Obituaries
• Ann R. Bevis, 77, of Winchester, N.H., formerly of West Chesterfield, N.H. Died Aug. 11 at her home following a brief battle with cancer. Wife of the late Chester S. Bevis for 50 years. Mother of Brenda St. John and husband, Wayne, of Brattleboro; Stephen “Bart” Bevis of West Chesterfield; and Pamela Nadeau of Keene, N.H. Sister of Louise Hume and her husband, Bill, of Greenfield, Mass., and the late Warren “Buddy” Root. Born at the Franklin County Hospital in Greenfield, Mass., the daughter of the late Henry and Iva (Brooks) Root, she was raised on her family's farm and educated in Bernardston, Mass., graduating from the Powers Institute in Bernardston, Class of 1953. While in Bernardston, she worked at the Four Leaf Clover Restaurant, when she met her husband. Previously, she had worked at the former Vermont National Bank and also waitressed part-time at the former Howard Johnson's in Brattleboro. From 1965 until her retirement in 2000. she was employed as a secretary and payroll specialist at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. She was known by all the staff at BMH for her candy dish on paydays. She enjoyed traveling, especially visiting the seacoast areas of New England. She very much enjoyed time shared with her family and friends, and was known for her spirit of friendship and wonderful sense of humor. Memorial information: Graveside committal services were held Aug. 16 in Chesterfield West Cemetery on Poor Road, where she was laid to rest next to her beloved husband. Donations to the Oncology Department at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, 17 Belmont Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301; or to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302. Condolences may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Stella Z. Butynski, 97, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died Aug, 16 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Wife of the late William Butynski. Mother of William Butynski of Hinsdale. Brother of the late Peter Zavorotny. Born in Hinsdale, the daughter of the late William and Tekla (Janczyszyn) Zavorotny, she graduated from Hinsdale High School with the class of 1932. While attending high school, she enjoyed acting in school plays and dancing. She had been employed at the concession stand at Hinsdale Raceway and had previously worked at the former Tempstat Manufacturing in Hinsdale and at the former H. Margolin Pocketbook Shop in Brattleboro. In her earlier years, she had worked at a print shop in Hinsdale. A devout Catholic, she was a longtime communicant of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Hinsdale. She enjoyed time shared with her family, friends and caretakers. She also enjoyed flowers and her home at which she resided for 95 of her 97 years. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Aug. 20 at St. Joseph's Church in Hinsdale with burial in St. Joseph's Cemetery, where she was laid to rest next to her husband. Donations to St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 35 Brattleboro Road, Hinsdale, NH 03451, the Monadnock Humane Society, P.O. Box 678, West Swanzey, NH 03469, or to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302. Condolences may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Pamela Cochran, 38, of Brattleboro. Died Aug. 10 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Wife of the late Harold Cochran. Mother of Jacob Cochran. Sister of Penny Williams and James Cutter, both of Brattleboro, and Michael Cutter of San Diego, Calif. Born in Brattleboro, the daughter of Donna and Maurice Cutter, She was raised in Brattleboro and worked for Burger King and Dunkin' Donuts. She loved to crochet and do plastic canvas needlework. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held Thursday, Aug. 16, at 1 p.m. at the Kiwanis Shelter at Living Memorial Park. Burial will take place at West Brattleboro Cemetery on Mather Road. Donations can be made for the benefit of Jacob Cochran, Penny Williams in Trust, in care of Debra Daniels, Peoples United Bank, P.O. Box 804, Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Helen D. Dix, 83, of Whitingham. Died Aug. 12 at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend. Wife of the late Sanford Dix for nearly 62 years. Mother of June Tool and her husband, Robert, of Readsboro; Susan Sullivan and her husband, Richard, of Franconia, N.H.; and Linda Tarinelli and her husband, Charles, of Belgrade, Mont. Sister of Ralph Dodge of Florida, Mass., Ray Dodge of Kenewick, Wash., and Roy Dodge of Othello, Wash. Born in Whitingham, the daughter of the late Percy and Hazell (Vose) Dodge. She received her education in Whitingham schools, graduating from Whitingham High School. She later graduated from Castleton Normal School, (now Castleton State College), and then attended Johnson State, receiving her B.A. in Education. She began her teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse in Whitingham, then went on to teach in Readsboro, Wilmington, and the Woodbury Elementary School. She was a member of American Legion Post 17 Auxiliary, and enjoyed spending time with her family, as well as crafts, knitting, crocheting, and reading. She was an avid Boston Red Sox fan. Memorial information: A memorial service was held Aug. 17 at the Community Church of Whitingham, with interment in the family lot in Sawdawga Cemetery in Whitingham. Donations to the Whitingham Community Church, Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center, or The Moover, c/o Covey & Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05201.
