College news
• Sam Colleran of Vernon, a member of the Ithaca College Class of 2016, earned an internship with Wisecrack Inc in Los Angeles, Calif. for the spring 2016 semester. Colleran is participating in the Ithaca College Los Angeles Program, a one semester internship-based program that provides juniors and seniors with a major or minor in communications the opportunity to gain professional experience in their chosen fields while taking industry-related courses.
• Christiana Strysko, a nursing student from Wilmington, was named to the Provost's List for the fall 2015 semester at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla.
Obituaries
• G. Frances “Gee” Costelloe, 90, of Brattleboro. the first woman to deliver a Brown University commencement address 70 years ago. Died March 29 at the Williamsville home of her daughter, Annie Landenberger. Born G. Frances Martin on May 7, 1925 in West Haven, Conn., to Frank J. and Gertrude Kurtz Martin, she had followed her brother, Edward, to the Ivy League university in Rhode Island. In an era still marked by the shocks of World War II, she urged fellow graduates to travel to help ensure peace. “We must travel outside of our own country, study and live in foreign lands,” she said in her commencement address on June 17, 1946. “We must, in short, become citizens of the world.” She acted in numerous shows while at Pembroke, then the women's college of Brown. A lifelong lover of the theater, she could, until recently, recite by heart whole passages from Shakespeare and other greats. When her journalist son, Kevin, called her from Belgium one morning for help with a story about a papal trip to a World War I battlefield, she recited the full poem, “In Flanders Fields.” After college, she moved to New York, working toward a master's degree and on various jobs to keep her going in the big city, eventually securing a position as a research associate for John F. Costelloe, Tax Director at RCA. In 1949, she married the young lawyer who passed away in the Berkshires in 1993. The Costelloes raised their three children during the turbulent 1960s in a huge and demanding old Centerport, L.I., house where ”don't mind the mess; we're remodeling” became her welcome call for hundreds of friends and visitors with whom “there was never a dull moment.” Dogs were treasured companions, she found they could often be smarter and more reasonable than humans. In the 1980s, she moved to a handsome home built by her son, Paul, in the Berkshires, where she returned to full-time work as a development associate at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. She then spent several years working in the law library at Boston College in Newton, Mass., before moving on to the Jesuit school's development office, where she eventually became Manager of Prospect Research. Fueling her love of the lively arts, she worked as a development volunteer for the New Repertory Theater. She retired and lived for 16 years on High Street in Brattleboro before eventually settling into Bradley House assisted living. In Brattleboro, she served several years on the board of the Friends of the Brooks Memorial Library and was a welcome contributor in several area writing groups. Following her own commencement advice, she visited Rome, Frankfurt, Berlin, Stockholm, Singapore, Brussels, the Irish countryside, Venice and her beloved Paris. Most of those trips were to be with her son, Kevin, and his family. A true advocate for the arts, she volunteered backstage and wrote detailed, researched production notes for more than 50 plays and other theatrical productions staged by her daughter, Annie Landenberger, at Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School in Townshend, where she is theater director and English teacher. In addition, she spent countless hours pursuing funds for performing arts facilities at the school. When asked about the enormous changes she'd witnessed in her life, she said, “I've seen it all and heard it all, so nothing surprises me anymore.” She was a dear friend and true guide for the many who sought her wisdom and counsel, and she made all who encountered her feel important. She leaves daughter Annie; son Kevin and his wife, Barbara of Rome, Italy; son Paul and his wife, Annie, of Washington, Mass.; Bruce Landenberger of Newfane; eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren (with a fifth on the way); numerous nieces and nephews and many friends from Brattleboro to Wellfleet to Boston, New York to northern Italy. Memorial information: A memorial service is planned for Sunday, June 26, at 1 p.m., at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Brattleboro, where she was a parishioner. Donations to the Friends of the Brooks Memorial Library, 224 Main St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, or to the Leland & Gray Educational Foundation, in care of the Leland & Gray Players, P.O. Box 449, Newfane, VT 05345.
