College news
• Kyle Sewing of Brattleboro graduated with a Master of Business Administration degree from Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh, N.Y.
• Two local students graduated from Colby-Sawyer College in New London, N.H., on May 11. Emma Harris of Brattleboro earned a B.A. in sociology. Harris served as a student ambassador in the Office of Admissions. Alexandra Harris of Bellows Falls graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in sociology and was a member of Alpha Chi National College Honor Society. She works as a family engagement specialist at Easterseals in Springfield, Vt.
• Zoe E. Soule of West Wardsboro was one of the nearly 615 students who were awarded bachelor degrees from St. Lawrence University during commencement ceremonies held on May 19 in Canton, N.Y. Soule, who majored in geology, graduated with a bachelor of science degree.
• Erik Johansson of Marlboro received a B.A. in biology from Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y,. on May 26.
• Celia Feal-Staub of Putney was named to the Dean's List at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, for the winter semester ending in April 2019.
• The following local students have been named to the spring 2019 Dean's List at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I.: Todd Beyer of Stratton, Sophie Guerrina of Putney, and Nathaniel Tyler of Brattleboro.
• The following local students were named to the Dean's List for the spring 2019 semester at the University of Vermont: Kira Boucher of Putney, Kai Ling Boyd of Wilmington, Simon Bupp-Chickering of Saxtons River, Kira Cincotta of Wilmington, Eben Collins of Putney Alyssa Cote of Saxtons River, Baxter Cragin of Putney, Samantha Cragin of Putney, Emily Fryer of West Dover, Ian Fulton-Black of Guilford, Giannina Gaspero-Beckstrom of Guilford, Eleanor Guyon of Saxtons River, Bonnie Hart of Brattleboro, Andrew Hollar of Rockingham, Eden Hubert of East Dover, Caitlin Hunt of Wilmington, Johanna Mcdonald of Londonderry, Arianna Morton of Saxtons River, Cullen Paradis of Putney, Logan Park of Wilmington, Mya Petrie of Vernon, Eve Pomazi of Brattleboro, Michaela Reardon of Brattleboro, Lindsey Robinson of Brattleboro, John Sawyer Shaw of Brattleboro, Nieva Schemm of Saxtons River, Zoe Schemm of Saxtons River, Nina Singleton-Spencer of Newfane, Honour Solari of Guilford, Emily Stockwell of Townshend, Ann Takacs of Brattleboro, Fallon Vancor of Bellows Falls, and Kassidy Walkowiak of Whitingham.
• Ronan Khalsa, a communications major from West Dummerston, was named to the spring 2019 Dean's List at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill.
• Ellis Oliver of West Marlboro was named to the spring 2019 Dean's List at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa.
• Connor Tripp of Vernon, a graphic design major at Northeastern University in Boston, has been named to the Dean's List for the spring 2019 semester.
• Dominic Italia, a 2012 graduate of Brattleboro Union High School and a 2016 graduate of the University of Denver in 2016, has been selected to enter the Creighton University School of Dentistry in the fall of 2019.
