Obituaries
• Christopher Clark Bumstead, 59, of Brattleboro. Died Oct. 30 in Brattleboro, four days before he was scheduled for surgery at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. He had been ill for several months. Born in Hartford, Conn., on July 18, 1957, he attended public schools in Connecticut and New York City before his family moved to Brattleboro in 1970. He graduated from Brattleboro Union High School in 1975 and went on to the University of Vermont for a political science degree. He was an exchange student his sophomore year and studied in France at a college prep lycee in Strasbourg. He played tennis in his last two years of high school; ranked seventh in the state for men's singles; he lost in the state finals. He enjoyed vacations on Martha's Vineyard from age 6. He worked there for a full year during college. He was drawn to surf casting for striped bass and bluefish. He considered teaching high school history or going for a law degree, but he was drawn to remodeling and building new housing. He worked in the Brattleboro area for more than 25 years. He was gregarious, talkative, an insatiable reader; he loved politics and literature. He also enjoyed deep discussions and debate on almost any literary or political topic. During his life, he made many friends who describe him as “a great guy, best friend to all.” His father, Donald F. Clark, died when he was 3. He leaves his mother, Joan Bumstead Allen of Middlebury; his brother Kevin; his stepfather Edward L. Allen; three stepsisters, Pamela Allen of Phoenix, Ariz., Melody Allen of Brainbridge Island, Wash., and Heather Edenhofer of Flagstaff, Ariz. He also leaves two nieces and three aunts, a close-knit group of college friends who still met each year for a game of golf, and a large group of friends in the Brattleboro area. Memorial information: A memorial service of Chris's life will be held at the Putney Meeting House on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 2:30 p.m. All are welcome to come and share their memories. Condolences may be offered at www.kerwesterlund.com.
• Ruth Ann (Chase) Gale, 74, of Brattleboro. Died Nov. 9 following a short and courageous battle with lung cancer. Born in South Windham on July 31, 1942, the daughter of George and Bessie (Rogers) Chase, she married Bruce L. Gale in 1964. She leaves her daughter, Rose M. Gale-Zoellick and her husband, James Zoellick, of Bayside, Calif.; her son Danny L. Gale and his wife, Teresa Friol, of West Dover; her brother Herbert of Chester, several nieces and nephews, and the many friends who blessed her life. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, her sister, Alice Cady, and her brothers, Clarence, Earl, Robert, Donald, Milford, George Jr, Richard, and Roger Chase. She was devoted to her family. She was a talented quilter and avid crafter. She made friends easily with co-workers at Mary Meyer, Judy Anton Quilts, and most recently at the Melrose and Fairview Village apartments. Memorial information: To honor her wishes, there will be no calling hours or funeral. Burial will be in the family plot in East Jamaica. Donations to the charity of your choice, or Rescue, Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302.
• Edward J. Gay, 85, of West Halifax. Died Nov. 5 at home. Born on Gay Avenue in Thorndike, Mass., he is the son of the late Ernest C. Gay Jr. and Aurelia Marie (Daudelin) Gay. Memorial information: Per his wishes, there will be no calling hours, funeral service, or formal obituary. He will be buried in the spring in a private ceremony at the Henniker Cemetery in New Hampshire, the community where he graduated from college, raised his family, and worked for many years.
• Barbara Lawrence, 75, of South Londonderry. Died Nov. 5 at her home. Born Nov. 1, 1941, in Gardner, Mass., the daughter of Duane and Elsie (Sinton) Clarke, she grew up Windham, where she lived for many years and raised her family. She worked at the Three Clock Inn in South Londonderry for 28 years, as well as driving a school bus for the town of Windham for many years. She also drove a bus for the town of Hardwick in her later years. She was the type of lady who would do anything for anyone, she loved to always lend a hand. She was quick with a smile even when she was having a bad day. She truly loved life and all of the many people that she knew. She loved gardening; one of her favorite things was planting the garden at Smith Haven with all her friends, along with back road rides, hunting and bingo. She leaves a daughter, Lisa Brown of Rutland; two grandchildren; sisters Joyce Merrow of South Londonderry and Sherry Curtis of Claremont, N.H.; many nieces, nephews and cousins; her Smith Haven family; and many, many friends. She was predeceased by her husband, Glenn Lawrence; her son, Ernie Foster; two brothers, Robert and Ernie Bratton; and three sisters, Margaret Stowell, Mildred Carvage, and Dorothy Carleton. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held at a later date to be announced. Donations to the Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 911, Londonderry, VT 05148.
