College news
• Jaden Conkling of Brattleboro and Bradie Harris of Bellows Falls were named to the fall 2022 Dean’s List at Nazareth College in Rochester, New York.
• Haley Frechette of Dummerston, who is pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, was named to the fall 2022 Dean’s List at the Albany (N.Y.) College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
• Emily Harris of Bellows Falls and Luke Missale of Brattleboro were named to the fall 2022 President’s List at Plymouth (N.H.) State University, while Haley McAllister of Putney, Kathleen Hodsden of Bellows Falls, and Jack Armbruster of West Dover were all named to the Plymouth State’s fall 2022 Dean’s List.
• The following local students were named to the fall 2022 President’s List at Southern New Hampshire University: Nolen Donovan of Rockingham, Kobe Bazin of Bellows Falls, Samantha Mustain of Brattleboro, Forrest Brooke-deBock of Brattleboro, Miranda Blake of Vernon, and Jessica Cronin of Wilmington.
• Remus Harris of Brattleboro is a President’s List honoree for the fall 2022 semester at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas.
• The following local students were honored for academic achievement during the fall 2022 semester at Castleton University: Noah Distefano of West Townshend, Jenna Robinson of East Dover, and Jairen Sanderson of West Townshend were named to the President’s List, while Cameron Allembert of Whitingham, Keegan Allembert of Whitingham, Sally Densmore of Wilmington, Morgen Janovsky of Wilmington, Maria Page of West Halifax, and Jordan Wright of Brattleboro were named to the Dean’s List.
Obituaries
• J. Eric Anderson, 84, of Westminster. Died Jan. 2, 2023 of complications from Parkinson’s disease. A beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, and friend, Eric was born on March 25, 1938 and raised in Glen Ridge, New Jersey by Robert and Elizabeth Anderson. Eric was a popular child and an exceptional student who went on to attend Dartmouth College, where he rowed crew and forged lifelong friendships with many of his classmates. While at Dartmouth, Eric joined ROTC and, upon his graduation in 1960, was commissioned as a officer and served in the Marines. He was stationed in Okinawa and the San Diego Recruit Depot, and later served in the Marine Corps Reserve from 1963 to 1966. He later joined the Vermont Air National Guard as Judge Advocate, serving from 1981 to 1998, retiring at the rank of colonel. After graduating from University of Calfornia’s Hastings Law School in 1966, Eric moved to Brattleboro and began his nearly 50-year career as a lawyer, occasionally accepting firewood or maple syrup as payment for his services. He loved the outdoors, running, hiking, biking, skiing, birdwatching, gardening, watching the Red Sox, singing with the River Singers, being a member of the Bellows Falls Rotary Club, serving on the board of directors for Parks Place and Compass School, the Westminster Development Review Board, and spending time with his wife, who was at his side when he passed. Eric is survived by his sister Adrienne Anderson Fly, his children Molly and Rob Anderson, his grandchildren Charlie and Ally Anderson, and the love of his life, his wife, Beth James. Memorial information: A memorial will be held on his birthday, March 25, at a time and location to be announced.
• Andrew William “Andy” Bird, 63, formerly of Brattleboro. Died unexpectedly at the VA Medical Center in Johnson City, Tennessee on Jan. 5, 2023. He was born in Brockton, Massachusetts on July 20, 1959. He was such a light in life, and shared a lot of sarcasm and laughs with all who knew him. As some would say, he was “the man, the myth, the legend!” He spent his time enjoying cruises with his wife and many loved ones raising his glass and cheering to a great time. He also really enjoyed cooking. He spent a lot of time feeding his close family and friends with delicious recipes full of flavor and love. In previous years, he worked as a chef in different facilities. One of his favorites was a retirement home in Colorado. He ended his career days managing distribution centers for Land Air Express, FedEx Freight, and XPO in Vermont. He recently retired and moved to Virginia where he planned to enjoy the South and continue cruising with his wife of 42 years, Margaret Bird, who survives him. He is also survived by his daughters, Sabrina Douglass and her husband Dave, Mariyah Bird, Courtni Bird, and Amanda Pangelinan; his grandchildren Allyssa, Caleb, and Brayden; great-grandson Lawton; his mother, Judith Laundry; his sisters, Monica Larson and her husband Ron, and Melinda Bousquet and her husband Todd; as well as many in-laws, cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was predeceased by his father, Elmer Bird; his grandparents, Edwin and Julia Smith and Perley and Annabell Bird; his father-in-law Jerome Clement, Sr.; mother-in-law Elaine Judd; and many aunts and uncles, and infant twin grandchildren. Memorial information: Graveside committal services with full military honors will be conducted in the family lot in West Brattleboro Cemetery on Mather Road at a date and time to be announced by Atamaniuk Funeral Home. Donations to Rescue, Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To share a memory or send condolences to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Louis Capy, 23, of Brattleboro. Died on Jan. 7, 2023. Born on May 31, 1999 in Brattleboro, Louis had an amazing and complicated mind. As an unconventional thinker, he both broadened others’ perceptions and struggled to find his own place in this world. He had a very soft heart underneath his stoic exterior, which showed in his love for children and animals, especially his dog, Xavier. He was sometimes referred to as “Sweet Lou” by his friends. He played lacrosse and football in high school. In addition to being naturally athletic, he was a good haggler by the age of 11, able to catch a barn cat by 13, and an experienced traveler throughout his whole life. He had a deep connection to the universe, of which he is now fully a part. Memorial information: Arrangements were entrusted to Fenton & Hennessy Funeral Home in Bellows Falls. Comments and thoughts can be added to a guest book at fentonandhennessey.com.
