College news
• Lily Huitong Friesen of Brattleboro graduated from St. Michael's College in Colchester in May 2023 during the College's 116th Commencement. Friesen was also named to the Dean's List for the spring 2023 semester and was inducted into an honor society, Sigma Xi.
• The following local students received their degrees in May as part of the Class of 2023 at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island: John Imperatore of West Dover, B.A., communication and media studies; Abigail Sargent of Dummerston, B.A., art and architectural history; and Lexia Wolak of Brattleboro, B.S., criminal justice and B.A., psychology.
• Kade Perrotti of Vernon recently graduated from Rochester (N.Y.) Institute of Technology with a B.S. in computer engineering.
• Lia Clark of Saxtons River recently graduated with a B.A. in political science from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts.
• The following local students were honored for academic achievement in the spring 2023 semester at Northern Vermont University: Jillian Woodard of Bellows Falls, Samantha Martin of Brattleboro, and Denny Hughes of Guilford were all named to the President's List, while Gregory Fitzgerald and Fiona Perez Razzaque, both of Brattleboro, were named to the Dean's List.
• Emilia Dick Fiora del Fabro of Brattleboro, Alex Shriver of Brattleboro, Will Taggard of Brattleboro, and Broden Walsh of Marlboro were all named to the Dean's List for the spring 2023 semester at Tufts University.
• Haley Frechette of Dummerston, who is pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, and Annmarie Mulkey of Stratton, who is pursuing a degree in clinical lab sciences, were both named to the Dean's List for the spring 2023 semester at the Albany (N.Y.) College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Transitions
• Liz Olson has been promoted to the position of teller supervisor at the main branch of Brattleboro Savings & Loan. Olson joined the bank in the fall of 2018 and, since that time, has shown professionalism and leadership in all that she does. Prior to her time at BS&L, almost all of her work experience was in customer service, including working at the Vermont Country Deli where she started as counter staff and soon worked her way up to floor supervisor. In addition to Olson's customer service experience, she successfully completed an extensive ABA certification program focused on becoming a team leader or supervisor.
Obituaries
• Stuart C. Archambault, 78, of Londonderry. Died July 22, 2023. Stuart was born on Aug. 25, 1944 to the late Carlton Archambault and Frances C. Archambault Dutchburn in Montgomery, where he grew up working on his family farm. Upon graduating Enosburg High School in 1963, Stuart joined the Army, where he studied engineering. When he got out of the Army, Stuart trained to be a Vermont Game Warden, a position he proudly held for 36 years. After retiring in 2003, Stuart still spent most days outdoors - caretaking, fishing, hunting, boating, and revitalizing the farm where he grew up in Montgomery. Stuart is survived by his wife, Ellen W. Archambault; his son, Jason, and his wife Janice Archambault; granddaughters Caitlin and Caylee Archambault; a brother, Lee R. Longe, and his wife Glenda, and brother-in-law Douglas A. Wright. Stuart was predeceased by his brothers Bruce and Wayne Archambault. Memorial information: Graveside services and a Celebration of Life will be held Aug 12, 2023 at the Houghtonville Cemetery in Grafton, at 11 a.m. A reception will follow at the Grafton Chapel. Donations to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, Attn: Conservation Camp Scholarships, 1 National Life Dr., Davis 2, Montpelier, VT 05620, the Londonderry Rescue Squad, or the Jack Byrne Center for Palliative and Hospice Care in Lebanon, New Hampshire. Arrangements are under the care of Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home in Bellows Falls.
