College news
• The following local students graduated in May from Western New England University in Springfield, Mass.: Brennen D. Zolnoski of Brattleboro graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BSE in Biomedical Engineering and Molly T. Dufault of Saxtons River graduated Cum Laude with a B.S. in Health Sciences.
• The following local students were honored for academic achievement in the spring 2019 semester at Clark University in Worcester, Mass.: Morgan K. Brooke-deBock of Brattleboro received first honors on Clark's Dean's List, while Urmi S. Minkin of Brattleboro received second honors.
Obituaries
• Marie Antoinette “Toni” Baker, 91, of Hinsdale, N.H., formerly from Brattleboro and Lauderhill, Fla. Died Aug. 19, 2019, due to failing health from colon cancer. Marie was born in Highgate, Vt., on Nov. 8, 1927, to her parents Emile and Dorothy Lanoue. Marie graduated from Bellows Free Academy in St. Albans, married Frederick D. Baker, shortly after graduation and had two children. He died in March 2000. She worked for the state of Vermont for several years, as a legal secretary for Attorney Kenneth Fisher of Brattleboro, and for American Stratford Book Publishing Co, also of Brattleboro. She retired in 1987. Marie is survived by Linda Kuehnel of Brattleboro and Darryl J. Baker of Webster, N.H., and one grandson, Corey Kuehnel of Brattleboro. Memorial information: Following Marie's wishes, there will not be any calling hours or services.
• Margaret (Marge) Ann Mooney McAllister, 101, of Townshend. Died peacefully on Aug. 22, 2019. She was born on December 9, 1917, in Princeton, N.J., and lived for many years in Neshanic Station and Somerville, N.J. She was employed at Somerset Medical Center for many years. She most recently lived in South Londonderry, and has resided at Valley Cares/West River Assisted Living for more than five years. She was predeceased by her husband, Arthur R. McAllister, in 1976. She loved her family. She is survived by her daughter, Margie Malko and her husband, Richard Malko, of South Londonderry; her grandsons, Paul Malko of Grafton and Jeff Malko, his wife Lynn, and daughters Rachel, Lauren and Ashley of Naperville, Ill. She was also predeceased by two brothers, Robert and William Mooney. Her nieces and nephews were close to her heart and she enjoyed hearing about them and their families and enjoyed their visits. Memorial information: A private burial is planned. Donations to Valley Cares, Inc. P.O. Box 341, Townshend, VT 05353; Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 911, Londonderry, VT 05148; or Champion Fire Company, P.O. Box 5, South Londonderry, VT 05155.
• Ruth M. Romano, 89, of Townshend. Died Aug. 17, 2019 at Valley Cares Assisted Living in Townshend. She was born on Aug. 14, 1930 in Waterbury, Conn., to the Late Gerald and Lucy (Rutka) Monaghan. She worked as a Registered Nurse at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend, which she later retired from. She also loved animals very much, especially her cat, Peaches. She is survived by several family members on her side, and on her husband's side of the family. She was predeceased by her husband, Thomas Romano, in 1995, and by other members of her family. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Aug. 23 at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Townshend, with interment at Ball Cemetery in Stratton.
