Births
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Jan. 24, 2014, a son, Brek Ryan Holton, to Karina Martin and Ryan Holton, of Wilmington; grandson to Russell (Skip) and Simonne Holton of Wilmington, and Steve and Jane Martin of Davenport, N.Y.
College news
• The following local residents were named to the fall 2013 Dean's List at St. Michael's College in Burlington: Samantha R. Harris, a junior classics major from Brattleboro; Megan E. Majonen, a junior English and French major from Guilford; Devan W. Piniewski, a junior biology major from West Dover; and Sophie R. Zschirnt, a sophomore economics major from Whitingham.
• Bridget M. Shea-Gander of Brattleboro, a member of the Class of 2014 majoring in neuroscience, has been selected for inclusion on the Dean's List for the fall 2013 semester at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y.
• Jacquelyn Cawley of Brattleboro has been named to the University of Delaware's Dean's List for the fall 2013 semester.
• Bradleigh Bleecker of Brattleboro has been named to the Plymouth (N.H.) State University President's List for the fall 2013 semester.
• The following local residents earned academic honors at Clark University in Worcester, Mass., for the Fall 2013 semester: Daphne L. Kinney-Landis, of Guilford earned first honors, while Adam P. Boyle of Brattleboro, Jon-Erik Brodhurst of Brattleboro, and Julia Stevens of Brattleboro all earned second honors.
• Malcolm McNair, a mathematics major from Landgrove, was named to the Dean's List for the fall 2013 semester at Centenary College in Hackettstown, N.J.
Transitions
• Three local women have been appointed to the Emerge Vermont Board of Directors and Advisory Council. Donna Macomber of Brattleboro, a member of the Selectboard and legal coordinator at the Women's Freedom Center in Brattleboro, was named to the board of directors, while Catherine Dianich Gruver of Dummerston and Valerie Stuart of Brattleboro were named to the council. Dianich Gruver operates the Dianich Gallery in Brattleboro. Stuart is serving her second term in the Vermont House and is on the House Education Committee. Emerge Vermont is a support and training program for Democratic Party women seeking public office.
Obituaries
• Gladys C. Bruce, 94, of South Wardsboro. Died Feb. 4 at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend. Wife of the late Warren Bruce for 55 years. Mother of Marjorie Massey of Chester, Gloria Hart, and Janet LeBlond, with her husband, Robert, of South Wardsboro. Born in South Wardsboro, daughter of the late Herbert and Carrie Reed, she lived there all her life and was the oldest lifelong resident at the time of her death. An active member of the South Wardsboro Congregational Church, The Home Demonstration Group, and The Sewing Circle, she loved fine needlecrafts and hooking rugs. With a talent for remembering detailed history, she provided information for a documentary on the Wardsboro Gilfeather Turnip. She shared many wonderful memories from her youth with family and friends. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, she also loved spending time caring for her beloved animals and tending gardens on the farm in South Wardsboro. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 11 a.m., in the Wardsboro Methodist Church on Main Street. A reception will follow at the Town Hall. There will be a private burial in the spring. Donations may be made to Grace Cottage Hospital, Wardsboro Rescue, or the South Wardsboro Congregational Church.
• Nelson Fontaine, 76, of Brookline. Died Feb. 5 at Thompson House in Brattleboro. Husband of Charlotte (Taft) Fontaine for nearly 60 years. Father of Debby Moore and her husband, Kevin; Terry Pagach and her husband, Bill; Cindy Berrie and her husband, David; Sheila Gokey and her husband, Donald; Chuck Fontaine and his wife, Karen; Mike Fontaine and his wife, Dorothy; and Sam Fontaine and his wife, Kim. Brother of Barbara Smith of Virginia, David Fontaine of Townshend and the late Stan, Jean, and Joyce Fontaine. The son of the late Nelson and Marion Abbott Fontaine, he attended Leland and Gray Seminary in Townshend. He drove school bus for 25 years and was a farmer and a logger. He worked for the town of Brookline for many years, and served on the Selectboard for 30 years. He was co-founder of the Brookline Snowmobile Club. He enjoyed spending time with his family and his dogs, Daisy and Benjie. He loved snowmobiling, hunting, fishing, and woodworking. Memorial information: A celebration of his life will be held on March 1, from 1 to 4 p.m., at the NewBrook Fire Department in Newfane. Donations to Newbrook Fire Department or the Thompson House Activity Fund.
