Births
• In Greenfield, Mass., (Franklin Medical Center), on July 7, 2013, a son, Branson William David Evans, to Julie Engstrom and Andrew Evans of Greenfield; grandson to Barbara Evans, and Barbara Engstrom.
• In Keene, N.H., (Cheshire Medical Center), on June 11, 2013, a daughter, Aliyah Hope Johnson, to Misty Armstrong and Tyler Johnson; granddaughter to Lisa Johnson and Joe Edwards of Vernon, Cheryl and Mark Ladeau of Hinsdale, N.H., and Mark Johnson of Jacksonville, Fla.; great-granddaughter to Theresa Smart of Dummerston, Bill and Gloria Tarbox of Lecanto, Fla., and Mary Edson of Hinsdale.
College news
• Two local residents were among 1,371 students from Ithaca College who received degrees during the college's commencement ceremony held in May 2013. Evan Johnson, a resident of Marlboro, graduated from Ithaca's Roy H. Park School of Communications with a major in journalism and Riley Goodemote, a resident of Brattleboro, graduated from Ithaca's School of Music with a major in music education.
• Sam Colleran, a resident of Vernon and a television-radio major in the class of 2016, and Jacob Huston, a resident of Brookline and a history major in the class of 2015, were named to the Dean's List in Ithaca College for the spring 2013 semester.
• Sarah O'Brien Lagasse of Brattleboro and Beau Doucette of Wilmington were both named to the Dean's List for the spring 2013 semester at the University of Rhode Island.
• Peter Van Oot Jr. of Brattleboro, a member of the class of 2013 at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., has received Faculty Honors for the spring 2013 semester.
School news
• The Grammar School in Putney graduated 19 eighth-graders on June 13. The eight boys and 11 girls gave presentations for the audience, which were complemented by teachers' speeches about each graduate. Jack Spanierman of Putney and Colette Anton of Dover will go to Brattleboro Union High School next year; Aashna Kinkhabwala of Dover will attend Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester; Simon Basescu of Westminster West, Mackey O'Keefe of Walpole, N.H., Katy Brennan and Allegra Wu of Saxtons River, and Riley McIntosh of Saxtons River and Putney will be at Vermont Academy; Ole Saaf from Saxtons River, Annice Pelletier of Grafton, Libby Green of Walpole and Putney, and Carrie Brautigam of Putney will attend Putney School; Josephine Weil and Ellinore Todd Long of Chesterfield, N.H., Sophie Basescu and Toby Weed of Westminster West, and Patrick Lierle of Putney will go to Northfield Mount Hermon School; Quinn Thomson of Chesterfield, N.H. will be at Dublin School; and Russell Boswell of Putney will attend Stratton Mountain School.
• Fourteen eighth-graders graduated from Kurn Hattin Homes in Westminster on June 8. Making up the Class of 2013 is Jahyde Bullard of Camden, N.J., Thomas Taylor of Ludlow, Christopher Hopkins of Springfield, David Curtis of Langdon, N.H., Montana Fellows of Wilder, Krista Gottfried of Milton, Jonathan Ortiz of Leominster, Mass., Bryce Butler of Springfield, Logen Dion of Lebanon, N.H., Dominic Cherbonneau of Claremont, N.H., Jenitza Fernandez of Holyoke, Mass., Andrea Turner of Westminster, Evany Rodriguez of Bronx, N.Y., and D'Leanne Solovei of Peterborough, N.H. After graduating, most of the students are staying on campus for the summer in the ninth-grade transition program, and then they will rejoin their families and attend their local high schools in the fall. One will go to Vermont Academy in Saxtons River, and several of the other graduates will go the Milton Hershey School in Pennsylvania.
Obituaries
• Robert Peter “Cooter” Marchetti, 68, of Halifax. Died July 16 at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington. Husband of Teresa Marchetti. Sister of Barbara Mastro and her husband Mike, of Wellesley, Mass., and Susan Marchetti and her companion David Villeneuve, of Natick, Mass. Born in Newton, Mass., the son of the late Hector and Delpha (Corazza) Marchetti, he graduated from Wellesley High School in 1963. He attended Boston College for two years before enlisting in the Army. Serving in Germany, he received the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Sharpshooter Badge (M-14). He was in the construction field his entire life, retiring as a Superintendent for E. Guigli & Sons Excavating Co. in Natick. He was an avid sportsman and nature lover. He spent years with his constant companion and wife searching for a special place to call home and looked no further when they came to Southern Vermont and the Green River area. He once said “God created a paradise and called it Vermont.” Memorial information: A service was held July 22 at Covey-Allen & Shea Funeral Home in Wilmington, followed by burial in Halifax Center Cemetery. Donations to the Vermont Food Bank.
