summa cum laude, from the university's College of Arts, Media and Design.
• Caleb Paasche, a member of the Class of 2020, from Guilford, was named to the Dean's List for the spring 2020 semester at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa.
• Elkanah Linder, a Doctor of Pharmacy student from Townshend, was named to the fall 2019 Dean's List at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.
• The following local students were honored for academic excellence in the spring 2020 semester at Plymouth (N.H.) State University: Jack Armbruster of West Dover, Emily Harris of Bellows Falls, Michael Sawitz of West Dover, and Jaida Cutting Henry of Guilford were all named to the President's List, while Conor Hiner of Brattleboro and Sarah Scarlett of Saxtons River were named to the Dean's List.
• The following local students were honored for academic excellence in the spring 2020 semester at Connecticut College in New London, Conn.: Frida Rosner, a member of the Class of 2023 from Marlboro, earned Dean's Honors, and Suzanne Allen, a member of the Class of 2022 from Stratton, earned Dean's High Honors.
• Olivia Zschirnt of Whitingham and Kaie Quigley of West Wardsboro were both named to the Dean's List for the spring 2020 semester at Lasell University in Newton, Mass.
• Michael Sawitz of West Dover was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Sawitz was initiated at Plymouth (N.H.) State University.
• The following local students were named to the Dean's List for the spring 2020 semester at Vermont Technical College: Chelsea Ogden of Brattleboro. Alexus Vergobbe of Vernon, Matthew Wright of Brattleboro, Tana Cutting of Brattleboro, Iyla MacArthur of Brattleboro, Meghan Forrett of East Dummerston, Deven Carrier of Westminster, Jamie Buffa of Brattleboro, and Stephen White of Townshend.
School news
• Meekah Hance, a 2020 graduate of Green Mountain Union High School, is the 10th recipient of the Dr. E. Sherburne Lovell Health Career Award. This award contributes $1,000 annually toward a student's academic pursuit of a career in health care. Hance will be a pre-medicine student at Pensacola (Fla.) Christian College in the fall. She plans to continue her education to become a physician assistant. She attended the Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center's MedQuest program in 2019 and will attend the Virtual Advanced MedQuest program this summer. After MedQuest last summer, Hance joined the Chester Ambulance Service as a Junior EMT. She has since completed the training to become a certified EMT and will be taking her national exam this month.
• The following local students graduated from Northfield Mount Hermon in a virtual commencement on May 24: Elliot Gooley of Brattleboro, Michaela Lawyer of Brattleboro, Luke Lonergan of Brattleboro, and Jakob Curtiss of Vernon.
Obituaries
• Eugene M. “Gene” Brown, 84, formerly of Brattleboro. Died May 27, 2020 at the Community Hospice House in Merrimack, N.H. He was born June 12, 1935 in Brattleboro, son of Merle S. and Shella “Gloria” J. (Cole) Brown. He attended elementary schools in Williamsville and Brookline until the eighth grade, and then Brattleboro High School. Later, he attended Vermont Agricultural College. He entered the Marine Corps in 1952, serving in Korea and Japan. Upon his honorable discharge, he returned home and went to work for Central Vermont Public Service. Gene married Elizabeth “Betty” Coughlin in 1953. They made their home in Brattleboro, but his job meant that the family moved to St. Johnsbury in 1970 and Bradford in 1980. He retired in 1995, and Gene and Betty moved to Piermont, N.H., and later to West Lebanon, N.H. They moved to Salem N.H., in 2018 to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Gene is a former member and Past Exalted Ruler of the St. Johnsbury Elks BPOE 1343. He was a Scoutmaster for several troops for over 38 years and received the highest award given in scouting to adults, The Silver Beaver. Gene loved to spend time outdoors and enjoyed gardening, hunting, and fishing. Gene is survived by his wife; son Dennis Brown and his wife, Sharon, of Punta Gorda, Fla.; daughters Darlene Brown-Moran of Tifton, Ga., and Wendy Brown of Nashua, N.H.; and nephew Timothy Knight and his wife Denise of Bellows Falls. He also leaves six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents; a daughter, Susan Jean; and three sisters, Constance “Connie” Grant, Jeanette Atwood, and Lorraine Quelch. Memorial information: A private graveside service will be held in the Riverside Cemetery in Brookline. Donations to the Boy Scouts of America, Daniel Webster Council, 571 Holt Ave, Manchester, NH 03109.
