College news
• Luke Darling of South Newfane graduated with a B.S. in sustainable product design and innovation from Keene State College in May.
• Emily B. Cowles, a history major from South Londonderry, was awarded a bachelor of arts degree from St. Lawrence University during Commencement ceremonies held on May 20 in Canton, N.Y.
• The following area students were awarded bachelor's degrees during the University of Vermont's 217th commencement ceremonies: Kathryn Annis of Dummerston, Maeve Burke of Brattleboro, Marta Carreno of Saxtons River, Elizabeth Clarke of Brattleboro, Andrew Cooper-Ellis of Putney, Shauna Corbet of West Townshend, Samantha Cunningham-Darrah of Brattleboro, Roxanna Daims of Brattleboro (cum laude), Sara-Anne Engerman of Westminster, Fabian Gaspero-Beckstrom of Guilford, Jennifer Hutton of Brattleboro, Aimee Johnston of Brattleboro, Caroline Kepler of Jamaica, Dorothy Kinney-Landis of Guilford, Kelsey Kinsman of Vernon, Brianne Knox of Brattleboro, Sylvie Littledale of Putney (cum laude), Colby McGinn of Brattleboro (magna cum laude), Henry Mizrahi of Guilford, Savannah Nesbitt of Wilmington, Kara Piergentili of Vernon, Oliver Pomazi of Brattleboro, Fraser Query of Guilford, Alec Ray of Brookline, Tilden Remerleitch of Guilford (cum laude), Stephen Scott of Jamaica (cum laude), Henry Silbaugh of Putney, Samuel Spanierman of Putney, Seth Wilkins of South Londonderry, and Michelle Wright of Brattleboro.
• The following local students were named to the Dean's List for the spring 2018 semester at the University of New England: Anthony Mueller of Bellows Falls, Bridget Duff of Brattleboro, Kaleigh Orsucci of Grafton, and Quinn Lawrence of Saxtons River.
• The following local students were honored for academic excellence at Champlain College in the spring 2018 semester: Jeremy Betit of Whitingham and Sebastian Szykier of South Newfane were both named to the Trustee's List; Scott Sparks of Guilford was named to the President's List; and Lucy Lawlor of Bellows Falls and Connor Little of Guilford were both named to the Dean's List.
• Karlee Walkowiak of Whitingham was named to the Dean's List for the spring 2018 semester at Curry College in Milton, Mass.
Transitions
• Claire Renaud recently joined the staff of Berkley & Veller Greenwood Country Realtors of Brattleboro as a licensed real estate agent. She was born and raised in Brattleboro. She and her husband, Joshua, lived in Colorado briefly where she attended The Institute of Therapeutic Message of Western Colorado and became a certified message therapist and spent seven years providing massages for her customers in Windham County. Her passion for real estate started when she and her husband became first-time home buyers in 2014. She truly fell in love with the process from a home buyer's perspective. She brings an eye for detail, great sense of humor and compassion to her clients. She lives in Guilford with her husband, three daughters, Sophia, Audrey, and Paige.
• Family Nurse Practitioner David McCormack has joined the staff of Grace Cottage Family Health and is accepting new primary care patients. Formerly a nursing supervisor at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and then a provider at Brattleboro Family Medicine, he lives in Newfane with his family. A native of Brockton, Mass., McCormack earned his Associates Degree from Vermont Technical College and began his nursing career as a Licensed Practical Nurse on the Medical/Surgical Unit at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital in 2001. He then went on to earn a BSN in professional nursing from the University of Vermont and a M.S. in Nursing at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, with a family nurse practitioner focus. He holds certifications in emergency nursing, advanced trauma nursing, and emergency pediatric nursing.
Obituaries
• Philip G Hardgrove, 87, of West Halifax. Died May 26, 2018. He was born January 24, 1931 in Caribou, Maine. He traveled from Maine to Vermont at 14 years old to work for Frank Stone's sawmill in Halifax. He then worked at Kendall Mills in Colrain, Mass. for 38 years and also did many side jobs like delivering milk and delivering mail. In his later years after retiring, he stayed busy with rental properties and enjoying winters in Florida with his wife of 70 years, Regina. His second love was gardening, flowers, yard sales, flea markets, coin collecting and collecting watches. In addition to his loving wife, he is survived by two sons, Philip Hardgrove of Halifax and Mark Hardgrove of Greenfield, Mass., and two daughters. Rhonda Ashcraft of Halifax and Deb Sprague of Jacksonville. He also leaves his last two living siblings, Leslie “Dee” Hardgrove of Brunswick, Maine, and Harriet Jacobs of Connecticut and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Memorial information: At his request, no calling hours or services will be held. His remains will be scattered at his homestead in West Halifax. Donations to the Intensive Care Unit of Baystate-Franklin Medical Center of Greenfield, Mass., and, in his words, “if you can help someone in need, pay it forward.” To send the family personal condolences, visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.
