Milestones

Obituaries

• David Cregan, 86, of Rockingham. Died on Feb. 28, 2025, at his home. David was born in Flushing, New York, on May 18, 1938, the son of the late John and Camilla (Sutter) Cregan. David served his country in the Army. For many years, Dave and his wife, Nancy, operated the Whippowill Gift Shop and Cabins on Route 103 in Rockingham. Memorial information: There will be no services.

• Thomas "Tom" Goldschmid, 75, of Westminster West. Died at home, surrounded by his loving family, on Feb. 28, 2025. Tom was the middle of three brothers born to Charlie Goldschmid and Jeanne Goldschmid (Kolb) on April 10, 1949, in Bronx, New York. Raised in Greenwich, Connecticut, he found his way to Vermont as a young man and recognized it as home. He married Raine Kane and raised a family with her in the home they built on Daigel Road. His later years were spent on top of Davidson Hill Road with his later-life partner, Kathy Leo. He loved the natural world, the woodlands and rivers, the beauty of place. He had a kinship with trees and eventually found work as a young man at Tenney's sawmill in Saxtons River. That led him to work with Ted Benson, where he helped grow Benson Woodworking and become part of the "Beam Team" to build and raise timber frame houses. Eventually, Tom returned to school to learn architectural design at Boston Architectural College. During that time, he helped design many buildings in the community including the Weathersfield Church, Grafton Town Hall, and the Westminster West Church after a fire destroyed the original building in 1988. When Tom returned to Benson's Woodworking after school, he became a designer. One of his greatest gifts, which continued as he took on individual jobs after he left Benson's in 2008, was to help people create their dream space. Whether a porch, a studio, a barn or a new home, he listened to what his clients wanted and helped them create something that was entirely their own. He was a wonderful listener which served him well in his work and his life. His love for woodworking followed him into his later years when he set up shop and began to turn wooden bowls, using his listening skills to hear what shape the bowl wanted to be as it emerged. He was part of the Putney Craft Tour for many years until he could no longer turn enough bowls to meet the demand. His final turned bowls are three beautiful urns for his ashes - one to be buried in the Westminster West Cemetery, one for his children, and one for Kathy. Tom also had a musical aspect to his life. He played guitar daily. He never stopped learning new songs. His melodic tenor voice leaned against many others in different ways, whether it was singing duets with Kathy, gathering friends to share songs at the gazebo in Walpole, or singing in the River Singers tenor section for almost 30 years, and in Hallowell for 20 years, to sing at many bedsides of others who died before him. His Monday night drum group will miss the rhythm he added to the circle, the circle of pulsing sound and of deep friendship. Most important to Tom was time spent with family. He helped both of his children build houses in the area. He often collaborated on projects with his son and son-in-law and he would find his daughter in the greenhouse or fields at Walker Farm weekly. He loved his partner's children as well. Being a grandfather was one of his greatest joys. Tom was a teacher, though he had no teaching degree. The life he led set an example for all who were graced by his presence. If there were a course description for Tom's life, it would be "how to live in kindness and follow a path of love." Tom is survived by his life partner Kathy, his daughter Daedra (Daisy) Unsicker (Neill), his son Alec Goldschmid (Maggie Hanson), his two brothers, John Goldschmid and Chuck Goldschmid (Barbie), his first wife Raine Kane, his partner's children, Melissa Leo (Patrick Kennedy), and Jason Leo (Ariel Anderson); and grandchildren Fin, Nettie, Theo, Philomena, and Vash. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held on April 27 at 1 p.m. at the Congregational Church of Westminster West with a graveside service to follow.

