College news
• Cameron Gage, a psychology major from Putney, and Yuki Ishibashi, a business management major from Saxtons River, were named to the spring 2024 Dean's List at Springfield (Mass.) College.
Transitions
• Jackie Ethier, DNP, RN has been named as Brattleboro Memorial Hospital's Chief Nursing Officer. Ethier joined BMH in 2022 as the director of nursing service. A year later she was appointed senior director of nursing services. Ethier began her career in healthcare in 2002 as a licensed practical nurse. She went on to earn an associate's degree in nursing from Vermont Technical College (2003) and a bachelor's degree in nursing from Keene State College (2012). In 2017, she received a master's degree in nursing education from Franklin Pierce University, and in 2023 she earned a doctorate in nursing practice from the University of New Hampshire. While advancing her education, Ethier held positions of increasing responsibility at Cheshire Medical Center-Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health in Keene, New Hampshire, including director of inpatient services (2013-17), senior director of acute care services (2017-2021), and associate chief nursing officer & vice president of patient care services (2021-22). Since coming to BMH, she has led a variety of initiatives aimed at improving patient care.
• Bob Davis was promoted to the position of senior vice president and senior commercial banking officer at Brattleboro Savings & Loan. He will lead the commercial banking department while also being a vital part of the executive management within the bank. His journey to this position began many years ago while he was still a student at Brattleboro Union High School working at BS&L's branch at the Windham Regional Career Center where he learned the basics of banking and how to be a teller. This collaboration produced many success stories, with Bob being a notable example. After high school, Bob joined the bank as a full-time teller and become an essential part of the commercial banking team over the past 12 years. His work has spanned nearly every level of commercial banking including business development, portfolio management, and credit analyses for customers of the bank. Davis hold bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting at Southern New Hampshire University, and went on to graduate from The Stonier Graduate School of Banking. In addition, Bob also completed the Wharton Leadership Program that he has used in his work in the commercial department of the bank.
Obituaries
• Edna Coulson Fletcher, 96, of West Brattleboro. Died May 30, 2024, at Thompson House nursing home in Brattleboro. Edna, the daughter of Edmund Isaac Coulson and Ada Hopkins Coulson, was born on June 22, 1927, in Concord, New Hampshire. She attended high school in Penacook, New Hampshire. She married Charlie Fletcher on Oct. 25, 1947. Later, she earned an associate's degree at Community College of Vermont. She was a lifelong learner. Edna was happiest when she was busy. She was a devoted member of First Congregational Church in West Brattleboro, where she worked on many church committees and served as a lay preacher in various area churches when needed. She served as a Representative Town Meeting member for several years and was an active member of the Camp Waubanong board for 35 years. She was director of the local chapter of the Red Cross for several years, and a longtime board member of the West Brattleboro Cemetery Association. She especially enjoyed her work on the Council on Aging, at the Brattleboro Town Clerk's Office, and at the deli at O.K. Fairbanks grocery store. She often said that she was always fortunate "to work with nice people." She enjoyed picking and sorting apples, making beautiful patchwork quilts, and doing outdoor work like mowing the lawns and cutting brush at her Sunset Lake Road home. She loved to travel, and made trips across the U.S., as well as to England. She was an avid reader and enjoyed watching Jeopardy, often shouting out the correct answers, even before the contestants. In her later years, she found bowling to be "the best social outing." She is survived by her three children: Elizabeth (Betty) Raum (Richard) of Greeneville, Tennessee; Gary (Skip) Fletcher (Kim) of Dummerston, and Jane Fletcher of Brattleboro; grandchildren Michael Raum (Jennifer) of Fargo, North Dakota, Matt Raum of Midway, Tennessee, Adam Fletcher (Amy) of Brattleboro, and Amy Calantropio (Sam) of Vernon, and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by Charlie Fletcher, her husband of 59 years, and her son, Stuart Charles (Buddy) Fletcher. Memorial information: Memorial services will be conducted Saturday, June 8, at 10 a.m., at First Congregational Church on Western Avenue. A reception will follow the service to be held in the Fireplace Room at the church. Donations to First Congregational Church, P.O. Box 2389, Brattleboro, VT 