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.
• S.C. “Jack” Chrisco, 85, of San Angelo, Texas. Died Feb. 21. Husband of Juanita (Culwell) Chrisco for 66 years. Father of Frank Chrisco and his wife, Ingrid; Jeanette Findlay Truehardt; and April K. Stout. Predeceased by his parents, S.C. Chrisco, Sr. and Bertha Lillian (Boswell); and siblings Mary Lee, Edna Earl, and Clara Mae. Served in the Marines, the Army Air Corps and the Air Force for a total of more than 20 years. Tours included Guadalcanal and the South Pacific as a Marine rifleman during World War II, special guard duty to President Roosevelt, military police service in occupied Japan, and serving as a cook and electronics engineer at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, Mass. Upon retirement in 1963, he worked as a meteorological technician for Lincoln Laboratories and MIT as a civilian Air Force employee. His lifelong passion, farming, included 300 acres in north eastern Maine where he raised Belted Galloway cattle for 20 years. He returned to Texas where he worked with his nephew, Jessie Merrifield, in the construction business in Midland and San Angelo. He and his family owned The Olde Park Hotel in Ballinger, Texas, his wife's birthplace and site of her family's business since the early 1920s. They operated a restaurant, bed and breakfast and antique shop. He will be remembered by all as a generous man, funny, loving, and a friend to all. Memorial information: A memorial service was held Feb. 26 in Texas.
• Lydia A. Faxon, 65, of The Villages, Fla., and Brattleboro. Died Feb 20 at Thompson House. Former wife of Thomas J. Faxon of Brattleboro. Mother of David S. Faxon of Brattleboro; and Joel T. Faxon and his wife, Carolyn, of Newtown, Conn. Sister of Stephen Holden and his wife, Cecile, of Tamworth N.H., and Orman Holden and his wife, Lillia, of Brattleboro. Born in Brattleboro, daughter of Justin and Ruth (Davis) Holden, she was a graduate of Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 1963. She later completed cosmetology school and became a hairdresser. She spent the next 20 years raising her boys, coaching Little League baseball in Guilford, and working for The Magic Mirror, Ker-Westerlund Funeral Home, and BUHS. For the past decade, she wintered in Florida with her companion Thomas Hurley. She enjoyed the outdoors, gardening, and photography, but her favorite place was on the golf course. Memorial information: A memorial service was held Feb. 26 at Ker-Westerlund Funeral Home in Brattleboro. Burial will be later this spring. Donations to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, P.O. Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202, www.leukemia-lymphoma.org.
• Gordon Roy Hammond, 64, of Guilford. Died Feb. 15. Husband of Nancy Hammond. Father of Tamara West and Crystal Akagi in Utah; Tonya Towler in North Carolina; Megan Hammond and Jen Sanborn in California; Alaina Hammond and Tim Sanborn in Vermont; and Kendra Hall in New Hampshire. Brother of Peggy Meyer in North Carolina; James in Wisconsin; and Edgar in Michigan. Predeceased by siblings Julia and Crispen. Born in Wayne, Michigan, son of the late Crispen and Eleanor (Wood) Hammond, and graduated from Northville High in 1964. He received a B.S. in Meteorology from the University of Utah and a M.S. in Meteorology from the University of Oklahoma. After 20 years of honorable service, Gordon retired from the Air Force as a senior scientist at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, Mass., at the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was awarded four Meritorious Service Medals and the Air Force Commendation Medal. He also graduated from Air Command & Staff College and the coveted Industrial College of Armed Forces. He continued working for the Department of the Air Force as a civilian contractor overseeing the acquisition and installation of weather systems worldwide. He retired to a farm in Guilford and enjoyed cutting and splitting firewood, building stone walls, brush-hogging; caring for his three pet sheep, and watching the wildlife on the hillsides. He was happiest when he was predicting weather for friends and family. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held at Hanscom AFB in Massachusetts in March and in Guilford in late spring. Donation to the Grace Cottage Foundation, P.O. Box 1, Townshend, VT 05353; or to the Gordon R. Hammond Memorial Scholarship at Brattleboro Union High School, c/o Kathy Rouleau 131 Fairground Rd. Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Willard Martin Kenyon, 76, of Grafton. Died Feb. 23 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Father of John Ellis and his wife, Virginia, of North Clarendon; twin daughters Susan Hernandez and her husband, Mario, of Cambridgeport; and Sandra Hunt Saktanli, also of North Clarendon. Brother of Carlton “Pug” Kenyon of Grafton; Leon “Skeet” Kenyon of Saxtons River; Alice Culver of Newfane; and Christine Decamp of Bellows Falls. Memorial information: Funeral services were held March 1 at the White Church in Grafton.
