College news
• Jonathan Griffin, a senior from West Townshend majoring in business administration, was named to the President's List for the fall 2024 semester at Bob Jones University in Greenville, North Carolina.
• Rei Kimura of Brattleboro and Ella Bursky of Westminster were named to the Dean's List for the fall 2024 semester at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.
Obituaries
• Dwight Everett Blossom, 82, of Hinsdale, New Hampshire. Died Dec. 29, 2024, at the VA Medical Center in White River Junction. Dwight was born in Brattleboro on May 1, 1942, the son of Charles and Elizabeth (Brink) Blossom Sr. He was raised and educated in Hinsdale, graduating from Hinsdale High School with the Class of 1960. He proudly served his country in the Air Force, and was stationed in Germany. Upon his honorable discharge, he returned home to Hinsdale. While on active duty, Dwight suffered a serious illness and received a full disability pension from the Air Force. Dwight was a member of the First Congregational Church in Hinsdale and held membership in American Legion Post 5 in Brattleboro. He took great interest and pride in his community and was regarded by many as the honorary "Mayor of Hinsdale," and an expert historian of all things Hinsdale. In his leisure time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and sharing time with his family and friends. Dwight was an avid sports fan. He followed all the Boston teams religiously. A plaque in his living room declared that Dwight was a "Boston Red Sox fan since 1942." He was a devoted fan of the local high school teams as well. Although challenged physically by his disability, he remained very active, independent and unstoppable in his daily activities. He loved a good joke and spending time with his many friends, discussing local, state, and national politics. You could often see him coming in his white Miata convertible with the Woo-Sox plate. Dwight is survived by his six nieces and nephews: Dale, Randy, Lee, and Kyle Blossom, Lynn Carrigan, and Tracy Hicks. Dwight was predeceased by his brothers Charles Blossom Jr. and Robert "Rusty" Blossom; his sister-in-law, Jean LaChance Blossom; and his adopted sister, Mae Podmore. He had a host of good friends in Hinsdale, including the Fostycks, the Johnsons, the Lynches, and the Ebbighausens, to name just a few. Dwight traveled south regularly to Virginia and Florida to visit his dear friends: the Mertons, the Randalls, and the Manions. Memorial information: Friends are invited to calling hours at Atamaniuk Funeral Home in Brattleboro on Friday, Jan. 10, from 4 to 6 p.m. Graveside committal services with military honors will take place in the Pine Grove Cemetery later in the springtime at a date and time to be announced by the funeral home. Donations to the Hinsdale Volunteer Fire Department, 13 Depot St., Hinsdale, NH 03451. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Philip James Calabria, 76, of Northfield, Massachusetts. Died peacefully on Dec. 29, 2024 at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts. Philip was the fourth son born to Frank J. and Lorraine Calabria on Dec. 3, 1948 in Rockville Centre, New York. He was predeceased by his eldest brother Francis, as an infant, and by his parents. Philip is survived by his older brothers Lt. Col. Kenneth Calabria (Ret.) of Amherst, New Hampshire, and Paul Clifford of Newton, Massachusetts, and by a younger sister, Lorraine Ippolito of Massapequa, New York, and their families. He also leaves his wife of 42 years, Susan von Glahn Calabria, son Stefan Calabria of Northfield, and daughter Erin Calabria and her husband Tim Mitchell of New York City. Philip had fond memories of his time at summer camps and his affiliation