Obituaries
• John Hall Cushman, 85, formerly of Bennington. Died April 16 at Friends House in Santa Rosa, Calif. Husband of Marion Gaines Cushman for 62 years. Father of Frederick Bennett Cushman II, David Brand Cushman, and John Hall Cushman Jr. Born in Bennington, the son of the late Frederick Bennett Cushman and Isabel Norton Cushman. He attended Hoosac School in Hoosick, N.Y., and Governor Dummer Academy in South Byfield, Mass. He served in the Army from 1944 to 1946, earned a B.A. from Harvard University, and an M.A. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 1950. He remained a joyful Harvard Man his entire adult life. Wherever they went, the Cushmans cultivated an extensive and enduring chosen family of friends of all ages, and he took great pride in his family's 200-plus year history in Vermont, including ancestors who fought in the American Revolution and Civil War, founded Norton Pottery and the H.T. Cushman Manufacturing Co. Memorial information: Donations to Our Place Drop-In Center, 4 Island St., Bellows Falls, VT 05101; American Friends Service Committee, 65 9th St., San Francisco CA 94103; or Memorial Hospice, 821 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95401.
• Irene Jewett, 84, of Putney. Died April 16. Wife of the late Walton Jewett. Mother of Theresa Smart and Sandra Jewett of Dummerston. Sister of Richard Dunham of Abilene, Texas. Born in Putney, the daughter of the late Eugene and Mildred (Johnson) Dunham, she grew up in Putney where she attended school. She worked at Basketville as a basket weaver for more than 25 years. She loved spending time with her family and going on their annual vacation to Lake St. Catherine. Memorial information: A graveside services was held April 19 at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Putney.
• Clara A. Jurkoic, 86, of Bellows Falls. Died March 13 at the McGirr Nursing Home in Bellows Falls. Companion of Billy Doyle of Bellows Falls. Sister of Michael Jurkoic of Japan, Joseph Jurkoic of Boston, and the late Helen Jurkoic. Born in Bellows Falls, the daughter of the late Joseph and Amelia (Kawaki) Jurkoic, she was a graduate of Bellows Falls High School. She worked for many years as a telephone operator in Bellows Falls. She was well-known for her friendly, generous nature and fun-loving spirit. She loved her home town and her home state. A devoted, practicing Catholic, she was a member of the Sacred Heart Church, Loyal Order of the Moose, and Polish American Club, all in Bellows Falls. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held April 18 at St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls, with burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Westminster. Donations in her memory may be made to St. Charles Church, 31A Cherry Hill St., Bellows Falls, VT 05101.
• Otis A. “Bud” Reed, 85, formerly of Brattleboro. Died April 18 at Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, Mass., following a period of declining health. Husband of the late Charlotte Monette for nearly 60 years. Father of Phillip Reed and his wife, Patricia, of Hinsdale, N.H.; Robert Reed and his wife, Cindy, of Camden, N.Y.; Bruce Reed and wife Lynn of Plattsburgh, N.Y.; and Priscilla LaValley and her husband, Kenneth, of Ellenburg Depot, N.Y. Brother of the late Ed Reed, Mary Howard, and Eleanor Reed. Born on Holland Hill in Putney, the son of the late Clarence and Ruth (Robbins) Reed, he was raised and educated in Westminster West, graduating from Vermont Academy and later attended Norwich University. He spent 20 years living in Vernon and Hinsdale, before moving back to Brattleboro. He served in the Army during World War II in the 27th Division, and was a member of Gen. Douglas McArthur's honor guard. He had been employed for 35 years as a supervisor at American Optical. He also worked part-time as a rural route carrier for the Vernon post office. Following retirement, he worked at Fleming Oil at their Western Avenue location. He held membership in the American Legion Post 5 and the B.P.O. Elks Lodge 1499. He enjoyed hunting, coin collecting, local history, and time shared with his family. Memorial information: A graveside committal with full military honors will be conducted on April 27 at 10 a.m. in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Putney where he will be laid next to his wife. Donations to Vernon Green Nursing Home Activities Fund, 61 Greenway Drive, Vernon, VT 05354. Online condolences may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Candida Rae Sergi, 33, of Brattleboro. Died April 13. Mother of Sean and Hailey Baker of Bellows Falls. Daughter of Samuel and Jean Sergi of Brattleboro. Sister of Michael Sergi of Brattleboro. Memorial information: A service was held April 20 at Ker-Westerlund Funeral Home in Brattleboro.
• Lynn Koch Wright, 66, formerly of Dummerston. Died at her Swansboro, N.C. home on April 13. Wife of Ron Wright for 47 years. Mother of Wendi Hedberg of Moorpark, Calif., and Kelly Puglisi of Clayton, Ohio. Sister of Nancy Flynn and Peter Koch, both of Guilford, and Allan Koch of Montville, N.J. With her husband, she owned the Brattleboro North KOA Kampground for 30 years. Memorial information: Funeral services are private. Donations to the Friends of the Swansboro Library Association, in care of treasurer Marge Graser, 1460 W. Corbett Ave., Swansboro, NC 28584.
College news
• Chloe Ingalls, a member of the class of 2013 and a resident of Dummerston, has been selected to be the Housefellow of Connecticut College's Freeman House for the 2012-2013 academic year.