Transitions
• Margaret van den Bergh, a physical therapist, has joined the staff of the Grace Cottage Rehabilitation Department. A practicing physical therapist for over 40 years, she earned her B.S. in physical therapy from the University of Vermont and worked for Tidewater Rehab (Norfolk, Va.); for UVM's child development clinic; and for Presbyterian University Hospital (Pittsburgh, Pa), working with inpatient and outpatient issues ranging from orthopedic surgeries, to spinal cord injuries and organ transplants. She was also director of Springfield (Vt.) Hospital's Rehab Dept. before opening her own private practice with a partner.
• The Brattleboro Retreat has appointed Meghan Baston, MSN, RN, as the hospital's new Chief Nursing Officer. Baston comes to the Retreat from Elliot Hospital in Manchester, NH, where she served as the Director of Behavioral Health Services and earlier as a clinical nurse manager.In addition to providing direct care, Baston's nursing background includes experience with program/staff management, strategic planning, the development and implementation of clinical processes, staff education, regulatory oversight, workforce retention, and cultural transformation within the workplace. From 2012 to 2013, Baston worked for Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Hospital in Greenfield, N.H., as a nurse manager. From 2007 to 2012, she worked at the New Hampshire State Hospital in Concord.
• Susan Kissel, D.V.M., has joined the staff of Rockingham Veterinary Clinic as an associate veterinarian. Dr. Kissel has been practicing veterinary medicine in New England for eight years after graduating from Ross University in 2009. While she joins the team offering wellness, medical, surgical, and diagnostic services, Dr. Kissel has a particular interest in canine behavior, as well as continuing to provide a stress-free environment for both canine and feline patients visiting the clinic. Dr. Kissel's arrival will allow Rockingham Veterinary Clinic to welcome new patients to the practice.
• Chris Lenois of Brattleboro is Landmark College's new associate director of marketing communications. Lenois spent four years as the director of marketing communications at Marlboro College before establishing Straight Ahead Communications, LLC in 2011, under which he provided marketing and public relations services for a variety of clients, including higher education, health care, and the performing arts. For the past three years, he has also served as news director and program host for WKVT Radio in Brattleboro. A native of Vernon, Lenois holds a B.A. in English from the University of Vermont.
Obituaries
• M. Linn Bruce III, 86, formerly of Putney. Died Oct. 8 in hospice care in Springfield, Mass. He was born in 1931 in Delhi, N.Y., the son of Florence Herring Bruce and M. Linn Bruce II. Introduced to art at Kent School in Connecticut, in 1955 he was the first student to graduate with an art degree from Marlboro College. He received an M.F.A. from Goddard College in 1973. He was a painter of abstract works and landscapes, drawing artistic technique from his teachers Winn Tuttle of Marlboro and Fernando Gerassi of Putney. Of his work, Mr. Bruce wrote in 2002: “I consider my paintings poetic, musical metaphors in paint. Nature is the source. There is also a surreal quality that slowly manifests itself by chance. This usually appears spontaneous in the beginning. I'm trying to rework much less, if at all, to preserve the freshness of the beginning.” Throughout his life, he painted at his home studio in Putney, with interludes in Spain, Mexico, and New Mexico. His work has been exhibited throughout the Northeast, as well as in Chicago, New Mexico, and Mexico City. Between 1958 and 1986, he taught art at the Putney School and also led afternoon activities in recreational skiing and firewood cutting. He briefly taught art part-time at Marlboro College in 1961. His legacy is a love of nature and the outdoors. In addition to providing artistic inspiration, he drew much enjoyment from hiking, skiing, swimming, camping and canoeing. During his last years, the finest moments were spent trudging the back roads near his home in Putney. He is survived by his wife Emilia Garcia Bruce of Townshend; a sister, Barbara Wicks, of Westport, Mass.; daughters Ana Pilar Bruce of Putney and Maria Florence Bruce of Brattleboro; a son, David Garcia Bruce of Oxford, Md., and a grandchild. Memorial information: No services planned. Donations to any organization supporting families of limited means in caring for elderly loved ones.