• Derek Coleman, 52, died on April 4, 2023. He was born on Feb. 4, 1971 to Richard and Beverly Coleman, and was raised in Vernon and Bellows Falls. He attended Vernon Elementary School and graduated from Bellows Falls Union High School in 1989. Shortly thereafter, he married his high school sweetheart, Melissa Dunn, and they had two sons, Tyler & Forrest. Derek was an expert hunter and marksman. Between Vermont and New Hampshire, he would tag out each year. He was so proud when he hunted down a bear with his bow. He took pride in the art of the hunt. He only hunted with a bow later in life and would scout and plan his hunting expeditions most of the year. Derek also loved sports like his dad and his nephew Keegan. The three shared a special bond of their love and dedication to the Red Sox, Celtics, and Steelers, and long games of cribbage. Derek's proudest achievement was being Forrest and Keegan's life coach in hunting and baseball. He also loved spending time with his niece Chloe, doing homework, watching movies and braiding her hair. He loved the children in his life more than anything. After a devastating injury at work 15 years ago, Derek was prescribed highly addictive pain killers. This was the beginning of a terrible addiction Derek could never seem to get ahead of. Derek moved to Iowa to stay with his best friend Vinny Morris in hopes of getting clean and finding a new and healthier life. It was there Derek met the love of his life, Sonya McLain. Together, they had two beautiful children, Grace and Kip. When things sadly did not work out, Derek made his way back to Vermont to spend quality time with his mother and father before they passed. Between the sadness of losing his family, the iron fist of his devastating addiction, and undiagnosed mental illness, the struggle was just too much for him to endure. Derek left this world one year to the day after his father's death. Derek is survived by his children, Forrest Coleman of Vermont and Grace and Kip Coleman of Iowa; his loving sister, Stephanie Coleman Givens of Brattleboro; his nephew Keegan Coleman Givens of Eastham, Massachusetts; his niece Chloe Bly Givens of Brattleboro; his life partners Melissa Dunn Coleman of New York and Sonya McLain of Iowa; as well as loving aunts, uncles and cousins. Derek was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Beverly Coleman, his son Tyler Dillon Coleman, and his brother-in-law, Arthur Givens. Derek was a kind and loving soul, and a friend to many. Derek's story should be a lesson to us all. Behind every addict, there is a family and friends who care deeply for their loved one. Behind every addict, there is a living, breathing human being who battles a demon that can destroy what was a once a functioning member of society. Memorial information: None provided.
• Henry H. Rounds Sr., 85, died peacefully at his home on July 16, 2023, after a brave battle with cancer. He was born April 6, 1938, in Grafton, son of Harland and Catherine (Walsh) Rounds. He was one of 18 children. He is survived by his brother, Joe Rounds, and his sisters, Inez Brooks and Jean Wright. He had fond memories of growing up on the farm in Grafton and was always willing to share his stories. On Dec. 26, 1958, he married the love of his life, Betty (Johnson). Henry is survived by his wife of 64 years, and his children, Hank and Cindy Rounds, Delilah and Dennis Haskell, Lisa and Tom Rutkowski, and Deborah and Rodney Lique. Henry was a log home builder for many years and was delighted to say he built over 101 homes. The proudest accomplishment of his life are his grandchildren: Andrea, Adam, Nathan, Nick, Henry, Roger, Randy, Parker, and Ashley. Henry could always be seen at their sporting events, enthusiastically cheering them on. Henry is also survived by his 10 great-grandchildren. Memorial information: A funeral service will take place on Aug. 11, at 11 a.m., at Grafton Community Church, with burial in Burgess Cemetery. A reception will follow. Donations to the American Cancer Society.
• Richard Henry "Dick" Stafursky, 78, of Brattleboro. Died of lymphoma on July 8, 2023 at Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center. He was born on June 2, 1945 in Conway, Massachusetts, the third child of the late Minnie (Gigurere) and Sam Stafursky. He grew up on a small dairy farm and graduated from Frontier Regional High School in South Deerfield, Massachusetts with the Class of 1964. After attending the University of Bridgeport for two years, he enlisted in the Air Force and served as a preventative medicine specialist until his honorable discharge in 1970. Dick then enrolled at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and received a B.S. in zoology and completed his higher education with an M.S. in biology from George Mason University. He lived in Florida for several years before settling in Washington, D.C. Dick was a man of many talents, enabling him to work in a microbiological lab, as a computer programmer, in a museum, and as a courier. He also created a moving business. Three philosophies inspired Dick from his teen years - veganism, atheism, and conservation. During his years in Washington, he was volunteer editor and activist for the North American Vegetarian Society and as a editor and president of the Vegetarian Society of Washington, D.C. For the past 20 years, he led the nonprofit Species' Forest, which preserves 88 acres he inherited and donated in Conway and will continue to do so well past his lifetime. In 1980, Dick met the love of his life, Susan Wright Meyers. They moved together to Lewes, Delaware, where they established Savannah Inn ("the first B-and-B in the first town in the first state") and ran it for 20 years. They married in 1986. Later, they became interested in moving to Vermont, where they spent many vacations. The great joy of their lives has been their son Jeffrey, born in 1991 and adopted in Guatemala at six months. Now 31, he is the husband of Amber (Ventura) and living in San Diego, California after serving eight years in the Marine Corps. In addition to his wife and son, Dick is survived by a sister, Sandra Caine (Ralph); in-laws Kathy and Jim Zartman, and James and Kathy Wright; and Zartman nephews and nieces Mike (Armand), Doug (Nance), and Judy (Walter). Dick was predeceased by his elder brother, Jim. Memorial information: No services are planned. Donations to a charity of one's choice.