Obituaries
• Mark Allen Akeley, 56, of Virginia Beach, Va., formerly of Hinsdale, N.H. Died May 30, 2019. Born Oct. 24, 1962 to Raymond and Sandra Akeley at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. He attended Hinsdale High School, where he played basketball, baseball, and soccer, winning a couple of state championships. He was also involved with the jazz band. After graduating in 1980, he received his associate's degree in Computer Science at Keene State College in 1983, and later graduated from Franklin Pierce College with a B.S. in business management. After high school, Mark played on several teams in the Brattleboro Men's Softball League and also started a D.J. business with classmate Don Henry called “Crew 80.” He worked at The Book Press in Brattleboro as a bindery manager for several years until it was closed by Quebecor. He then moved to Winchester, Va., with his family to continue as a bindery manager at another Quebecor printing facility. After leaving Quebecor, Mark moved to Charlottesville, Va., for several years and worked at other binderies, then moved to Baltimore to work at Cenveo as a bindery shipping manager. At the time of his death, he was working at Grifolis Plasma in Virginia Beach. As Mark's boys got older and all went into different endeavors, he cherished the times they were able to spend time together.Mark was an avid Boston sports fan, especially the Red Sox and the Patriots. He has had a lifelong rivalry with his Dad, who is an avid Yankees fan. He enjoyed golfing and attended many golf tournaments with his father and friends. He had a great love of music and enjoyed going to the Virginia Beach waterfront to watch local bands. In recent years, it was commonplace to meet him at the boardwalk, either dancing to the sounds of local beach music, or watching a ball game with the abundance of friends that he kept and loved to treat to a good time. Mark is survived by his three sons, Ryan James of Oregon, Joshua John of Virginia, and Jacob Raymond and wife Isabella of North Carolina; his former wife and mother of his three boys, Claire MacMenamin Clark of Virginia; his parents, his brother Timothy Akeley of Hinsdale and his sister Joanne Scott and her husband Lawrence of West Chesterfield N.H.; several nieces and nephews, aunts, and cousins; and his longtime companion Barbara Hoffman. He was predeceased by his grandparents, Roger and Valeda Kozyra and Eugene and Helen Akeley, and his uncles “Buzzy” Kozyra, and Robert, Kenny, and Lawrence Akeley. Memorial information: Services will be held on Monday, June 10, at 11 a.m., at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Hinsdale, with burial to follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Hinsdale. A gathering will follow at the Hinsdale VFW.
• Stephen Arnold Douglas, 73, of Carbondale, Colo. Died Jan. 9, 2019. He was born May 9, 1945 in South Weymouth, Mass., to Brandon Thayer Douglas and Betsey Barney (White) Douglas. His family moved back to Brattleboro in 1947. At age 2, he was fitted to skis and began a lifelong love of skiing at his family's Hogback Mountain Ski Area in Marlboro. He grew up working summers for his grandfather, Harold P. White at the Hogback Gift Shop. He participated in the Brattleboro Outing Club's ski races in grade school and high school, winning or placing in many contests. He graduated from BUHS in 1963 and attended every high school reunion since. He went on to Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, N.H. He joined the KUA Ski Club and twice made the Eastern Alpine Team for competition at the National Junior Championships. He graduated from the University of Colorado in Boulder, where he raced on the ski team in NCAA Division I Men's Alpine Skiing competitions. At the same time, in the early 1970s, he made the U.S. Alpine Ski Team Development Team in speed events. He traveled throughout North America and Canada, racing in CanAm races, and raced on the World Pro Tour as a professional ski racer. As an Alpine ski coach, he traveled throughout North America, South America, and Europe. He moved to Aspen, Colo., in 1974 where he taught in the Aspen ski school at Aspen Highlands until the end of 2018 when he became hospitalized. He was most proud of the number of years he spent working on the ski school at Aspen. His love of Alpine skiing gave him the drive. He achieved the highest level certification of Professional Ski Instructor and was proficient for more than 40 years. He worked year-round in construction and was a sought-after finish carpenter and builder in the Aspen area. He later built his own home in Carbondale. He was always working out, biking, or taking a daily hike. He was very interested in his ancestry and dug into his genealogy. During visits back East, he would travel to the towns and graves of his ancestors. He traveled throughout the West on his Harley and in his motor home learning about early history, including the Lewis and Clark Trail. He drove the Pony Express route from St Joseph, Mo. to Sacramento, Calif. He was predeceased by his parents, Brandon and Betsey Douglas and a cousin, Suzanne White Hedgecock. He is survived by his brother, William “Bill” Douglas, two nieces, Ashley Douglas and Lindsay Douglas, an uncle, Richard H. Hamilton, an aunt, Diane White Matthews and nine cousins and their families - Elizabeth Douglas Fitts, Carol Douglas Farrington, Jane Douglas, James Douglas; Sally White; Rebecca Hamilton Mroczek, Barbara Hamilton Giard, Karla Hamilton Bills, and Marcia Hamilton. Memorial information: Plans for a memorial service are pending.