• Pamela Symington Mayer, 90, of Hanover, N.H. Wife of the late David Mayer. Mother of Michael Mayer of Williamsville; Anneke Mayer of Dragoon, Ariz.; and Rebecca Mayer of Providence, R.I. Predeceased by a daughter, Elizabeth Meyer. Born in New York City and attended The Chapin School in New York, St. Timothy's School outside of Baltimore, Md., and Radcliffe College in Cambridge, Mass. Served in Europe during World War II in the Red Cross, and returned to New York to work for the Office of War Information where she met her future husband. The Mayers lived in Holland for five years, before settling in the Washington, D.C. area. She was always deeply committed to the Episcopal Church and in mid-life found a meaningful career in counseling. Upon retirement, the Mayers moved to southern Vermont, where she co-founded Brattleboro Area Hospice, Healing Tools and The Manitou Project. In 1991, the Mayers became members of the Kendal Community at Hanover. She had an abiding passion for being in the woods, culminating in her later years with work to combine spirituality with love of nature as a self-designated “episcopagan.” This interest inspired and informed her choice to have a Christian “green burial” on her beloved land at Manitou in Williamsville. Memorial information: A memorial service was held at All Souls Church in West Brattleboro on Feb. 26 at 1 p.m. Donations to Brattleboro Area Hospice or The Manitou Project.
• Jeanne E. McCormick, 77, of North Walpole, N.H. Died Feb. 23 at her home. Wife of the late Robert H. McCormick for 53 years. Mother of Gary T. McCormick and his wife, Faye (Rogers); Karen A McCormick-Putnam and her husband, Morris; and Pamela J. Patnode and her husband, Andrew. Predeceased by her three siblings, Francis Porter, John Porter, and Mary Bianco. Born in Bellows Falls, the daughter of the late Elton and Mary (Pierce) Porter, she graduated from Bellows Falls High School in 1951. She was Village Treasurer for 16 years and resigned in November 2009 due to her health. She had worked at Readex in Chester, H.A. Manning in Bellows Falls, and Bryant Grinder in Springfield. She was a huge Red Sox fan, and enjoyed reading, playing cards and Bingo, and swimming at the Townshend Dam with her family and friends. She was also an avid candlepin bowler and won the “Queen of the Hill” tournament and appeared on Channel 56 in Boston in 1965. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Feb. 26 at St. Peter's Church in North Walpole. Donations to the Keene Area Hospice, in care of HCS, P.O. Box 564, Keene, NH 03431.
• Jean E. Dondero Schultz, 88, of Wallingford, Conn. Died Feb. 23 at home. Wife of the late Philip A. Schultz. Mother of Karen Milano and Donna Slie and her husband, James, both of Wallingford. Predeceased by her brother, Francis L. “Chutch” Dondero. Born in Wallingford, the daughter of the late Louis and Catherine Gargaly Dondero, she had been a Wallingford resident for many years, moving to Newfane in 1978, and resided there until moving back to Wallingford 18 years ago. Attended Holy Trinity School, Lyman Hall High School, and the Laurel Business School in Meriden in 1941. She had been employed by the Charles Parker Co, Hall Brothers Hatchery, and American Cyanamid while residing in Wallingford, and worked for the Superintendent of Schools in Newfane until she retired in 1993. Was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, and the Wallingford Rod & Gun Club. Memorial information: A memorial service was held Feb. 28 at Wallingford Funeral Home, with burial in St. John Cemetery in Wallingford will be private. Donations to the Masonicare Home Health & Hospice, 33 No. Plains Industrial Rd., Wallingford, CT 06492, or to the American Cancer Society 825 Brook St., I-91 Tech Ctr., Rocky Hill, CT 06067, or to the charity of one's choice.
