College news
• Miles Schelling of Putney graduated from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, majoring in mathematics. He is a 2012 graduate of Northfield Mount Hermon School.
• Adrian Kelly of Brattleboro and Andrew Soszynski of Guilford are members of the Class of 2020 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y.
• The following local students are members of the Class of 2020 at Champlain College in Burlington: Owen Beattie of West Townshend is majoring in computer and digital forensics, Jack Geurts of Grafton is majoring in filmmaking, Lucy Lawlor of Athens is majoring in early childhood/elementary education, and Connor Little of Guilford is majoring in game design.
• The following local students are members of the Class of 2020 at Castleton University: Ashley Bolton of South Londonderry, Jeremy Bovat of Brookline, Daniel Burke of Brattleboro, Spencer Butter of Brattleboro, Joseph Cassese of West Dover, Christopher Doucet of Putney, Jordan Gouger of Newfane, Joshua Hanson of Guilford, Aleksander Harrison of Vernon, Owen McDonald of Windham, Kaylea Niles of Whitingham, Brianna Ogden of Guilford, Julian Plumadore of Townshend, Brianna Rafus of Whitingham, Mikayla Schaffer of South Londonderry, Hunter Smith of Brattleboro, Samuel Svensson of Saxtons River, Benton Winrich of Townshend, Gregory Wood of East Dummerston, and Cassidy Yrsha of Londonderry.
Obituaries
• David R. Banford Sr., 75, of Dalton, Mass. Died Sept. 12 at his home. Born in Palmer, Mass., on Nov. 28, 1940, the son of the late Robert Potter Banford and Stella Josephine Sczurek Banford, he was educated in Vermont schools and was a 1958 graduate of Brattleboro Union High School. He was a Navy veteran who went on to work as a master carpenter for over 20 years at A. J. Schnopps, retiring in 2012. He was a member of the Local 108 Carpenter's Union. He was also a member of the Dalton American Legion Post 155. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, race cars, and country music. He is survived by his two daughters: Rachelle L. Vanier (and Dean) of Canaan, N.H.; and Lucille D. Banford and her fiance Richard Burke of Swanzey, N.H.; his two sons: David R. Branford, Jr. of Keene, N.H., and Shane E. Banford of Swanzey, N.H.; two brothers: Dean Banford and Bob Banford; two sisters: Shirley Banford and Audrey Banford; ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Memorial information: A celebration of his life was held Sept. 16. Donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in care of Dery-Foley Funeral Home, 890 East Main St., Dalton, MA 01226.
• Merritt E. Brown III, 69, of West Chesterfield, N.H. Died Sept. 8 at his home in after a brief struggle with cancer. He was born on Jan. 24, 1947 in Albany, N.Y., to Dr. Jerome P. Brown and Betty (Pierce) Brown. He spent his early childhood in Menands, N.Y., and then moved with his family to Charlestown, N.H., where he attended school and made many lifelong friends. In 1967, he married Gale Morley and they had one son, Kristoffer Brown. In 1969, he received his G.E.D. and completed three semesters at Greenfield Community College in 1970-71. In 1976, he married Jennifer Tompkins and, in 1978, he graduated from the Hallmark Institute of Photography. Over the years, he did commercial photography, weddings, and some posters and album covers for local bands. He also worked as a carpenter in both residential and commercial construction for many years. After retirement from the construction industry in 2005, he focused on building an impressive body of photographic art. Throughout his life, he had a passion for music. He played percussion with several bands over the years, notably Clean Living. His many other interests included fly fishing, golfing, traveling, and camping. He loved the state of Wyoming, traveling there to hike, fish and photograph several times. He lived there briefly in 2007 and 2008. He served the community as a member of the Chesterfield Fire Department for more than three decades. His service and his fellow firefighters were a very important part of his life. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Jennifer Brown; his two sons, Kristoffer Brown and his wife, Julie, and Douglas Reisinger and his wife, Ellizabeth; three sisters, Candace Brown, Heather Smith, and Rebecca Brown; a brother, Brooks Brown; and five grandchildren and a number of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and close friends who will miss him greatly. Memorial information: A memorial service is planned for late October. Details will be available on Merritt's FaceBook page. Donations to the Chesterfield Fire Department or the American Cancer Society.
