College news
• The following local students received academic awards during the spring 2017 semester at Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y.: William Baker of Londonderry, a member of the Class of 2020, earned the Dean's Award, and Kristina Wittler of South Newfane, a member of the Class of 2019, earned the Dean's Award with distinction.
Obituaries
• Elizabeth Ann Garfield Greenhoe, 91, of Dummerston. Died Aug. 1 at her home. Born in Cambridge, Mass., on July 29, 1926, to James and Edith Townsend Garfield, she grew up in Cambridge, attending the Shady Hill School and Concord Academy. She attended Vassar College, graduating in 1946. After several years teaching and working in theatre in Boston, she attended the Yale School of Drama, earning an MFA in directing in 1951. While at Yale, she met Joe A. Greenhoe and they married in December of 1952. In 1962, she moved with her family to New Orleans, where she taught public speaking at Dillard University. In 1969, the family moved to Vermont, where Joe taught at Windham College in Putney and Betty taught English at Brattleboro Union High School. In 1980, she earned a master's from Harvard School of Education in human development. Her passion was directing plays. She directed numerous productions at BUHS and with the Vermont Theatre Company, and particularly loved directing children's plays. She staged Gilbert and Sullivan productions for the Brattleboro Music Center and for Main Street Arts in Saxtons River. In 2004, she directed a revival of her husband's play, The Equivalent Lands, a drama based on the history of Putney and Dummerston at the time of the American Revolution. She was also a dedicated amateur pianist. She was a longtime member of the Dummerston Congregational Church. She is survived by her daughters, Eliza Greenhoe-Bergh and son-in-law, Clifford Bergh, of East Dummerston, and Barbara Greenhoe and son-in-law Peter Cairns of Bellows Falls; her son, Samuel Greenhoe and daughter-in-law Elise Bloustein, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Her husband died in 2014. Memorial information: A memorial is being planned for mid-September. To offer messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Harry G. Janis, 94, of Williamsburg, Mich. Died July 29 at home. Born in Chicago on Jan. 20, 1923, he grew up in Oak Park, Ill., with his parents, David and Rosa Janis, and his younger brother, Allen. He graduated from Oak Park High School at the top of his class, and attended Northwestern University. There he met the love of his life, and his wife of more than 72 years, June E. (Schainis) Janis. After his freshman year, he enlisted in the Army Air Force, with service in Guam during World War II. He returned to complete his college degree, and then worked in finance in Chicago and Traverse City, Mich. After spending summers in a log cabin on Lake Skegemog for nine years, the family moved in 1966 to a house he helped design overlooking Elk Lake in Williamsburg. He had a life-long love of sailing, getting his first sailboat as a boy summering in Pine Lake, Wis. In 1968, he and his wife started a small-sailboat marina, the Sail Shop, in Kewadin, Mich. In 1973, they took a boat from Michigan to Florida via the Trent-Severn Waterway, the St. Lawrence River, Lake Champlain and the Inter-Coastal Waterway. For the next five years, they lived on their sailboat, Maharaja, nine months a year, mainly in the Abacos and Florida Keys. They later cruised in Georgian Bay and the North Channel for many years. In the mid-1970s, Harry and June started an effort that led to the creation of the Skegemog Lake Wildlife Area, preserving more than 3,000 acres of shoreline, wetlands, and uplands. For their efforts, they were awarded the 1993 national Chevron Conservation Award, which recognizes contributions to the conservation of natural resources, and were further recognized by the naming of Janis Creek and Janis Point. He also loved photography and bird watching, keeping his “life list” up to date. He was a kind soul, who loved his wife, his family, and the outdoors. Those who knew him can picture him at the helm of a sailboat with a contented, calm smile on his face, whether skippering a Sunfish or a 37-foot ketch, and whether alone or with family. He is survived by his wife, June; his brother, Allen Janis of Monroeville, Pa.; his three sons and daughters-in-law, Mark and Janet Janis of West Hartford, Conn., Jim and Hillary Janis of Columbia, Md., and Rus Janis and Connie Snow of Brattleboro; and seven grandsons and five great-grandchildren. Memorial information: No service information provided. Donations to the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (for the Lake Skegemog Wildlife Area), 3860 N. Long Lake Rd., Suite D, Traverse City, MI 49684.