• Adison Gregory “Ad” Clark, 26, of Nashua, New Hampshire, formerly of West Dummerston. Died unexpectedly on Jan. 18, 2022 at his home. The son of Gregory and Jennifer (Gray) Clark, he was born in Troitsk, Russia on Oct. 31, 1996. He was raised in West Dummerston, attending Dummerston Elementary School, and was a graduate of Brattleboro Union High School with the Class of 2016. Adison went on to proudly serve his country in the Marine Corps enlisting in 2017. He was deployed twice to Japan prior to his honorable discharge from active service in 2021. At the time of his death, Adison had been employed as an apprentice lineman working for Waveguide Solutions of Nashua, a fiber optics company. Previously, he earned his Commercial Driver’s Licence and worked for Perkins Home Center in West Chesterfield, New Hampshire. He also worked for his father for a period before joining Perkins. Adison will be remembered for his spirit of friendship. He was always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. He loved his family, the outdoors, and keeping physically fit by working out at the gym. He is survived by his parents; a sister, Natasha Clark and her husband Isaac Pena of North Carolina; maternal grandmother Sandra Gray; paternal grandparents Holland and Marcia Clark; several aunts, uncles, and cousins; and a large host of friends. Additionally, he leaves his beloved Golden Retriever, Briar. He was predeceased by his maternal grandfather, Donald Gray. Memorial information: A funeral Mass will be held Saturday, Jan. 28, at 12:30 p.m., at St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church. Burial will be in St. Michael’s Parish Cemetery. A reception will follow the services to be held at VFW Post 1034 on Black Mountain Road. Friends may call at the Atamaniuk Funeral Home on Friday, Jan. 27, from 4 to 6 p.m. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302; or the Vermont Suicide Prevention Center, in Center for Health and Learning, P.O. Box 1276, Brattleboro, VT 05302 (vtspc.org). To share a memory or send condolences to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Robert James Davis, 76, of Dover. Died suddenly of a heart attack at his home on Jan. 12, 2023. Born in Utica, New York on Aug. 31, 1946, to Helen (Hlavenka) Davis and James Lewis Davis, Bob grew up in West Winfield, New York and graduated from West Winfield Central High School in 1965. He attended Utica College in 1966. In 1967, Bob was drafted into the Army where he spent two years of active duty, including a year with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam. After his service, Bob moved to Wilmington and began working at a friend’s ski lodge at Mount Snow. The following season Bob and a Deerfield Valley friend, Geoff Gloeckner, briefly ran The Drifts, a bar/restaurant. In 1970, Bob started his own construction company, Town Farm Homes, in Wilmington and built numerous houses in the Deerfield Valley. Bob married Linda “Rye” Davis in 1978 and, in 1980, he and his family moved to West Winfield, where he worked as a salesman for the Harvestore Silo Company. Together, Bob and Rye ran a small take-out restaurant called the Davis Dairy Station. In 1984, Bob and his family returned to Wilmington. Upon earning his real estate license, Bob worked for Kenyon Realty until his retirement. Bob loved people and had a way of instantly making a connection with everyone he met. That, and his knack for being a natural tour guide, made him a gifted salesperson. Bob made many friends over the years and never let a good friendship slip away, always making a point of staying in touch, either by phone or in person. Lunch or dinner with Bob was an invitation he often generously extended. He loved good food and he loved his cars —from his 1960 baby blue Impala convertible and dazzling white 1964 GTO, to his most recent BMW. Driving good cars was his passion. Bob was predeceased by his parents, his sister Karen Stanhope, and his son Zachery Davis. He is survived by his son, Michael Davis (Andrea) of Vernon; his niece, Elizabeth Stanhope Turro (Steve) of Jacksonville; his brother-in-law Noel Stanhope and special cousins Joanne Martin (Terry) and Steve Davis, all of West Winfield; and his former wife and friend, Rye Davis of Brattleboro. Memorial information: A casual gathering of remembrance will be held at Covey Allen & Shea Funeral Home, 44 East Main St., in Wilmington, on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 1 p.m. Memorials may be sent in care of the funeral home at P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363 to be used at the family’s discretion.