• Peter B. Gore, 85, of Wilmington. Died Aug. 9 at his home. Husband of Sally Lukow Gore for 53 years. Father of Candace Bittner and her husband, Brian, of Glen Allen, Va.; Timothy Gore of Lenox, Mass.; and Linda Gavin, and her husband, Daniel, of Turners Falls, Massachusetts. Brother of the late Harold M. “Bob” Gore Jr. and Nancy Everett. Born in Amherst, Mass., the son of the late Harold M. “Kid” Gore, former athletic director at University of Massachsetts, and his wife, Jane (Pollard) Gore. He attended Smith College Day School and was educated in Amherst schools and at Deerfield Academy. His summers were spent growing up at Camp Najerog on Lake Raponda in Wilmington, established by his parents in 1924. He was a camper, camp counselor, ran the water skiing program, and was an assistant camp director. He served in the Navy in World War II, and after the war, he received his bachelor's degree from Marlboro College in the college's first graduating class. He later received his master's from the University of Massachusetts, and further studied at Laval University in Canada, and Grenoble University in France. He taught French and coached athletics at Deerfield Academy for 23 years. Upon returning to Vermont, he taught at Wilmington High School, worked at Greene's Service Center, and was a rural mail carrier and a clerk at the Wilmington Post Office, retiring from there in 1993. He established and operated the Wilmington Antique & Flea Market, Inc., and felt deep satisfaction in maintaining the flea market property over the past 30 years. He was an avid Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots fan. He enjoyed traveling and the outdoors, listening to all types of music, collecting coins and stamps, and was a member of the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association and the Vermont Old Cemetery Association. During the past several years, he enjoyed spending winters in Fort Myers, Fla., biking, walking, and attending Boston Red Sox spring training. Memorial information: A private service will be held at a later date. Donations to Deerfield Valley Community Cares Program, P.O. Box 5, Wilmington, VT 05363. Condolences may be sent to the Covey, Allen & Shea Funeral Home at www.sheafuneralhomes.com.
• John A. Gringeri, 84, of Franklin Lakes, N.J., formerly of Wyckoff, N.J. Died Aug. 15. Husband of Veronica Gringeri. Father of Michele Hudon and her husband, Thomas, of Brattleboro; Jeffrey B. Gringeri and his fiance, Mary Alice Boyle, of Aberdeen, N.J.: David G. Gringeri and his wife, Elizabeth, of Hinsdale, N.H.; Suzanne N. Korpics and her husband, Thomas, of Hawthorne, N.J.; Sharon F. Giroux and her husband, Matthew, of Braintree, Mass.; and John C. Gringeri and his wife, Melissa, of Morris Plains, N.J. Brother of Anthony Gringeri, Grace Gambone, and Louis Gringeri, Born in Philadelphia, the son of the late Florence and Louis Gringeri, he served in Guam with the Marine Corps. He was a member of the Ancient Order of the Chamorri of the historic island of Guam. He graduated from La Salle College, which is now La Salle University, in Philadelphia. He was also was a member of the Wyckoff Seniors Club, as well as the Franklin Lakes Seniors Club. His diverse career included assignments with Brown Instruments, GE Missile and Space Vehicle Department, General Instruments, Federal Electric Co., Ampex, Motorola, Burns and Roe, and the New York City Transit Authority. Memorial information: A memorial Mass was held at St. Elizabeth's Church in Wyckoff, N.J. on Aug. 18. As the ultimate gift with the greatest potential for serving others, he has donated his body to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey for medical education and research. At a later date, cremains will be buried at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown, N.J. Donations to the Little Sisters of the Poor, 140 Shepherd's Lane, Totowa, NJ 07512, or to a charity of your choosing.
• Joseph Keith Jacks, 56, of Palmetto, Fla. Died Aug. 7. Father of Lindsay (Jacks) Roberts of Bradenton, Fla., and Seth William Francis Pichette of Brattleboro. Brother of Jimmie, Chuck, Mike and Kelly. He was born on base in San Juan, Puerto Rico to the late James and Betty (Rogers) Jacks. A lifelong resident of Manatee County, he served with and retired from the U.S. Air Force. He was also retired from the St. Petersburg Post Office, where was employed as a mail handler. In addition to his creative talents as a painter and poet, he loved music, especially the Allman Brothers Band. He was also a diehard Florida Gators football fan. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on Aug. 17 at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Brattleboro. Donations to the J.K. Jacks Scholarship Fund, 20 Elliot St., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Elizabeth Weltz Kohlroser, 99, of Brattleboro. Died July 20 at Pine Heights Nursing Home. Wife of the late Victor Weltz and the late Rudolf Kohlroser. Mother of Margaret Barile, Veronica (Vera) Riley. and the late Hans Weltz. Born in Klein Geisen, Germany, she emigrated to the U.S. when she was 23. She lived in College Point, N.Y. for 50 years before moving to Florida. At the age of 92, she moved to Holton Home in Brattleboro. She believed strongly in family and community. She loved and inspired her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was an active Catholic in Germany, New York, and Florida and a long-time member of the Steuben Society, a German-American association in New York City. She loved meeting new people and made friends wherever she went. She often returned to her home in Germany and loved to travel abroad, often taking a grandchild along. Although she only had an eighth-grade education herself, she believed very strongly in higher education and supported her grandchildren in their academic pursuits both financially and emotionally. She loved to sing and was a member of the Flushing Manner und Damen Choir for over 40 years. She often could be heard singing in the nursing home. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on Aug. 1 in College Point, N.Y., and she was buried with her first husband Victor, in Mount St. Mary's Cemetery in Flushing, N.Y.
