College news
• The following area students graduated from the University of Vermont on May 21: Corey Atkins of Saxtons River, B.A. in global atudies; Jessamyn Bart of Bellows Falls, cum laude with a B.S. in business administration; Tori Bissell of Bellows Falls, B.S. in Environmental Studies; Michaela Burrell of Guilford, B.S. in communication science and disorders; Mary Carta of Grafton, B.A. in history; Elizabeth Doiron of Vernon, cum laude with a B.S. in animal sciences; Theresa Glabach of Dummerston, B.S. in business administration; Samuel Grubinger of Dummerston, B.S. in environmental sciences; Drew Guild of Bellows Falls, cum laude with a B.A. in philosophy; Natasha Hed of Putney, B.S. in social work; Kevin Knapp of West Dover, B.S. in business administration; Anthony Leonard of West Wardsboro, B.S. in environmental engineering; Tess Littledale of Putney, B.A. in English; Timothy Marine of Brattleboro, B.A. in classical civilization; Jamie Martell of Brattleboro, magna cum laude with a B.S. in civil engineering; Rustin Nethercott of Guilford, B.A. in psychology; Cristina Piergentili of East Dummerston, B.S. in animal sciences; Brandon Reilly of West Townshend, B.A. in mathematics; Kailey Rinder of Putney, B.A. in Studio Art; Cleo Rohn of Putney, cum laude with a B.A. in English; Sarah Rubin of West Dover, B.S. in environmental studies; Maggie Schiller of Brattleboro , B.A. in history; Rachel Tseng of Brattleboro, B.A. in psychology; Jonah Ullman of Jamaica, B.A. in music; Jeremy Vandal of Wilmington, B.S. in environmental engineering; Katie Webster of Guilford, B.A. in plant biology; Pascal Wilkins of South Londondery, B.S. in Biological Science; and Jordan Wright of West Dummerston, B.A. in Psychology.
• William Bourque, an economics major from East Dover, Isaiah Hopkins, a finance major from Putney, and Brennen Zolnoski, a biomedical engineering major from Brattleboro, all were named to the Dean's List for the spring 2016 semester at Western New England University in Springfield, Mass.
• Emma Peterson of Putney graduated with a Master of Arts from the College of the Arts at Kent (Ohio) State University.
• Carrie T. Madden has been inducted into the University of Vermont History Department's Alpha Alpha Psi Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, a national honor society with a mission to promote the study of history through the encouragement of research, good teaching, publication, and the exchange of learning and ideas among historians.
• Rachel Fern Durante of Guilford graduated magna cum laude from Goucher College in Towson, Md., on May 20. She earned honors in her major study of theatre. Her minor field of study was psychology.
• Caitlyn Wood, a history and political studies major from Putney, completed Colby-Sawyer College's internship requirement at the Robert H. Rhodes Landmark College Archives in Putney during the spring 2016 semester.
• Adrian Heal of Putney graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy from Western New England University in Springfield, Mass., on May 21.
• Caroline McCarthy of Brattleboro received a B.A. in English from Clark University in Worcester, Mass., on May 22.
• Alexandra Morrow of Townshend, a sports management major, has achieved Dean's High Honors for the spring 2016 semester at Nichols College in Dudley, Mass.
• Benjamin Dandrea of Brattleboro was named to the Dean's List for the spring 2016 semester at the University of Kansas.
School news
• The following local residents received honors for academic work completed during the 2015-16 school year at Northfield Mount Hermon. Named to the Dean's List were Claire Newton Patch Kendrick of Brattleboro, Michaela Lenore Malin of Brattleboro, Leah Margaret Wei Silver of Brattleboro, Calvin Peter Gooley of Brattleboro, Claire Mitike Bafe Lyons of Dummerston, Caleb Milton Blofson Paasche of Guilford, Ethan Pete Blofson Paasche of Guilford, Lars Eric Andrews of Halifax, Isobel Brill Rountree of Marlboro, and Lauren Victoria Sumner of West Halifax. Named to Head of School List were Eve Colette Pomazi of Brattleboro and Lillian Alice Richards of Brattleboro.