• Justine White Houk, 100, of Brattleboro, formerly of Chatham and Canton, N.Y. Died Oct. 17 in Brattleboro. She was born May 15, 1917 in Malden, Mass., daughter of Nancy Bunton Kimball and William Levi White. She graduated from St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., where she met William G. Houk, who became her husband in 1938. She taught with him at St. Lawrence University, where he was a professor of biology. She also played cello in string groups at St. Lawrence University and was active in the First Universalist Church in Canton. She liked to sew and hook rugs, lovingly making clothing and other items for her family. She also enjoyed playing bridge, golfing, bowling, and dancing. She was a lively and creative woman, sharing her energy and many talents with her family and community. An avid reader, she read a book a day for years and did The New York Times crossword puzzles. In her 80s, she moved from Canton to live with her daughter, Katharine, in Chatham and, in her 90s, she was in Brattleboro, to be near her daughter Lorraine. Survivors include her daughters Nancy Houk in Ann Arbor, Mich., Katharine Houk and her husband, Seth Rockmuller, in Chatham, Lorraine Cote Houk in Springfield, Vt., and her son Carter Houk and his wife, Joanne Dafoe Houk in Canton; three grandchildren and two great-granddaughters. She is also survived by some of her Kimball cousins and their offspring. She was predeceased by her only sibling, Marcia White, in 1957, and her husband, William, in 1996. Her spirit lives on in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She will be remembered with love and held in our hearts always. Memorial information: Donations to Thompson House Nursing Home Activities Fund, 80 Maple St., Brattleboro, VT 05301; or Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To send messages of condolence to the Houk family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Adrienne Rae Lamb, 68, of Vernon and Brattleboro, formerly of Kissimmee, Fla. Died Oct. 12. Born in Montgomery Center on April 24, 1949, the daughter of Nina Martin (Holmes) and Andrew Martin, she attended school until 11th grade and then went on to work at The Book Press in Brattleboro. She later worked at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and The Contemporary Resort in Walt Disney World, Orlando, Fla., until she became too ill to work. Her family was able to have many fun-filled trips to Disney World and, recently, she was gifted a trip back with her husband and two of her great-grandchildren by Make-A-Wish Foundation, being her last dream and wish was that she could someday bring them to see Mickey Mouse and also have the chance to visit some family and friends in Florida. She was very much in love with her husband, William Edward “Billy” Lamb, and cherished so many memories they had together over the years. They were inseparable, and she will be forever in his heart. They were able to spend their 34th wedding anniversary together on Oct. 6, barely a week before her death. Their anniversary also fell on his birthday. She loved having her great-grandchildren on weekends, and enjoyed dancing, listening to her husband play his guitar, eating out, shopping, her morning coffee and celebrating holidays, milestones and big moments in the lives of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed visiting her friends, having friends and family visit her; especially her sister Penny, who called her “Pet.” They shared lots of good times together. She also spent many meaningful years as a child with her other sister Joyce, who also called her “Pet” and, recently, was able to visit her at home and talk about the “good old days.” She adored her cat, Obammy, who survives her, and her late dog she called her “main man,” Duke. She was a strong woman with a big heart and was always there for her family giving them the best advice and support she could. In addition to her husband, she is survived by daughters Pamela Martell of Vernon and Tammie LaClair of Wilmington; sisters Penny Sharp (Micheal Pacella) of Florida and Joyce Manning (Arlo Manning) of Brattleboro. She also leaves seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Memorial information: A celebration of life for close friends and family will be held at Billy and Adrienne's home. Donations may be given directly to Pamela Smith (Martell). For celebration details, call 802-380-9635 or 802-373-3242.
• Francis Marvin Spaulding, 75, of Westminster. Died Oct. 18 at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend. He was born May 31, 1942, in Mount Holly, the son of Herbert Wilber Allen and Maxine (Terco) Spaulding.He worked as a tool and die maker for Woodland Tools, Bryant Manufacturing, White Metal Rolling and Stamping and, most recently, as a mechanical engineer with Phil Savoy. He enjoyed fishing, target shooting, and tinkering. Survivors include two sons, Elliot and Samuel Spaulding; a stepdaughter, Rhonda Richardson; two grandchildren and a great-grandson; and a sister, Juanita Aldrich. He was predeceased by his wife, Joan Spaulding; three siblings, Marlene Pelkey Beverage, Allen and James Spaulding; and a son, Anthony Spaulding. Memorial information: A celebration of his life will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, at the Westminster Fire Station.