• Arthur Magnaghi Jr., 70, of Brattleboro. Died Nov. 8 at his home. His affection was for all people. He touched everyone he met with his magnetic personality and devoted immeasurable care and service to his family, friends, and the communities he cherished. He was a trusted advisor and mentor to many, a loving and supportive husband to Wendy (Whelan), his wife of 47 years, and an inspirational and adoring father to Brooke and Devon. Born to Velma Simpson and Arthur Magnaghi in Brattleboro, where he was raised, he was influenced by his formative experience with the Boy Scouts. At 16, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and later went on to earn both the Silver Beaver Award and the Vermont Distinguished Citizen Award in 2005 and 2007, respectively. From adolescence, he adopted the core Scouting values, in particular, “to help other people at all times.” Those who knew him would agree that he upheld this value to the fullest, moving all with his unfaltering compassion, generosity of spirit and loyalty. On Nov. 5, he became the first recipient of the National Outstanding Eagle Scout award in Vermont, a prestigious recognition bestowed on those who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and have made a positive impact on the community at the local, state or regional level. He graduated from Norwich University in 1968, got married, and continued his studies at the Carroll School of Management at Boston College where he earned his MBA in 1970. He began his career in 1970 as a commercial lender with the New England Merchants Bank in Boston. In 1972, he joined his father's company, DeWitt Beverage, as vice president. In 1980, he became president and owner of the company. During his tenure, the company grew by more than 100 percent and, in September 2007, he sold the business and retired. He served on a number of business boards, including director of Catamount Bank from 1975-1978, chair of the Merchants Bank advisory board from 1979-1995, chairman of the finance committee and a director for Brattleboro Memorial Hospital from 1974-1980, president of the board of directors for Brattleboro Memorial Hospital from 1980-1982, member of the August A Busch III Anheuser-Busch Inc. Wholesale Advisory Panel in St Louis, Mo., from 1981-1988. In 2007, shortly before he sold his company, he suffered a devastating heart attack. After two weeks, he returned home to await a heart transplant. Several months later, following a successful surgery at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, his new life began. His commitment to those who saved his life, coupled with his passion to improve the organ donation process, fueled his new mission. He held enormous admiration and love for his doctors and nurses, and their extraordinary care. He served as a member of the Board of Governors for Tufts Medical Center since 2013. He introduced legislation in Vermont that now provides a section on all license applications to indicate if one wishes to donate their organs. That legislation has since increased organ donation in Vermont from 250 to more 250,000. In 2011, Gov. Peter Shumlin appointed him to the Advisory Council on Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness. In 2013, he served as a member of the Capital Campaign Committee for the construction of a new Emergency Room at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Toward the end of his illness, he reflected on the past nine years of his life and regarded them as the most precious gift, a second chance to complete his life's work. During this time, not only was he the architect of an esteemed body of accomplishments and community service, he had the opportunity to celebrate the wedding of his daughter Brooke to Johan van Lierop, and experience the magic and joy of being a grandfather. He was also able to realize an important wish and donate his corneas. No one could have been more modest about their achievements, but those listed here reflect the admiration and reverence that his family holds for his rich history. He is survived by his loving wife, his daughters and their husbands, his four grandchildren, and his sister Shelley. He was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Joni. Memorial information: Donations to Tufts Medical Center, in care of John K. Erban, MD, 800 Washington St., Box 245 Boston MA 02111; New England Organ Bank, 60 First Ave. Waltham, Mass, 02451-1106; or the Green Mountain Council, Boy Scouts of America, P.O. Box 557, Waterbury, VT 05676. To send messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Truman Howard “T. Howard” Mattison, 90, of Brattleboro. Died Nov. 7 at Pine Heights Nursing Home in Brattleboro, following a period of declining health. He was born in Bennington on March 6, 1926, the son of Wallace and Effie (Cross) Mattison. He was raised in Bennington, attending public schools and was a graduate of Bennington High School, Class of 1944. He proudly served his country in the Army during World War II with the 277th Combat Engineer Battalion. He was stationed in Germany and also served in the Baltics until his honorable discharge at the rank of sergeant on May 31, 1946. During his active service, he was involved in three major European combat campaigns. Upon his return home to Vermont, he worked for a short period of time as a carpenter and soon after became road commissioner for the town of Bennington. While in Bennington, he was instrumental in forming the Bennington Rural Fire Department, where he served as its first chief. In 1959, Mattison was hired as