• Jeanne Catherine Duemler Rueter, 89, of Brattleboro. Died July 26, 2019, from complications of Alzheimer's Disease. She readily made good friends and was quick with a hearty laugh all throughout her life. Born Oct. 16, 1929 in St. Louis, Mo., the second of seven children of Dr. John C. and Adele (Meyer) Duemler, her young life centered around her siblings, youth activities at St. Lucas Church and Job's Daughters of the Masons. She attended Wyman School in St. Louis and then Grant School, a two-room schoolhouse in the countryside of St. Louis County where she later began her teaching career in 1950. She graduated with a B.A. in Education from Washington University in 1950, taking the city bus from her family's home every day all four years. She met her husband, Ernest A. Rueter, in 1950 while he attended Eden Seminary. They wed in 1952, and then moved to Nashua, Iowa where Ernie pastored his first church. Allen Paul was born in 1954 and Rebecca Catherine in 1956. Robert Gorham was born in 1958 in Evansville, Ind. Jeanne resumed her teaching career in 1965 near West Lafayette, Ind., where the family lived from 1959 to 1967. They moved to Gary, Ind. in 1967 and she earned her M.A. in Education from Purdue University Northwest in 1969. Jeanne taught primary school for a total of 31 years, including 22 years in Chesterton, Ind. She was devoted to students and colleagues, and to the art of teaching, delighting in first-graders to whom she read aloud daily. In addition to her dear sisters, many of her best friends were fellow teachers with whom she stayed close to for many years. Following retirement, she worked for two years in the Parents as Teachers program and led art appreciation for first graders. With Ernie, she took long dreamed of trips to Hawaii and Europe. In 1999, she traveled to China for the adoption of one of her granddaughters. Jeanne was active in many philanthropic, community, and professional organizations throughout her life including Washington University Alumni. In 2002, Ernie and Jeanne moved to Brattleboro, to be near two of their three children and their families. They were active at Centre Congregational Church, where Jeanne knit countless prayer shawls, served on the Mission & Service committee and participated in study groups, rummage sales, and potlucks. She also belonged to two book groups and was active in the American Association of University Women and a retired teachers association. Jeanne enjoyed her granddaughters, needlework, crafts, classical music, art and poetry, and a good game of Chicken Foot (dominoes). Ernie and she attended many local theater productions. She became a resident at the Thompson House in Brattleboro in 2014, where she won dozens of quarters in Bingo games and enjoyed sing-alongs. Jeanne was predeceased by Ernest, her husband of 60 years. She is survived by her three children and three granddaughters: Allen Rueter, Catherine Koziol, and Adelaide Koziol of Webster Groves, Mo.; Rebecca and Emma Rueter and Robert and Joanna Rueter of Brattleboro; Jennifer Atlee, Marko Packard, and great-granddaughter Iris Marie Atlee of Montague, Mass.; siblings John and Clela Duemler, Dr. Robert and Mary Duemler, Annette and Ivan Reece, Yvonne and Frank Lupton, Jacqueline Barnes, and Richard and Barbara Duemler. She will be remembered by a few dozen Duemler and Rueter nieces and nephews plus all their children for the birthday cards Jeanne sent every year to each one. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held on Sunday, October 20, at 2 p.m., at Centre Congregational Church in Brattleboro. All are welcome. Per Jeanne's wishes, memorials may be made to Centre Congregational Church, the American Association of University Women Foundation, or The Nature Conservancy.
• George Edward Smith, 84, of Vernon. Died Aug. 16, 2019 at Pine Heights Nursing Home in Brattleboro, following a period of declining health. He was born in Greenfield, Mass., on Dec. 13, 1934, the son of Edward and Rose (Rau) Smith. He was raised and educated in Greenfield, attending Greenfield High School. He had been employed as a machine operator for Erving Paper Company, which he retired from following more than 27 faithful years with the company. On a part-time basis, he worked as a carrier for several Brattleboro auto dealerships and Sanel/NAPA Auto Parts. He loved outdoor activities that included snowmobiling, four-wheeling, boating, and spending time at his camp in Pittsburg, N.H. George also enjoyed woodworking and reading, especially novels about the Old West. George was first married to Sheila Hoar and later married Olive Carey in Vernon in 1964. Olive predeceased him in 2011. Survivors include four sons: Gregory Smith (Jane), and Andre Smith (Melissa), all of Vernon; Randy Smith (Sue) of Turners Falls, Mass.; and Barry Smith (Mary) of Bernardston, Mass.; two daughters: Bonnie Richotte (Robert) of Vernon and Cyndie Rowell (Donald) of Conway, Mass.; a sister-in-law, Edna Sherlin of Vernon; three stepsons, Stanley Sage (Laura) and David Sage of Vernon and Stewart Sage of Malone, N.Y.; and one step-daughter, Ruth Parker (Homer) of Northampton, Mass. Additionally, he leaves 22 grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Memorial information: Graveside committal services were conducted Aug. 24 in Tyler Cemetery in Vernon. Donations to Pine Heights Nursing Home, 187 Oak Grove Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301. To sign an online guestbook with messages of condolence to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.