• Betty Eleanor (Wohler) (Yeaw) Hedison, 83, of Exeter, N.H. Died May 23, 2018 after a period of declining health. Born on Oct. 19, 1934 in Greenfield, Mass., to John C. and Ruth (Kemp) Wohler, she graduated as Valedictorian from Brattleboro High School in 1952, where she received honors in French and Latin and the D.A.R. Citizenship award. She was selected as a community ambassador for the Experiment in International Living. She lived with a family in Copenhagen and traveled throughout post-war Europe. In 1953, she was appointed Executive Secretary of the Vermont Association of Insurance Agents. She married Arthur “Bud” Yeaw in 1954 and moved to Poultney. She was active in the Methodist Church and Eastern Star, where she rose to Grand Matron. Bud's State Police career brought a move to East Montpelier, where she was involved in many school activities, the Old Brick Church, and as a Cub Scout Den Mother. After the family moved to Derby, she worked in insurance, a bilingual project, and then in community mental health services. She served in many capacities in the American Legion Auxiliary. Betty and Bud were active supporters of North Country Union High School sports teams. After Bud's untimely death in 1983, Betty settled in Hampton, N.H., and returned to work in insurance before her retirement. She married Kazar (Larry) Hedison in 1989. They enjoyed the outdoors and traveling before his death in 1995. She continued to travel extensively around the world. In 2010, she moved to Riverwoods in Exeter, NH. She was an avid fan of Boston sports teams and made lifelong friends wherever she lived, a testimony to her curiosity, caring, and generosity of spirit. She is predeceased by her parents and brothers, John and William Wohler, her husbands, and sisters- and brothers-in-law. She is survived by her children, Jeffrey Yeaw and his wife Liz of Williamsburg, Va., Deborah Yeaw Marsella of Dracut, Mass., Glenn Yeaw and his wife Dr. Silke Bernert of Cincinnati, Ohio, and her step-sons Bruce and David Hedison of Boston. She is also survived by her sister, Sylvia Roobian, four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, and dear friends. Memorial information: Graveside services will be held on Saturday, June 9, at 11 a.m., in Baker Cemetery in Guilford. Donations to the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund or the Jimmy Fund.
• Francis G. Holhut, 86, of Hatfield, Mass. Died May 25, 2018 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, Mass., after a short illness. A lifetime resident of Hatfield, he was the second-eldest son of the late John and Lena (Zeitz) Holhut and a 1950 graduate of Smith Academy. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War, serving in Korea as a corporal in the Transportation Corps. After the war, he worked for Meyer & Mendlesohn, Bayuk Cigar Corp., and, later, Consolidated Cigar Corp., raising shade-grown tobacco plants from seedlings to harvest. He retired in the early 1980s to take care of his parents. During his life, he enjoyed farming and the enormous vegetable garden he raised every year. He often generously shared the harvest with neighbors and relatives. He was a devout communicant of St. Joseph's (now Our Lady of Grace) Catholic Church in Hatfield. He enjoyed photography during his early years, both capturing images and developing film. He was predeceased by his brothers, Edward, John, and Alfred, all of Hatfield. Francis is survived by his nieces and nephews: Randolph Holhut and his wife, Joyce Marcel, of Dummerston; Edward Holhut Jr., Robert Holhut and his wife, Anna, and Kenneth Holhut and his wife, Karen, all of Hatfield; Sandra Kochman and her husband, David, of Swanzey, N.H.; Diane Grady and her husband John, of Springfield, Mass.; James Holhut and his wife Tracy, of Greenfield, Mass.; Michael Holhut and his wife Michelle, of Hatfield; and Julie Holhut of Greenfield; and eight grand-nieces and grand-nephews. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held May 30 at Our Lady of Grace Parish in Hatfield, with burial with full military honors in St. Mary's Cemetery in Northampton. Donations to Our Lady of Grace Parish, 11 School St., Hatfield, MA 01038.
