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.
• Carol Lee Bernal, 72, of Searsburg. Died Sept. 24 at her home. Wife of Clesson C. “Chuck” Bernal for nearly 44 years. Mother of Clesson C. Bernal II of Searsburg, Heather Berry of Whitingham, Evangie Bernal of Bennington, Jeffrey Desrochers of Lake Elmore, and Michael and David Desrochers of Morrisville. Sister of Paul Roy and the late Robert Roy and Marilyn Dwyer. Born in Norwich, the daughter of the late Charles Swazey and Evelyn Stanford, she was raised by her stepfather Paul Roy and graduated from Danville High School. She worked for many years as a machine operator for G.S. Precision, and previously owned and operated the Midway Diner in Worthington, Pa. She enjoyed gardening, canning, camping, reading, and both crossword and jigsaw puzzles. She also enjoyed dancing and birdwatching and cherished times spent with her family and friends. Memorial information: A graveside funeral service was held Sept. 29, 2011 at the family lot in Cutler/Somerset Cemetery in Searsburg. Donations to the Community Church of Whitingham, in care of Covey & Allen Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363. Condolences may be sent to www.sheafuneralhomes.com.
• Edmund M.Brelsford III, 80, of Putney. Died Sept. 11 in the White Mountains, at the top of Bear Notch Pass, during a cycling trip with his daughter. Husband of Veronica Alewyn. Father of Allegra Alewyn, Oliver Ashby, Wendy Carlotta, Cecelia vanHook, and Alicia Throm. Born in Miami, the youngest of three children born to Alice Ashby Brelsford. His grandfather, Edmund M. Brelsford was a pioneer in the state of Florida, founding the settlement that became Palm Beach. When still young, he and his two sisters, Alicia and Dorinda, acquired a step-father and two step-brothers, Frank and Edwin Dunbaugh. His family moved to Coral Gables, where his life-long love of the sea, sand, and sun began.He attended Christ School in North Carolina from 1947-1950 where he played football and sang in the chapel choir. Served in the Navy during the Korean conflict, and later received his B.A. in Spanish at the University of Miami, but it was his minor in French that got him a French Government scholarship that took him to Paris to study at the Sorbonne. Later, he made his way to Madrid, returning just in time to encounter a certain young lady who was also frequenting those shadowy halls. Another two years would go by before Edmund and Veronica crossed paths again, this time at Middlebury College, where they both received their M.A.'s in 1960. Degrees tucked in their pockets, the two embarked on a rollicking cross-country jaunt, ending up at City Hall in New York for a brief but joyous wedding ceremony. The Brelsfords eventually escaped the city to a small farmhouse in Westminster West, and he began his decades long career teaching languages and literature at Marlboro College. Fluent in four languages, he embraced the opportunity to explore the “less frequently taught” languages with any student who was truly committed to learning. He relished the intellectual environment that the college offered, and he was also invested in his children's education and sent them all to The Grammar School in Putney. He helped that little school thrive also. He chaired the Board, he cut ski trails, and drove the school bus. He was an accomplished musician and performed music from the Medieval, Renaissance and the Baroque on period instruments. In 1967 he formed the Marlboro Recorder Workshop, which celebrated its 44th year in April by celebrating his 80th birthday with a concert. He provided music for the college's theater productions, occasionally stepping on the stage himself. Recently, he indulged his love for poetry by broadcasting a weekly poetry hour on WVEW, and served on the board of Write Action. He was also an accomplished cross country skier and cyclist, and he shared these loves with his children, supporting them in their own athletic achievements. He walked this planet with an unfailing joie de vivre, and touched many with his intellect, enthusiasm, and wit. He chose deliberately and conscientiously the life he made for himself and his family, and lived it lovingly and fully. He felt his life to be rich, wonderful, and blessed. Memorial information: A celebration of his life will occur at the West Village Meeting House on Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 10 a.m. Bring a single flower to add to a vase. Donations to the Grammar School's Accessibility Project, 69 Hickory Ridge, Putney, VT 05346, or Sandglass Theater's access project.
