Obituaries
• Clayton Patrick Benjamin, 86, formerly of Hinsdale, N.H. Died March 12, 2022 at Applewood Healthcare in Winchester, N.H. Born March 17, 1935 in Ellenburg Depot, N.Y., the son of Halsey and Eva (Jarvis) Benjamin, he was raised and educated in Brattleboro, graduating from St. Michael's High School with the Class of 1954. In 1955, he enlisted in the Navy, serving on board the USS Randolph. In 1957, he was honorably discharged from active service and then worked as a bookbinder working at the former Book Press in Brattleboro. Clayton retired in 1998 following 43 faithful years with the company. For many years, he also worked part-time at the former Hinsdale Raceway. Born and raised Catholic, he was a communicant of St. Joseph's Church in Hinsdale. In 1959, he married Barbara Bouchie, who survives. Besides his wife of 62 years, survivors include daughters Cherie Benjamin of Keene, N.H., Cathy Benjamin of Bradenton, Fla., and Cindy (Ron) Caruso of Sabago Lake, Maine; sons Brian Benjamin of West Chesterfield, N.H., and Bradley (Sheila) Benjamin of Shermans Dale, Pa.; brothers David Benjamin of Westfield, Mass., and Gerald Benjamin of Brattleboro. Additionally, he leaves three grandchildren, Patrick, Tyler and Tara McGrath, and many nieces and nephews. Memorial information: A funeral Mass will be held Friday, June 3, at 11 a.m., at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Brattleboro. Committal rites and burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery in Hinsdale. Donations to the Alzheimer's Association, Vermont Chapter, 75 Talcott Rd., Suite 40, Williston, VT 05495 or the Dementia Society of America, P.O. Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901. To share a memory or send condolences to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• George A. “Junie” Bousquet Jr., 86, of Bellows Falls. Died unexpectedly and peacefully at home, with his wife by his side, on March 13, 2022. He was born in Barton on March 19, 1935, the 10th child of Mary (Brooks) and George A. Bousquet. He moved to Bellows Falls with his family in 1937 and grew up on the “New Terrace.” He attended St. Charles School and graduated from Bellows Falls High School in 1954. An outstanding athlete, George was very proud to tell the story of how he, along with his lifelong friend Dick Whitcomb and Coach Larry Hadley, marked out and worked on the first practice area on BFHS's new athletic field. The field would ultimately become today's Hadley Field, home of the school's baseball, football, and track & field teams. Following high school, George would proudly serve in the Air Force as part of the Strategic Air Command Base in Kansas before being transferred to England for three years until his honorable discharge in 1958. He then attended Burdett Business and enjoyed a lifelong career in banking services at Bellows Falls Trust Co., Indian Head Bank, and Savings Bank of Walpole. George was gifted with a remarkable sense of humor and quick wit. He could always be counted on to enliven any gathering of family and friends, of whom he had many. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary McDonald, to whom he was married in 1965. As the youngest of 10 children, he is also survived by his many nieces and nephews whom he loved as if they were his own children. He was predeceased by his parents and his nine siblings - Irene, Maurice, Leo, Mary, Pete, Anita, Dick, Phil, and Claire. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held March 17 at St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls, followed by burial in St. Charles Cemetery.
• Paul Ernest Boyce Jr., 45, of Brattleboro. Died March 11, 2022. He was born on Sept. 17, 1976 to Paul Ernest and Barbara (Thomas) Boyce of Vernon. A lifelong resident of Brattleboro and Vernon, Paul attended schools in Brattleboro. Paul enjoyed fishing, hunting with his dad, boating, and motorcycling. He made many trips to Laconia to enjoy the bike races. River camping with his friends Arnold, Fred, and Dale was a favorite summer pastime. Paul is survived by his mother; a daughter, Marriah Boyce of Brattleboro; a son, Eduard Boyce of Brattleboro; grandchildren, Orion and Phoenix Boyce of Brattleboro; plus an expected grandchild and many aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. He was predeceased by his father, Paul E. Boyce, Sr., and a son, Colby Paul Boyce. Memorial information: Graveside committal services in North Cemetery in Vernon will be conducted Saturday, March 26, at 1 p.m. Friends may call at Atamaniuk Funeral Home in Brattleboro on Friday, March 25, from 5 to 7 p.m. Donations to Groundworks Collaborative, Attn: Development Office, P.O. Box 370, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To send condolences, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Victoria Christina Funchess, 73, formerly of Brattleboro. Died Dec. 18, 2021 in Keene, N.H. She was born in New Jersey on March 14, 1948, the daughter of Inez and James Carter. Victoria was a very hard worker for many years at Price Chopper in Brattleboro, and at the former Country Kitchen Thrift Store. Victoria lived a full life and enjoyed and loved everyone she encountered along the way. She leaves behind her husband of nearly 39 years, Willie M. Funchess, and her children Isaac, Jacob, Jacobina, and Jerome Carter. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and several nephews. Memorial information: A celebration of her life will be held on Sunday, March 27, from noon to 6 p.m., at the Winston Prouty Center, 209 Austine Drive, Brattleboro.