• Maria Ortiz Gomez Cox, 98, of Brattleboro. Died May 24, 2019. Born April 1, 1921 to Spanish immigrants Rosaria (Ortiz) and Phillip Gomez in Bethel, her family moved to Brattleboro for her father's work as a stone cutter at Abbiati Monuments, where Maria spent her early years. She graduated from Brattleboro High School in 1939. After graduation, she attended secretarial school and worked at the Holstein Association as a young adult. At the close of World War II, Maria married Pearl Harbor survivor Benjamin Charles Cox of Guilford. She was a stay-at-home mom who loved sewing, baking, cake decorating, and being a Girl Scout leader. She found time to be a school crossing guard and a study hall monitor at BUHS. In the mid 1970s, she wanted to become a nurse and received her degree as an LPN. She worked at Eden Park and Thompson House in Brattleboro, with the majority of her nursing career at Maplewood Nursing Hone in Westmoreland, N.H. Maria enjoyed the outdoors - skiing, swimming, water skiing, golfing - and was an avid dog lover. Her fondest memories were summers at the family cottage on Spofford Lake with her extended family and friends. She loved to travel, accruing many a tale throughout the world, with escapades and antics shared with her sister Rosa as they traveled by train throughout Europe, and family journeys far and wide to Scandinavia, Asia, South America, and Australia. As a proud grandmother, she saw her grandson grow from riding a trike to BMX and onto being a professional road cyclist. Even into her 90s, she continued to travel and was always up for a new adventure in a new place with her family members, Maria was predeceased by both her parents; her husband, Benjamin Cox; four siblings, Rosa Hewitt, Hilaria Powers, Phillip and Daniel Gomez; her closest aunt Nida White and beloved nephew Bill Powers. She leaves her two daughters; Victoria Travisano of Keene, N.H., and Melinda Cox of Weare, N.H.; her much-loved grandson, Benjamin Zawacki of Atlanta, Ga.; brother Richard Gomez of Forest Grove, OR; cousin Linda Smith, of Great Neck, NY and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial information: A private celebration of life will be held in the summer for family. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a local humane society or charity of one's choice.
• Gary Wayne Dicker, 64, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died suddenly at home on May 4, 2019. Gary was born Nov. 2, 1954 to two loving parents, Wayne E. and Donna M. Dicker, in Lee, Maine. For the last 17 years, Gary shared his life with Donna MacClean, who was his loving companion and best friend. As a child, Gary grew up surrounded by a wonderful extended family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. He often shared memories of their times together, especially at Madagascal Pond and Portland Harbor. Gary attended Lee Academy where he was class president and captain of the soccer, basketball, and track teams. Upon graduating Lee Academy with honors in 1973, he literally tossed his guitar into his 1970's muscle car and headed out of the woods into southern New England. Music was a huge part of Gary's life. His grandfather played banjo, his mother played guitar with a band in the Bangor area, and Gary's brother, Kenny, also a guitarist, played with Gary in a band while attending Lee Academy. Gary was a self-taught professional photographer which extended into an interest in astrophotography and astronomy. He was a press photographer for local newspapers, shot for Mopar magazines and weddings, taught photography classes, and was a member of the Quinebaug Valley Photo Club. Gary's self-employment continued with him buying and selling vintage cameras and antiques. His greatest passion the last few years was as a dedicated member of the popular area band Thunderhook. He enjoyed every moment practicing and gigging with his band members and his spirit will always be with them, as he will forever be with those that loved and knew him. Gary loved attending the annual Stellafane Telescope Convention located in Springfield, Vt., for the last 30 years. Many of those years he attended with his children, where they made memories viewing our most beautiful universe. He is survived by his mother, Donna Dicker; his brother Kennard Dicker; his sons, Travis Dicker and his wife Laura and Adrian McComb; his daughter Shannon Dicker and fiancé Michael Note; his sweetheart Donna MacClean and her children Heather and her companion Tod Davis, Kyle McArthur and wife Sabrina, and Caolan McArthur; and five grandchildren. Memorial information: A celebration of Gary's life was held June 1 at the VFW in Brattleboro. In lieu of flowers, Gary's children would like to place a memorial marker at Stellafane. Donations to Shannon Dicker, P.O. Box 373, Hinsdale, NH 03451.
