College news
• William Scarlett, a marine engineeering technology major from Saxtons River, was named to the Dean's List at Maine Maritime Academy for the fall 2015 semester.
• Maya Sutton-Smith of Brattleboro and Kalinda Roberts of East Dummerston were named to the Dean's List at Connecticut College in New London, Conn., for the fall 2015 semester.
• Paula Merkle of Vernon, Robert Allen of Londonderry, and Eli Serota of West Dover were named to the Dean's List at Ithaca (N.Y.) College for the fall 2015 semester.
Obituaries
• Janet Sexton Avery, 82, of Dummerston. Died Feb. 26 at her home. Born in Jersey City, N.J., daughter of Ruth Davis Sexton and Robert Mitchum Sexton, she was was raised in Riveredge, N.J., and married Arthur E. Avery in 1954. She was active in the Dummerston Congregational Church, where she served on various committees and as Deacon. She was also a library trustee to the Lydia Taft Pratt Library in West Dummerston. She is survived by a brother, Robert Sexton and his wife, Anne-Lise, of Chelmsford, Mass.; three children, Sharon Avery Sinclair of Kalispell, Mont., Doug Avery of Athens, and Kent Avery, and his wife, Lynn, of Denver, Colo., and four grandchildren. Her husband, Art, died in 2009. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: At her request, there will be no visiting hours or memorial service. A private committal service is planned. Donations to the Lydia Taft Pratt Library or the Dummerston Congregational Church. Arrangements under the direction of Ker-Westerlund Funeral Home of Brattleboro.
• Tina Marie Blood, 45, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died Feb. 24 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., following a period of declining health. Wife of Dennis C. Blood for seven years. Mother of Tyler and Jordan Blood. Sister of Reginald Stanclift and the late Shawn Stanclift. Born in Brattleboro, the daughter of Larry and Ethel (Boudreau) Stanclift, she was a lifelong resident of Hinsdale, where she was raised and attended public schools, including Hinsdale High School. She had been a licensed nursing assistant working at Vernon Green Nursing Home and a convalescent care facility in Morrisville, Vt. More recently, Tina worked at the Hinsdale Walmart in inventory management. A devoted homemaker, she loved spending time with her family as well as socializing with her many friends. She also enjoyed camping, dancing, music. and Karaoke singing. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A memorial gathering was held March 4 at the Hinsdale VFW from 6 to 9 P.M. Donations to Rescue Inc. P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05301; Hinsdale Volunteer Fire Department, 13 Depot St. Hinsdale, NH 03451; or to the Hinsdale VFW Post 4234, 66 Main St., Hinsdale, NH 03451. To sign an online register book with messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Helen M. Dillon. 90, of Brattleboro. Died Feb. 10 at Pine Heights Nursing Home in Brattleboro after a period of declining health. Wife of the late William Dillon. Mother of the late Nancy Burbank. Born in Roxbury, Vt., the daughter of the late Henry and Mary (Flinn) Seckington, she was raised and educated in Roxbury, where she attended public school. She eventually settled in Brattleboro and had been employed for more than 20 years at the former Margolin's Pocketbook Shop and later worked for more than 20 years at the former Book Press. On a part-time basis, she worked for the late Helen Harris and for Nancy and John Chard. A devout Catholic, she was a communicant of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church. She enjoyed keeping up on current events, baking and cherished her beloved cat, Watson. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: Services will be private with burial of her cremated remains in Morningside Cemetery. Donations to St. Michael's Catholic Church, 48 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, or to the Pine Heights Nursing Home Activities Fund, 187 Oak Grove Avenue, Brattleboro, VT 05301. To sign an online register book with messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Vera R. Harrington, 104, formerly of Newfane. Died March 3 at the Thompson House Nursing Home where she had been a resident for the past two years. Born at home in Mt. Olive, Ill., the daughter of the late Immanuel and Marie (Scheller) Rink, she attended local schools in Mt. Olive and graduated from high school in 1928. She spent time in St. Louis, Mo., doing office work, prior to moving to Brookline with her family in March of 1929. During her first years in Vermont, she was active in minstrel shows and plays in the Union Hall in Newfane. She was also the pianist for a local band which played at dances in the West River Valley. In 1931, she married Harlan Ray Harrington, and the couple moved to