with the Boy Scouts. He was a Provisional Scoutmaster at Camp Wauwepex in Wading River, New York. Friendships that began there remained for the rest of his life. After graduating from Baldwin (N.Y.) High School in 1966, Philip studied liberal arts for two years at Nassau Community College, and then English literature at Baldwin Wallace College in Ohio. He was at Woodstock in 1969 and appeared in a photograph of the crowd in Newsweek. After graduation in 1971, he and his college roommate took off on a major adventure - hitchhiking more than 7,000 miles across 26 states, often surviving on not much more than peanut butter and honey sandwiches. In 1975, Philip's passions took a new route: photography. Philip's father, Frank, was a cinematographer who worked with many movie stars of the middle 20th century. Perhaps this inspired Philip to find poetry in photography. He studied under the greats at the University of New Mexico in the mid-to-late 1970s: Beaumont Newhall, Van Deren Coke, Tom Barrow, Wayne "Rod" Lazorik, and Betty Hahn. Though Philip was a skilled writer, he found his truest expression in creating photographic images. After receiving his M.A. and M.F.A. at UNM, he moved east and began a 37-year tenure at Northfield Mount Hermon School as a teacher of photography, chair of the art department, junior varsity baseball coach, and director of the school's fine arts gallery. Philip's photographic work can be found in many private and permanent collections including museums in New Mexico, New Jersey, at Howard University, Northfield Mount Hermon School, in the Archives of American Art at the Smithsonian Institution, and at the National Park Service's Ellis Island Museum of Immigration. Philip Calabria leaves many friends, former students, and acquaintances who will remember that he always had a joke and a laugh. If someone had a question about a movie or music, he was the one who knew the answer. He cherished his family and friends. Memorial information: Those who wish to honor Philip's legacy are encouraged to donate to a conservation organization of their choice. A memorial celebration will be announced later this year.
• Margaret "Peggy" Isham Jager, 84, of Westminster West. Died Dec. 28, 2024, surrounded by loving family, at her home. Peggy was born in New York City and, eight months later, was adopted by Elizabeth Cross and Charles Langmuir. She attended Rye (N.Y.) High School. Peggy offered over 20 years of dedicated work as an administrative assistant to Country Properties in Rye. Her greatest pride was derived from the care she provided to children and families in her home. Rye Presbyterian Church was a place she found spiritual connection and peace. There, she served as a deacon, and contributed her time, talents, and treasure in perpetuity. Her philanthropic efforts extended to many charitable organizations locally and nationwide. After Peggy's well-earned retirement to Vermont with her husband Dirk in 1995, she stayed connected with her community of friends and neighbors through various social activities. The relationships she cultivated in Nature Club, Red Hat Ladies, and at the Senior Center were vital sources of joy and purpose in her golden years. Peggy was preceded in death by her adoptive parents, her brother Thomas Langmuir, her husband, and many cousins, aunts, and uncles from both sides of her family. She is survived by her daughter, Kathrine Jager; grandchildren Christopher Jager and Kayla Jager; grandchildren-in-law Brittany Hill and Jeremy Kirk; great-grandchildren Ava, Benjamin, Margaux, Moss, and Leah; and beloved friend and chosen family Pam Mock. Memorial information: Donations in memory of Peggy to Westminster Cares, 3534 US-5, Westminster, VT 05158.
