College news
• Katia Brock of Brattleboro and Sophie Rodenbush of Putney were both named to the Dean's List for the fall 2016 semester at Binghamton (N.Y.) University.
• Paige Fenn of Brattleboro has been named to the Dean's List for the fall 2016 semester at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa.
• Hannah Aleshnick of Guilford has been accepted to the nursing program at the State University of New York at Binghamton. Her career goals are to provide midwifery services to underserved and vulnerable populations.
• Marie S. Dennis of Marlboro achieved the Dean's List for the second consecutive trimester at Johnson and Wales University in Providence, R.I. She is a junior liberal studies major, with a minor in business.
• The following local students were honored for academic achievements in the fall 2016 semester at Clark University in Worcester, Mass.: Meyru C. Bhanti and Charlotte Marion Maxwell, of Brattleboro both received first honors on Clark's Dean's List, while Jon-Erik Brodhurst and Molly M. Gurney of Brattleboro, and Emily M. Thibault of Williamsville all received second honors.
• Peter Green of Brattleboro was named to the Dean's List at Wheaton College in Norton, Mass., for the fall 2016 semester.
• Sophia Cooper-Ellis, a graduate of The Putney School, has achieved academic distinction for the fall 2016 semester at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash.
• Noah Sampson-Frank of Putney, who is studying in the software engineering program at Rochester (N.Y.) Institute of Technology, was named to the Dean's List for the fall 2016 semester.
• Kristina Wittler of South Newfane, a member of Colgate University's Class of 2019, earned the Dean's Award for Academic Excellence during the fall 2016 semester.
• Cassidy Santorelli of Bellows Falls, a student at Fairleigh Dickinson University's Florham Campus, located in Madison, N.J., has been named to the Dean's List for the fall 2016 semester.
Transitions
• Chiropractor Michele Doucette now offers appointments at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend on Tuesday mornings. Dr. Doucette also practices chiropractic medicine at her office in Wilmington three days a week. She received her training at the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic, earning her doctorate in 1989 with summa cum laude distinction. Her continuing education has included courses in nutrition, pediatrics, neurology, craniosacral therapy, and Zero Balancing, among others. She is also a Zero Balancing instructor and teaches classes to health care professionals internationally. She has been certified by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners and the Vermont Board of Chiropractic since 1989 and has maintained a private practice in Wilmington for over 27 years.
• The membership of the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) elected Christopher Sink and Dan Yates to the museum's Board of Trustees at the annual meeting of the museum's members on Feb, 28. Nominated by the museum's governance committee, the two new trustees join 16 others at the helm of the 45-year-old art museum. Sink has served in the leadership of several nonprofit arts organizations, including more than 15 years as managing director of Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, Mass. Yates is the president and CEO of Brattleboro Savings & Loan and currently serves as chairman of the Windham & Windsor Housing Trust, as a board member of the Latchis Corporation, and as treasurer of the First Congregational Church of Woodstock.
Obituaries
• Marie K. Cobb, 82, of Jamaica. Died March 10 at Vernon Green Nursing Home. She was born in Jamaica on June 24, 1934, the daughter of the late Reginald and Beulah (Carleton) Coleman. She was a lifelong area resident and was employed as a child care worker. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting and watching television. She is survived by two children, Daniel Cobb of Londonderry and Laura Cobb of Springfield, Vt.; a sister, Jeanne Cobb of Jamaica; as well as a few nieces, nephews and cousins. Memorial information: Services will be held at a later date. The Ker-Westerlund Funeral Home in Brattleboro is assisting the family with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Thrifty Attic, 2051 Main St., Londonderry, VT 05148. Condolences may be offered at www.kerwesterlund.com.