• Barbara S. Gammon, 81, of Springfield. Died April 2 at Springfield Hospital. Born July 11, 1934, in Newfane, the daughter of the late Archer and Violet (Harris) Sawtelle, she graduated from Chester High School, Class of 1952. She attended the University of Vermont. In 1955, she married Robert K. Gammon, who predeceased her in 1995. She was employed at Chester Drug for 50 years, retiring in 1997. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Springfield and of R.S.V.P. in Springfield. She enjoyed cooking and crocheting, crocheting blankets and other items for several charities over the years. She also enjoyed playing cribbage at the Springfield Senior Center and taking trips with the Senior Center. She is survived by a son, Robert W. Gammon and his wife, Kathleen, of Grafton, N.H.; two daughters, Beth Gammon of Springfield and Dawn Wright and her husband, Edward, of Westminster Station; seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a great-great grandchild; siblings Alva Sawtelle of Del Rio, Texas and Jackie Plumb of Andover. She was also predeceased a daughter, Amy Horton, and a brother, Lyle Sawtelle. Memorial information: A memorial service was held April 11 at United Methodist Church in Springfield, followed by burial in Hillcrest Cemetery in Proctorsville. Donations to United Methodist Church, 10 Valley St. Springfield, VT 05156 or to the Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice of Vt. & N.H., P.O. Box 976 White River Jct., VT 05001.
• Nancy J. Goldsmith, 89, of Brattleboro. Died April 7, 2016 at Langdon Place in Keene, N.H., where she had been a resident for the past two years. Wife of the late Frank Goldsmith for 54 years. Mother of Tina Squires and husband, Stephen, of Guilford and the late Gail Christmas. Sister of Dorothy Webster of Thousand Oaks, Calif., Stacia Simmons of Amesbury, Mass., and the late Joseph F. Juscen, Jr. Also survived by five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Born in Brattleboro on April 17, 1926, the daughter of the late Joseph and Lillian (Rehaume) Juscen, she was raised and educated in Brattleboro and was a graduate of Brattleboro High School, Class of 1944. She went on to attend Castleton Teacher's College, where she received her degree in elementary education. Her first teaching assignment was in Saxtons River, where she taught fifth grade. She later taught elementary education in the Brattleboro School System at the Oak Grove School, where she retired from following more than 40 years of teaching. She held membership in the Windham County Retired Teachers Association, was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma where she served as secretary and was a member of the Brattleboro Historical Society where she served as a trustee. She also served on the board of the Friends of the Brooks Memorial Library. A devout Catholic, she was a lifelong communicant of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church and was one of the founding members of Brigit's Kitchen. Additionally, she served on the parish council and St. Michael's School Board for many years and following her retirement was a volunteer substitute teacher and para educator at St. Michael's School. She enjoyed wintering with her husband in Fort Pierce, Fla., was an avid reader and loved both Brattleboro and Vermont history. Memorial information: A funeral Mass will be held Saturday, April 16, at 11 a.m., at St. Michael's Catholic Church. Committal Rites and burial will follow in St. Michael's Parish Cemetery. Following the burial services, a luncheon will be held at the Elks Lodge on Putney Road. Donations to St. Michael's School, 47 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, attn.: Elaine Beam, Principal. To sign an online register book or send messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Harry E. Miller, 79, formerly of Keene, N.H. Died March 27, 2016 at Bay Front Health in Punta Gorda, Fla., following a lengthy illness. Husband of Nancy Housman for 53 years. Father of the late Timothy Alan Miller. Brother of Fred Miller and his wife, Sue, of Colebrook, N.H.; George Miller and his wife, Rose, of Walpole, N.H.; Edmund Miller of Brattleboro; Charles Miller of Newport, Vt.; James Miller and his wife, Deborah, of Hinsdale, N.H.; and the late Emily White. Born in Brattleboro on July 2, 1936, the son of the late Gordon and Winona (Chapman) Miller, he was raised and educated in Brattleboro, where he attended Brattleboro Union High School. He went on to serve his country in the Army, where he was stationed in Germany before his honorable discharge from active service. He had been employed for 25 years for Cheshire Oil Company where, for many years, he served as manager of Cheshire Oil's West Street Texaco Station. He later worked for HKS Real Estate in Keene. Active fraternally, he was a member and past exalted ruler, B.P.O. Elks, Keene Lodge #927, a 38th degree member of the former Troy Lodge F&AM, and held membership in the Cheshire Shrine Club, where he was a past president. He was a member of the American Legion Gordon Bissell Post 4 in Keene, held membership and was past president of the Italian/American Club in Keene, and was a past member of the former Fraternal Order of Eagles, Keene Lodge. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A graveside committal service with full military honors will be conducted Monday, April 25, at 11 a.m., in West Brattleboro Cemetery, with his brother-in-law, Pastor Wally White, officiating. A memorial gathering and reception will follow the graveside services to be held at the Brattleboro Elks Lodge on Putney Road from noon to 3 p.m. Donations to Shriner's Children's Hospital, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104; or Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302. Atamaniuk Funeral Home of Brattleboro is in charge of arrangements.