• Glenys Mitchell, 93, of Brattleboro. Died July 12 at her home. Wife of Kingsley W. Mitchell for 70 years. Mother of Anne Hann and her husband, Francis, of Sutton, Mass., Lorna Mitchell of Brattleboro, and Janet Piateski and her husband, James, of Damascus, Md. Born in Birkenhead, England, she worked for the Royal Mail for seven years during World War II and got married in 1943. They immigrated to Canada in 1953 and then to the United States. They also lived in Cuba for two years. After living in New Jersey for a few years, they eventually settled in Massachusetts. She was active in the Congregational church in Holliston, Mass., for many years and later in churches in Bourne and Sandwich. She was known for her homemade marmalade and apple pies. She also volunteered at the women's state prison in Framingham, Meals on Wheels and the Fish organization. She spent many happy hours working in her flower garden and knitting sweaters and mittens. She also loved being with her grandchildren. Full of compassion and fun loving, one could always count on her to bring levity to a situation. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held Friday, Aug. 2, at 11 a.m., at Centre Congregational Church in Brattleboro. Donations to Brattleboro Area Hospice, Canal St., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Janet A. Scott, 78, formerly of Jacksonville. Died July 14 of pneumonia at Thompson House in Brattleboro, where she had been a resident since 2006. Wife of the late Allan Scott, who also lived at Thompson House until his death in 2009. Mother of four children and their spouses: Deb and Neil, Craig and Kim, Pam and Gordy, and Michelle and her fiance, Gerry. Sister of Sandra of Imperial Beach, Calif. Before the Scotts moved to Thompson House, they lived in North Adams, Mass., in a beautiful Victorian house filled with the antiques she loved to collect. She was also a talented florist. Before moving to North Adams, they lived in Jacksonville, where they were active in the Couples Club and the Jacksonville Church. “Gramma Jan” was a kind person, always concerned for people and animals. She was the “fun mom” in the neighborhood and was very devoted to her family. She was big on holidays and celebrations, loved attending her family's sporting events, and was a great storyteller. At Thompson House, she took great joy in the programs offered, and even had a song written about her. She considered it her duty to watch over the patients. Memorial information: A funeral service will be held on July 27, at 11 a.m., at the Jacksonville Church. She will be interred in Greenfield at a later date. Donations to Thompson House, 80 Maple St., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Dana H. Shannon, 63, of East Dummerston. Died July 17 at his home, following a period of declining health. Son of Juanita (Reynolds) and the late Reginald Shannon. Brother of Kathy Bacon and Lori Reynolds, both of East Dummerston, and Barry Shannon of West Brattleboro. Born in Hartford, Conn., he was a resident of East Hartford before moving to the Brattleboro area with his family in 1967, later settling in East Dummerston. He thoroughly loved country music and also enjoyed reading, dancing, watching wrestling matches on television, and time shared with his family. He especially loved babies and attending family gatherings. Memorial information: A funeral service was held July 20 at Atamaniuk Funeral Home, with committal services and burial at the Shannon family lot in Newport Center Cemetery in Newport. Donations to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302.
• Raymond Gates Tuttle, 52, formely of Brattleboro. Died July 14 at his home in Athol, Mass. Former husband of Norma Mackey. Father of Brittany Tuttle of Brattleboro and Alisha Tuttle of Greenfield, Mass. Brother of Paul Tuttle and his wife, Andrea; Michael Tuttle; Christopher Tuttle; Gates Tuttle III; and his companion, Serena, all of Greenfield. Born in Greenfield, the son of JoAnn (Rabideau) and the late Gates Tuttle, he grew up in Greenfield and attended Greenfield schools. He resided in Turners Falls, Mass., in the “Patch,” and later moved to Brattleboro, where he lived for many years. For the past year, he resided in Athol. He served in the Army and the Army National Guard. He worked as a meat cutter for several supermarkets, worked in several manufacturing plants, and was also a chef. His hobbies included fishing, cooking, traveling, wildllife, collecting antiques, volunteering, learning new foreign languages, playing his guitar, and taking flying lessons. He adored his two dogs, Wolfie and Baby. Memorial information: A funeral service was held July 23 at Higgins-O'Connor Funeral Home in Athol. A private burial will be held at the Massachusetts Memorial Veterans' Cemetery in Agawam at a later date. Donations to the Athol Animal Shelter, “for the care of animals,” in care of the Athol Police, 280 Exchange St., Athol, MA 01331, or the Athol Veterans Council, in care of Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 746, Athol, MA 01331.
• Margaret Woodruff, 88, of West Townshend. Died July 14 at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend.Born to Adelbert and Mildred (Dompier) Chase at the family farm on Windham Hill in West Townshend, she was the widow of Stockton Woodruff. She leaves three sons: Walter and his wife Mary Lou of Windham; Stockton III (Skip) and his wife Maureen of West Townshend; and Forest and his wife Carlotta of Jamaica; two daughters: Barbara West of Quechee and Peggy Arnett and her husband Terry of Williamsburg, Virginia; as well as her sister, Ida Dutton, of Windham. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by brother Raymond Chase, brother Carroll Fisher, and her granddaughter, Polly West Huot. Memorial information: A service will be held at 10 a.m. on Aug. 14, at the Windham Center Congregational Church.