05303; or Thompson House Nursing Home Activities Fund, 80 Maple St., Brattleboro, VT 05301. To offer condolences to Edna's family, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Tony Gordon of Marlboro died on Feb. 21, 2024, at Crescent Manor Nursing Home in Bennington, where he had been a resident for the last two years on the dementia unit. Born in 1951, the youngest of three children in South Orange, New Jersey, to Clara (Popper) Gordon and George Byron Gordon, Tony grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey, where he graduated from Columbia High School in 1969. He attended Marlboro College, where he dropped out in the midst of his senior year and went to work learning his trade, that of carpenter. In addition to his work, he gave much of his time to the town of Marlboro; spending 13 years as fire chief and six years as constable. He served on Zoning Board of Adjustment for 35 years, one year as the town's representative to Rescue Inc., and (probably his favorite) 29 years as Marlboro's representative to the Windham Solid Waste Management District. On October 24, 1987, he married Ellen Dudley, who survives along with stepdaughter Laura Spinney, son-in-law Joe Stilliman, and grandson Reed Silliman of Hood River, Oregon. He is also survived by elder brother Bill Gordon and his wife Nancy Johnson of Cincinnati, Ohio, and his sister Patsy Chick and brother-in-law Peter Chick of Washington, D.C. Tony spent many years restoring his own house in Marlboro, which like many a contractor's house, remains unfinished! He and his wife built a vacation home on the Big Island of Hawaii in the district of Ka'u. When they bought the property in 1992, their only neighbors were the horses of an electrician and his family who lived in the nearby town of Na'alehu. They and the Velez family became the first friends they made there. In the islands, there is the tradition of "talk story" and Tony, who was known as a great talker, fit right in. Memorial information: A celebration of Tony's life was held May 31 at the Marlboro Meeting House.
• E. Turner Lewis, DVM, 83, died unexpectedly on May 13, 2024. He was a delighted resident of Vermont since 2009 who enjoyed the wonderful people, the beautiful land, the strong seasonal changes - even mud season - and the lifestyle. He practiced veterinary medicine for 40 years in Massachusetts, and then part-time after his move to Vermont until 2020. Veterinary medicine was his professional passion, especially caring for the athletic sled dogs on long distance races in Alaska, Montana, Minnesota, Oregon, Michigan, Maine, and Canada. He would say (repeatedly) that veterinary medicine was the second-best decision he ever made next to that of marrying his wife of almost 59 years, Katherine (Kay). Of course, he didn't reveal that it took him almost four years to convince her that it was her best decision - and it was. Turner was so very proud of his children and their spouses, Elizabeth (Ted) Conner and Aaron (Nicole) Lewis, and of his grandchildren and their spouses, Weston Conner (Megan Postemski), Guinevere Conner (Daniel Fridley), Coltrane Conner, Celia Lewis, and Jake Lewis. In addition, he leaves two brothers, Mark Lewis and Matthew Lewis of New Hampshire, and a sister, Dee Lewis of Florida. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, many more great-nieces and great-nephews and many cousins with whom he was close. Also, he leaves his wife's siblings, Bob (Marcia) Seaman, Corrin Seaman (Jeff Worrall), and Greg Seaman (Heather McNamara). He loved his family and friends and acquaintances; he always enjoyed meeting new people, traveling to many lands with Kay and family members and friends, watching and talking about sports, bluegrass festivals, singing, cribbage, reading nonfiction, cutting, splitting and stacking wood, crossword puzzles, the daily Jumble and Sudoku. Kalamazoo College and Michigan State University shaped his future. He joined Rotary and other local committees wherever he lived, and since coming to Vermont, the ROMEO's were a great part of his life. He was full of gratitude for his many blessings and good fortune. He loved life. Memorial information: A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, June 29, at 1 p.m., at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in West Brattleboro. Refreshments and conversation will follow. Donation to the Brattleboro Sunrise Rotary Club Scholarship Fund, the Windham County Humane Society, or a charity of your choice.
• Marilyn Loomis, 90, of Putney. Died on May 27, 2024. Memorial information: A full obituary is forthcoming. Calling hours for Marilyn will be held on Thursday, June 20, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Ker Phaneuf Funeral Home on High Street in Brattleboro. A funeral service will be held at Ker Phaneuf Funeral Home on Friday, June 21, at 11 a.m., with burial to follow. For more information, visit phaneuf.net.