• Raymond C. Lindsey, 90, of Endwell, N.Y. Died May 24, 2018. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Mildred; a son, John Lindsey; a daughter, Carolyn (Lindsey) Ross; and three grandchildren. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Indiana. He was predeceased by his parents, Charles & Lois (Strickland) Lindsey; a son, Michael Charles Lindsey; and nine siblings, Edwin Lindsey, John Lindsey, George Lindsey, William Lindsey, Robert Lindsey, Ruth (Lindsey) Blodgett, Harriet (Lindsey) Drury, Catherine (Lindsey) Zuverino, and Marion (Lindsey) Longeuil. He was born in Brattleboro, where he lived until joining the Navy in 1948. He served four years in the Navy during the Korean War. After graduating from Tri-State University (now Trine University), he joined IBM Corp. where he worked for more than 35 years in a variety of technical, management, and executive positions until his retirement in 1990. He was an avid skier, golfer, and ballroom dancer. One of his most satisfying accomplishments in these pursuits was beating his age in golf. But what he enjoyed most about these hobbies was the time spent with the many friends who enjoyed the same activities. His generous spirit has inspired many and his family loves him deeply. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held May 30 at the Church of the Holy Family in Endwell, followed by burial in Riverhurst Cemetery. Donations to Mercy House, 212 North McKinley Ave., Endicott, NY 13760.
• Jacob R. McAllister, 26, of Westminster. Died May 27, 2018. Born in Brattleboro on Oct. 4, 1991, the son of Russell and Teri (Bryant) McAllister, he attended schools in Westminster and worked at Hubbard Farms. He enjoyed riding four-wheelers, snowmobiling, listening to music, sugaring with his father and little sister, and his dog Max. The best years of his life were spent playing baseball in the Westminster Sand Lot with his best friend and brother Zack. He also loved sailing with the family at Lake Sunapee. He had an infectious laugh and his smile would light up the room. He was loved and will be missed by many. He is survived by his parents; his brother Zack; his sisters Holly, Danielle, Jacinta, and Lily; his girlfriend Chelsea O'Vaitte; his nieces and nephews Spencer, Tucker, Sophia, Mya, Kadence, Remy, Cameren, and Landen. He was predeceased by his grandparents William and Bernadette Bryant and Burt McAllister. Memorial information: A celebration of his life was held June 2 at the Westminster Pool.
• Patricia “Patsy” Mehlhop. 65, of Jacksonville. Died May 25, 2018. She was in a rehabilitation facility in Schenectady, N.Y, applying her enthusiasm for life to recovering from a brainstem stroke when she fell and sustained further brain trauma. Born Dec. 1, 1952 in Fort Wayne, Ind., to Victor and Georgia Mehlhop, she was a companion, aunt, teacher, sister, friend, athlete, and mentor. Patsy came to the Deerfield Valley in 1986 to teach first and second grade, retiring from that position in 2013 to become the Wings Community Programs After School coordinator for Twin Valley Elementary School. Besides her classroom work, she was an instrumental piece to many aspects of the school community. Her summer Science Camp, as well as her work on the Art Committee, Gifted and Talented Program, and the community-built playground were just a few of her above and beyond commitments. Her athletic passions included golf, kayaking, softball, volleyball, racquetball, and especially pickleball. She was also avidly learning to play the ukulele. Patsy's ultimate joy and mission in life, however, was nurturing children. Her genius was in helping each child to feel confident, respected, and eager to learn. She leaves Mary Wright, her partner and companion for 25 years, for whom there are no words. She leaves her many nieces and nephews dear to her heart and central to her life, including Kestas Kolakauskas, Jim and Matt Foley, Brad, Nick, Marina, Killeen and Jake Wright, Sam and Toby LeMaster, and Connor Delia. She also leaves her beloved 700-plus former first- and second-graders who affectionately and collectively referred to themselves as “Mehlhopians,” the many, many participants of the Wings Community After School Program, and her colleagues and friends, who were such an important part of her life. She is also survived by her sister Diana Kolakauskas and husband Al of Fort Wayne, and her aunts, uncles and cousins in Indiana, Minnesota, Florida, California, and Texas. Besides her parents, Patsy was predeceased by her brother, Bill. She leaves her large Boston family which includes her brothers and sisters-in-law Rick and Terri Wright, Joanne Wright, Tom and Kathy Wright, Jack and Marianne Wright, Bob and Nancy Wright, and Sharon and Jim Foley, as well as the bountiful group of cousins. Patsy loved the Cousin Dinners in Boston and the Vermont weekend reunions. She leaves her dog, Rosie Wright, her cats Ernie and LuLu Mehlhop Wright, her gardens, that sweet farmhouse in Jacksonville, her at times vexing riding lawnmower, and the beautiful field with apple trees that she loved to mow. Memorial information: A celebration of Patsy's life will be held on Sunday, June 10, at 1 p.m., at Twin Valley Elementary School in Wilmington. All are welcome.