• Olga A. Gauthier, 94, of Henniker, N.H. Died Feb. 5 at the Presidential Oaks in Concord, N.H. Wife of the late Archie F. Gauthier. Mother of Christopher Gauthier and his wife, Susan, of Henniker and the late Diane Buraczynski and Carol Kohler. Sister of Joseph Doucette and his wife, June, of Hinsdale, N.H., and the late John and Edmund Doucette, Nellie Cushman, Helen O'Neill, and Pearl Bingham. Born in Conifer, N.Y., the daughter of the late Joseph and Anna Mae (Minney) Doucette, she was a resident of Hinsdale for more than 25 years. She was employed as a bookkeeper for the A&P grocery store in Brattleboro for many years. She was loved by many and remembered for her great sense of humor. She enjoyed playing cards, reading, doing crossword puzzles, and spending time with her grandchildren and her dog Maggie. She was happiest when she was at her cottage in Maine, entertaining her family and friends. Memorial information: A memorial service was held on Feb. 15 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro. Burial will be held at North Cemetery in Vernon in the spring. Donations may be made to VNA of Concord, 30 Pillsbury St., Concord, NH 03301. Ker-Westerlund Funeral Home of Brattleboro has been entrusted with arrangements.
• Charles R. “Chuck” Gorsuch, 88, of Keene, N.H. Died Feb. 5 at his home at Bentley Commons. Husband of Jean Bell Vinton and the late Helen Grace Ward. Father of Lee Ann and Rich Gorsuch and the late Linda Gorsuch. Stepfather of Jandi, Lark, Kori and Jera Vinton. Brother of Ruth Gorsuch Schlosser of Odessa, Fla., and the late Rich and Don Gorsuch. Born in Wauseon, Ohio, the son of the late Ernest and Vera (Henning) Gorsuch, he graduated from Florida State University with a degree in journalism after serving in the Air Force during World War II. He was a man of many talents and interests, working for newspapers in Florida and New England, and opening one of the first fitness clubs in the state of Vermont. An avid pilot for over 50 years, he enjoyed golf, tennis, travel, and always had some great jazz playing in the background. He was recently named Trustee Emeritus in 2013 by the New England Coalition on Nuclear Pollution for his dedicated work for over 35 years on their behalf. He will be remembered for his kind nature, warm smile, and devotion to family, friends and community. Memorial information: A tribute to Chuck will be held in the spring. Donations to Hospice at HCS, P.O. Box 564, Keene, NH 03431, or, in honor of his kind and thoughtful heart, perform a random act of kindness to someone you see in need.
• Susan M. Herrman, 63, of Westmoreland, N.H. Died Feb. 9 at her home. Wife of Ralph S. Herrmann for 30 years. Mother of Katy Curtiss-Robinson and her wife, Krystie Curtiss-Robinson, of Newfane and Peter Keller and his wife, Kristen Keller, of Cotuit, Mass. Brother of the late William T. Ohman III. Stepdaughter of the late George P. DelColle, Born in Chatham, Mass., the daughter of Marie M. (Cantwell) and William T. Ohman Jr., she grew up in Chatham, graduating from Chatham High School. She received a degree in nursing from Southern Vermont College in Bennington, and attended Keene State College, and Antioch University in Keene, where she received a certification in community health and management. Her legacy is Hospice, educating the medical profession and the public about Hospice, and of allowing people to have a peaceful death at home. She was the Director of Hospice at Home Healthcare Hospice and Community Services, in Keene for 18 years. She received certifications from the National Hospice and Palliative Care as a certified Hospice and Palliative Care Registered Nurse and also in National Hospice and Palliative Care Leadership and Management. She was a member of the Executive Board of Directors with the State Hospice and Palliative Care. Her life centered around her caring for the many families she met. However, her greatest devotion was to her family. Memorial information: A memorial service was held at Foley Funeral Home in Keene. Burial will be private. Donations to Patient Care Needs of Hospice, Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services, P.O. Box 564, Keene, NH 03431-0564.
