College news
• Sabin Litchfield of Jamaica graduated from the University of Notre Dame's College of Engineering with the highest distinction of Summa Cum Laude. Litchfield was enrolled in a 3+2 program where he earned a bachelor's degree in computer science at Stonehill College, also Summa Cum Laude, and transferred to Notre Dame, where he studied for two more years and earned a second degree in computer engineering. He has accepted a software engineering position with General Dynamics Mission Systems in Taunton, Mass.
• The following local students received their bachelors degrees from the University of Vermont at the college's 220th commencement: Alexander Bocech of East Dover, Kira Boucher of Newfane (Cum Laude), Lindsey Burnell of Marlboro, Francesca Carasi-Schwartz of Brattleboro, Eben Collins of Putney (Magna Cum Laude), Hannah Curtiss of Vernon, Ian Fulton-Black of Guilford, Yuri Harris of Brattleboro, Bonnie Hart of Brattleboro, Zebariah Hathaway of Brattleboro, Adam Hinckley of Putney, Kyla Lavoy of Wilmington, Christol Long of Brattleboro, Johanna Mcdonald of Londonderry, Kevin O'Keefe of West Wardsboro, Loana Pereyra of South Londonderry, Karissa Perkins of Vernon, Eve Pomazi of Brattleboro (Summa Cum Laude), Seth Rhodes of Brattleboro, Steven Rink of Brattleboro, Clayton Sanderson of West Townshend, Jon Spanierman of Putney, Caleb Thibault of Williamsville, Fallon Vancor of Bellows Falls, Kassidy Walkowiak of Whitingham, Gabrielle Walton of Townshend, and Mason Winslow of Jamaica.
• The following local students at the Community College of Vermont earned associates degrees this spring: Dakoda Carter, Amanda J. Reed, and Laurel Elizabeth-Silas Salter-Dimma of Bellows Falls; Makayla M. Aldrich, Brooke Leigh Andrews, Minho Hoskins, Julia Luna, Leigh Clair Marthe, and Addison James Worsman of Brattleboro; Jessica Lynn Hamilton of Brookline; Mary A. Thompson of Grafton; Amy Lyn Downing, Jessica Ann Hanson, and Kaylie Noel Rosmarino of Guilford; Mellisa A. King of Jamaica; Tysea Sue Kurjiaka of Londonderry; Remington M. Kurkul, Mikaela A. Mellish, and Amy Speiser Vaughan of Putney, Melia Kalani Allen, Megan Ann LaFlam, Michaela Lee Russo, and Karen Ann Wilson of Vernon; William R. Bass, Jake Peter Cassese, Riley Oliver Childs, and Samantha W. Decker of West Dover; Melanie L. Crosby of West Halifax; Askalae Amarah Jacobs of West Wardsboro; Codie Anne Wershoven of Whitingham; and Tristen A. Dionne of Wilmington.
• Ben Shumlin of Putney graduated Magna Cum Laude from Colorado College with a B.A. in art.
• The following local students were honored for academic achievement in the spring 2021 semester at Plymouth (N.H.) State University: Michael Sawitz of West Dover, Conor Hiner of Brattleboro, Kathleen Hodsden of Bellows Falls, Ruchan Karagoz of Brattleboro were all named to the President's List, while Sarah Scarlett, a nursing major from Saxtons River, was named to the Dean's List.
• The following local students were honored for academic achievement in the spring 2021 semester at Castleton State University: Greer Bills of Wardsboro, Noah Distefano of West Townshend, Scarlett Pugliese of South Londonderry, and Veronica Stevens of Newfane were all named to the President's List, while Saima Cassell of Westminster, Cody Cutler of Newfane, Mariah Hazard of Jamaica, Maureen Hughes of Westminster, Rebekah Lazarek of Westminster, Anthony Martinez of Brattleboro, Jonah Siegel of Brattleboro, Owen Sniatkowski of East Dover, and Laura Vogell of Springfield were named to the Dean's List.