•Lois Mary Woodard, 97, of Bellows Falls. Died at her home on July 22, 2023. She was born May 21, 1926 in Saxtons River, the daughter of George Raymond and Helen Mary (Troy) Davidson. She attended schools in Westminster and Bellows Falls. Lois worked at many area nursing homes, Rockingham Memorial Hospital, and the Highlands. Lois was a longtime member of the American Legion Post 37 Auxiliary. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, watching the birds, and doing puzzle search. She is survived by two sons, Howard Kenneth Reed Jr. and Richard Reed (Gerri); stepsisters Shirley Dunn and Dorothy Parker; eight grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren, as well as nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Clarence A. Woodard; a daughter, Marilyn Crawford; and grandchildren Emily Gleason and Shannon Reed Brownell. Memorial information: A graveside service was held at Oak Hill Cemetery in Bellows Falls on July 30. Donations to Bayada Hospice, 1222 Putney Rd., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Diane A. Young, 62, of Newfane. Died unexpectedly on July 14, 2023 at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend. Diane was born in Bellows Falls on May 19, 1961, the daughter of Richard and Lorraine (McClary) Alexander. She spent the first seven years of her childhood living in the carriage house of Rudyard Kipling's Naulakha estate; her father Richard, a Vermont State Trooper, being the security guard, manager, etc. of the estate. She had many fond memories growing up there: sliding down the driveway in winter, in the spring when the Rhododendrons bloomed, and her father taking many home movies of their time there. Her family then moved to Pond Road in Vernon where she attended Vernon Elementary School and graduated from Brattleboro Union High School with the Class of 1979. Following high school, she attended the Keene Beauty Academy and worked for a short period as a hair dresser. She was employed for 37 years at C&S Wholesale Grocers, which she retired from as a transportation coordinator. Diane loved nature, dachshunds, and flowers. For many years, she spent summers with her mother, brother, and sister at her family's camp on Crystal Lake in Barton, with her father coming up on weekends. They would stop in West Lebanon at the end of summer to get new clothes for the coming school year. The camp on Crystal Lake was her most favorite place in the world to be. As the camp was seasonal, every April she would start telling her husband, "I can't wait to go to camp." She leaves many close friends from the Barton area and many cousins, as her father was from Glover. Diane also loved going to Maine and swimming in the ocean despite how cold it could be. Her favorite memory of Maine was finally taking two weeks of vacation, staying on Cliff Island and taking the ferry out from Portland before going up to Acadia National Park and stopping in Wiscasset to have one of Red's Eats' world famous lobster rolls, then staying with her in-laws at their summer camp in Waldoboro before continuing on to Acadia. On July 2, 1988, at St. Michael's Catholic Church, she married Craig Young, who survives. Besides her faithful and devoted husband of 35 years, she leaves one brother, Timothy Alexander of Dummerston; a sister, Linda Alexander of Brattleboro; several nieces, nephews and cousins; a host of friends and her beloved pet Terrier Mix, "Skyler." Memorial information: A funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, Aug. 3, at 11 a.m., at St. Michael's Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery. Friends are invited to call at Atamaniuk Funeral Home on Terrace Street on Wednesday, Aug. 2, from 4 to 6 p.m. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To share a memory or send condolences to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
This Milestones item was submitted to The Commons.