• John A. Caswell, 67, of Spofford, N.H. Died Sept. 5 at his home, following a short, courageous battle with cancer. Born in Colrain, Mass., on Feb.2, 1949, the son of the late Robert Caswell and Althea (Spring) Caswell. He received his education at Western New England College in Springfield, Mass., in electrical engineering. He worked as an electrical engineer at Pratt & Whitney in West Hartford, Conn., and Boise Cascade in Brattleboro, and went on to become the purchasing manager at Fibermark in Brattleboro, where he worked for a total of 33 years. His passion was working on projects at home and for others. A handyman and true jack-of-all-trades, he took pride and enjoyment in helping his family, friends, and neighbors on any project that involved fixing things. His survivors include his wife of 45 years, Brenda (Clark) Caswell of Spofford; a son, Mike Caswell and Mary Connors of Vermont; a daughter, Rebecca Brodeur and her husband, Stephen, of Dover, N.H.; and siblings, Vernon Caswell and his wife, Texanne, of Shelburne Falls, Mass., Errol Caswell of Ellicott City, Md, Jane Caswell of Golden Beach, Fla., and Donald Caswell of Jacksonville, Fla,, as well as a grandson and many nieces and nephews. Memorial information: At his request, there will be no services. Donations to the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research (www.lustgarten.org).
• Walter C. Grover Jr., 87, of Bernardston, Mass. Died on Sept. 13, his birthday, at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass. He was born Sept. 13, 1929, in Greenfield, Mass., to the late Walter and Rena (Denison) Grover. A lifelong resident of Bernardston, he attended Powers Institute. In 1953, in Brattleboro, he married Patriciann (Covey) Grover. After high school, he worked for River Maple Farm, Petroleum Equipment Maintenance, and G.L. Merriam, transferring to Pittsfield, Mass. He returned to Greenfield, and worked for 37 years at Merriam Graves until his retirement. After that, he worked 20 years for his son doing landscaping. Throughout this time, he also was involved with Knapp Shoes, UPS, and held the position of Deputy Tax Collector for the town of Bernardston for many years. He was very community-minded and was always ready to help out whenever and wherever he was needed. As a constable and later as a lieutenant, he served the town police department for 37 years; filling in on two occasions as Acting Police Chief. He was also on the boards of the Historical Society, Council on Aging, Trustees of Powers Institute, Franklin County Police Association, and Master of the Bernardston Grange. He spent years volunteering with the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and was an actor in the local minstrel shows and many small theater productions. Besides his wife of 63 years, he is survived by his three children, Steven Grover and his wife Michelle of East Dummerston; Kevin Grover and his wife, Tammy, of Chandler, Ariz.; and Pamela Goodman and her husband, Robert, of Exeter, N.H.; sisters Joyce Page of Greenfield and Norma Griswold of Sun City, Ariz., and his stepmother-in-law, Shirley Covey of Brattleboro. He is also survived by six grandchildren, one great-granddaughter, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brothers Gerald and Rodney and his sister Cynthia Tyler. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Sept. 18 at the United Church of Bernardston, with burial in Center Cemetery, with a police escort in honor of his years of service. Memorial donations can be made to Alzheimer's Association at Alz.org or Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090, or to the Police Relief Association, P.O. Box 194, Bernardston, MA 01337. Kidder Funeral Home of Northfield, Mass., was in charge of arrangements.