• Wilbur “Bud” C. Loomis, 93, of Brattleboro. Died Aug. 5 at Pine Heights Nursing Home. He was born in East Putney on Feb. 8, 1924, the son of Carroll K. and Olive (Munson) Loomis. He attended school in East Putney and enlisted in the Army in 1943. He served throughout the duration of World War II in the 328th Infantry Regiment, 26th “Yankee” Division. Under the command of General George S Patton's XII Corps, he fought in the European Theater of Operations and participated in the Battle of the Bulge. Following his honorable discharge from active service, he lived and worked in Wallingford, Conn., later moving to Dummerston and Putney. He worked various jobs in the Brattleboro area until his retirement from FiberMark. He then moved to West Chesterfield and cared for an old and dear friend, Marjorie Hadlock. He loved working outside in the summer and especially enjoyed time in his garden. He is survived by one brother, Kline Loomis and his wife, Joyce, of Wallingford, Conn.; two sisters, JoAnn Moye of Davis, Fla., and Barbara Titus of Dummerston; a sister-in-law, Marilyn Loomis and dear friends, Douglas and Wendy Hadlock. He was predeceased by sisters Althine, Christine, and Maxine; a brother, Pete; and many nieces and nephews. Memorial information: Graveside services with full military honors were conducted in Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery on Aug. 9. Donations to Pine Heights Nursing Home, 187 Oak Grove Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301. To offer messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Donald Karl Maher, 94, formerly of Newfane. Died June 26 at Porter Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Middlebury. He was born in Brattleboro, the son of Karl and Mary B. Maher of Newfane. He became interested in music early on, and one of his first music jobs was playing the organ at the Newfane church when he was a teenager. He attended elementary school in Newfane and graduated from Leland & Gray Seminary in 1941. He attended the University of Vermont for two years, then enlisted in the military and served in Italy during World War II working on electronic equipment in airplanes. When the war was over, he decided to pursue a career in music and attended the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he earned a bachelor's degree in music education. He subsequently earned a master's degree in music theory. He taught public school music for many years in several towns in the Boston area. Towards the end of his career, he decided to pursue another master's at Boston University which would enable him to switch gears and become a guidance counselor. He was a very gifted director of choral music. In addition to his teaching jobs, he always had a second job as a church musician, playing the organ and directing the choir. He retired from his last teaching job in Bedford, Mass., in 1983, and from his church music position in Lexington, Mass., in 1991. He had been making arrangements to retire in Vermont for several years, and when he was settled in, he took over the music program at the Newfane church. In addition to directing the choir and playing the organ, two of his projects were to make arrangements for the church to acquire a beautiful grand piano and a more modern electronic organ. He also started a bell choir which still continues today. He retired from that position in 2008. He is survived by a niece, Joan Coleman Carroll and her husband Charles, and her children, Christine Carroll, Charles Carroll and wife Diane Carroll, and Robert Carroll. He is also survived by Jeffrey Lombard and wife Karen and Diana Lombard Burns and husband Brent. There are also 4 great-grandnieces and one great-grandnephew. Although he did not have any immediate family of his own, he was devoted to his extended family, made friends wherever he went, and was greatly loved and admired by everyone. Memorial information: A memorial service is planned for Saturday, Aug. 19, at 2 p.m., at Newfane Congregational Church.
• Stuart Glen Petersen, 83, of Brattleboro. Died Aug. 10 at home, with his beloved wife, Eleanor (Tyler) Petersen, at his bedside holding his hand. He was born at home in Wilmington on Nov. 29, 1933 to the late Carl T. Petersen and Theodora (Wheeler) Noyes. He leaves his lifetime love, Eleanor, wife of 63 years, and two children, Steven Petersen of Guilford and Sheryl Petersen Sprague (Mark) of Glastonbury, Conn. Known to them as “Bumpa,” he leaves five beloved grandchildren, as well as four great-grandchildren who were a true joy to him. He was predeceased by his brother, Carl H. Petersen, and a sister-in-law, Wanda Petersen. He graduated from Brattleboro High School in 1952 and then served as a sergeant in the Air Force until 1956. He was a refrigeration contractor and retired from Petersen Refrigeration, the business he opened with his son. Stuart and Eleanor made many fond memories in their 63 years together, particularly the times they spent at their log cabin in Putney and traveling in their RV with his brother and sister-in-law. His family will fondly remember his impish grin and the mischief he caused with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He always sat at the kids' table on Thanksgiving, and he could often be caught sneaking cookies. Memorial information: There will be a private family service to be held at a later date. Donations to Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire, P.O. Box 881, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To offer messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.