• Eleanor C. Crombie, 95, formerly of Brooklyn, N.Y. Died peacefully June 2, 2020, in the comfort of her home at Valley Cares in Townshend with her family at her side. She was born in Brooklyn on June 3, 1924, the daughter of William and Margaret (Kaiser) Schaefer. She was raised and educated in Brooklyn, attending Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Parochial School and was a graduate of Grover Cleveland High School, Class of 1942. She was employed as an office clerk and later earned the job of redecorating office spaces for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in New York City, retiring after 45 years of faithful service. Eleanor was also a former resident of Ridgewood and Queens, N.Y. A devout Catholic, she was a communicant of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Townshend and a former parishioner of Epiphany Parish in New York City. Eleanor was an active member of the Catholic Daughters Senior Citizens Club. Serving as a manager, she planned bus trips to the Poconos, and coordinated celebrations/parties around holidays and kept her senior group moving and involved. Of her leisure time activities, she enjoyed Broadway shows, travel, booking trips to the Bahamas, Alaska, and vacations in the West. After retiring, she spent summers in historic Sag Harbor and vacationed to Vermont with her sister. Eleanor did beautiful needlework, and especially loved counted cross-stitching, she created a work of art to celebrate all special events - marriages, births and anniversaries. She was also very mechanically inclined and loved the challenge of a “fix it.” She dealt with the daily upkeep of her family's New York apartment building. In 1985, she married George E. Crombie, who predeceased her in 1988. Eleanor loved New York City, but equally loved the time she spent in Vermont and, after experiencing 9/11 and the ravages of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, she decided to move closer to her Vermont family. She found community, friendship, care, and an active and colorful living environment at Valley Cares in Townshend, a home she was thankful for every day. Survivors include step-daughters,Janice Simberg of Scotch Plains, N.J., and Mary Chris Kenny of Flushing, N.Y.; one sister, Florence Staats of South Newfane; five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. She was predeceased by two sisters, Sr. Marguerite Schaefer and Theresa Heard. Memorial information: A funeral Mass will be held on June 27, at 11 a.m., at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Townshend. Donations to West River Valley Assisted Living, 461 Grafton Rd., Townshend, VT 05353. To share a memory of Eleanor, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Florence T. Dixon, 93, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died peacefully on June 11, 2020, in the comfort of her home, following a period of declining health. She was born in Ashuelot, N.H., on April 10, 1927, the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Pulaski) Wasileski. She was raised and educated in Ashuelot, attending Thayer High School in Winchester, N.H. She worked as an office clerk in the billing department at the Brattleboro Reformer, where she retired from after 20 years of service. Following her retirement, she continued to work on a part-time basis for the Reformer in their mail room. Florence was a longtime communicant of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Hinsdale, and was an active member of the Catholic Daughters Assoc. She loved crafts, especially crocheting and knitting. She always cherished time spent with her family, especially during the holidays. In 1947, she married Kenneth G. Dixon, who predeceased her in 2006. Survivors include her sons Kenneth G. Dixon, Jr. and his wife, Lisa, of Spofford, N.H., and Terry Dixon and his wife, Nancy, of Brattleboro; one sister, Stella Lindsey of Manchester, N.H.; five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a daughter, Linda Dixon in 1984; brothers Kenneth and Chester Wasileski; and her sister, Sophie Dominick. Memorial information: Graveside committal services in St. Joseph's Cemetery will be private for the immediate family. A memorial Mass at St. Joseph's Church in Hinsdale will be conducted at a future date and time to be announced by the funeral home. Donations to Visiting Nurses Assoc. & Hospice of Vermont and New Hampshire, P.O. Box 976, White River Junction, VT 05001. To share a memory of Florence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Harry Edward LeBlanc, Sr., 50, of Marlborough, N.H. Died June 4, 2020 at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, N.H., with