• Tyler Godin and Thomas Carroll, both of Vernon, were both named to the Dean's List for the spring 2021 semester at Curry College in Milton, Mass. Carroll was also inducted into Curry's chapter of Pi Lambda Theta, one of the nation's most prestigious education honor societies.
• Sydney Hescock of Wardsboro earned Dean's List honors for the spring 2021 semester at The College of Saint Rose in Albany, N.Y.
• Suzanne Allen of Stratton, a member of the Class of 2022 at Connecticut College in New London, Conn., has been named to the Dean's High Honors List for the spring 2021 semester.
• Chelsea D. Lee, a legal studies major from Vernon, was named to the President's List for the spring 2021 semester at Husson University in Bangor, Maine.
Obituaries
• Marjory (Peggy) Wright Allen, 87, of Westminster Station. Died peacefully at Thompson House nursing home in Brattleboro on June 7, 2021. The daughter of John and Nancy Wright, she was born in Rindge, N.H., and grew up in Alstead N.H. Peggy will be remembered for her pleasant, easy-going personality. She was a faithful and devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother whose life centered around her family. She was a longtime member of the Christian Family Circle Church in Westminster and actively involved with Camp Blessing. She was predeceased by brothers Milton, Norman, and Floyd; her sister, Helen; and her son, Mitchell Allen. She leaves behind her twin sister Margaret and her husband, Romaine Bacon; and her beloved husband, Russell. She is also survived by her four children and their families including their 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Memorial information: Graveside services were held June 13 at Westminster Cemetery. Donations to Thompson House, 80 Maple St. Brattleboro, VT 05301
• Ruth-Ann Tracy “Rudy” Bailey, 81, of Wardsboro. Died June 8, 2021 at Vernon Green Nursing Home. She was born Oct. 20, 1939 in Concord, Mass., the daughter of Howard and Portia (Hardy) Tracy. She grew up in Candia, N.H., and then later moved to Suffield, Conn., where she graduated from high school. She married Douglas Bailey Sr. in 1961 and lived in Enfield, Conn., until 1975 when they moved to Wardsboro. The two were happily married for 57 years. She was the Wardsboro Town Clerk for several years, and then worked at Grace Cottage Hospital as a nurse's aide. She fell in love with nursing and decided to go to school to become an LPN. After some years of working as an LPN, she became the director of the Valley Health Council in Townshend. Rudy enjoyed making ceramics and baking for family. She was known for her chocolate fudge, baked beans, and apple pies. She was a Girl Scout leader and loved working with children. She loved snowmobiling, boating, water skiing, and square dancing. She was active in her church and taught Sunday school classes. She loved spending time with family and will be missed by all who knew her. Memorial information: A graveside service was held on June 13 at South Newfane Cemetery. Donations to Samaritans Purse (www.samaritanspurse.org).
• Edwin F. Gray, 86, of Williamsville. Died peacefully at home on June 11, 2021, with his wife, Christine, and Bayada home health aide Melinda at his side. He was born Oct. 7, 1934 at home in Williamsville, the third of six children to Frank and Helena (Crowninshield) Gray. Edwin worked for Loney Construction for 30 years, retiring after a serious accident on the job in 1993. As part of his recovery, he and his son Marc began to raise orchids, building two greenhouses, and filling them with award winning orchids. Edwin was a quiet, humble man who loved the outdoors. He built a beautiful home and yard for his family and was still gardening in 2020. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman and supplied many fish and game meals for the family. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Jean (Druke), and his brothers James and Charles. Surviving are his wife of almost 59 years; his sons, Marc and Daniel (Sheila); and his brother David and sister Joan Jones. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 19, at 1 p.m., at Newfane Congregational Church, followed by a reception in Fellowship Hall.