• Richard Irving “Skip” Gordon, 89, of Brattleboro. Died March 14, 2022 at Bradley House. Skip lived his 89 years dedicated to family, friends, and hard work. A lifelong resident of Brattleboro, he was born on Oct. 11, 1932, the son of Thomas R. and Helen (Fairbanks) Gordon. He graduated from Brattleboro Union High School in 1953, and was proud to have attended both the old high school on Main Street and the new school on Fairground Road. He was a paper carrier as a boy, and loved telling stories about skating ponds, hiking trails, and ski jumps in town that have since been replaced by Interstate 91. Skip went on to serve his country in the Army Medical Corps during the Korean War era, enlisting in 1953. He was honorably discharged in 1955 and served an additional eight years in the Army Reserve. After returning to Brattleboro, he attended Johnson State College, returning to help support his family. He met his future wife, Virginia “Ginger” Bristol, through his friendship with her brothers, and they were married on July 6, 1957 at Centre Congregational Church. Ginger and Skip were married for 56 years, before her death in 2014. Skip was a loving caretaker to his wife for many years, always putting her needs above his own. Together, Skip and Ginger raised five children: Brenda Gilbert (Peter) and Linda Gordon (Bruce Fenn), all of Brattleboro, Andrea Viray of Glastonbury, Conn., Lisa Taylor (Doug) of Keene, N.H., and Timothy Gordon (Laurie Delooze) of Easley, S.C. Skip began his working career with Vermont Savings Bank, and became a member of the Brattleboro Fire Department. He kept in communication with the department after retirement. He later worked as a department manager for Grand Union in the Brattleboro grocery store, retiring in 1997. After retirement, he worked at Hannaford Supermarket. Skip loved his family and sports. He was an avid fan of the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics, the UConn Huskies, and Clemson Tigers. His love for sports began in high school as a manager and continued as a coach and super fan to his children and grandchildren. He often went to work early in the morning so he could attend afternoon games. Skip and Ginger supported the many activities of their children as Cub Scout leaders, BUHS Sports Boosters Small Fry and Little League Baseball, and the Swiss Exchange Program. During Tim's deployment to Iraq, he was an active member of “Operation Yellow Ribbon: Support Our Soldiers” in Brattleboro and spent many hours creating care packages to send to deployed service members, as well as supporting their families in Vermont. Skip believed that a positive attitude and treating all people with respect made for a good life. He will be greatly missed by his six grandchildren: Hollis Viray, Gregory Taylor, Colin Viray, Alica Giglio, Paige Fenn, and Ian Fenn; and was awaiting his first great-grandchild. Additionally, he leaves many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. He was predeceased by one brother, Thomas Gordon, and three sisters, Rachel Momaney, Flora Kenney, and Lucy Richards. Memorial information: Graveside committal services will be conducted Saturday, March 26, at 4 p.m., in Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery. Donations to the Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Department, to support youth sports, or the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To send condolences, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• John W. Hill, 62, of Sebring, Fla., formerly of Brattleboro. Died unexpectedly on March 5, 2022 in St. Pete Beach, Fla. John was born Oct. 9, 1959 in Brattleboro, to Kenneth J. and Maureen (Rooney) Hill. He spent his childhood in Brattleboro and was a sports enthusiast. In high school, John became interested in culinary arts and attended the vocational program, where he won a statewide competition. He graduated from Brattleboro Union High School in 1977 and later graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1979. John started his culinary career as the chef at the Brattleboro Country Club. During the winters, he worked in various establishments in Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles and developed a lifelong love of Bluegrass music. John was the chef at the Corning (N.Y.) Country Club, where he met his future wife, April L. Lewis. After they were married, they moved to Sebring in 1985, and he, along with his partner and CIA classmate John Devany, bought The Depot restaurant in Avon Park and managed it until his death. He had a great sense of humor, an incredible work ethic, and a peaceful demeanor, and enjoyed a reputation for being friendly and extremely generous. He hosted a popular golf tournament for 10 years, which donated proceeds to a variety of charities. The tournament was special for John because his extended family would travel to participate and visit. John was a devout Catholic, and was a member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Avon Park, where he was an usher for many years and also sat on the advisory council of the church. John loved baking and was famous for his chicken and dumplings and chocolate cake. The loves of his life was his wife, April, and their two shih-tzus, Hank and Vinny. John loved life, fishing and golfing and, especially, Sunday mornings. He was preceded in death by his mother and grandson, Remington. He is survived by his loving wife, April; their son, Tray Hill (Victoria); grandson, Jordan; his father Kenneth J. Hill and his wife, Diane; brothers Joe Hill (Linda), Jim Hill (Linda), and Jay Hill; sisters Mary Herold (Jim) and Martha Hunt (Rodney), and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church on March 12. Inurnment will be private at a later date at St. Michael's Cemetery in Brattleboro. Donations to the Church Service Center, 198 Rowe St., Avon Park, FL 33825.