Somerville, Mass. They resided there for eight years before returning to Newfane. Her husband of 37 years predeceased her in 1968. She loved knitting, crafts, and her beloved quilt making. She made over 100 quilts which have gone to places like Hawaii, Alaska and several other states. She was a member of the Brookline Ladies Aid Benevolent Society, Newfane Ladies Aid, NewBrook Fire & Rescue Auxiliary, Grace Cottage Hospital Auxiliary and was a 50-year member of the former Rebekah's Lodge, She was a longtime member of Newfane Congregational Church. where she sang in the church choir for more than 20 years. She also served as church organist for two years and was a deacon for three years. A devoted homemaker, her life centered around her family. She also worked as bookkeeper for Harrington's Garage for 19 years. Survivors include a daughter, Sandra Dowley of Townshend; three sons, Bruce Harrington of Newfane, Keith Harrington and wife, Elise, of Ticonderoga, N.Y., and Dennis Harrington and wife Penny of Asheboro, N.C., eight grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great grandchildren. She was predeceased by siblings Evelyn Nystrom and Lester Rink. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: Graveside committal services in the family lot in Riverside Cemetery in Brookline will be conducted in the springtime at a date and time to be announced by the funeral home. Donations to Newfane Congregational Church, P.O. Box 27, Newfane, VT 05345; or to the Thompson House Activities Fund, 80 Maple St., Brattleboro, VT 05301. To sign an online register book with messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Patricia L. Loveys Hayes, 85, of Brattleboro. Died Feb. 26. She was the daughter of George R. Loveys, a New York state editor of the Associated Press and Anna June Vosburg of Albany and Lake George, N.Y. Patricia was an alumna of Glens Falls (N.Y.) High School and Becker Junior College in Worcester, Mass. She married Herbert J Hayes after college in 1951, and they spent their 65 years of married life at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Fla., in Wethersfield, Conn., Tequesta, Fla., the old Betterley homestead in Newfane, and finally in Brattleboro. She had a brief professional career with an interior decorating firm in Tequesta. She was a loving and caring mother, grandmother and mother-in-law, blessing all with her cheerful nature and ready sense of humor. Her last words were, “In a while, crocodile.” She is survived by her husband, a retired executive of Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford, Conn., and West Palm Beach, Fla; her children, Kathy Buck of West Simsbury, Conn., Tim Hayes of Newfane, Peggy Hayes of Raleigh, N.C., and Terri Hayes of Martha's Vineyard, Mass.; and three grandchildren. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: In accordance with her final wishes, a memorial gathering for the family will take place at a future date. Messages of condolence are welcome by contacting the family directly or visiting www.atamaniuk.com.
• David Lee “Pit” Pitman, 68, of Brattleboro. Died Feb. 25 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Husband of Sandra (Tracy) Pitman for nearly 24 years. Father of Jaimie Douglass of Rockingham. Stepfather of Lyman Lawyer, Travis Lawyer, Krishna Valentine, Leah Valentine, and Alisha Valentine. Brother of Mary Lou Paquet of California, George Pitman Jr. of Danville, Michael Pitman and Robert Pitman of California, James Pitman of Waterbury, and John Pitman of Dover, N.H. Also survived by 14 grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Born in Burlington, the son of George and Lorraine (Thibault) Pitman, he was raised in the Barre area attending St. Monica Parochial School in Barre and later graduating from Spaulding High School, Class of 1965. He went on to attend Lyndon State College where he earned his B.S. in history. He had been employed as a dispatcher for Brattleboro Haulage, which he retired from following over 30 faithful years of service with the company. He later worked part-time at American Legion Post 5 in Brattleboro. He was a member of the American Legion and the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, Brattleboro Lodge #1499. He was a classic and antique car enthusiast and enjoyed attending area car shows. He also enjoyed music and was an accomplished guitar player and pianist and played with the Pitman Brothers Band, formerly of the Barre/Montpelier area. He loved birds and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A funeral Mass was held March 5 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro. Donations to help offset Dave's medical costs may be made to Peoples United Bank, 479 Canal St, Brattleboro, VT 05301, in care of Sandra Pitman. Arrangements are being handled by Atamaniuk Funeral Home.