Obituaries
• Statia Mary Dusavitch, 91, of Guilford. Died June 18 at Holton Home in Brattleboro, where she had been a resident for the past two months. Wife of the late John J. Dusavitch for nearly 61 years. Mother of Ronald Dusavitch of Swanzey, N.H., Michael Dusavitch of Mooresville, Ind., Joan Pouliot of Brattleboro, and Elizabeth Golden of Gilford, N.H. Brother of Benjamin Kacavich of Worcester and the late John, Walter, and Michael Kacavich, and Helen Caldwell and Ann Buckunus. Also survived by eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Born in Worcester, Mass., on July 26, 1924, the daughter of the late Andrew and Amelia Kacavich, she was raised and educated in Worcester and attended St. Casimir Parochial School. With her family, she moved from Worcester to Guilford in 1955. For 19 years, she had been employed at the former H. Margolin Pocketbook Shop on Upper Canal Street. She was a communicant of Saint Michael's Roman Catholic Church. She loved the outdoors, camping, working in her garden and crocheting. She also enjoyed baking and was known for her delicious breads and cakes. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A funeral Mass was held June 24 at St. Michael's Catholic Church, with committal rites and burial in Christ Church Cemetery in Guilford. Donations to Holton Home Activities Fund, 158 Western Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301. To sign an online register book or send messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Dorothy “Dodo” Marianne Rice, 97, of Brattleboro. Died June 18 at Holton Home in Brattleboro. Born New Year's Day, 1919, in Mannheim, Germany, she was the third child of Elisabeth and Ludwig Straus. From an early age, she was interested in cooking and the needle arts and, as an adult, became well known for her knitting and mending skills and for the many chair cushions and church kneelers she needle pointed. In October, 1937, she married Kurt David Reiss. A year later, sensing the dangerous times unfolding in Germany, they fled to Holland, then to America, and eventually settled in New York City. When their eldest son was conceived, they went in search of the faith that was to be central and formative to their lives. In 1952, they moved to Chappaqua, New York, looking for a quality education for their young sons, Edward (Ted) and Andrew (Andy). They became quite active in the community, particularly in Scouting and at St. Mark's Episcopal Church of Mt. Kisco, where, among other things, Dodo worked with the women's prison in Bedford and among the poor in the South Bronx. Three weeks after her husband died quite suddenly in 1971, Dodo began a catering business which was to sustain her and bring much satisfaction and fulfillment. In 1989, she retired and moved to Brattleboro, not far from her son, Andy, and his family. There, she became active at St. Michael's Episcopal Church where she is now considered as a “matriarch” of the parish. She also immersed herself in the work of Loaves and Fishes, the Drop-In Center, and the Visiting Committee of Holton Home, eventually serving on its Board of Directors. Throughout much of her life, and certainly ahead of her times, she was an advocate for equal rights for minorities, particularly gays and lesbians. Her community involvement, leadership and advocacy led to her being named Volunteer of the Year on several occasions. She moved to Holton Home in 2009 and lived there until her death. She is survived by her brother Karl Straus, the person who, unable to pronounce “Dorothea,” first called her “Dodo;” her sons, Ted and Andy; and her four grandchildren. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A memorial service will be held at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Brattleboro in the near future. Donations may be made to Holton Home, Groundworks Collaborative, or St. Michael's Episcopal Church.
• Charles R. Rotolo, 90, of Wilmington. Died June 19 at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington. The son of the late John and Josephine (Mercurio) Rotolo, he was born in Fairfield, Conn., on Oct. 6, 1925. He attended Ludlowe High School in Fairfield and entered the Army Air Corps, where he served in Berlin, Germany after World War II ended. He flew aboard planes carrying dignitaries from Berlin to Moscow. While living back in Fairfield, he operated a Frito-Lay Distributor business. Skiing brought him to the Deerfield Valley where he and friend Andy DeMattia purchased the Sitzmark, a multi faceted hospitality business which became much like a country club, it included a nine-hole golf course, restaurant, lodging, tennis courts, and a pool. He retired in 2007. He loved to be out on the golf course, cutting the grass just right. He thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie of his friends in Connecticut and Vermont. He will be remembered by all who knew him an a “give you the shirt off his back” kind of guy, even if it was his last shirt. He is survived by his wife, Linda (Swider) Rotolo, whom he married in 1980, brother-in-law Tom Golino, his two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A funeral Mass was held June 24 at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Wilmington, with burial in Riverview Cemetery. Donations to the Deerfield Valley Rescue in care of the Covey, Allen & Shea Funeral Home , P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363.