Obituaries
Editor's note: The Commons will publish brief biographical information for citizens of Windham County and others, on request, as community news, free of charge.
• Russell Robinson “Bob” Barrett Jr., 96, of Grafton. Died Nov. 7 at Valley Cares Assisted Living in Townshend. Husband of Virginia Mulford for 68 years. Father of Lynn Barrett of Dummerston Center; Russell Robinson Barrett, III and his wife Dorothy of Northfield, Vt.; and Randi Barrett and her partner Joanne Pereira of Elmore. Predeceased by siblings James, Kathleen, Molly and Patty Barrett. Grew up near New York City and graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.S. in Chemistry in 1939 and joined the Navy as a pilot. From 1940 to 1942, he flew PBY Catalina flying boats in Patrol Wing 10 in the Philippines, the only Navy aviation unit to fight the Japanese in the early weeks of World War II. After the Philippines were overrun by the Japanese in early 1942, he and the surviving members of his unit escaped to Australia. In early 1944, after a stint as a flight trainer stateside, he returned to the Pacific to join Rescue Squadron 3 as Executive Officer and proceeded to operate in support of the invasions of Saipan, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He rose to command his own squadron, VH-1, at the end of the war. He left the Navy in 1949 at the rank of Commander, and was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and was seven times awarded the Air Medal. He settled in Westfield, N.J., and started a successful real estate business, Barrett & Crain Inc. Moved to Grafton in 1969 and founded Barrett & Co., a local real estate firm. Was president of the Grafton Historical Society for seven years, a trustee of the Grafton Church, and a founding member with the Windham Foundation and the University of Vermont of the Grafton-Barrett Wildlife Coverts Project. Memorial information: A graveside service will be held on Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. at Houghtonville Cemetery in Grafton, with a reception to follow at the Old Tavern at Grafton. Donations to either Valley Cares Assisted Living in Townshend or to The Grafton Historical Society, Brick Church project.
• Thomas Boyd, 77, of Whitingham. Died Nov. 11 at the Centers for Living and Rehabilitation in Bennington. Husband of Clara Boyd. Father of Steve Boyd and his companion Debbie Sillanpaa of Whitingham; Tonia Martin of Worcester, Mass.; Bonnie and Marty Stuart of Brattleboro; Randal Boyd and his companion Julie of Hinsdale, N.H.; and Kent Boyd and his companion Heather Berry of Whitingham. Brother of Joe Boyd of Hinsdale; Ralph Boyd of Springfield, Vt.; Mildred Stark of Shelburne Falls, Mass.; Leola Garland of Spofford, N.H.; and Shirley Franklin of Guilford. Predeceased by siblings Linden, Burton and Marjorie Boyd. Born in Wilmington and received his education at the Dix Schoolhouse in Wilmington. Worked as a logger for many years for Joe Moore, Cersosimo and Ovide Dupuis. Also ran the yard at Sawyer-Bentwood for many years. In his retirement, Tom worked part time in the produce department at Shaw's and Grand Union. He also helped his son deliver the newspaper in the Deerfield Valley and ran a salvage auto parts yard. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Nov. 16 at Covey & Allen Funeral Home, with burial in the family lot in Riverview Cemetery in Wilmington. Donations to the Whitingham Ambulance Service, c/o Covey & Allen Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363. Condolences may be left at www.sheafuneralhomes.com.
• Richard J. Brusco, 87, formerly of Brattleboro, of Allendale, N.J. Died Nov. 4 at his home. Husband of Helen Kiendzior Brusco for 64 years. Father of Dr. Elizabeth E. Brusco of Tacoma, Wash.; and the late David J. Brusco. Born in Westfield, Mass., he grew up in Brattleboro and graduated Brattleboro High School in 1941 as Valedictorian of his class. Served in the Navy during World War II as an Electronic Technician's Mate aboard the U.S.S. Dixie, stationed in Shanghai, China. After the war, he attended Northeastern University, graduating with top honors and a B.S. degree in chemical engineering in 1947. Worked for Bigelow Sanford Carpet Co. for 25 years as a manager, planner and eventually, vice president for manufacturing. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Nov. 13 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Westfield, with burial at Pine Hill Cemetery. Send tributes, memories and condolences to www.vanemburghsneider.com.