• Scott French, 46, of Rutland. Died Dec. 16, 2022 at Rutland Regional Medical Center. He was born in Troy, New York on March 10, 1976, the son of Reginald and Diane (Moffitt) French. Scott was a tattoo artist and he had several videos of his artwork on TikTok and Instagram. He also enjoyed making furniture from car parts and doing models and dioramas. He loved to ride motorcycles, and also wrote and sang a song on YouTube called I found a light in you. He is survived by his partner Nina Bartlett and Cooter, his lovable pit bull, his children, several half-brothers and sisters, and his nephews. Memorial information: There will be a scattering of his ashes in Brattleboro when the weather is warmer.
• Raymond E. “Skip” Hutchinson Jr., 75, of Putney. Died at his home on Jan. 12, 2023. He was born November 6, 1947 in Springfield, Vermont, the son of Raymond E. Sr. and Virginia L. (Goodrich) Hutchinson. He graduated from Chester High School, Class of 1965. After high school, he enlisted in the Army and served two tours in Vietnam. He was proud to have served. Raymond worked in construction in the area for many years. He was a member of the Vietnam Vets Motorcycle Club and loved riding motorcycles. He enjoyed an adventure, especially while traveling by motorcycle. He also loved spending time with his daughters and grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Marcella Pearl of Putney; daughters Melissa Benson (Mike) of Ludlow, Vanessa Beach (Buddy) of Windsor, and Lisa Ewing of Mendon; sister Bonnie Maynard (Danny) of Proctorsville; grandchildren Dillon Beach, Levi Destromp, Zoey Destromp, Maddox Merrill, and Alicia Ewing; great-grandson Asher Destromp and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Brenda Willard, and his first wife, Kathleen Hutchinson. Memorial information: A graveside service will be held at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Proctorsville at a later date. Donations in Skip’s memory may be made to the Visiting Nurses Association & Hospice at [email protected].
• Lois Marjorie Johnson, 94, formerly of Brattleboro. Died January 17, 2023. Lois was born in Chicago on June 10, 1928, but it was in Brattleboro where she would meet the love of her life, Ernie Johnson Sr., who had returned from serving his country with the Marine Corps in World War II and met the Brattleboro High School cheerleader for the first time. They wed in 1947 and would be married for 63 years, raising two daughters, Dawn and Chris, and one son, Ernie Jr. While her husband pursued a professional baseball career, as a player and later as a longtime broadcaster for the Atlanta Braves, spending countless nights on the road, Lois was simply the rock-solid foundation of the Johnson household. For decades, a magnet on the kitchen refrigerator summed it up best: “We interrupt this marriage to bring you the baseball season.” She navigated the challenge with remarkable skill, a deep-rooted love of family, and a combination of determination, wisdom, faith and charm rarely seen. Amid those responsibilities in the home, she branched out into the business world in the 1970s as one of the “Tour Gals.” She and her colleagues provided out-of-town visitors with sightseeing opportunities of Atlanta. It was a job tailor-made for a woman whose welcoming spirit and magnetic personality were instantly obvious to everyone who was lucky enough to meet her. For all of her elegance and grace, there was also a fighter’s mentality. Twice she stared down cancer, emerging from those battles even stronger, even more grateful to enjoy the blessings of seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Even up until her final days, she was entertaining them with her talents at the piano. Lois is survived by her daughter Chris and son Ernie Jr.; son-in-law Jacky Cheek; daughter-in-law Cheryl Deluca-Johnson; grandchildren Rebecca, Eric, Maggie, Carmen, Allison, and Ashley; and great-grandchildren Katie, Amy, Everett, and Bennett. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Jan. 23 at St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Church in Cumming, Georgia. Lois was laid to rest next to her beloved Ernie at Green Lawn Cemetery, Roswell, Georgia.