• Norman A. "Butch" Johnson, 76, of Vernon. Died Dec. 27, 2024, at Applewood Center in Winchester, New Hampshire, following a lengthy illness. He was born in Brattleboro on June 6, 1948, the son of Glenn and Ruth (Dunklee) Johnson Sr. Butch was raised and educated in Brattleboro, graduating from Brattleboro Union High School with the Class of 1966. Following high school, he enlisted in the Army in 1967 and saw combat while stationed in Vietnam. In 1970, he was honorably discharged from active service, returning home to Brattleboro. He worked for Agway, first at the Vernon Road feed mill location in Brattleboro, and later transferring to Agway's Bernardston, Massachusetts, mill, which eventually became Feed Commodities. Butch retired from Agway on June 6, 2010 (his 62nd birthday), following 40 years of faithful service with the company. Locally, he was a member of the B.P.O. Elks, Brattleboro Lodge 1499 and American Legion Post 5. He was a longtime and avid New York Yankees fan and enjoyed puttering around his home. Butch kept an immaculate yard and manicured lawn that many locals referred to as "the golf course." Additionally, he liked cutting firewood and, in his earlier years, enjoyed hunting and fishing. Most importantly, he enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his two grandchildren. Survivors include two sons, Jason Johnson and girlfriend, Jen Bogert, of Guilford and Travis Johnson of Gill, Massachusetts; brothers Stanley, Ronald, Wesley, Glenn Jr., and Allen "Moose" Johnson; sisters Alma Johnson, Rebecca Johnson, and Heidi Benjamin; grandchildren Alexandra and Derek Johnson; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by one sister, Mary Lou Barton. Memorial information: Funeral services were held Jan. 4 at Vernon Advent Christian Church, with burial with military honors in the Johnson family lot in South Cemetery in Vernon. Donations to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10306. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Julie (Alexander) Maloof, 65, of Brattleboro. Died on Jan. 1, 2025. She was born in Brattleboro on May 14, 1959, to Connie (Thayer) Alexander and William Alexander Sr. Julie was president of Westgate Housing Incorporated where she served her community until the day of her death. Julie married Marshall "Mike" Maloof in 1983, who predeceased her in 1993. Together, they had two children, Nicole (Ryan) Gillogly and her children, Jacob and Lily Girard, of Vernon, and Falon Maloof of Mahopac, New York. She is survived by her parents, children, grandchildren, brothers William Alexander Jr. and Curtis Alexander, sisters Lynn Cameron and Cathy Paquette, as well as many nieces and nephews. Julie loved her community and family with incomparable passion. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Memorial information: Services will be held on Jan. 11 at 11 a.m. at West Brattleboro Baptist Church. A celebration of life will be held in the same location immediately following. In loving memory of Julie, the family invites and encourages everyone to wear her favorite colors, green and/or floral. Donations to The Julie Maloof Scholarship Fund, 85 Breezy Acres Drive, Vernon, VT 05354. This will be given annually to a student at Brattleboro Union High School who exemplifies service to their community as Julie did for so many years. To send condolences, visit csnh.com.
• George Thomas May, 87, of Brattleboro. Died on Dec. 24, 2024. He was born George Thomas Kraft on Oct. 2, 1937, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the son of Wilbert and Anna Kraft. He was adopted by James Earl and Margaret May after the death of his father, Wilbert Kraft, in 1938. He is survived by a daughter, Laura May Scott of Manassas, Virginia, and a son, Thomas May of Brattleboro. He was predeceased by his wife, Sally, as well as his father, mother, grandparents, and an infant daughter, Theresa Ann May. George was a 1956 graduate of Dale High School and a veteran of the Marine Corps. He was employed by Belcher Malleable Iron Works in Easton, Massachusetts; was a member of the Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Brockton, Massachusetts; a Sunday School teacher, basketball coach, and served on the board of deacons. He also served as the president of the Brockton YMCA church basketball league. In 1971, George and his family moved to Brattleboro. He was a coach for many years in the Brattleboro Junior Pro basketball league and Small Fry baseball program. He was a member of Friends of BUHS Music and also served as president when the Brattleboro band went to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1981. He was involved with the Brattleboro Affordable Housing Committee for many years and the Vermont Mobile Home Park Association. He was a member of the First Congregational Church in West Brattleboro, serving as a Sunday School teacher and working on many committees. He was commissioned in 1976 by the Vermont Conference, United Church of Christ. He participated in their mission fields in South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, and Ghana. On his return to Vermont, he visited more than 200 churches in Vermont and New England. He worked for Baker's Bookstore and as a security guard at the Vermont Welcome Center in Guilford. His passions were affordable housing, voter registration, and voting. He also enjoyed fishing, music, auto racing, and writing. Memorial information: A celebration of life will be held in the spring.