his loved ones at his side. He was born on Sept. 13, 1969 in Springfield, Mass., to the late William LeBlanc and Bonita “Bonnie” (Banks) Bowen. He was educated in Connecticut. While living in Connecticut, Harry worked as a roofer for many of his younger years. Upon moving to Vermont, Harry worked for Georgia Pacific as a machine operator until their closure. He then worked at Atlantic Paper Mill until their closure. Harry was a jack of all trades and enjoyed teaching his children how to do things, whether it be properly operating a power tool, who the best bands were, or fishing. Harry was an avid fisherman, a die-hard fan of NASCAR (especially Jimmie Johnson), and the Pittsburgh Steelers. In later years, he enjoyed doing small woodworking projects and watching the birds. Music was always a big part of Harry's life. Harry is survived by his partner of 17 years, Gail Buckley; his children Daniel LeBlanc and his fiancée Lindsey Pond; Katherine LeBlanc and her partner Chris Krause; Julia LeBlanc Merkle and her partner Jordan Wheeler; Andrew Buckley; William LeBlanc; Hunter LeBlanc; and Harry LeBlanc, Jr.; two stepsons Gene Buckley and his fiancée Kya Davis and Daniel Buckley and his partner Meagan Osgood; and grandsons Keagan Deane and Brennan Silvernail. Harry is also survived by his siblings Robert LeBlanc, Pamela LeBlanc, and Jeffrey Vartuli and his wife Tammy; several nieces and nephews; his stepfather, Randy Bowen; his mother-in-law, Nancy Buckley-Howard; and a large extended family and circle of friends. Memorial information: Services will be held at a later date after COVID-19 restrictions have been lessened. Donations in Harry's memory to help defray the cost of funeral expenses may be made to Atamaniuk Funeral Home, 40 Terrace St., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• David Putnam Rein, 84, of Webster, N.Y. Died June 1, 2020, following an extended illness. Born Aug. 11, 1935, in Rochester, N.Y., to the late Rev. Dr. John D. and Laura Putnam Rein, he graduated at age 16 from Webster High School as salutatorian of the Class of 1952. In 1956, he graduated from Drew University with a B.A. in classics and psychology. He then earned two M.A.'s, one in classics from Brown University (1957) and a second in TESL methods, English, and linguistics from the University of Michigan (1968). David's teaching career began at West Morris (N.J.) High School. In subsequent years, he taught at the University of Liberia on a one-year Fulbright-Hays grant; at Bucknell University's Institute for Foreign Students; at Bloomsburg (Pa.) State College; at the School for International Training of The Experiment in International Living in Brattleboro; and at the Greater Hartford (Conn.) Community College. He taught students from more than 50 countries, mostly students bound for U.S. colleges and universities, including undergraduate and professional schools. Woven throughout David's teaching career was free-lance writing and editing of ESL (English as a second language) and EFP (English for professionals) materials, including the East West and Main Street series for Oxford University Press and Spectrum for Regents Publishing Company. These pioneering textbooks are used worldwide as tools for international teaching of ESL. David's eclectic career spanned 40 years of teaching, writing, training, and mentoring. He was the consummate lifelong learner, champion of the English language, accomplished classical pianist, and international traveler. He lived a fulfilling life with national and international connections. He could have traveled anywhere and looked up someone he knew. He enjoyed life-long friendships with classmates, fellow teachers, and students. His influence through his students will continue to spread for years to come. After retiring in Brattleboro in 1998, David returned to his Webster roots and quickly became an active member of the Cherry Ridge Community in 2007. David leaves behind his devoted sister and brother (in-law), Carolyn and Daniel Corretore Jr.; his compassionately attentive nephews and nieces, Rev. Daniel Corretore III, David (Kelly) Corretore, Janet (Daniel) Vespone, Sharon (Jeffrey) Scott, Laurie (Jeffrey) Kroon; many great-nephews and nieces, great-grand-nephews and nieces, and cousins (including those in Germany). David was predeceased by great-nephews Robert, Daniel and Matthew. Memorial information: A graveside service will take place at Webster Rural Cemetery at the convenience of the family. Donations to a charity of your choice or to the Harmony Scholarship for International Students/Study at Drew University, Office of Advancement, 36 Madison Ave., Madison, NJ 07940.