• Hazel Campbell, 83, formerly of Brattleboro. Died Sept. 23 at her daughter's home in St. Louis, where she had resided for the past two years. Wife of the late Peter Kenneth “Ken” Campbell for 51 years. Mother of Peter and his wife, Susan, of South Attleboro, Mass.; Michael and his wife, Susan, of Dummerston; Kathy Lovelace and husband, David, of Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; and Kimberly Lakin and her husband Tom of St. Louis. Sister of Arlene Kathan of Brattleboro, and the late Earl, Raymond, William and Harold Stockwell and the late Margie Callahan. Born in Putney, the daughter of the late George and Marguerite (Blakeslee) Stockwell, she was raised and educated in East Putney, attending Putney Central School and was a graduate of St. Michael's High School in Brattleboro. She went on to graduate from the Providence Hospital School of Nursing in Holyoke, Mass., where she received her nursing degree. She worked as a registered nurse at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Thompson House Nursing Home and at the former Linden Lodge Nursing Home, where she retired from in 1990. She was known for her excellent nursing skills as well as being a compassionate caregiver. Following retirement, she enjoyed wintering with her husband in Mount Dora, Fla. For many years, she served on the Brattleboro School Board and took a great interest in the wellbeing of the children in Brattleboro. She also had a great interest in local and national politics. A devout Catholic, she was a communicant of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church. She enjoyed music, gardening and faithfully attended both her children and grandchildren's sporting events and their other endeavors. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on Sept. 30 at St. Michael's Catholic Church, with burial in St. Michael's Parish Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest next to her husband. Donations to St. Michael's School, 47 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, in care of Elaine Beam, principal. Messages of condolence may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Terrence “Terry” E. Chapin, 64, of Brattleboro. Died Sept. 25 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. Husband of Christine Chapin. Father of Michelle Chapin of Belchertown, Mass., and Melissa Chapin of Hadley, Mass. Stepson of Elaine Chapin of Newfane. Sibling of Richard Chapin of Guilford, Emma Michaels of North Carolina, Kenneth Marsh of Texas, and Leslie Moody of Florida. Born in Brattleboro, the son of Erminie Marsh and the late Malcolm Chapin, he attended Leland & Gray Seminary, graduating in 1964, and earned his engineering degree in 1968 through an apprenticeship program that was a collaboration between the Pratt & Whitney Division of United Aircraft in East Hartford, Conn., and the University of Hartford. After graduating, he moved back to Vermont and was employed by Cersosimo Lumber in the construction division. With a desire to use his engineering background, he then worked for Valley Sprinkler during the restoration of the Brooks House in the 1970s and then furthered his education in fire protection engineering which became his lifelong career and passion. In the late 1970s, he started TECCO, which he owned and operated until the mid 1990s while he simultaneously pioneered, developed and marketed fire protection engineering software for the industry along with his business partners. Thereafter, he started Chapin Consulting and Design. Throughout his career he was an active member of the American Fire Sprinkler Association, served on many committees and spoke at numerous conventions. He was one of the best fire safety designers in the country and a pioneer in computerization of fire sprinkler design. His biggest gift to all he touched was not only his selflessly imparting of his vast treasure-trove of knowledge but the kind and gentle way he interacted with everyone. His integrity and sincerity made him a true “gentlemen of the industry,” and he will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate to know him both professionally and personally. An avid skier, he relished ski trips with his daughter Michelle and was affiliated with Maple Valley Ski Area for many years. He enjoyed golf, tennis, gardening and traveling the world, and loved animals. Memorial information: Per his request, there are no formal services. The Terry Chapin Memorial Scholarship has been established in his honor to benefit a student pursuing a career in CAD, engineering or software programming/development. Contributions to River Valley Credit Union, BUHS/Career Center Branch, 70 Atwood St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, in care of Donnette Hill. Messages of condolence may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Loretta Kulmus, 74, of Brattleboro. Died Sept. 25 at home. Sisters of Luise May of Washington, D.C., and Carol Muller and her husband, George, of San Jose, Calif. Born in New York City, the daughter of the late Otto and Frida Kulmus, she was raised in Brattleboro and was