• Dorothy Hansson Richardson, 95, of Putney. Died peacefully at her home on March 8, 2022. She was born in New York City on June 4, 1926, the daughter of Kristian Gösta Hansson and Katherine Tappan Hansson. She attended The Dalton School as a young girl and graduated from Bard College. Majoring in art, she spent a memorable summer working with her mentor, the sculptor Harvey Fite, on Opus 40, his Mayan inspired landscape and sculpture garden in Saugerties, N.Y. She moved with her husband, Roy (Dick) Richardson, to Putney in 1950. In the late 1950s, they ran a summer camp with Mabel and Ed Gray and subsequently founded The Grammar School with George and Kitty Shumlin. She worked at The Grammar School from its inception until 2000. Starting in the office, she then became the art teacher in 1966. She had a passion for developing curriculum that combined history, culture, and art, believing that every child benefited from a deep and challenging art curriculum. In addition to teaching, she ran a part-time business with Carol Eaton, designing interior spaces for local businesses and arts organizations. She was an active volunteer at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. Dorothy loved working in her sculpture studio. Her artistic pursuits included jewelry making, weaving, ceramics, and knitting baby sweaters for multiple generations of family. She was an avid sports enthusiast, rooting for the Red Sox and New York Giants in good years and bad, and hosting many a Sunday gathering attended by her longtime friend, Johnny Caldwell, among others who wanted to watch football or the sport of the season. Dorothy loved to challenge her mind with crossword puzzles, Jeopardy, jigsaw puzzles, and reading. She was also a dedicated gardener and could often be found tending to her many flower beds and indoor plants. Over several decades, Dorothy and Roy designed and built the “Big House” in Putney, where they welcomed everyone, young and old, without judgment and with a keen interest in each person's life. She is remembered by her dear friends, including Marysa Navarro and Janet Tierney, for the many late night chats. Dorothy was predeceased by her husband, Dick, and son, Peter. She leaves her children and their partners, Kathy, Elizabeth (Prentiss), Seth (Martha), Jess and John (Amy), 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Memorial information: There will be a celebration of life in the late spring; date and place to be determined.
• Annette P. Roydon, 75, of Brattleboro. Died peacefully March 5, 2022 while in hospice care in Cape Coral, Fla. For the last eight years before her death, she split her time between Brattleboro and Pine Island, Fla. Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, she emigrated to the United States in 1952 with her mother Bette, sister Vesla, and stepfather Lawrence Peabody. The family moved to Boston where her father began his successful career as a furniture designer, interior designer, and architect. Throughout the years, the family lived in Rindge, N.H., Port-au-Prince, Haiti and Roskilde, Denmark. Annette had deep connections to Southern Vermont and was a graduate of The Putney School as well as Marlboro College. After college, she began working as a trainer in harness racing and obtained her racing license. She met fellow driver Stuart Osborn at Hinsdale Raceway in 1969. They got married, had their only child, Jeremy, in 1970, and moved to Vernon. The couple divorced in 1976 but remained close lifelong friends. Annette lived in Southern Vermont throughout the 1970s and, in addition to being a single mother, she held a number of jobs including co-owning an oriental rug store and working as a youth counselor in Brattleboro. She eventually chose nursing as a profession and graduated at the top of her class in 1983 from Greenfield Community College's nursing school. Annette's life took another dramatic turn in 1983 when she married and became business partners with noted industrialist Leon Roydon. The two of them collaborated on the design and development of the Malliouhana luxury hotel located on the small Caribbean island of Anguilla, BWI. Immediately upon launching, the hotel became a premiere destination for the rich and famous, receiving numerous accolades. It is generally acknowledged as having set the gold standard for luxury tourism in the Caribbean throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Annette played a leading role in the success of the hotel while simultaneously operating as the head of reservations, landscaping, housekeeping, and recreation. In the early 1990s, Annette left the hotel business and returned to her passion for horse racing. She moved back to Southern Vermont where, as the CEO of Malhana Farm, she managed the breeding and racing career of hundreds of standardbred horses until her death. She was a notable member of the community in Vernon and, at various points, served as the town's emergency-management director, Chair of Selectboard, and most recently as the town's health officer. Annette's passions and interests throughout the years included gardening, raising exotic animals, playing contract bridge, reading, chatting with friends and neighbors, and most importantly, spending vast amounts of time with Fia, her cherished and perhaps slightly spoiled Havanese dog. Survivors include her son Jeremy Osborn and his wife Kristin of Acton, Mass., grandson Isaiah Osborn, brother Thomas Peabody of Anguilla, BWI, and niece Marisa Frank of Los Angeles. Memorial information: The family held a private ceremony in Florida and will notify loved ones in the future when a service in Vermont is scheduled. Donations to Brattleboro Area Hospice at brattleborohospice.org.