• Joy Frances Hayes, 89, of Guilford. Died in Keene, New Hampshire. on March 15, 2025. She is remembered for her theatrical storytelling, encyclopedic knowledge, remarkable generosity, and freedom-loving spirit. Joy was born in Bellows Falls on April 16, 1935, to Olive Frances Dillback and James (Jim) Edwin Hayes. They instilled in her a deep love for all things Vermont and an innate knack for producing masterful handcrafts, including her famous knitted socks. Joy attended District No. 1 Elementary School in West Guilford and graduated from Brattleboro High School in 1953. She earned a B.S. in agriculture from the University of Vermont in 1957. She married James Lalikos, with whom she had her first daughter, Mary, in 1961. Joy worked as a teacher at Rock Point School in Burlington, and as a County Agent for the Vermont Agency of Agriculture. Between 1963 and 1967, she wrote a column called "The Joy of Homemaking," which ran in The Burlington Free Press and St. Albans Messenger. She relocated to Englewood, New Jersey, where she worked as a public school teacher and married her second husband James Conroy in 1970, with whom she had two daughters, Katy (1971) and Victoria (1975). In 1983, Joy earned a B.S. degree in nursing from the University of Vermont. She worked as a nurse, primarily at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, Beacon House of Greenfield, Massachusetts, and Bayada Home Healthcare. Throughout her life, she enjoyed driving long distances to visit friends and extended family. She doted on and boasted endlessly about her three grandchildren, Emily, Julian, and Sam. Joy retired to her childhood home in Guilford and attended Guilford Community Church, serving as a deacon for several years. She provided a welcoming presence to many new members with her warm heart, open-mindedness and genuine interest in the spiritual lives of others. Joy also donated generously to many individuals and groups, including family, friends, acquaintances, local efforts, and charities. Nearest to her heart were the missions of Guilford Community Church and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. Joy was predeceased by her parents, her daughter, Mary Hall; aunts and uncles Jo Dillback, John and Betty Hayes, and Walter (Bob) and Lucy Hayes; cousin John (Jackie) Hayes; and her partner, Stephen Plumb. She is survived by two daughters, Katy Morgan and Victoria James; her sons-in-law Steve Hall, Nishon Morgan, and Shawn James; her grandchildren Emily O'Keefe, Julian Conroy, and Samuel Conroy; and cousin Naomi Rosenberg. Memorial information: A church service and reception will be held at Guilford Community Church on Sunday, April 6, at 1 p.m. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.

• Roberta M. "Bunny" Johnson-Young, 86, of Brattleboro. Died on Feb. 22, 2025, at Pine Heights Nursing Home. Roberta was born on July 24, 1938 in Haverhill, New Hampshire, to Robert and Mildred (Lawrence) Madden. She was raised and educated in Brattleboro, graduating from Brattleboro High School with the Class of 1956. Roberta continued her education at Castleton State College where she earned her bachelor's degree in early childhood education. For 39 years, Roberta owned and operated the Putney Road Market & Deli until it closed in 2019. Previously, she operated Johnson's Group Day Care, later also opening and operating Whetstone Preschool in her home on Williams Street. She also worked as a tutor for the children in the Brattleboro school district and was a crossing guard. Roberta was very active within her educational community. She was a co-founder of the Windham Childcare Providers Association, volunteered with Social and Rehabilitation Services, was past president of Homestead Non-Profit Housing, and wrote a grant for the Winston Prouty Center to enrich the quality of day care. Additionally, Roberta was a member and past president of the Brattleboro Follow Through Parent Advisory Council, volunteered with the Brattleboro Design Committee to write an education plan for Brattleboro's children, was a board member of First Chance and was a past president of Green Street School's Parent Teacher Club where she implemented the school newspaper. Roberta also volunteered with the local Cub Scouts program. Throughout her active years, Roberta held membership in the following organizations: National Association for the Education of Young Children, Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children, Vermont Day Care Association, Windham Child Care Providers Association, New England Association for Providers, and National Association for the Family Day Care. In her free time, she knitted slippers and mittens as well as made clothing for her children when they were young and often said that the sewing was her therapy. She learned upholstery, took up running in her 40s, and became a master gardener, designing the flower garden for Brooks Memorial Library. She also loved swimming and reading, especially mystery novels. In the late 1990s, Roberta became a foster parent and helped raise her grandson, Mark Joseph (JJ). Roberta was a strong and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She was patient and always gave people the benefit of the doubt. She didn't share grief and pain, but always tried to show love and kindness and to give praise. Her greatest joys were her family, and she was a force that was respected, admired, and loved and will be deeply missed. A woman of strong faith, she was a member of Agape Christian Fellowship in Brattleboro. On July 20, 1957, she married Norman Johnson, who predeceased her. She later married Lewis Young, who also predeceased her. Roberta leaves her children: sons Andrew Johnson (Marta Adams) of South Newfane and Matthew Johnson (Vikki) of Brattleboro, and a daughter, Lisa Weatherhead (Paul) of Guilford; one sister, Linda Biship of Arizona; 13 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren. She was predeceased by a son, Mark Johnson; a daughter, Leslee Kozyra; and a brother, Thomas Madden. Memorial information: Friends and family may call at Atamaniuk Funeral Home on Friday, June 6. She will be laid to rest in Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery on Orchard Street on Saturday, June 7. Actual times will be announced at a later date. Donations to Winston Prouty Center, 209 Austine Drive, Thomas Hall, Brattleboro, VT 05301; or The National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd St., New York, NY 10016. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.