• Jacob J. Kempf Jr., 91, of Brattleboro. Died Sept. 11 at the home of his niece, Cathy Barrows, in West Chesterfield, N.H. He was born on Sept. 22, 1924 in Brattleboro. He was the son of the late Jacob and Katherine (Wojchick) Kempf. He attended Brattleboro schools and graduated from Brattleboro High School in 1943 and the Manchester Institute of Arts and Science in Manchester, N.H. He served in the Navy during World War II. While on convoy duty in the Atlantic, on Destroyer Escort DE211 he, along with the crew, sank two enemy submarines. He was a lifetime member of the Brattleboro American Legion Post 5, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1034, Lodge of Elks #1499, Fraternal Order of the Eagles #2445, and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees #0659. He worked at American Optical Co for several years and, later, the U.S. Postal Service until he retired in 1985. He was a renowned world traveler who took magnificent photographs of each place he visited in all seven Continents. He made several appearances on the Kitty Broman show on Channel 22 in Springfield, Mass., showing off his photography. He had great memories of his travels. Two fond memories he had were, while having breakfast at the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong, he met and shook the hand of Muhammed Ali. Later in Kenya, Africa. at the Mount Kenya Safari Club, he had the pleasure of meeting actor Richard Chamberlin. He was predeceased by three brothers, William, Alfred, and Philip Kempf, and his stepbrother, Joseph Pela. He is survived by his brother, Henry Kempf of Brattleboro, and several nieces and nephews. Memorial information: Atamaniuk Funeral Home of Brattleboro is in charge of arrangements. There will be no visiting hours. A private graveside service with full military honors will be held at the Kempf family lot in St. Michael's Cemetery. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302 or Visiting Nurse and Hospice of Vermont and New Hampshire, P.O. Box 139, White River Jct., VT 05001-9938.
• Glenna I. Small, 90, formerly of Rockingham. Died Sept. 7 in Quakertown, Pa. Born in Hudson, Mass., on June 6, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Lucius and Florence (Dill) Wetherell. She attended school in Hudson, Mass. and Hartland, Vt. She worked for various businesses in the Rockingham area. She was also a member of the IOOF Rebekahs for more than 50 years. Surviving are her son, Gary Small and his wife Diane of Quakertown, Pa.; her daughter, JoAnne Dupuis and her husband, Peter, of Rockingham; eight grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband, Edson Small, and her daughter, Rosella Judkins. Memorial information: There will be a graveside service on Saturday, Oct. 1, at 11 a.m., in Oak Hill Cemetery in Bellows Falls. Donations to the Alzheimer's Foundation.
• Howard Morton Smith, 89, of Dummerston. Died Sept. 11 at Cedar Hill Health Center in Windsor, after a long illness. He was the son of the late Howard B. Smith and Isabel (Morton) Smith of Worcester, Mass. Howard graduated from North High School in Worcester and the University of New Hampshire, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. He was a mortgage loan officer at the former Worcester County Institution for Savings, and subsequently had his own mortgage and real estate business. He leaves his beloved wife of 67 years, Norma (Donohue) Smith, and three children: Lynne Irwin of Putney, and twin sons, Kevin Smith and his wife, Judith, of Holden, Mass., and David Smith and his wife, Joan, of Westford, Mass.; four grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. Memorial information: His cremated remains will be interred in St. John's Cemetery in Worcester, Mass., at a private graveside service in the near future. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302. Arrangements are entrusted to Atamaniuk Funeral Home of Brattleboro.
• Anna Marjorie (Ausen) Sprague, 98, of Brattleboro. Died Sept. 1. Born in Eau Claire, Wis., in 1918. She was the beloved wife of the late Richard Sprague; and sister of the late Doris Marie Garry. She is survived by her son, Charles (Rosanna) of Cleveland; and granddaughter, Sarah Katan (Christopher) of Claverack, N.Y. She had an adventurous and independent spirit, which aimed her initially towards work at the Mayo Clinic, eventually attending Antioch College in Ohio and Bank Street Teachers College in New York. These experiences became the foundation for a long, distinguished kindergarten teaching career in Brattleboro, at both Green Street and Academy schools, using music as the language to connect with her youngsters. She was a mentor to many and always led by good example. Music was her avocation. At any given time, she could be heard throughout Breckenridge Village playing old songs, hymns, show tunes, or sometimes surprising a friend with Happy Birthday. Recently, she performed an impromptu 45-minute concert from memory, delighting her fellow nursing home residents. Because she could be counted on to stand up to injustice and speak out with creative ideas for change, she was often selected to leadership positions at both Centre Congregational Church in Brattleboro and statewide groups as well. Her committee work took her all over Vermont with Richard driving, his New York Times always close by. Her family, faith, and longtime friends filled her life. We should all be so lucky. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held Nov. 12 at Centre Congregational Church in Brattleboro. Donations may be made to Centre Church. To leave condolences for the family or light a memorial candle, visit www.MCVfuneralhomes.com.