• Mary Kelly Sohm 53, of Westmoreland, N.H. Died Feb. 22 at her home. Wife of Robert L. Sohm for 33 years. Sister of James Kelly and his wife Leslie of Charleston, W.Va.; and Donald Kelly of Houston. Born in Queens, N.Y., the daughter of Donald T. and Barbara A. (Pond) Kelly, she graduated from Hofstra University with a degree in business administration. In 1983, she moved to Westmoreland and later received a Master's in Human Services from Keene State College. Was a licensed clinical mental health counselor, and practiced privately in Westmoreland. Was a guardian ad litem with the state of New Hampshire and was also an adjunct professor at Keene State College, teaching case management and human services courses. Was a strong advocate for those with disabilities, ensuring there ability to access areas and buildings throughout the community, with ease. In 2003, she collaborated with Alice Kenney, PT, to open their practice, New England Wellness Works, in Brattleboro. Was a parishioner of St. Bernard Church in Keene, N.H., and a member of the church's folk choir. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Feb. 25 at St. Bernard Church in Keene, N.H. Burial will be in the spring in the South Village Cemetery in Westmoreland. Donations to Patient Care Needs of Hospice, PO Box 564, Keene, NH 03431.
• Edward Ralph Wheeler, 51, of North Concord. Died Feb. 16 at the VA Medical Center in White River Junction. Wife of Darlene Wheeler. Brother of Nancy Wilcox of Wilmington; Vivian Smith of West Halifax; and William “Butch” Wheeler of West Halifax. Born in Brattleboro, the son of Amor and Arlene Gertrude Wheeler, he served in the Army. Memorial information: A memorial service was held Feb. 27 at the Moose Club in Bellows Falls.
• Katherine Holiday Wright, 96, of Brattleboro. Died Feb. 21 at Thompson House. Wife of the late Clifford H. Wright. Mother of Susan Parsons and family of Dayton, Nev.; Clifford Wright, Jr. and family of Enosburg Falls; and Stephen Wright and wife, Kathy, of Brattleboro. Predeceased by two brothers, Frances and Joseph Holiday. Born in Brattleboro, the daughter of the late Francis M. and Zella E. (Edwards) Holiday, she was a graduate of Brattleboro High School, Class of 1932. Serving in the Women's Auxiliary branch of the Army during World War II, stationed in Washington, D.C. Following her honorable discharge in November 1944, she returned to Brattleboro where she obtained employment at the offices of Paul Lawton & Sons. She later worked in the office of Estey Organ Co. and Berkshire Fine Spinning. Most recently, she spent 30 years working in the Brattleboro office of the Vermont Department of Employment and Training. Was a member of American Legion Post 5, was a member and past president of the American Legion Auxiliary, and also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary. Volunteered at several area organizations and events, including Loaves & Fishes and working the polls in Brattleboro during town elections. Of her pastimes and interests, she enjoyed bowling, shopping and time shared with her family. Memorial information: Graveside services with full military honors will take place in Locust Ridge Cemetery in the springtime. Donations to Thompson House Nursing Home, 80 Maple St., Brattleboro, VT 05301 or to Make a Wish Foundation, 100 Dorset Street, Suite 13, South Burlington, VT 05403. Messages of condolence may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
College news
• Nathan Nichols of Newfane, son of Susan Nichols, has been named to the fall term Dean's List at Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y. Nichols is a first-year student majoring in physics.
• The following local students have been named to the fall term Dean's List at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I.: Violet Dixon of Brattleboro, Rachel Urato of Williamsville, and Carla Yudin of Guilford.
• Ashley Morgan of West Townshend, a sophomore majoring in chemical engineering, was named to the Dean's List for academic excellence for the fall 2010 semester at Worcester (Mass.) Polytechnic Institute.