• Helen P. Courtemanche, 64, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died Nov. 10 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Wife of Alfred Courtemanche for 45 years. Mother of Michael Courtemanche and his wife, June, of Vernon. Sister of Sophie Standow of Bedford, N.H. and Maryann Wallace of Hinsdale. Predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Nellie Kolnacki Pelis; three brothers, Frank, John and Joseph Pelis; and a sister, Shirley Walker. Graduate of Hinsdale High School, Class of 1963. Worked her entire career in banking and was employed as a financial services representative for Merchants Bank in Brattleboro, retiring in 2008. Previously, she had been employed at Vermont National Bank for 35 years. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Hinsdale on Nov. 13, with burial in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Donations to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, New England Chapter, 60 Walnut St., Wellesley Hills, MA 02481, or www.jdrf.org. Condolences to the family may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Alexander “Sandy” Hawthorne Hadden, 85, of Grafton, Died Nov. 4 at his home. Husband of Shirley O'Brien Morgan and Susan Heiser Hadden. Father of Kate, John and David Hadden and Jane Geisse. Brother of Elizabeth Alexander. Predeceased by a daughter, Betsy, and a brother John A. Hadden, Jr. Born in Cleveland, he graduated from Milton Academy in 1942. Served as an Army infantryman in France and Germany during World War II. He was caught behind enemy lines during the Battle of the Bulge and spent his 21st birthday attempting to locate his infantry company. He took charge of the situation and led five men to safety, an act for which he was issued a Certificate of Bravery. He finished out the war in Berlin serving on a detail protecting President Truman's “Little White House” during the Potsdam Conference, and was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant. He drew on those experiences in 1999 when he wrote and published “Not Me: The World War II Memoir of a Reluctant Rifleman.” Graduated from Yale after the war, and from Case Western Reserve Law School in 1951. He joined the Cleveland law firm of Baker Hostetler and eventually specialized in trial and appellate practice, during which time he argued two cases in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. While a partner in the firm, he served from 1964 to 1970 as General Counsel to the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, and in 1970 became the become Secretary-Treasurer and General Council to Major League Baseball under Commissioner Bowie Kuhn. He participated in several landmark decisions including the Flood v. Kuhn case, the beginning of free agency and negotiating broadcast TV rights in Japan. In 1985, he was named Deputy Commissioner of Baseball by Commissioner Peter Ueberroth. After his retirement in 1986, he moved to Grafton, where he was a founding member of OINK, (The Order of International Noble Knoshers, a club of like-minded local foodies,) and one of the founders of Grafton's cross-country “ski-a-thons” (during which time he often got fellow skiers lost in the woods.) Memorial information: A private service will be held for family. Donations to the Grafton Rescue Squad at: Grafton Rescue Squad, Attn. Anne Craven, P.O. Box 54, Grafton, VT 05146.
• Margaret Jennie Eddy Warner Landon, 98, of Londonderry. Died Nov. 10 at the Gill Home in Ludlow. Wife of the late Harold Warner Sr., and the late Cecil C. Landon. Mother of Harold G. Warner Jr. of Londonderry, Richard Landon of Wallingford, William Landon of Amsden, Jacquleyn Griswold of Andover and Virginia Mizelle of Tennessee. Also survived by 25 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren and 20 great-great-grandchildren. Predeceased by a daughter, Lorraine Young and a sister, Mildred Tefft. Graduate of Chester High School, Class of 1930. Was the owner and operator of Warner's General Store in Londonderry from 1947 until 1970. Enjoyed baking, crocheting, quilt making, tatting and genealogy. Memorial information: A funeral service was held at the Andover Community Church on Nov. 12, with burial at Simonsville Cemetery.
• Earle William Stebbins, 86, of Townshend. Died Nov. 4 in Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend. Husband of Louise Stebbens for 65 years. Father of John and David Stebbins. Predeceased by a sister, Rachael. Survived a double hernia operation at the age of 9 months and overcame a sickly childhood to work as a logger, woodcutter and later a master carpenter for many years. Was a great storyteller, a meticulous craftsman and made friends everywhere he went. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held at a later date. The family wishes for nothing from anyone, but to have you think of him from time to time.
• George “Jim” Stephens, 92, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died Nov. 12 in Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, following an illness. Husband of the late Marjorie (Smith) Stephens and Ethelyn (Barrett) Stephens. Father of George “Pete” Stephens of Roanoke, Va., and Douglas Stephens of Hinsdale. Step-father of Kenneth Fales of Henniker, N.H. Brother of Minnie Podmore of Hinsdale and Flossy Higgins of Las Vegas. Predeceased by siblings Harold, Howard and Elton Stephens and Edna Deyo. Born in Ashuelot, N.H., he was a lifelong resident of Hinsdale. Worked as a plant engineer at the Erving Paper Mill in Hinsdale, retiring in 1983. He enjoyed woodworking, and had replicas of many historic Hinsdale buildings. Memorial information: A private graveside services will be held at the convenience of the family. Donations to Rescue Inc. of Brattleboro.
Births
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Nov. 3, 2010, a daughter, Tacomie Bulma May Milbauer, to Crystal and Kurt Milbauer of Grafton; granddaughter to James R. Milbauer Jr. and Heidi Milbauer of Grafton, and Roger and Nancy Swanson of Vernon.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Oct. 29, 2010, a son, Tristan Kenneth Harrington, to Mellany (Hallock) and Michael D. Harrington of Brattleboro; grandson to Kenneth and Diane Hallock of Dummerston and Dennis and Penny Harrington of Brookline; great-grandson to Vera Harrington of Newfane and Henry “Skip” Eaton of Jamaica.