• Charlotte Kurkul, 100, of Westminster. Died peacefully at home on March 11, 2025. Born on Dec. 12, 1924, in Westminster to Eunice (Smith) and Percy Muzzey, she graduated from Bellows Falls High School. Charlotte worked for The Richards Group, Bowen Insurance, and Walker Insurance. Charlotte married Walter Kurkul Sr., who predeceased her. Charlotte was a member of St. Peter's Church in North Walpole, New Hampshire, and the Moose Club in Bellows Falls. She enjoyed spending time with family and going out dancing with her husband. She loved being a part of the Westminster Cares group and always looked forward to their events. Charlotte is survived by her son, Walter (Catherine) J. Kurkul Jr.; siblings Virginia Muzzey Cryan and Warren (Carolyn) Muzzey; grandchildren Matthew (Calista) Magwire, Courtney (Sid) Magwire Sharma, Allison (Preet) Magwire Makkar, Jeffery (Jennifer) Kurkul, Kevin (Olivia) Kurkul, Rachel Ayre, and Eric (Amy) Kurkul; great-grandchildren Remington Savoy, Hannah Kurkul, Jillian Kurkul, Jaxon Kurkul, Kaitlin Kurkul, Lily Kurkul, Bailey Ayre, Nicholas Ayre, Harlow Kurkul, Hudson Kurkul, Carter Magwire, Caleyn Magwire, Anokh Makkar, and Neilish Sharma; and great-great-granddaughter, Magnolia Jane Savoy. Besides her parents and husband, Charlotte was predeceased by a daughter, Lucille Magwire; a son, Gary Kurkul; and grandson Christopher Kurkul. Memorial information: A funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, March 29, at 11 a.m. at St. Peter's Church in North Walpole, with burial to follow at the New Westminster Cemetery.

• William Francis "Bill" Solomon Jr., 84, of Hinsdale, New Hampshire. Died on March 15, 2025, on the night of the full moon. Born on Dec. 16, 1940, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Bill proudly served in the Navy before embarking on a long and dedicated career as a tool and die maker. Over the years, he worked for various companies throughout Connecticut, Vermont, and New Hampshire (including Bridgeport Metal Goods in Hinsdale and Whelan Engineering in Charlestown, New Hampshire), applying his skill and craftsmanship to his trade. Bill was known for his quiet and friendly nature, always willing to lend a helping hand. He found joy in the outdoors, spending time hunting and fishing. When not out on sporting exhibitions, he could be found out at his shed, feeding the birds during the day and watching the bats in the evening. His love for woodworking allowed him to create meaningful pieces with his hands, while his passion for history kept him engaged in reading about the military, specifically World War II. In his younger days, Bill, fondly referred to as "Chief" by his boys and their friends, was a Harley-Davidson motorcycle enthusiast. Every day since retirement, he ventured out at 2:15 sharp to spend time at the VFW with his fellow local veterans. Above all else, he cherished time spent playing with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, most recently Vincent Goodwin. In his golden years, Bill most enjoyed the company of his family who stepped in as caretakers, Heather Goodwin, Gabriel Abdul, and Diana Brown, as well as his longtime friends, Winthrop Drochene and Radek Soumar. He is survived by his loving wife, Kathy (Kuziak) of Hinsdale; his children and stepchildren, Debra Martin (Gary) of Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, Edward Solomon (Cathy) of Swanzey, New Hampshire, Cassie Stewart (Greg) of Hatfield, Massachusetts, Darleene Smith (James) of Hinsdale, Al Waters of Rutland, David Waters (Heather) of Hinsdale, and Dan "Buck" Waters (Susan) of Rutland; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; as well as cousins, nieces and nephews. Bill was predeceased by his parents, Julia (Sharkey) and William F. Solomon Sr.; sisters Barbara Moscovics and Veronica Fellows; his nephew, Kenny Moscovics; and stepson Don Waters. His memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew him. Memorial information: Private burial services will occur later in the spring. To offer condolences, visit phaneuf.net.

This Milestones item was submitted to The Commons.