• Dianne Williams Shapiro, 77, of Brattleboro. Died March 16, 2022 at Pine Heights Nursing Home, following a period of declining health. Dianne was born Aug. 3, 1944 in Chattanooga, Tenn., the daughter of C.J. and Thelma (Woosley) Williams. She was youngest of nine children and grew up on a farm in Harrison, Tenn. She was raised and educated in Tennessee, earning her bachelor's degree in zoology from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Following college, Dianne spent two years in Ethiopia with the Peace Corps from 1966-68, which proved to be a life-changing experience. She married Howard Shapiro, now deceased, in 1966 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and converted to Judaism the next year. She and Howard then came to Brattleboro to teach English at the Experiment in International Living. In the 1970s Dianne became a craftsperson and, in 1980, started Humane Trophies, a company that made stuffed trophy animals, where she was President and Designer. Together, she and Howard also started House, Pop Culture Artifacts, first at Thornes Marketplace in Northampton, Mass., and then on-line. Dianne retired in 2009. Dianne was a member of the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community. Of her pastimes and interests, she enjoyed creating art, reading, studying natural history, gardening, and friends and family. She served on the board of Friends of Algiers Village for nine years, and on the board of Brattleboro Historical Society. Dianne is survived by two brothers, Waldo and Van Williams, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides her husband of 42 years, she was predeceased by a son, Noah Shapiro, and a daughter, Portia (Poppy) Shapiro; brothers Robin, Don, Pete, and Dale Williams; and sisters, Elaine Clay and Hazel Secrest. Memorial information: Graveside services were held March 20 in the BAJC Section of Morningside Cemetery in Brattleboro, where she was laid to rest next to her husband and children. Donations to the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community, Congregation Shir Heharim, P.O. Box 2353, Brattleboro, VT 05303-2353; or the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To send condolences, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Karen Marie Speranza, 61, of Vernon. Died in the comfort of her home on March 16, 2022, following several years of meeting the challenge of living with ALS. She was born in Brattleboro on Nov. 15, 1960. She was a steadfast communicant of St. Michael's Catholic Church, a devoted former employee of Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, a lover of the ocean, and an accomplished musician. She attended Brattleboro public schools, beginning in Oak Grove School where she began flute lessons and also participated in after-school band and chorus at Green Street School. As a freshman at Brattleboro Union High School, she began the study of the bassoon. Whether it be flute or bassoon, she participated in Vermont District Music Festivals, All-State concerts, the BUHS marching band, and was a player each year in the pit orchestra for the BUHS stage musicals. She also did some playing with Friends of Music at Guilford (FOMAG) and the Windham Orchestra. After high school graduation, upon the recommendation of Bob Simonds, she toured Europe with the U.S. Collegiate Wind Band. Following high school, she worked for the office of the Famolare Shoe Factory, who sponsored Karen as a Brattleboro Winter Carnival Queen's Pageant finalist. During this time, she got involved with a local theater group for a production of Godspell, where she met her future husband, Anthony. The couple were married in 1985. After honeymooning in England and Italy, they lived a few years in Rochester, N.Y., and then returned to Brattleboro where Karen gave birth to Anthony Jr. and Monica. Karen stayed home with the children until they reached school age, at which time she began a long, rewarding career working at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Her employment history there included working in Medical Records, as an administrative assistant in Cardiac Rehab, and finally, as Pre-op Workflow Coordinator. As a result of her hard work and selfless dedication to patients and staff, she was presented with the BMH Employee of the Year Award. Karen is survived by her husband, Anthony; her children, Anthony Jr. and his spouse Marilyn, and Monica and her fiancé, Patrick; her parents, Russell and Doris (née Newcombe) Stephens; brothers Kevin and his spouse, Anne, and Scott and his spouse Donna; sister Bonnie and her spouse Carter Chamberlin; and a large extended family that includes many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Memorial information: A requiem Mass was held March 22 at St. Michael's Catholic Church, followed by committal rites and burial in St. Michael's Parish Cemetery. Doantions to St. Michael's School, 48 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301. To send condolences, visit www.atamaniuk.com.