Transitions
• Christopher Stoner, a certified financial planner, has joined the staff of Twombly Wealth Management Group LLC of Brattleboro as a wealth advisor. He has more than 13 years of financial services experience. He spent the first 10 years of his career in Boston working for Columbia Threadneedle Investments, Eaton Vance, and Fidelity Investments. He most recently worked for a private wealth management firm in Portsmouth, N.H.
Obituaries
• Kevin D. Clark, 48, of Nottingham, N.H. Died Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., of complications from the autoimmune disease granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). Born in Brattleboro, he was the son of John H. and Patricia A. Clark. He graduated from Hinsdale High School before receiving B.S. degrees in a dual major of computer science and philosophy from the University of New Hampshire. He went on to earn an M.S. in computer science from UNH. A software engineer with Oracle Dyn in Manchester, N.H., Kevin started his career with Cabletron Systems in Rochester, and worked for several software companies over the years. He had fond memories of his early years growing up in Whitingham. Many of those memories came from being with his brother and at the Morse family's farm. He would still visit them, and recently attended the Morse Farm's 100th anniversary. They were his second family. Whitingham felt like home, and he attended their Old Home Days. He began working for his father Jack's landscaping business at an early age. Jack instilled his strong work ethic in Kevin. His mother gave him the gift of patience and perseverance. She supported his love of computers, bringing him to computer classes as a young teen. He loved the outdoors and was an avid hiker and cyclist. Kevin was a volunteer for many years with Boy Scout Troop 168 in Dover, N.H. He was a member of the Appalachian Mountain Club's Four-Thousand Footer Club, hiking all mountains over 4,000 ft in New Hampshire. He rode on Saturdays with the Bagelry Bikers, often planning their route, and completed the Mt. Washington Hill Climb twice on his bike. The weekend before being hit with the effects of the disease, he had completed a 60-mile cycling trip. Predeceased by his parents, Kevin is survived by his wife of 22 years, Sharon P. Kunz of Nottingham; his brother, Michael D. Clark and his wife, Sally, of Hinsdale; his sister Kristen M. Clark and her companion Russell Brown of Hinsdale; his brother-in-law, Frederick W. Kunz and his wife, Elizabeth, of Northwood, N.H.; his sister-in-law, Judy A. Kunz Porter and her husband Robert of Nashua; his nephews Jack Clark and Garrett Kunz; and many friends, through hiking, cycling, Scouting, and professionally. Memorial information: A celebration of life will take place at Huddleston Hall Ballroom on the UNH campus in Durham, on Sunday, Sept. 9, at 2 p.m. Donations may be made to the Cocheco Valley Humane Society, 262 County Farm Rd., Dover, NH 03820 for the Kevin D. Clark Fund to help special needs animals.
• Dorothy Arnault “Dot” Hass, 95, wife of the late Alvin Weiland Hass, died on August 18, 2018. Born prematurely on Nov. 5, 1922, in Saxtons River, to Gertrude and Richard Arnault, she was put aside as dead while the midwife tended to her mother. She announced herself with a lusty cry and was immediately wrapped in cotton batting. This survival instinct served her well. She lived her entire childhood and much of her adulthood in Bound Brook, N.J.. A registered nurse with great leadership skills, Dot helped establish one of the first methadone clinics in central New Jersey. She also served as a member and president of the Bound Brook Board of Education. Upon their retirement, Dot and her husband Al moved to Saxtons River, where she served as the village tax collector, guardian ad litem for the Vermont Judicial Court System, and dedicated member of Christ's Church in Saxtons River. Dot will be remembered for her sharp wit, compassionate listening, and good humor. She appreciated the gifts she was given and spent no time focusing on the negative in any realm of her life. She leaves behind five children: Gail Hass and Janet St. Jean of Westfield, Mass., Gretchen Knoblauch of Burlington, N.J., Paul Hass of Atlanta, and James Hass of Springfield, Mass. She also leaves four grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She leaves no regrets. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held at Christ's Church in Saxtons River on Saturday, Oct. 13, at 11 a.m. Memorial gifts may be made to Christ's Church, 24 Main Street, Saxtons River, VT 05154.
• Thelma Ellen Johnson, 94, of Townshend. Died Aug. 18, 2018 at her home, following a period of declining health. Born in Wilmington on Aug. 31, 1923, the daughter of Clarence and Gladys (Woods) Thomas, she attended Wilmington schools and was a graduate of Wilmington High School. She had been employed as a lens inspector working at the former American Optical Company in Brattleboro, which she retired from following many years of faithful service with the company. Previously, she had worked at the former H. Margolin Pocketbook Factory, also in Brattleboro. She was a former communicant of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Brattleboro and more recently had attended the Green Mountain Chapel of the Christian & Missionary Alliance. She was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie #2445, American Legion Post 5 Auxiliary, and VFW Carl M. Dessaint Post #1034, all in Brattleboro. She loved to dance and held membership in the Silver Lines Senior Clog Dancing Club. She also enjoyed traveling, taking cruises, going on trips to both Atlantic City and Foxwoods, knitting, listening to Country & Western music, and spending time with her family and friends. She was first married to John Santasania, who predeceased her. She later married Harold Johnson, who is also deceased. Survivors include one daughter, Catherine Barker of Brookline; two sons, Thomas Santasania of California and Mark Santasania of Northampton, Mass.; and two step-daughters, Patty Hamilton of West Brattleboro and Diane Parker of East Hampton, Conn. She also leaves seven grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a son, John Santasania, a sister, Evelyn Stone and two brothers, Everett Thomas and Clarence Thomas, Jr. Memorial information: A memorial service will be conducted Sunday, Sept, 9, at 2 p.m., at the Green Mountain Chapel on Western Avenue. Donations to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To sign an online register book or send messages of condolence to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Paul Aaron Waters, 45, of Guilford. Died August 19, 2018 at his home, surrounded by his family, following a courageous battle with Glioblastoma. He was born in Brattleboro on Oct. 2, 1972 the son of Lee and Catherine (Burnett) Waters. A lifelong resident of the Brattleboro area, he was raised and educated in Brattleboro and attended Brattleboro Union High School. He had been employed as an auto mechanic working at Alan Scott Auto Repair in Brattleboro for 16 years. Previously, he worked for Monro Muffler and Windshield World, both in Brattleboro. With his family, he attended Healing Grace Ministries in Brattleboro and, prior to that, Vernon Advent Christian Church. He loved the outdoors and dirt bike riding, loved to travel and spend time at the beach, enjoyed music, and playing his guitar, but loved spending time with his family the most. He had a big heart and, throughout the years, nursed many small injured animals back to health. On May 13, 2006, he married to Danielle Grant, who survives. Besides his devoted wife of 12 years, he leaves his parents, of Hudson, Fla.; one daughter, Krystal Blue Waters and her fiancée, Kyle Cleveland, of Brattleboro; one brother, Daniel Waters and his wife, Sandy, of Hinsdale, N.H.; a granddaughter, Katrina Cleveland; two brothers-in-law, Peter Grant of Northfield, Mass., and Philip Grant of Vernon; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by a sister, Jackie Hartmann. Memorial information: A celebration of life/barbecue and picnic was held Aug. 25 at the Vernon Recreation Area. Donations to the Bonnyvale Environmental Education/Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, 1223 Bonnyvale Rd., West Brattleboro, VT 05301. To sign an online register book or send messages of condolence to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.