• Robert Norman “Butch” Howe, 91, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died May 26, 2019 at Maplewood Nursing Home in Westmoreland with his family by his side. He was born in Hinsdale on Sept. 15, 1927, the son of Clarence and Gladys (Robbins) Howe. He was raised and educated in Hinsdale, attending public schools. He went on to proudly serve his country in the Army's 25th Medical Battalion, stationed in Japan at the end of World War II. Upon his honorable discharge from active service in 1947, he returned home to Hinsdale. In his earlier years, Mr. Howe worked at the White & Washburn Paper Company in Hinsdale. He worked on the building of the new Brattleboro Union High School as a mason's tender and later for the late Forrest Briggs as a carpenter. Other building projects he assisted with included the construction of the Econo Lodge Motel in Brattleboro, the construction of the Hinsdale Pavilion at Heritage Park, the Welcome Center in Pisgah State Park and the building of the Snowmobile Clubhouse in Hinsdale. His last position was with the former Robertson Paper Company in Hinsdale, from which he retired in 1990 following 35 dedicated years of service with the company. He joined the Hinsdale Volunteer Fire Department in 1959 and became chief of the department in 1969. He retired as Fire Chief in 1975. He was a lifetime member of Hinsdale VFW Post 4234 and a former member of the B.P.O. Elks, Brattleboro Lodge #1499. He enjoyed deep sea fishing, riding all-terrain vehicles, and snowmobiling. He was a member for many years of the Rails to Trails Snow Mobile Club. In 1950, he married Lorraine Briggs, who survives. Besides his faithful and devoted wife of 69 years he leaves: one son, David Howe and his wife, Joyce, of Bradenton, Fla.; a daughter, Ruth E. Butler and her husband Raymond of Lisbon, N.Y.; one sister, Shirley Collins of Winchester; three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by three brothers: Clarence “Bant” Howe, William Howe, and Kenneth Howe. Memorial information: Funeral services were conducted May 31 at the Atamaniuk Funeral Home. Burial with full military honors took place in the Howe family lot in Pine Grove Cemetery in Hinsdale. Donations to the Hinsdale Volunteer Fire Dept., Depot Street, Hinsdale, NH 03451 or to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302.
• Skip Morrow, 67, of Wilmington. Died unexpectedly of natural causes on May 28, 2019 at his home. An internationally known illustrator, artist, and musician, he was born in Elizabeth, N.J., the son of the late James Scott Morrow and Beryl (DaSylva) Morrow. His love of music began at age 12 when he learned to play the guitar. When he was in high school, he went on to play in a rock band called Mother's Little Helpers. In 1974, he earned his B.A. in communication with a focus on photojournalism from Rutgers University. Unable to land a job in this field after graduation, he turned to his talent as a singer/guitarist/pianist and began playing music at establishments on Cape Cod, Nantucket, Bermuda, St. Thomas, New York City, the Caribbean, the Berkshires, Florida, and Boston, which included a performance for the New England Emmy Awards in 1984 at the Wang Center. All the while, he loved to sketch. His art mostly consisted of cartoons, although he was talented in several mediums. In 1974, while still playing music on the Cape in the summers, he went to Mount Snow to find a gig playing music in the winter and became the resident musician at Snow Lake Lodge for five years. Later, he began playing at The Silo, performing with The Duck Tones and other local musicians. In 1980, he published the New York Times bestseller, The Official I Hate Cats Book, which launched his full-time career as an illustrator. Skip went on to become an accomplished illustrator. He published many other books, calendars, and greeting cards, and did commissioned and freelance work both locally and globally. In 1981, he married Laraine Bevans in Wilmington. After 10 years of marriage, she joined him at music gigs and they became a regular duet at local restaurants, most notably Fennessey's for 15 years, the Roadhouse for 12 years, and the Hermitage Inn for 10 years. They also played at many weddings and special events together. Skip was also instrumental in the annual Holiday Concerts to benefit the food shelf in Wilmington. Skip