• Susan A. Hood, 61, of Keene, N.H. Died peacefully and with dignity at home on Jan. 15, 2021. Susan's parents, Henry L. and Jane A. (Steady) Hood welcomed their daughter into the world on Nov. 13, 1959, in Danville, Pa., the third of four children. Susan spent her childhood in Danville. She was a 1977 graduate of Danville Senior High School, where she was a member of several clubs including the Latin Club and the Booster Club. She went on to attend Penn State University where she was awarded, with honors, a bachelor's degree in individual and family studies in 1987. Susan's huge and caring heart set her life journey. She cherished her role as a loving and attentive aunt. She helped to raise her niece, Jane, who she sometimes “sprung” from high school to ride country roads. It was on just such a day that Aunt Sue yielded the wheel of her Dodge Ram truck, and Jane became a driver. Aunt Sue later drove her niece Madeline to her graduation at the Putney School in the same big green truck, blasting celebratory rock-n-roll all the way. And Aunt Sue loved watching her niece Audrey grow, attending her annual violin recitals in Kittery, Maine, an event that heralded the start of summer and, as with other precious moments, brought the family together. Although Sue was never able to meet her great niece Agnes in person, she truly loved the videos, pictures, and stories that were shared with her. Susan was the keeper of generations of family photographs, many of the more recent taken by Sue with just as many showing her enjoying her time with her family. Hers was a loving and giving life. She had a lifelong love of photography, capturing the beauty of the natural world and the personality of loved ones. She also enjoyed all sorts of sports, as a participant in her younger years and a dedicated fan later on. Susan was known to set her alarm for the wee hours to enjoy golf or tennis matches played halfway round the world. She had a great love for music. While she had a decades-long fondness for Aerosmith, her most recent CD stack featured Emmy Lou Harris and Bob Dylan. In beginning to gently unpack her life, we are reminded that Susan participated in local writing groups over the years and leaves behind a small collection of uplifting reflections of her Buddhist nature. Susan was brilliant equal to her kindness and generosity. An avid reader, her collection of books included art history, science of the mind and natural history, Eastern philosophy and religion, and gentle fiction. She loved having a library at her fingertips and spent a good part of every day reading. And, Susan loved everything about cooking. She sought new and exciting recipes, made them better, and sent them off to family to make in their homes. Many of her recipes, marked with her modifications in the margins, carry the exclamation, “Excellent! Make this!” She was a knitter, a quilter, and a collager...ever creating beauty. Susan will be greatly missed by many, especially her brother, Craig Hood and his wife Amy Brnger, of Eliot, Maine; her sisters, Michele Hood and her wife Debra Lukan of West Chesterfield, N.H., Nancy Hood and her husband Tom Jamison, of Putney; her stepmother, Nancy Alcock-Hood, of Exeter, N.H.; her nieces, Audrey Hood, Madeline Veitch, and E. Jane Hood; a nephew, Oliver Veitch; a great-niece, Agnes Pletch Kanashiro; an aunt, Margery Steady; and many, many cousins. Every neighbor and employee in her apartment building, Cleveland Place, has warm stories to share of Susan's smile, humor, and graciousness. She will be missed there, as well, a place she called home for eight years. Memorial information: A celebration of Susan's life was held privately by the family.
Donations to Monadnock Family Services, 64 Main St., Keene, NH 03431.
