School news
• The Brattleboro Area Lions Club recently presented Zachary Dunbar with the first-ever Brattleboro Area Lions Club Vocational/Trade award. A 2019 graduate of the Windham Regional Career Center, Dunbar is working for Farnum Insulators, but plans to attend college in the future. His goal is to work in construction management. During his high school years, he enrolled in the construction trades class at the Career Center and went to Florida during February vacation for Habitat for Humanity.
Transitions
• The Rev. Dr. James A. Kowalski, a retired Episcopal priest, recently joined 13 other community members in serving on Youth Services' board of directors. For the past 15 years, Dr. Kowalski served as Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. Prior to that, he had parishes in Massachusetts, as well as Newtown, Hartford and Darien, Conn. During that time, Kowalski helped found Youth Services in Newtown, which focused on positive youth development, adolescent depression, and suicide prevention. He was also key in launching the Shepherd's Center, a teen pregnancy prevention and pre-Head Start childcare facility in Hartford. He now resides in Townshend, where he had long maintained a second home, with his wife, Dr. Anne Brewer, who works part-time at Grace Cottage Hospital.
• Kathleen McGraw, MD, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital's Chief Medical Officer, was recently awarded the credential of Certified Physician Executive through the certifying body of the American Association for Physician Leadership. Dr. McGraw, began working at BMH in January 2012, completed more than 150 hours of coursework in areas such as health law, finance, strategic planning, communications, leadership development, quality improvement, negotiation and conflict resolution, and physician engagement.
Obituaries
• Robert “Bob” Angell, 91, of Wilmington. Died peacefully in his sleep on Aug. 9, 2019, while on a photo journey in Canada. Born November 6, 1927 to Laura and Charles Angell in Jamaica, Queens, N.Y., he completed the family joining his sister Vivian (Lallathin). Graduating from Andrew Jackson High School, he enlisted in the Army during World War II and was eventually assigned as a staff photographer for the Army newspaper, Stars and Stripes. Graduating from University of Rochester, he met and married his beloved Mary Anne Kennedy (Angell), of New York City. Bob and Mary Anne grew their family to four children in Oil City, Pa, returning to New York to raise the family in Mamaroneck. An avid sailor and skier, summers found Bob and his family sailing on Long Island Sound, while winter weekends were spent skiing at Mount Snow. Most of his career, he worked at Nash Engineering in Norwalk, Conn.), he traveled the world extensively for business. Upon retirement, he continued to travel; his photography avocation turned serious. Bob won many prestigious photography contests and awards; his photos have appeared in numerous publications including the cover of the 2001 international Nikon calendar and Vermont Life. Bob volunteered for over 40 years on Mount Snow Ski Patrol, and retired to Wilmington with Mary Anne. He also volunteered in Alaska for many summers with U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Alaska State Parks. He shared his passions giving photo lectures at many local community organizations and schools. Bob was an enthusiastic world traveler, photo-documenting his experiences. He was predeceased by his wife (2003), sister and parents. He leaves behind his four children: Kathryn Angell (Concord, Mass.; husband Herman “Dutch” Leonard), Marilyn Angell Borst (Mamaroneck, N.Y.; husband Alan W. Borst Jr.), Bobbi Angell (Brattleboro), and R. Charles “Chuck” Angell Jr. (West Greenwich, R.I.; wife Kris AngelI), and six grandchildren. His photo legacy is being maintained by his family at rangell.smugmug.com. Memorial information: Family and friends are invited to a secular celebration of his life on Nov. 2, at 3 p.m., at Dover Forge in West Dover. Interment will be private. Donations to conservation or social services will be deeply appreciated.