• Helene Jalbert, 68, of Vernon. Died Feb. 8 at Thompson House in Brattleboro. Wife of Marcel Jalbert for 38 years. Former wife of George Small. Mother of Jennifer Covey and her husband, Chris, of Hinsdale, N.H., George Small of Hartford, Conn., Robert Small of Pennsylvania, Philip Jalbert of California, and the late Laurie Moryzek. Sister of Robert Levesque of Bristol, Conn. Born in Maine, the daughter of the late Angeline and Lawrence Levesque, she was a cook at Eden Park nursing home in Brattleboro and Vernon Green nursing home. She also drove school buses for Laidlaw Transportation. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary and the Daughters of Isabella, and was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro. She loved to play Bingo, and enjoyed crafting. Memorial information: A funeral Mass will be held at St. Michael's Catholic Church on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 1 p.m. Burial will take place in the spring. Donations to Jennifer Covey, 836 Brattleboro Rd., Hinsdale, NH 03451, to help defray funeral costs.
• Richard W. Petrie Sr., 73, of Dummerston. Died unexpectedly at his home. Husband of Maureen M. Petrie for 41 years. Father of Richard W. Petrie Jr. and his fiancee, Tina LaFlam, of Guilford; Mary P. Stevens, of Patterson, Ga.; Julie P. Deyo and husband, Kevin, of Brattleboro; Lance Thereault of Brattleboro.; and Diane Petrie and her partner, Paul Boyd, of Guilford. Brother of Edward Petrie of Guilford, Jane Slicer of La Fargeville, N.Y., and the late Herman Petrie, and Shirley and Frieda Franklin. Born in Guilford, the son of the late Walter and Etta Akeley Petrie, he attended the one-room school house across the road from his family home on Hinesburg Road in West Guilford, and later attended Brattleboro Union High School. As a young adult, he worked for H. Margolin in Brattleboro, as well as transporting mail for Charlie Kelton. His passion for farming led him to manage the Nelson Bump Farm in Halifax. He was also a long-term employee at Henry's Transportation, where he hauled milk. His love for farming led him to purchase his own farm, which he ran for 22 years, on Barrows Road in West Brattleboro. He retired from farming and sold his farm in 2011. In addition to farming, he enjoyed gardening, hunting, fishing, hosting pig roasts at his farm, and visiting with family and friends. Memorial information: A celebration of his life with be held on Friday, Feb. 21, from 3 to 7 p.m., at Fraternal Order of Eagles, 54 Chickering Drive, Brattleboro. Donations to the Brattleboro Fire Department.
• Debra Santagata, 58, of Brattleboro. Died Jan. 14. Born in Islip, N.Y., the daughter of the late Vincent and Yolanda Santagata, her family moved to Brattleboro when she was five-years-old. She graduated from Brattleboro Union High School in 1973 and worked as an administrative assistant for most of her career at various local businesses, including Futurebiotics, the Brattleboro Reformer, and the Grafton Village Cheese Co., until she became a caregiver to her late sister Lorraine. She adored her family and friends and enjoyed spending much of her time with them. She loved art and music, children and animals, and will be dearly missed. She loved her dog Stanley and would take him everywhere she went. He is now being lovingly cared for by her friends. She was a very special person who made everyone who was lucky enough to know her feel valued. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on Feb. 22 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro. Donations to Pine Heights, Activity Department, 187 Oak Grove Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301, or to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302.
• Mary E. “Beth” Smith, 57, of Brattleboro. Died Feb. 8 at her home. Wife of Lawrence E. Smith for 27 years. Mother of Miranda H. Smith, Arthur N. Smith, and Daniel E. Smith, all of Brattleboro. Sister of Edward F. “Bud” Ingraham II and his wife, Bethany, of Hebron, Ky.; Peter Ingraham and his wife, Lori, of Orlando, Fla.; and the late Andrew Ingraham and Susan Wildes. Born in Springfield, Mass., the daughter of the late Edward F. and Mary E. (Counihan) Ingraham, she has been a Brattleboro resident for 30 years. She grew up in Epping, N.H., where she graduated from Epping High School as class valedictorian in 1974. She then went on to attend Keene State College, earning a B.A. in history and residing in Keene after graduating in 1978. She had muscular dystrophy, and before the disease prevented it, enjoyed ice skating, camping, hiking and biking. She always enjoyed reading, was a former Girl Scout leader, an avid Red Sox fan, and loved music, especially Celtic Thunder and The Beatles. Memorial information: A memorial service was held Feb. 15 at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Brattleboro. Donations to Rescue, Inc., 541 Canal St, Brattleboro, VT 05301, or to St. Michael's Episcopal Church. Ker-Westerlund Funeral Home of Brattleboro was entrusted with arrangements.