• Harold Schiff, 84, of Chicago. Died August 7 in Chicago, after several years of declining health. Husband of Margot Levin Schiff, and the late Rosalind (Holman) Schiff and Mozelle (Edelstein) Schiff. Father of Leslie Schiff and husband, Steve Rice, of Minneapolis; David Schiff and companion, Tanya Nezzer, of Charlottesville, Va.; and Leo Schiff and his wife, Joy Hammond, of Brattleboro. Brother of Sue Astrove and her husband, Alan, of Rockville, Md. Born in New Rochelle, N.Y., he graduated from New Rochelle High School and attended Columbia University for two years. He served in the Army and was stationed in Japan with the U.S. occupation forces after World War II. He made his career in the nascent field of construction management, where he led major projects in New York City, Chicago. and around the world. Among the most noted buildings he worked on were the Pan Am building in New York, the Sears Tower in Chicago, and the Tour Monparnasse in Paris. He worked for Diesel Construction, Morse-Diesel Inc, ARA Services, and founded Schal Associates, which he later sold to Bovis. Memorial information: Burial was in Queens, N.Y., and a memorial service is planned for this fall in Chicago. Donations to Mercy Housing Lakefront, 120 S. LaSalle St., Suite 1850, Chicago, IL 60603.
• Sharon Tidd Singleton, 61, of Bellows Falls. Died Aug. 12. Wife of Robert Singleton. Mother of Ian and Danielle Singleton of Reading. Daughter of Margaret Tidd. Sister of Ellen, Joanne, Michael, Kevin, and Butch. A 1969 graduate Bellows Falls High School, she spent years doing child care in her home and later worked at the Reading Country Store and caring for the elderly. She was active in community affairs and enjoyed black-eyed Susans. Memorial information: A celebration of her life was held Aug. 19 at the Moose Club in Bellows Falls.
• Theodore Paul “Ted” White, 62. Died Aug. 5. Father of Tessa Tavares, and her husband, Chris, of Westminster West. Born in Canton, Mass., the son of the late Peter White and Gertrude Porter, he graduated Canton High School in 1969. He attended cosmetology school, where he earned his hairdressing license. His main occupation throughout his life was building and historical restoration. He had a real appreciation for this work and took pride in his craft. He loved life and was a real “people person,” always taking the time to say a friendly hello to everyone. He was known for being a great conversationalist who loved to explore various topics over a good cup of cafe con leche. He loved all forms of music, art, poetry and movement and was also an avid sports fan. He felt a deep connection to the natural world, and often referred to himself as “an old hippie” who loved working with the earth and making a concerted effort to live harmoniously with the environment. Some of the most treasured moments of his life were opportunities to spend quality time with his family, close friends, and loved ones. He will bemost remembered for his profound willingness to help people. The later part of his life was devoted to service and his work at Turning Point of Brattleboro, as a volunteer resident manager for Windham & Windsor Housing Trust, and as a volunteer for Hospice. Memorial information: No information provided.
Harold G. “Bing” Winter, Sr., 79, of Bratttleboro. Died Aug. 15. Husband of Hazel Willard Winter for more than 60 years. Father of Georgia Boyce and her husband, Jim; Daniel Winter, Patricia Bell and her husband, Ed; Harold Winter, Jr. and his wife, Carol; Thomas Winter, and Richard Winter and his girlfriend, Rita. Brother of Mayolyn Arsenault of Wardsboro, Ruth Perkins of Brattleboro, and the late Hermon, Roswell, Cleon, and Robert Winter. Half-brother of Carrol Foley and Bernice Moffet. Born in West Chesterfield, N.H., the son of the late Hermon and Mayolyn (Farnham) Winter, he was educated in Brattleboro schools. He worked in the Brattleboro area his entire life. Over a 50-year career as a truck driver, he worked for Clarks Ash Mill, Cersosimo, A.L. Root, B.K.D. Corp., D.J.'s Inc., BDR Transport, Junie Whidden, Boyce Trucking, and Wayside Fence. An avid bowler, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and woodworking. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great grandfather. Memorial information: A graveside service was held Aug. 18 in West Brattleboro Cemetery. Donations to “Nancy's Angels,” in care of Cheryl LaFlam, 268 Chesterfield Rd., Hinsdale, NH 03451.