• Christine "Chrys" L. Peck died on May 14, 2024, at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, New Hampshire. She is survived by the love of her life, her son, Denis R. Peck, and his friend, Ki Knight, of Tucson, Arizona; her brother, Dennis L. Peck and his wife, Katie, of Westhampton, Massachusetts; her father, Roger L. Peck and his wife, Verna, of Brooksville, Florida; her longtime friend and companion, John C. Squiers of Guilford, Vermont; her mother, Carolyn A. Peck of Brattleboro; and her special little puppy, Bindi. Memorial information: No service is planned. A more complete obituary is forthcoming.
• Mary Jane Williams, 90, of Naples, Florida. Died Dec. 10, 2023, after being hospitalized for a short time. She was born Nov. 28, 1933, in New Haven, Connecticut, to Douglas MacFarland and Hazel Armstrong. During her parent's pending divorce in the mid-1940s, she was sent to live with her aunt Florence, in Townshend. Somewhat of a tomboy, she loved playing outdoors in all seasons, swimming in the brook, playing with her dogs, and farm animals. She attended Leland & Gray High School and earned many honors and awards, graduating with the class of 1951. She attended Castleton Teachers' College until a blind date led her to the love of her life, Leland Williams of Rutland. She grabbed a hold of him and never let go, marrying a short time later in 1953. Soon after, they moved with several family members to San Diego, California, where they had three children. As they grew, she became involved in many activities. She was president of the P.T.A., Girl Scout leader, Cub Scout leader, and taught swimming for the Red Cross. She was a great cook and enjoyed cooking for others. In 1968, the family moved to Borrego Springs, California, and she began work at First California Bank. In 1975, she became homesick for Vermont and moved the family there to help run the Cooper Hill Lodge near Mount Snow ski resort. Her next job was working at Vermont National Bank in Brattleboro, where she enjoyed working until she retired. After visiting a favorite cousin, she decided to make the move to Naples, where she spent the rest of her life. She volunteered at the Naples Botanical Garden and became the volunteer with the second most hours. In the last few years of her life, she spent many hours in her beautiful garden. She loved giving her vegetables away to friends and neighbors. After her 90th birthday, she experienced pain and, after a visit to the emergency room, she was admitted. She was there for a week, had many tests, and in the end, she was too tired to fight anymore. She will be missed by all who knew her. Mary Jane was preceded in death by her husband, Leland Williams, both parents, and a brother, Andrew MacFarland. She is survived by her daughters, Linda (Gary) Brucker of Bloomington, Illinois, and Colleen Sabatino of Castleton; her son, Doug Williams of Naples; siblings Kay (Bill) Stringer, Gail Turner, and Chuck (Jane) MacFarland; sister-in-law Nancy Polseno; grandchildren Scott, Chris, and Mike Sabatino of Vermont, Trish Krall of San Diego, and Ian Bassani of Chicago; great-grandchildren Landon Krall, Sadie Sabatino .and Sam Sabatino; many beloved nieces and nephews, and her cousin Don Osborn of Naples. Memorial information: Per her wish, she was cremated. Her funeral will be on Friday, June 7, at Newfane Congregational Church, with burial in Fairview Cemetery in Wardsboro, where her husband is buried.
Services
• Graveside services for Alexandria "Sandy" Bosna will take place on Saturday June 8, at 1 p.m., in Bondville Cemetery on Route 30. A celebration of Sandy's life will take place immediately following at The Depot Visitors Center on Route 100 at the Bridge in South Londonderry. Sandy died at age 84 on Nov. 21, 2023, in Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend.
• A memorial service to celebrate the life of Charles F. Henderson will be held at All Souls Church in West Brattleboro on Saturday, June 15, at 2 p.m. A reception will follow. Mr. Henderson, 93, of Country Hill in Brattleboro, died Nov. 16, 2023, at Pine Heights nursing home. To view his full obituary and offer condolences, visit www.phaneuf.net.
This Milestones item was submitted to The Commons.