opened The Art of Humor Gallery in 2001 to showcase and sell his work. His artwork is also on display at the Wilmington Inn, West Dover Inn, the Grand Summit Hotel, and the Roadhouse. He will be remembered for his innovative mind, unique sense of humor, and artistic abilities. In earlier years, he also flew planes and maintained a love of sailing, landscaping, and photography. Skip was a loving husband and father. He leaves his wife, and his daughters Megan Judith Morrow and Lindsay Patience Morrow; sister Jeanne (Morrow) Stiehl, her husband Fred Stiehl, and their two sons Jonathan and Christopher; brother Scott Morrow, his wife Cheryl, and their son Douglas; his beloved cat Chance; as well as many friends. He touched many lives over the course of his life. In Skip's words, “Cartooning is about trying to distill complex emotions and thoughts down to simple terms. It's just a way to make sense of this crazy world.” Memorial information: Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Covey Allen & Shea Funeral Home. To send personal condolences, visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com. It was always Skip's wish to make people smile and laugh through his artwork. Please continue to do that.
• Barbara E. Moseley, 90, of Vernon. Died May 28, 2019 at her home. She was born in Brattleboro on Oct. 29, 1928, the daughter of Clinton and Martha (Jackson) Emery. She attended the one-room school on Pond Road for her elementary education. She was a graduate of Boston University and attained her master's degree from Wesleyan University in Connecticut. Early in life, she was an art teacher and school librarian in Massachusetts and Connecticut. In 1962, she married Roger S. Moseley and returned to her hometown, Vernon, where she became Vernon's first art teacher. Mr. Moseley predeceased her in 1973. Having a special passion for preserving, writing about, and promoting the history of Vernon, she became one of the co-founders of the Vernon Historians. She was also associated with the project of restoration of the Pond Road Chapel, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. She served as a trustee of the Vernon Library, and also as a cemetery commissioner in Vernon. She was a lifelong member and organist at the Vernon Union Church. She is survived by her nephews: David Emery and his wife, Shirley, of Brattleboro, Douglas Emery and his wife, Brenda, of Vernon, Jackson Emery and his wife, Carlene. of Buzzards Bay, Mass., and Robert McAuliffe and his wife, Stella, of Lowell, Mass. Memorial information: Funeral services will be Saturday, June 8 at the Vernon Union Church at 10 a.m. The Rev. Steve Dunklee will officiate. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Donations to the Vernon Library, in. care of Vernon Town Offices, 567 Governor Hunt Rd., Vernon, VT 05354, or the Vernon Union Church, 2631 Ft. Bridgman Rd. Vernon, VT 05354.
• Carmine A. Pepe, 89. Died May 25, 2019 at the Actors Home in Englewood, N.J., from complications related to Parkinson's disease. He was born in Newark, N.J., to John and Theresa (Perna) Pepe. At 16, he began his professional career as a musician, working in the Catskills drumming with jazz orchestras, and continued performing for the next 15 years in Newark, New York City, and Europe. A graduate of New York University and Indiana University, he was hired to teach at the Mountain School. Carmine moved to Vermont in 1965 with his wife, Faith Learned Pepe, and their sons: Paolo, Neil, and Stefan. In 1966 he moved to Putney, while teaching at Mark Hopkins College in Brattleboro, followed by positions at Keene State College and Vermont Academy. A composer of avant-garde music, Carmine had his work performed in New York, Europe, and Vermont. A Fulbright Scholar, he studied in France with the legendary composer Nadia Boulanger, and later enjoyed time at the MacDowell Colony in Peterborough, N.H. Carmine resided in many places during his life: leaving Vermont after his divorce, he moved to New York City, and then Los Angeles. Carmine was an avid reader and note taker, an engaging conversationalist, and never stopped aspiring to fulfill his dreams. In the later decades of his life, he lived in Maine and Portsmouth, N.H., and returned to New Jersey in 2014. He is survived by his sons, their wives, and six loving grandchildren. Memorial information: None provided.