Chief of the Brattleboro Fire Department. He served the town until his retirement in 1989. He later served as a member of the Brattleboro Selectboard for several terms. He was a member and past president of the Vermont State Fire Fighters Association and an honorary/life member of the Hinsdale, N.H., Fire Department. During his time as fire chief, he was instrumental in establishing the Fire Service program at the Windham Regional Career Center at Brattleboro Union High School, a unique program that continues to train and graduate future firefighters and emergency medical technicians. He was a life member of the American Legion Post 5 and VFW Carl M. Dessaint Post 1034 in Brattleboro, and was a life member of the B.P.O. Elks, Brattleboro Lodge #1499. With his wife, he was a member of the First Universalist Church of West Chesterfield, N.H. He had a love of horses and horse racing and was a longtime licensed trotting driver. He owned many horses throughout the years and competed at many area racetracks that included Hinsdale, Rockingham, Green Mountain, Saratoga, and at several New England regional fairs. He also enjoyed hunting, spending time at his camps, and he loved his home on Maple Street. In 1964, he was married to Etta Simonds, who survives. He also leaves three brothers: Wallace Mattison of Pownal, Erwin Mattison of Bennington, and Clyde Mattison of Hinsdale; two sisters, Barbara Crawford and Suzanne Saunders, both of Bennington; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and a host of friends. He was predeceased by a son, Alan Mattison, who died at birth, and two brothers, William Mattison and Lawrence Mattison, who died in childhood. Memorial information: Funeral services were held Nov. 12 at the First Universalist Church of West Chesterfield, followed by burial with full military honors in Chesterfield West Cemetery. Donations to the Brattleboro Fire Department Benefit Association, 103 Elliot St., Brattleboro, VT 05301 or to Rescue Inc. P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302. For online condolences, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Lois Jean Pantrini, 87, of Vernon. Died Nov. 6 at Vernon Green Nursing Home in Vernon. Born in Jamaica on Dec. 16, 1928, the daughter of the late Henry T. and Dorothy (Howard) Waite, she was employed as a housekeeper and worked for many area families. She was predeceased by her husband, Almo Pantrini in 1979; and two brothers, Robert and Alan Waite. She is survived by her sister, June Anderson, of Brattleboro. Memorial information: There will be no services. Burial will be in the family lot at Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery in West Brattleboro. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, 916 West River Rd, Brattleboro, VT 05301. The Ker-Westerlund Funeral Home of Brattleboro is in charge of arrangements.
• Philippa Pokras, 91, of Brattleboro, formerly of Norwalk, Conn. Died Nov. 4 at Thompson House in Brattleboro. She was born June 27, 1925 in New Haven, Conn., to Betty and George Greenberg. Her little brother, Mickey, was born a few years later. Growing up in New Haven, she showed an early interest in art and studied at the Philadelphia Academy of the Fine Arts before marrying Harold Pokras in 1945. As their family grew, Harold's job took the family from upstate New York to New Jersey, and then overseas to Mexico and Venezuela. When the Pokrases returned to the United States in 1967, they settled in Norwalk, where they spent the next 32 years. Wherever she lived, she pursued her passion for art, showing her work in Venezuela and Connecticut, taking lessons, and painting landscapes, portraits and still lifes. Her paintings grace the homes of her many friends and family members. In Norwalk, she and her husband were very active in Temple Shalom, local square dancing, and the Fairfield County Sierra Club, where she kept everyone well supplied with her chocolate chip cookies. After Harold died, Philippa and her beloved cats moved to Brattleboro in 2007 to be closer to family. There, she was active in the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community -- Congregation Shir Heharim, and volunteered at the Brattleboro Food Co-op, and Brattleboro Museum & Arts Center. Her family will miss the smiling, endlessly positive force that brought the family together for memorable celebrations and holidays. There was nothing like a Thanksgiving or Passover celebration at Phil's house. She is survived by her three sons and their partners (Mark and Martha, Ned and Meg, and Dan and Laura), five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren who will all miss her very much. Memorial information: Interment will take place next to Harold in the Independent Hebrew Society-Temple Shalom Cemetery in Norwalk. Donations to your local humane society or arts organization, or to the Alzheimer's Association.
• Joan R. Sumner, 78, of Westminster. Died Nov. 11. Born in Westminster on July 14, 1938, the daughter of John and Beulah (Burwell) Rice, she attended school in Westminster and Townshend, and was a 1956 graduate of Bellows Falls High School. She worked as bookkeeper and secretary to the Westminster Town Manager for many years and she loved watching high school sports. In 1957, she married Albert Sumner Sr. who predeceased her. She is survived by her son Albert Sumner Jr., her daughter Debbie Austin and her husband, Joe, her brother Jack Rice, her sister Jane Lawrence, and her two grandchildren. Memorial information: Services will be private, at the convenience of the family.