• Joshua Allen "Josh" Renaud, 49, of Guilford. Died from injuries suffered in a motor vehicle accident in Bernardston, Massachusetts, on Dec. 31, 2024. Josh was born on Oct. 16, 1975, in Florence, Arizona, to Jerome and Marilyn Renaud. He married his best friend and love of his life, Claire Benoit, on October 12, 2002. Josh was deeply connected to nature and enjoyed spending time hunting, fishing, and tending to the land around his home. He loved Volkswagens, taking drives with his dog Poppy, and going to music festivals. Music was Josh's religion. He enjoyed artists like Billy Strings and The Grateful Dead. Josh held many different jobs throughout life as a welder, roofer, and handyman. He was truly a jack of all trades, frequently helping his family and friends with whatever life threw at them. He had a green thumb and turned his passion of growing cannabis into his occupation. He worked as a cultivator in Athol, Massachusetts. Climbing the ladder, he recently had a promotion due to his dedication to the craft. He was a salt of the earth person who showed compassion for those around him. Josh was a tenderhearted soul who would give the shirt off his back for those in need. Although quiet and observant, Josh's laughter and humor was infectious to all those around him. He had a transformative breakthrough this past year that led him to kindle deeper connections to those closest, something that his family will be forever grateful for. Josh is survived by his wife Claire and his daughters Eclipse, Sophia, Audrey, and Paige; grandchildren Kiyan and Amari; sister Heidi, and his parents Jerome and Marilyn. Memorial information: A celebration of his life was held on Jan. 4 at the Broad Brook Community Center in Guilford.
• Esta Broutsas Smith, 100, of Brattleboro. Died in the comfort of her home on South Street on Dec. 31, 2024. She was born in Greenfield, Massachusetts, on Jan. 26, 1924, shortly before her family moved to Brattleboro and took up residence on a farm, later named Arcadia Farm by her father, Michael Broutsas. Esta had a long and wonderful life. Her brother once remarked that while he was an avid collector of things, art and antiques, Esta spent her life "collecting" friends and cultivating relationships. She always believed in the innate goodness of people and treated them accordingly. Her home was a welcoming hub of activity in the 1960s and 1970s, frequented by international students, commune dwellers gleaning some unpicked apples, young prodigies studying flute with Marcel Moyse (a neighbor), peace activists, and the many teenage friends of her children. She had an open-door policy and people of all ages and from all walks of life often popped in. While Esta had many passions, what she loved most was being with people. She was a humanitarian above all else. Esta spoke limited English when she entered first grade at the original Academy School in West Brattleboro, but soon flourished in both written and spoken English thanks to patient teachers. She became a teacher herself at age 19, the sole teacher at a one-room schoolhouse in Guilford. Esta taught grades 2 and 4 at Green Street School before becoming a special education teacher specializing in reading. She was known for her ability to break through reading barriers faced by many children. Esta was proud to earn her M.Ed. from Antioch New England at age 65. She continued to teach full-time until age 75. Many of Esta's closest, lifelong friends were fellow teachers and employees of the school system. Esta graduated from Brattleboro High School, Class of 1941 and later attended Bates and Castleton colleges. She married her high school sweetheart, Prentiss L. Smith, in September 1943. Their marriage lasted for 24 years, and they had four children. After their divorce, Esta was a single parent raising four teenagers in the tumultuous 1960s. It was touch and go, the farm was almost sold for development but, in the end, was largely preserved. And, to Esta's delight, most of her children settled in Brattleboro, raising their families on or near Arcadia Farm. She was able to see her children and grandchildren daily, playing tennis with them, or hiking and skiing in the woods with three generations. Esta had boundless energy that went into more than outdoor activities. She was an avid reader, made exquisite flower arrangements, baked the best apple pies, and was deeply involved in the Unitarian Church. For Esta, music was as essential as breathing. After a full day of teaching, she would frequently go out to concerts at the Yellow Barn in Putney, Marlboro Music Festival, or the Brattleboro Music Center. She was a regular participant in the bus trips to opera performances in NYC. While she never missed a band or theatrical performance that included her grandchildren, she and her good friend Helen Harris frequently attended recitals by other children. Esta appreciated the effort of musicians, and they appreciated her in return. In the last year of her life, she was treated to several concerts in her living room, performed by the Hallowell Singers. The Smith family thanks them again for this special gift. Esta is survived by her four children, Deborah Burrows (Howard) of Brattleboro, Prentiss Smith (Elizabeth) of Brattleboro, Houghton Smith (Nancy) of Greenfield, and Diana Lange (Hank) of Brattleboro. She is also survived by her ten grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her three brothers, George, John, and Deeko Broutsas. Memorial information: There will be a celebration of her life - Esta stipulated "joyous, light, not sad" - in late spring/early summer.