• Elizabeth “Libby” Stone Mills, 94, of Westminster West, and part-time resident of Swans Island, Maine. Died peacefully on Jan. 12, 2023, in Southwest Harbor, Maine, at the home of her niece, Sonia Field. Libby had a deep connection to the natural world. Her lifelong interests included hiking, sailing, camping, swimming, cross-country skiing, gardening and walking faster than people half her age. She was a master teacher and mentor as well as an accomplished fiber artist. But perhaps her greatest gift was her ability to relate meaningfully with people from all backgrounds and to lead them forward. Born in Belfast, Maine, on Dec. 30, 1928, Libby grew up with her parents, grandparents and two siblings in the house where her great-grandparents settled after living at sea for two years. The Depression and World War II shaped her early years, but she also held many happy memories of life in Belfast and summers at the family cottage on the shore at The Battery. After graduating from Oberlin College, Libby worked as a recreational therapist and an occupational therapist. She married Robert (Bob) Mills in 1951. They lived in New York and Colorado and had two children, Matthew and Anne. In 1958, Libby and Bob moved to Vermont to work at The Putney School, where they stayed for three decades. During summers, they took groups to work on remote Maine islands, working for the Student Conservation Program. Over the years, Libby taught weaving and human behavior and held various leadership and administrative positions. She remained committed to the school philosophy related to service, manual labor, creative arts, community, justice, land stewardship and a life of adventure. During summers, while raising their family, Libby and Bob lived and built on a piece of land on Swans Island, Maine. In 1965 they bought an abandoned farm in Westminster West. A lifetime of projects at both locations provided permanent access to nature for their family and many visitors. Libby remained connected to the Maine coast throughout her life; she cherished her relationships with the full-time island residents. In 1980, while still working at The Putney School, Libby joined three others in founding The Green Mountain Spinnery. The worker-owned cooperative, making yarn for knitters and weavers from locally sourced wool, still operates successfully today. In 1986, Libby lost her beloved daughter, Anne, to cancer. Her husband Bob died eight years later. Even in those dark days, Libby continued to reach toward life. Retiring from The Putney School, she continued to work for the Spinnery. Gib Taylor, her partner of the decade following her husband’s passing, shared her interests in outdoor activities, the Maine coast and the arts until his death in 2006. Political activism was very important to Libby; she went to jail after participating in a nonviolent protest. Issues related to human rights, environmental conservation and working toward justice were priorities for her. She possessed the ability to facilitate communication with people from all points of view. Libby served on the boards of both the Putney Mountain Association and the Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association (WHPA) for approximately 30 years. She cultivated and sustained many partnerships and negotiated with respect. She co-authored a book about the history of the WHPA, and helped both organizations expand local land protection. At 80, Libby began a new phase of life by marrying her long-time friend, John Barnett. They both adapted and thrived, and particularly enjoyed traveling together during the decade they had before his death. In her later years, Libby completed the compilation and publication of Nellie’s Diary, written by her great-grandmother about life at sea from 1863-1865. Libby faced her brief illness with the same courage and grace which allowed her to appreciate life while suffering so many losses. The family extends thanks to her support teams who made this possible as she remained in both of her homes and saw the ocean one last time. Libby is survived by her son, Matthew G. Mills, of Putney; her sister, Dorothy Stone McMahan, of Penobscot, Maine; and many loving nieces, nephews, step-children, cherished friends, and extended family. Memorial information: A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, March 18, at 1 p.m., at the Currier Center at The Putney School. Donations in honor of Libby are welcomed by Eldercare Outreach of Swans Island (P.O. Box 92; Swans Island, ME 04685); Libby Mills Fund for the Fiber Arts at The Putney School (www.putneyschool.org/libbymills); Putney Mountain Association (putneymountain.org) or Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association (www.windmillhillpinnacle.org).
• Gloria Tommila of Hinsdale New Hampshire, died peacefully on Dec. 21, 2022. A sweet, kind, and gentle angel, this saint gave the world so much, suffers no more, and in spirit will reside in the hearts and memories of her family and friends. Gloria was carried by her undying faith and love for her family, including her pets Annie, Bayley and especially Buddy. She is survived by her sons James and Michael, husband George, sisters Sharon and Jean, her brothers Bob, Ron, and George, grandchildren Michael, Jess, Laura, and Eric, and great-grandchildren Kairi, Roman, and Rylie. Memorial information: Gloria requested no funeral, but encouraged us to celebrate her life when weather permits, perhaps this August. To learn when, email [email protected].