• Betty Lou (Davis) Sawyer, 81, of Brattleboro. Died Feb. 24 at her home following a lengthy battle with cancer. Born in Manchester, Vt., the daughter of the late Cecil C. and Hazel (Gaskell) Davis, she was a member of the First Congregational Church and graduated from Burr & Burton Seminary in 1952 and the University of Vermont's School of Dental Hygiene in 1955. She went on to work for dental offices and school districts in Bennington and Rutland counties and also lived and worked in Duxbury, Mass., and Norwich, Conn. Upon moving to Brattleboro in 1966, she was employed by the Brattleboro School District and then worked in the office of Dr. Jeffrey Munson. Following her retirement as a dental hygienist. she enjoyed her part-time work as an engraver at Newton Business in Brattleboro. She had many wonderful memories of growing up in Manchester, skiing at Snow Valley and Bromley, and of time spent at the lake house her parents built on Lake St. Catherine. She was an avid fan of the New York Yankees and Giants. She enjoyed being outdoors and in the sun. She lived a full life but was first and foremost, a loving wife, mother, and grandmother who put family before herself. She rarely missed any event that her family was a part of. She always saw the best in people and had a beautiful smile. In 1963, she married Darrell R. Sawyer. They enjoyed more than 50 years together before his death in December 2011. She leaves her son, Christopher Sawyer and his wife, Jennifer, of Brattleboro; stepsons Jeffrey Sawyer of New York City and Thomas Sawyer and his wife, Julie, of South Burlington; her sister, Nancy Davis Irons of Port Charlotte, Fla.; and six grandchildren. She was predeceased by her brother, Karl C. Davis. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A memorial service was held March 5 at Atamaniuk Funeral Home in Brattleboro. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302.
• Doris I. Spicer, 95, a lifetime resident of the Brookline and Brattleboro areas and, most recently, of Virginia. Died Feb. 15 at the home of her daughter. Born in Brookline, the daughter of the late George and Effie Osgood, she attended her first 18 months of school at the Round School House in Brookline, and thereafter attended other Brookline schools. She was a graduate of Brattleboro High School, Class of 1938. She married John Spicer of Brookline in 1940 and they resided in Brattleboro and Putney. She was employed for several years working with the school lunch programs at Brattleboro Union High School and Oak Grove Grammar School. She was also employed at Brattleboro Vending and retired in 1982. She was a loving and devoted mother and wife who always looked forward to visits with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other family members, and to the winters when she and her husband went to Florida and visited family on the way. She enjoyed her life memberships of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary, and for some years was an active member of the American Association of Retired Persons, Brattleboro Chapter. Over the years, she also loved doing needlework, crafts, rug hooking, baking, gardening and recently, Bingo. Survivors include a son, Curtis Spicer and his wife, Mary, of Appleton, Wis.; a daughter, Elaine O'Neal and her husband, Lee, of Virginia; six grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and a special family friend, Jane Crossman of Guilford. She was predeceased by her husband; a daughter, Alice Turner; and brothers Harry and Wayland Osgood. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: At her request, there will be no funeral. A graveside memorial for family and friends will be held after burial at Riverside Cemetery in Brookline in the spring. Donations to Rescue Inc. P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302. Arrangements are being handled by Atamaniuk Funeral Home.
• A memorial service for Joseph A. Eskra will be conducted Saturday, March 12, at 11 a.m., at the Green Mountain Chapel on Western Avenue in Brattleboro, with Pastor Bill Steele officiating. A reception will follow the services to be held in the church's fellowship hall. Mr. Eskra, 66, died Jan. 22 at Pine Heights Nursing Home. Atamaniuk Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.