• Ruth L. Davis, 86, of Wilmington. Died March 9 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Born in Marlboro on Jan. 20, 1931, the daughter of the late Bertram and Marion (Poole) Akley, she received her education in Wilmington schools, graduating from Wilmington High School. In her earlier years, she worked as a housekeeper for area inns and as a nurse's aide at Vernon Green Nursing Home. She retired from Mount Snow, where she worked in food preparation for many years. She enjoyed crocheting, reading and working on jigsaw puzzles. She also enjoyed ceramic painting, listening to country music, and traveling to Florida and the Maine coast. She was an avid NASCAR, Boston Red Sox, and Atlanta Braves fan. She cherished times spent with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is survived by a son, Larry and his wife, Karen, of Wilmington; daughters Carol Lewis and her husband, Paul, of Wilmington, Wanda Davis of West Wardsboro and Karen Farquhar and her husband, Douglas, of Brattleboro; sisters Bertha Akley of Brattleboro and Mary Brown of Readsboro; 11 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and her beloved dog Benny. She was predeceased by her husband, Gene C. Davis, who died in 2015. Memorial information: Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 16, at 11 a.m., at Covey-Allen & Shea Funeral Home in Wilmington, with burial in the family lot in Riverview Cemetery. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society or the Deerfield Valley Rescue Squad, c/o Covey-Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363
• Elizabeth S. “Tiz” Garfield, 95, of Townshend. Died March 8 at her home. She was born in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 6, 1921, the daughter of Robert M. Schauffler, MD, and Elsie Tough Schauffler. She pursued a career in professional theater and worked for Audrey Wood, authors' agent, and for Jo Mielziner, noted stage designer. She married Samuel Howe Garfield and raised four children, Elsie, John, Sam, and Robert. In 1970, she moved to Townshend with her two youngest boys. She began a new career as a teacher at Leland & Gray Union High School, specializing in special education and English. An introduction to computers in the early 1980s inspired her to teach an elective class in word processing. After 18 years, as a teacher she retired. She became Windham Regional Commissioner for Townshend and also served for 15 years on the Townshend Planning Commission. She was a trustee of the Townshend Public Library and worked with the Townshend Historical Society on research for the book, A Stitch in Time, Townshend Vermont 1753-2003. Survivors include two sons, Samuel B. Garfield of Townshend and Robert S. Garfield of Benicia, Calif., her daughter, Elsie Garfield of Tegacay, S.C., six grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, in 1961; a son, John Garfield, in 1992, a brother, Robert McEwen Schauffler, and a fiancée, Dana Brown, who was killed in action in Europe during World War II. Memorial information: Burial will be at a later date at the convenience of the family. No other memorial service is planned. Donations to the Townshend Historical Society, P.O. Box 202, Townshend, VT 05353. To send messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Michael C. Matthews, 36, of Springfield, Mass. Died on Feb. 27 after losing his battle with the disease of addiction. He was a loving father of Madison Grace Matthews of Deerfield, Mass., and a beloved and cherished son to Alex Jarrin of Bellows Falls and Michael John Matthews of Norwich. He is survived and loved by his partner, Amber Wedge, and their children Jasmine Wedge, Elizabeth Ryan Matthews, and Ethan Robert Matthews, all of New Fort Ritchie, Fla. He is grieved and loved by his life partner and fiancée, Anna Ruiz, and her son, Kyle Ruiz; and by his brother, Nicholas Alexander Matthews. He was predeceased by his brother, Ryan James Matthews. Memorial information: A celebration of his life was held March 12 at the West Village Meeting house in West Brattleboro. His remains will be buried together with his brother Ryan at a location and time to be determined in a ceremony for family. Donations can be made to a scholarship fund in his daughter's name.
• Mary Reilly, 87, formerly of Hinsdale, N.H. Died March 7 at Vernon Green Nursing Home after living a life of quiet faith and strength. Born as the eldest daughter of hard-working Irish immigrants John and Beatrice McGowan on Christmas Eve in 1929, she was raised in Sea Cliff, Long Island and attended Catholic schools at St. Boniface and St. Dominic, where she graduated high school in 1947. After a short career in office work, she became a full-time wife and homemaker, when she married the late Peter Reilly in June of 1953, raising a family of five children, first on Long Island and then later when the family relocated to New Hampshire in 1971. The most important things in Mary's life were her family and her deep and abiding Catholic faith. She raised her children with values of kindness, generosity, honesty, and service to others. She loved cooking and baking and was happiest when the family was gathered around her dining room table for big Sunday dinners together. She worked and excelled at many crafts, especially knitting and crocheting. She loved Irish music and attended many Irish-American Society social events and dances. She and her husband enjoyed owning and showing classic cars and were among the original members of the Classic Car Club of America, Long Island chapter. Survivors include her sister Margaret Ahrens, sons Douglas Reilly, with whom she had resided for the past 12 years, and Michael Reilly and his spouse, Jean; daughter Alanna Reilly and her partner, Sharon; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Peter Reilly, brothers John McGowan Jr. and Francis “Pete” McGowan, daughter Susan Cunningham, son Kevin Reilly, and grandson Matthew Reilly. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held March 11 at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church. Committal rites and burial in St. Joseph's Parish Cemetery in Hinsdale will be in the springtime. Donations to Rescue Inc. P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302.