• Anne Kathleen Scipione, 75, of Brattleboro. Died April 4 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. Wife of Kenneth Scipione for nearly 55 years. Mother of Edmund Scipione of Brattleboro and Kenneth Scipione of Sandown, N.H. Also survived by three grandchildren and a dear close friend, Patricia Keane of Medford, Mass. Born in Somerville, Mass., on July 7, 1940, the daughter of the late Edmund and Anna (Halloran) Mahoney. She was raised and educated in Somerville and was a graduate of St. Joseph's High School, Class of 1958, where she was inducted into the National Honor Society. With her husband, she help establish Northeast Tariff Corp. based in Centerville which they operated from 1981 until 1997. Previously, she was a secretary for John Hancock Insurance Co. in Boston. She was a faithful and devoted wife and loving mother and grandmother whose life centered around her family. A devout Catholic, she was a communicant of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Brattleboro and a former parishioner of Our Lady of Victory Parish in Centerville. Of her pastimes and interests, she enjoyed reading, loved animals and cherished time spent with her family. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on April 12 at St. Michael's Catholic Church, with committal rites and burial in St. Michael's Parish Cemetery. Donations to The Gathering Place, 30 Terrace St., Brattleboro, VT 05301; or to St. Michael's Catholic Church 47 Walnut St. Brattleboro, VT 05301. To sign an online register book or send messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Judy R. Stafford, 69, of Peru, N.Y. Died March 31 at her home. Born April 23, 1946 in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of Richard H. and the late Mary A. (Wickersham) Cottrell, graduated from Newark (Ohio) High School in 1964. After an International Christian Youth Exchange year in France, she attended Muskingum University. She graduated from Ashland University in 1970. She worked at the Peru Community Church for the majority of the 1970s. During much of the 1980s, she lived in the Brattleboro area and worked at Cersosoimo Lumber from 1987 until 1995, and at Vermont National Bank from 1995 through 1999. She then worked Hewitt Associates in Houston, Texas, for 10 years prior to retiring in 2009. She was a longtime member of the Peru Community Church. She enjoyed sewing, cooking, and counted cross stitch. She was a loving wife and mother who spread peace and joy to everyone she encountered. Her grace will live in the hearts of all who knew her. Survivors include her husband of 47 years, James R. Stafford, whom she married in 1968; two daughters, Joanne Stafford Sorrell and her husband, Matt, of Crewe, Va., and Jeanette M. Stafford of Kernersville, N.C.; and a sister, Janet Cottrell of Shelburne, Vt. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held Sunday, May 15, at 2 p.m., at the Peru Community Church. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family in the West Peru Cemetery. Donations to the Peru Community Church, P.O. Box 38, Peru, NY, 12972 or Assistance In Healthcare, 1331 E. Wyoming Ave., Philadelphia, PA, 19124, attn: Jordan Cromek.