• Lillian A. “Chichita” Wozniak, 98, of Brattleboro. Died Aug. 10 at Pine Heights Nursing Home. Wife of the late Edmund P. Wozniak for 45 years. Mother of Cristina New and her husband, Alfred, of Brattleboro. Born in Montevideo, Uruguay, the daughter of the late Juan and America (Martinez) Alonso, she was raised and educated in Montevideo, where she attended both French and British schools. She went on to attend Smith College, earning her M.S. in Chemistry in 1941. She worked as a research scientist for American Cyanamid Company in Princeton, N.J. in the company's agricultural division, which she retired from in 1977, following 34 years of service to the company. In 1976, she was the recipient of the company's Biologist of The Year award. She had been a resident of Brattleboro for the past 22 years moving to the area to be close to her family. Previously, she had resided on Cape Cod in Mashpee, Mass. She was known for her spirit of friendship and enjoyed helping others. During the 1990s, she was an active volunteer at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, assisting in the cafeteria and helping the kitchen staff. A devout Catholic, she was a communicant of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Brattleboro. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, knitting, jigsaw puzzles and was an avid reader mostly of mysteries. She loved music and thoroughly enjoyed attending local concerts. She was also a devoted homemaker who cherished time spent with her family. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on Aug. 14 at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church. Committal Rites and burial took place Aug. 15 in Queen of Peace Cemetery in Stamford, Conn., where she will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband. Donations to Mariam's Haiti Fund, which supports an orphanage in Haiti, in care of Customer Service, Brattleboro Food-Co-Op, 2 Main St., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
Births
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Aug. 8, 2012, a son, Mason Henry Nutting, to Jodi Fletcher and Matt Nutting of Brattleboro; grandson to Donald and Wendy Fletcher of Brattleboro, Stuart and Colleen Nutting of Bradford, and Chad and Mary Pierson of Fairlee; great-grandson to Dana and Patricia Fletcher of Brattleboro, Pete and Sandy Nutting of Bradford, and Jim and Marcia Doyle of South Carolina.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), July 26, 2012, a son, Donovan Edward Black, to Michelle Knight and Christopher Black of Springfield; grandson to Mary C. Knight, and Daniel and Gwen Minchenko.
School news
• The Brattleboro Rotary Club awarded $12,000 in scholarships to six local high school students who will be attending college this fall. This year's recipients, who each received $2,000, include: Kayla A. Farace of Jamaica, Krista A. Gay of Athens, Timothy D. Gringeri of Hinsdale, N.H., Moses R. Jaenson of Guilford, Melanie A. Smith of Hinsdale, N.H., and Soren A. Pelz-Walsh of Dummerston. Criteria for the awards are academic achievement, financial need, and community service, all of which are weighed evenly.
Transitions
• Barbara Gentry recently assumed the role of President of Youth Services, taking the reins from Steven Sayer, whose two-year term has just ended. Gentry has been on the agency's Board of Directors for the past 7 years, after initially serving on the Big Brothers Big Sisters Advisory Committee in the 1990s. During her tenure on the Youth Services board, she was Secretary-Treasurer and Vice President among her roles in addition to organizing the Public Relations Committee and serving as its Chair. She was the Director of Community Relations for 23 years at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. In addition to her work on the Youth Services board, Gentry has served on the boards of the Brattleboro Music Center and the United Way, and also served on the Executive Committee of the Blanche Moyse Chorale and the St. Michael's Episcopal Church vestry.
• Jorika Stockwell will be the new program manager for a federal two-year pilot program within Vermont which coordinates distribution of accessible communication equipment to applicants who are both deaf and blind. She has been administering the Vermont Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program as a manager with the Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Brattleboro for the last eight years. The Center recently received a grant for $127,000 from the Federal Communications Commission to assist Vermonters with the combined loss of hearing and vision to receive specialized communications equipment.
• Wendy Cornwell, RN, BS, BSN has been appointed Director of Community Health Initiatives/Blueprint Project at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. She will serve as the Project Manager for the Vermont Blueprint for Health initiative, responsible for the hiring and supervision of the Community Health Team, and working with hospital-owned and independent primary care practices, including Grace Cottage Hospital Practices, to assist practices to successfully achieve certification as a Patient-Centered Medical Home under the National Committee for Quality Assurance.
• Debra Boudrieau was recently honored as a 2012 State Star by the Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC). Boudrieau, the Area Business Advisor for Windham and southern Windsor counties, received the honor for her disaster response work after Tropical Storm Irene.