• Arlene Smith Rec, 97, of Vernon, formerly of Brattleboro. Died March 6 at Vernon Green Nursing Home. She was born in an apartment above the Central Vermont Railway station in South Vernon to Guy and Alta (Richardson) Smith on Jan. 23, 1920. She was educated in Vernon North School, where eight grades were taught by one teacher. She continued her education at Brattleboro High School, graduating in 1938. After raising her family, she returned to school and obtained an associate's degree from Castleton State College at age 55. In 1938, she married John Rec and they were married for 77 years before Mr. Rec's death in September 2016. The Recs resided in Brattleboro all of their married life, except for living at Shelburne Bay for a year before moving to Vernon Green. During her work career, she held many diverse positions in the Brattleboro area. She worked as a domestic while completing high school. She also sewed baseballs for Spaulding Brothers and made bomb and shell boxes during World War II. She worked for the town listers' office, canvassed the entire town of Brattleboro for the school census, and worked as a teacher's aide at Green Street School. She retired as secretary at St. Michael's School in 1982. She was active as a room mother, den leader, Little League scorekeeper, and always supported her children's activities. In their later life, she and John took many trips to polka weekends, as well as visits to national parks. She enjoyed dancing, painting, and making greeting cards. She is survived by two children, Jeanne LaClair and her husband, Charles, of Shelburne and Michael and his wife, Carol, of Ocala, Fla. Additionally, she left three grandsons; her sister, Helen Monroe, of Northfield, Mass., and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents and by brothers Elwin, Allen and Russell, and sisters Leona Tinney, Ruby Purrington, Bernice Foley, and Norma Putnam. Memorial information: Visiting hours and a brief service will be held at the Atamaniuk Funeral Home in Brattleboro from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 18. A reception will be held at the Union Congregational Church Fellowship Hall following the burial at the North Cemetery in Vernon. Donations to Vernon Green Nursing Home Activities Fund, 61 Greenway Drive, Vernon, VT 05354.
• Harold Franklin “Sonny” Whitney, 87, of Marlboro. Died March 5 at Pine Heights in Brattleboro. Born in Dorset on Sept. 4, 1929, the son of Harold Frank and Alice (Snow) Whitney, he attended local schools. He worked on the family farm and Miller Farm in Vernon. For a short time, he worked for Lane Construction, took on various tasks at Mount Snow, and worked as a custodian at Deerfield Valley Elementary School. He enjoyed farming, CB Radio, camping with his family, and hunting and fishing. With his wife ,Dorothy, he enjoyed traveling the back roads of Vermont and listening to Country & Western music. He is survived by his wife, the former Dorothy Acito-Moncrief, whom he married in 2003; a son, Timothy Whitney and his wife, Kathy, of Marlboro; daughter Candice Simon of Marlboro; stepsons Aaron Moncrief of Georgia, and Jason Moncrief and his wife, Elizabeth, and Paul Moncrief and his wife, Patricia, all of New Jersey; sisters Volitia Elliott and her husband, Robert, of Marlboro and Margaret Crafts of Longmeadow, Mass., 16 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 50 years, Eunice May Whitney, who died in 1998. Memorial information: Graveside funeral services in the family lot in Clark-Warren Cemetery in Marlboro will be announced at a later date. Donations to the American Diabetes Association, Vermont Office, in care of Covey-Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363.