• Mark Thomas Topitzer, 56, of Newfane. Died Sept. 12 at his home. Born in Springfield, Mass., on July 26, 1960, the son of E. Thomas and Sally (Caldwell) Topitzer, he was raised and educated in East Longmeadow, Mass., and was a graduate of East Longmeadow High School, Class of 1978. For the past 30 years, he owned and operated his own general contracting business, Top Construction, based in Newfane. Previously, he worked several years for Coughlin Builders. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed snowshoeing, kayaking, hiking and fishing. Survivors include his daughter, Alexandria Topitzer of Newfane; his parents, Tom and Sally of Newfane; two sisters, Mary Turek of Long Island, N.Y., and Kathleen Segar of Mesa, Ariz.; two nephews and four nieces. Memorial information: A celebration of life service was Sept. 17 at the Newbrook Fire Station on Route 30 in Newfane. Donations to Newbrook Fire & Rescue, Route 30, Newfane, VT 05345. To leave condolences for the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Susan E. Whitcomb, 72, of Grafton. Died Sept. 14 at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, N.H. Born in Springfield, Vt., on July 17, 1944 the daughter of August and Deborah Gaspardino, she was a 1962 graduate of Bellows Falls High School. She worked for the Savings Bank of Walpole, and retired from Chittenden Bank. Surviving are her two daughters, Lynn and her husband, Brian, and Erin and her husband, Richard; her siblings Alan, Terri, and Nancy, and five grandchildren. She is predeceased by her parents and her husband, Kenneth Whitcomb. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Sept. 16 at St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls, with burial in St. Peter's Cemetery in Walpole, N.H. Donations to the Bellows Falls Senior Center. Arrangements were handled by Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home of Bellows Falls.
• Michael Isaiah Wind, a.k.a. “King Dog Lewis,” 60, of Putney. Died Sept. 13 at his home. He touched a great many lives with his own and was an inspiration to us all. Born May 9, 1956, in Chicago, he was the son of Blanche (Rose) and Earl “Duke” Wind and spent his childhood in New York City and Philadelphia. He also lived in North Carolina, Seattle, Morro Bay, Calif., and, of course, Putney. Referred to as Putney royalty by a close friend, He considered the greater Putney area his true home. He always gave generously to his friends, family, community and his country, serving in the Army in the 82nd Airborne Division as an infantryman from 1976 to 1980. His occupations and talents were too numerous to name, and he preferred to be known humbly as “jack of none.” All who were fortunate to cross paths with him appreciated his craftsmanship, humor, patience, and his sweet familiar smile. His combination of deeply rooted instinct, intuition, and intelligence was remarkable and widely respected. He was extremely well-read and enjoyed researching a wide variety of both practical and esoteric subjects. Although a mostly private man, he enjoyed the company and laughter of friends. With an open heart and mind, he warmly connected with children and animals, even those who were most shy and reserved. He was a passionate maker of many things and loved using his hands. He was an expert in building and repair, blown glass cold work, composing music, writing songs and poetry and the culinary arts. He was also skilled in merriment and love, especially nurturing friends and family. Above all else, he was passionate about giving - his time repairing a floor, a loaf of wedding challah, or a pint of homemade ice cream, preferring a hug of appreciation over any form of payment. He truly embodied the spirit of neighborly kindness. He is survived by his son Ariel and daughter Oriah; his three sisters, Susan, Merry and her husband Randy, and Luby and her husband, Mark, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Memorial information: His life will be celebrated at a future date; watch The Commons for the place, date, and time. Visit his Facebook page for updates and to express your feelings.