• Pauline Johnson, 81, of Rochester, Vt. Died peacefully on June 8, 2021 at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend. Born in Montreal on July 22, 1939, she was the daughter of Paul and Antoinette Allard of Milton. Pauline was first the wife of Henry Eaton, who died in 1967. She then married Roland Johnson, who predeceased her in 2004. Pauline grew up in Milton, and later resided in Rochester, and then Groveton, N.H. She worked for many years at Off-Price Outlet in Rochester. She was a devoted wife and mother, enjoyed socializing with her many dear friends, and was often the life of the party. Pauline also touched the lives of many as a babysitter, friend, and confidant, many seeing her as a maternal role model. She made countless baby sweaters, blankets, mittens, and kitchen towels for all who could use them. Her pies and desserts were often fought over at family gatherings. Her smile, kindness, and sense of humor will be missed by all who knew her. She is survived by: her four daughters, Priscilla (Gregory) Gumina of Penfield, NY, Holly (Luc) Tanguay of Berwick, Maine, Diane (Kevin) Gregoire of San Antonio, Texas and Lisa (Laura Judge) Eaton of Walpole, N.H.; a brother, Paul Allard of Milton; a sister, Lily Pennell of Holyoke, Mass.; five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Memorial information: A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 31 at Milton Mills Cemetery. Friends and family are welcome to attend. To share a memory or send condolences, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Sharon Ann (Carey) Newell, 68, died peacefully on Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at Pine Heights Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation in Brattleboro. She was born on Sept. 27, 1952 in Townsend, the daughter of Marguerite E. and the late Verne T. Carey. She attended Leland & Gray Union High School. She loved to play Bingo and Pogo. Above all else, she loved time spent with her grandchildren. Sharon is survived by her children; Heather Newell of South Newfane, Charles Newell of Heath, Mass., and David (Cheryl) Newell of Gloverville, S.C. In addition, she is survived by her mother; her siblings Brenda Bills of Brattleboro, Donna (Craig) Stone of East Dover, Verne T. Carey II of Newfane, and Michael Carey of Brattleboro; and five grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Memorial information: A graveside service will be held on Friday June 18, at 11 a.m., at South Newfane Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to attend. Donations to the Activities Department at Pine Heights.
• Janet (Rogers) Severance, 76, died peacefully, with family by her side, on June 5, 2021 at Vernon Green Nursing Home, where she had been a beloved resident. Janet was born in Brattleboro on Dec. 20, 1944, the daughter of Winifred and Leslie Rogers, Sr. The family settled in Grafton, and Janet attended local schools, graduating from Bellows Falls High School with the Class of 1963. Twelve days after graduation, Janet married her sweetheart, Donald Severance of Brattleboro. Janet was a quiet, unassuming woman, whose gentle grace and generous spirit affected all who met her. She was the family doula, and assisted at the births of her grandchildren and later, the births of the first two great-grandchildren. Janet believed in serving outside the family as well, and held various positions in the community during her lifetime such as Sunday school teacher, 4-H Club Leader, as a member of the Brattleboro town zoning board in the 1980s, and later in life, making fresh flower arrangements weekly for the dining tables at Grace Cottage Hospital where she volunteered much of her time. Janet had numerous passions and hobbies that included attending antique auctions, creating perennial garden beds, making stained glass, attending bluegrass events, particularly the annual Jennybrook festival, rug hooking, collecting enough books that a library had to be built in her home to house them all, and building stone walls after she had trained at the Scott Farm with professional stone wall builders from the United States and England in 2010. Janet established a home-based daycare in the early 1970s, and was one of the first in the area to be certified as a specialized care provider in order to serve children involved with the child protection system. She began working at World Learning/School for International Training in 1977, where she spent the remainder of her career. Prior to her retirement from the institution, Janet held the position of Human Resources Benefits Manager. She had earned certification as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and was exceedingly proud of that hard-earned distinction in the field of human resources. Janet was predeceased by her parents, a brother, Leslie Eli Rogers, Jr, and her husband, Donald Allen Severance. She is survived by her children and their partners: Tamara Evanson (Douglas Evanson) of Brattleboro; Leslie Smith (Ian Smith) of Brattleboro; Timothy Severance (Rachael Gill) of Putney, and Aiken, S.C.; and Christopher Severance (Lea Ann Sochin) of Brattleboro. Janet is also survived by 10 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, a niece and several nephews. Memorial information: Per Janet's request, a private graveside service will be scheduled in the coming weeks. Donation to Vernon Green Memory Care Unit/B-wing Activities Fund, 61 Greenway Drive, Vernon, VT 05354, or Grace Cottage Hospital, P.O. Box 216, Townshend, VT 05353. To send condolences to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
Services
• Graveside funeral services for Joyce Canedy Boyd will be held at the family lot in Riverview Cemetery on Saturday June 19, at 2 p.m. Mrs. Boyd, 84, a resident of Wilmington, died at her home on Dec. 8, 2020.