• Stephen Dudley Booth, 87, of Dummerston. Died peacefully on Aug. 19, 2019 in Brattleboro, of kidney and respiratory failure. Born in Providence, R.I., on Dec. 16, 1932 to Elsie Carlen and Phillips Booth, the second of three boys. The brothers completed their secondary education at St. Georges School and earned their college degrees from Brown University. Steve went on to earn his Masters in English from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. His teaching career started in Providence at St. Dunstan's school. From there, it was on to Holland Hall School in Tulsa, Okla., where he taught upper school English and Humanities. Five years in Tulsa was followed by a single year at Louisville Country Day. The annoyance of segregation and privilege in Tulsa proved more so in Kentucky and led his young family back to Rhode Island and a new position at Moses Brown School. Three years later, Steve was lured around the corner to The Mary C. Wheeler School, then an all-girl's day and boarding school. Ten years later, life's path led Steve to The St. Luke's School in New Canaan, Conn. Vermont followed, and included a few cherished years off before new and rewarding challenges at Landmark College in Putney. Steve's first marriage to Carole Sannella ended in divorce in 1971. His second marriage to Lucianne Laffayette ended in 1981. The third time proved a charm and he leaves his beloved wife of 36 years, Steffi Linda Booth. In 1983, Steve and Steffi left Connecticut in search of life's slower pace and nature's serene beauty. Paradise was found at the top of Sunset Lake Road in Dummerston where they immersed themselves in renovating their historic house and surrounding acres of pastoral settings with endless views. Steve was a voracious reader and historian. He enjoyed researching a family tree as much as an obscure historical figure. His sleuthing uncovered the builder of their home, and questionable military career of a “Captain” Ellis Griffith, who was then honored with a plaque of Steve's design on their 225-year-old farmhouse. Fascination with history, facts, figures and fables was a foundation of his sublime intellect and sense of humor; “I may not always be right but I'm never wrong,” elicited affectionate eye rolls. To the consternation of some sharing the same room, Steve was a student of American jazz. His affection and love of all music had few limits; except for certain Broadway tunes, particularly anything Rogers and Hammerstein. He is survived by his sons Michael Booth (Michael Oliva) of Providence, and Peter Booth (Myaja Pansagrau) of Bielefeld, Germany; his stepdaughter Patti Gintel of New York; and stepsons David Gintel of Vermont and Stephen Gintel (Kelli) of Truckee, Calif. He is also survived by his four grandchildren. Memorial information: Donations in his memory to the Vermont Jazz Center at vtjazz.org/support/donate.
• Alice Rose Buraczynski, 83, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died Aug. 29, 2019. She was born in Weston, Vt., daughter of Frank Johnson and Matilda Moses Johnson. She was the second to youngest of 17 brothers and sisters. She married John Buraczynski in 1968. Alice leaves behind her husband, John; five daughters: Sheila Merton, Roxanne Ebbighausen, Deborah Richmond, Penelope Sheldon and Stacia Robins; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was very active in the Hinsdale VFW Post 4234, where she was a life member. She served as president of the Ladies Auxiliary for several years and as past District 5 president. She loved to celebrate all the holidays with family and friends at her house. Memorial information: There will be a graveside service at St. Josephs Cemetery in Hinsdale on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, one may offer a donation to your local Hospice.
• Janice C. Duke, 84, of Dummerston. Died unexpectedly Sept. 5, 2019 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. A lifelong resident of Dummerston, she was born in West Dummerston on Dec. 10, 1934, the daughter of Howard and Pauline (Genero) Clark. She attended Dummerston School and graduated from Brattleboro High School with the Class of 1952. She had been the Town Clerk in Dummerston for many years, retiring from her position in 2005. Previously, she was a cook for the Dummerston Elementary School Lunch Program. Very active in town, she was a dedicated volunteer for various organizations in town and was also an active member of the Evening Star Grange in Dummerston Center. She was very crafty and enjoyed cross stitch and knitting. Janice loved to go dancing and take nature walks and day trips, as well as dine out. She was known for her pleasant personality and spirit of friendship. In 1954, she married George H. Duke. Her faithful and devoted husband of nearly 53 years predeceased her in 2007. Survivors include a daughter, Valerie Hart and her husband, Richard, of Stafford, Va.; four grandchildren, Alex and Michael Hart, and Charlie and Josh Duke; two great-grandchildren, Cameron and Jordan Hart; and many nieces and nephews. Additionally, she leaves her close friend for the last three years, Jim Woods of Brattleboro. Besides her husband, she was predeceased by her son, Marty Duke, who died in 2010, and a brother, Ernest Clark. Memorial information: Graveside committal services were held Sept. 13 in Taft Cemetery in West Dummerston. Donation to the West Dummerston Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 40, West Dummerston, VT 05357 or the Dummerston Historical Society, in care of Jody Normandeau, 250 Tucker Reed Rd., Dummerston, VT 05301. To sign an online guestbook with messages of e-condolence to the family, visit atamaniuk.com.