• Anthony “Tony” Nyzio, 90, of Brattleboro. Died May 23, 2018. He was born in Attleboro, Mass., on Aug. 18, 1927 to Kazimir and Aniela (Majka) Nyzio. There, he worked on the family farm in Dodgeville alongside his very large Polish family. Tony lived most of his life in Attleboro until 2015, when he moved to Brattleboro, to be closer to family. He joined the Army in 1950 and served proudly in the Korean War. He worked for many years as a hub and die cutter for both the Balfour Co. and the Robbins Co. of Attleboro. He took great pride in his craft and received many accolades for his delicate work in steel. He was a true Renaissance man. Many people associate him with vibrant oil paintings of New England scenes of which he produced many. Often people would see him standing in a field or along a roadside, perched with easel and brush in hand. He was a long time member of the Attleboro Museum and the Providence Art Club. He had a passion for art, continuing his education at Rhode Island School of Design and passing that love on to his children. He was an avid gardener, personally designing and landscaping his property in Attleboro. He was also a gifted baseball player, so much so that he was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies and entered their farm league system. Unfortunately this career was cut short because of an injury. He continued his love for the sport by coaching and being a devoted follower of the Boston Red Sox. As his appreciation of classical music grew, he was inspired to take violin lessons later in life, which turned out to be quite difficult, he would claim. Even though Tony did not attend college, he was an avid reader who loved to discuss politics and history with friends and family. He was a wonderful father and grandfather, spending countless hours gardening, creating art, playing sports, fishing, listening to music, and teaching them to enjoy each beautiful moment nature has to offer. He was most of all a devoted husband, who for a decade cared for his wife, Josephine, after she became ill. He joins his loving wife, Josephine (D'ambra) Nyzio in death. and leaves behind his children, Susan (Van Sweden), husband Jack, David and wife Lynn (McCarty), James and wife Kris, Stephanie and husband Brett (Dodge). He took great pride in his grandchildren, John Van Sweden, and Charley and Kazimir Nyzio. Memorial information: A gathering to remember Tony's life will take place in Brattleboro at the Bradley House on June 15th at 3:30 p.m. Private burial services will be held at Newell Burying Ground in Attleboro, Mass., at a later date, when he will be laid to rest alongside his late wife, Jo.
• Frederick Andrew “Fred” Szmit, 80, of Spofford, N.H. Died May 30, 2018. Born May 26, 1938 in Lowell, Mass., to Andrew and Jane (Dzikiewicz) Szmit, where he graduated from Lowell High School, later graduating from Lowell Technological Institute with a B.S. in paper engineering. He also studied at and earned further certificates from Harvard Business School. He married Frances Slavin in 1960 and the two resided in Yonkers, NY, before moving to Rochester, N.H., where he worked for Spaulding Fiber. In 1969, he began a long career with Boise Cascade that started in Connecticut and concluded in Brattleboro, where he became general manager. In 1982 he became president of Lyons Fall Pulp and Paper in New York state, retiring in 1996. In 1968, Fred and Fran adopted daughter Kathleen Anne, who was happily joined by brother Andrew Michael in 1969. Through the years, the family delighted in trips to Moody Beach, Maine, California, Bermuda, and a family cruise celebrating Fran and Fred's 50th wedding anniversary in 2010. He was a longtime board member of Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, and was also president of the board, as well as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Savings Bank of Walpole, for which he served as Chair from 2001-2011. He was a passionate member of the Spofford Lake Association, serving as president for a number of years, taking it upon himself to regularly test the water quality of the lake he loved dearly. He was a devoted golfer who enjoyed many rounds at the local links, plus countless others in various locales. He also enjoyed a decade of ocean sailing, and many years of boating on Spofford Lake, where he and Fran made their home in 1992 after living for more than 20 years on the common in Walpole, N.H. He is survived by his wife, Frances; his children Kathleen and Andrew, grandsons Ryan Wilder and Logan Szmit, and a wealth of cherished friends. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held June 1 at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, with committal rites at Friedsam Cemetery in Spofford. Donations to Joan's Pantry, P.O. Box 148, Chesterfield, NH, 03443. To send messages of condolence to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Jeffrey Paul Vigneau, 61, of Fruitland Park, Fla. Died May 22, 2018. He was born in Brattleboro on Jan. 16, 1957, the son of Graydon and Annette Vigneau. He was a lifelong resident of Brattleboro, until moving to Florida in 2010. He is survived by his mother, along with his wife Nancy (Stockwell), whom he married on March 15, 1997. His first marriage to Gina Bobee ended in divorce. He is also survived by his daughter Abrianne and her husband Joe Eagers; his brother Grady Jr. (Merry) and his sisters Judy Rogers, Lori Thibault (Kevin) and Andrea Jankauskas (Jim). He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins, and two granddaughters. He was predeceased by his father and his brother-in-law Parnell Rogers. He graduated from Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 1975. He was very involved in sports all through his school years. Jeff was employed by the state of Vermont until his retirement several years ago. Memorial information: The family will hold a private service at a later date.