• Vincenzo James Ruggiero, 15, of Saxtons River. Died May 19, 2019 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., from injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Westminster. Born Aug. 11, 2003, in Brattleboro, Vincenzo spent his days as any typical 15-year-old: going on adventures with friends, riding his dirt bike or four-wheeler, and making sure everyone he cared about was taken care of. Although he did typical 15-year-old boy things, he was no ordinary young man. He was a 2018 graduate of Kurn Hattin and was a student at Bellows Falls Union High School at the time of his death. He was a leader among his peers. As a child, he was curious, energetic, and loving. This did not change as he grew into a young man, who left an everlasting impact on whomever he came in contact with. On the ice as a hockey player, or on the field playing soccer, he was more than just a player. He was a brother to everyone on his team, and a true sportsman. He was a person who exemplified the best qualities of what it means to be human; his heart was filled with love that radiated outwards and filled the souls of the people around him. Vincenzo's greatest pride came from the love he gave his family, friends, and strangers, as well as being his father's go-to guy. If you were lucky enough to know Vincenzo, smile at all the memories you made with him. If you were not, smile at the thought that you would have loved him just as much as his family and friends. Memorial information: A celebration of his life was held June 1 at Vermont Academy.
• Toyoko K. “Toyo” Stalk, 97, of Vernon. Died June 1, 2019 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. She was born April 25, 1922 in Japan, the daughter of Masa and Sake (Kofuge) Kameda. Toyo left Japan with her military husband, Paul Stalk, for the United States, settling in Brattleboro and later moving to Chesterfield, N.H. She worked for Princess Shoe Company in Keene, N.H., Basketville in Putney, and Harris Basket Inc. in Vernon. Paul died in 1978 and, in 2004, Toyo moved to Vernon to be near her family. She loved getting together with family and outings with her daughter. She was a talented seamstress and artist, and enjoyed working in her flower gardens in both Chesterfield and Vernon. Toyo will be greatly missed. She leaves her daughter, Taeko Bruce and her husband, Douglas, of Vernon, and granddaughters, Heidi Bowman and her husband Tom of Greenfield, Mass., and Cajsa Eisenmenger of Vernon, and great-grandsons Tyler Eisnmenger of Vernon and Chase Eisnmenger of Dayton, Tenn. Memorial information: Funeral services will be private and at the convenience of the family. Kidder Funeral Home of Northfield, Mass., is in charge of arrangements. To send condolences, visit www.kidderfuneralhome.com.
• John Paul Whipple, 72, of Vernon. Died May 19, 2019 at Dartmouth-Hitchock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., with family members and his dear friend Diane LaFlam by his side. John was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Reed and Kathlyn Whipple; a sister, Mary Eckert; and brothers Joseph Jr., James, and Walter. He is survived by his siblings Andrew of Ohio, Fred of Connecticut, and Betty of Florida; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He graduated from Leland & Gray Seminary in Townshend, and served in the Army Reserve. He was self-employed as a contractor in the area. He had a great love for the outdoors, and enjoyed hunting, fishing, Maine, and sharing tales with many friends. Memorial information: Graveside services at Riverside Cemetery in Brookline will be announced at a later date. Donations can be made to the Cairo Shriners, 3 Green St., Brattleboro, VT 05301 and/or Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302.
Services
• A funeral Mass for Mary Elizabeth “Liddy” Logan Tustin will be held Friday, June 7, at 9 a.m., at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro. Burial will follow in Guilford Center Cemetery. Mrs. Tustin, a former resident of Brattleboro, died Feb. 5, 2019 in North Falmouth, Mass. To view her full obituary, visit www.atamaniuk.com.