• Rhoda A. Stevens, 67, of Guilford. Died peacefully at her home on Dec. 16, 2024. Born on April 12, 1957, in New Britain, Connecticut, she was the beloved daughter of Franklin and Bessie Rector. Rhoda was the devoted wife of Mark J. Stevens, with whom she shared 44 wonderful years of marriage. The couple married on June 13, 1980, in Newington, Connecticut, building their home and a life filled with love and adventure together. A graduate of New Britain High School, Rhoda continued her education at Central Connecticut State University. She dedicated nearly her entire professional career to the banking industry and recently retired from One Credit Union in Springfield, Vermont, where she served with dedication for 23 years. Rhoda found joy in life's simple pleasures. She cherished riding on their Harley with her husband, spending quality time with family, and doting on her granddaughter, Adeline Mae Stevens. She took pride in the home she and Mark built together and held a deep affection for her pets and "grand-pets." She enjoyed her time with the Cairo Shriners and Daughters of the Nile. She was preceded in death by her father, Franklin, and her sister Delores. Rhoda's memory lives on in the hearts of those she leaves behind, including her loving husband; her sons Mark A. Stevens and Michael T. Stevens; her cherished granddaughter, Adeline Mae Stevens; her daughter-in-law, Lori Stevens; Michael's partner, Amy Grant; her mother, Bessie Rector; her brother and his wife, Franklin Jr. and Kathy Rector; her sister and her husband, Dawna and William Czarneski; as well as many cherished nieces, nephews, and dear friends. Her kindness, warmth, and love will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Memorial information: At Rhoda's request, no formal services will be held at this time. A celebration of her life is planned for a later date, with details to be announced in the spring. Donations to Make-A-Wish or the Windham County Humane Society, causes close to Rhoda's heart. To send condolences, visit csnh.com.
• Robert Lewis Wells, 75, of Hinsdale, New Hampshire. Died peacefully after a period of illness, surrounded by his family, on Christmas morning, Dec. 25, 2024, at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Robert was born in Brattleboro on Sept. 23, 1949, the son of Donald and Elizabeth (Gale) Wells. He was raised and educated in Brattleboro and attended Brattleboro Union High School. For many years he worked for Georgia Pacific, formerly known as Erving Paper Mill, in Brattleboro. He then went to work for Sunoco on Canal Street and worked part-time at Sanel Auto Parts as a delivery driver before retiring. Robert will be remembered for being a car enthusiast. He loved attending car shows and riding his Harley motorcycle. He loved his Ford trucks and driving fast. He also enjoyed listening to Sixties rock and roll music. Robert leaves behind two daughters, Melissa LaFlam and husband, Timothy, of Hinsdale, with whom he shared a home, and Kristi Wells, of Lanesborough, Massachusetts; a son, Jason Wells of Hinsdale; two sisters, Roxanne Zimmerman and partner, Carl Williams, of Warwick, Massachusetts, and Rhonda Wells (Class) of Brattleboro; a brother, Ronald Wells and wife, Sue, of Guilford; six grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, a niece, Kelsey Wells; and a brother-in-law, Bill Zimmerman. Memorial information: In keeping with the wishes of Robert, there will be no formal funeral services. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
This Milestones item was submitted to The Commons.