a graduate of St. Michael's High School and Massachusetts General School of Nursing. She worked in Massachusetts, Detroit and New York City, and finished her career as an RN at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital.Her leisure time interests included knitting and traveling. She used her knitting talents for many years to support the Retired Senior Volunteer Program in Brattleboro. She was a longtime parishioner of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on Sept. 29 at St. Michael's Catholic Church, with burial in St. Michael's Parish Cemetery. Donations to St. Michael's School, 47 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, in care of Elaine Beam, principal, or to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05301. Messages of condolence may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• William Siemer Luring, 77, of Saxtons River. Died Sept. 23 at home of pancreatic cancer. Husband of Louise for nearly 41 years. Father of Elena of Saxtons River, and Marianna of Brooklyn, N.Y. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, the only child of the late Gustave Lee and Priscilla Harris Luring, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Cincinnati and a master's degree from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. He worked for Esso in New Jersey and Stanford University and FMC in California before joining The Experiment in International Living (now World Learning) in Putney, where he directed the leadership and summer abroad programs. In 1979, he became business manager and treasurer of Vermont Academy in Saxtons River, until retiring in 1994. The annual William S. Luring Award honors outstanding service to the Academy by a support staff member. He was a member of the Bellows Falls Rotary Club, a Paul Harris Fellow and instituted the club's local foundation in recognition of Harris's time as Vermont Academy student before going on to found Rotary International. He was editor of the club's newsletter. He also served on many boards and committees, including Main Street Arts, Our Place Drop-in Center, the Swift Water Girl Scout Council and the Saxtons River Fourth of July committee. He enjoyed volunteering with young students at New England Kurn Hattin Homes. His community service was recognized by Yankee Magazine in 2004 with the Barn-Raising award. He was an avid motorcyclist, sharing many hours on his BMW traveling with his biking buddies, especially through the Atlantic provinces of Canada. He was also a passionate foodie whose tastes ranged from Cincinnati four-way chili and White Castle hamburgers, to meals at some of the finest restaurants in New York. Memorial information: A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. Donations to N.E. Kurn Hattin, P.O. Box 127, Westminster, VT 05158; or Bellows Falls Rotary Club Foundation Inc., P.O. Box 81, Bellows Falls, VT 05101.
• Elsa A. Leib Parker, 90, of Rockingham. Died Sept. 24 at her home. Wife of the late George Parker for 67 years. Mother of George Jr. of Rochester, N.Y.; Bruce of Parkton, Md; Nancy States of Kersey, Pa.; Bette Wunderle of Rockingham. Sister of Dorothy Shannon. Born in Bronx, N.Y., the daughter of the late Robert and Elsa (Schweitzer) Leib. She was valedictorian at Andrew Jackson High School, Class of 1939, and attended Queens College. She was a member of St. Luke's Church, Farmingdale, N.Y., and Prince of Peace Church in Claremont, N.H. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and one of the kindest ladies you would ever meet. Memorial information: A memorial service was held Oct. 2 at Prince of Peace Church in Claremont.
• Mary Elizabeth “Mary Liz” (Coombs) Ratti, 86, of Brattleboro. Died Sept. 25 at Thompson House in Brattleboro. Wife of Robert J. Ratti for 62 years. Mother of Jo Carol Ratti and her husband, Wayne Farrell, of Brattleboro, Casey Ratti and her husband, Dr. Timothy Bicknell, of Ferrisburg; and Stephen Ratti of Brattleboro. Sister of Joseph C. Coombs and his wife Fran, of Brattleboro, and the late Charles Coombs. Born in Brattleboro, the daughter of the late J. Carroll and Helen Mann Coombs, she graduated from St. Michael's High School, Class of 1943. She entered nursing school under the Cadet Nursing Corps Program and graduated from the New Rochelle (N.Y.) School of Nursing in 1947, where she received her R.N. degree. She was employed at the New Rochelle Hospital as well as at the University of Michigan Hospital, Mary Fletcher Hospital in Burlington, and the Moore White Clinic in Los Angeles. She worked briefly at the Austine School and at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital upon her return from California in 1955. She was a member of the Women's Evening Club, a volunteer at the Red Cross Blood Donation Center at the Elks Home in Brattleboro and spent many years working with and supporting the Brattleboro Winter Carnival Queen's Pageant. She loved to swim and regularly combined her love of golden retrievers with her daily walking program. She was an avid reader and a devoted Red Sox (and Atlanta Braves) fan. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Oct. 1 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro. Donations to The Thompson House, in care of Lisa Kemp, 80 Maple St., Brattleboro, VT 05301 or to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302. Messages of condolence may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Mary DeVeau Rose, 84, of Newfane. Died Sept. 28 at Thompson House. Wife of the late George A. Rose Jr. Mother of George A. Rose III of Townshend, and Mary Ann Runge of Newfane. Twin sister of the late Rev. William DeVeau. Sister of the late George A. and Emil J. DeVeau. Born in Bridgeport, Conn., the daughter of George W. and Theresa Englemann DeVeau, she grew up in North Guilford and Guilford, Conn., and graduated from Guilford High School in 1945. She worked for the Southern New England Telephone Co. for many years. In 1969, she moved to Newfane with her family. She worked for the Brattleboro Retreat for many years, also different school settings in the area, including working as a teacher at Little Valley Nursery School in Townshend. She also was a volunteer for RSVP. She enjoyed working in her flower beds, feeding the birds, and loved being with her dogs. Her grandchildren and great grandchild were her greatest joy. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Oct. 4 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro, and her ashes were placed next to her twin brother in St. Michael's Parish Cemetery. Donations to The Thompson House Activities Fund, in care of Sandy Ware, 80 Maple St., Brattleboro, VT 05301 or to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302. Messages of condolence may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Christopher White, 55, of Captain Cook, Hawaii. Died of cancer on Sept. 22 at St. Francis Hospice in Honolulu. Husband of the late Beverly White. Born in East Anglia, England, the son of the late Douglas and Joyce White of Halstead, he lived in Halstead until he was 23. In 1979, he came to the United States and lived in Massachusetts and Burlington, before settling in Halifax. He was the owner of Commonwealth Distributors and distributed Vermont Bread for many years. In 2006, the Whites fulfilled their dream of moving to Hawaii and buying a coffee farm, Kahula Farms. They raised Kona coffee, macadamia nuts, tangelos and grapefruit. Chris played the button accordion and was active in several Morris dance groups. He enjoyed folk music and frequented folk clubs on his return visits to England. He also enjoyed British comedies and lately had become a fan of Jon Stewart. He had a deep reverence for all living things. He always had at least several dogs and cats. Even as he was ravaged with cancer, could no longer work and barely care for himself, he continued to provide impeccable care for 27 stray cats that the Whites had taken in. He was an avid Red Sox fan. He leaves behind many friends all around the globe, including many friends and business associates in the Brattleboro area, his childhood friends and a beloved aunt in England. Memorial information: As per his wishes, he donated his body to science to do his part to help find causes and treatments for cancer. Donations to www.advocatshawaii.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the well being of Hawaii's abandoned and homeless cat population.
Births
• In Keene, N.H., (Cheshire Medical Center), Sept. 15, 2011, a son, Eko Harmon-Fee, to Jade Harmon and Jay Fee of West Chesterfield, N.H.
• In Lebanon, N.H., (Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center), Sept. 15, 2011, a son, Felix Apollo Washkevich, to Stephen and Melody Washkevich of Brattleboro.
• In Lebanon, N.H., (Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center), Sept. 11, 2011, a son, Bodhi Makena Evans, to Rick and Caroline Evans of Bradford; grandson to Gordon and Linda Evans of Dummerston and Sandy and Carol Curtis of Columbia, Md.
• In Keene, N.H., (Cheshire Medical Center), Sept. 6, 2011, a daughter, Jordan Marie, to Katheleen Cobb and Shawn Goodell of Putney.
• In Keene, N.H., (Cheshire Medical Center), Sept. 6, 2011, a daughter, Scarlet Jayde Stockwell, to Krystal (Johnson) and Nicholas Stockwell of Hinsdale, N.H.
College news
• Tanya Mayhew of Brattleboro was named to the President's List at the Community College of Vermont for the Summer 2011 semester. The President's List includes full-time students with a 4.0 grade point average.
• The Brattleboro Rotary Club awarded $24,000 in scholarships to eight local high school students who are attending college this fall, and honored past recipients at a special dinner at the Brattleboro Country Club on Aug. 18.
This year's recipients, who each received $3,000, include: Joshua M. Fontaine of Brattleboro, Stephanie M. LeQuier of Readsboro, Marianne R. Lucas of Brattleboro, Taylor F. Patno of Guilford, Nathan P. Sanderson of Hinsdale, N.H., Amie M. Schiller of Brattleboro, Maggie K. Schiller of Brattleboro, and Melissa Soule of West Wardsboro.
The scholarships are funded by The Gateway Foundation, a tax-exempt affiliate of the Brattleboro Rotary Club.