Transitions
• The board of trustees of the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) elected three new members to its ranks on March 27. Bruce Berg, Christopher Chapman, and Matthew Toepfer were each elected to three-year terms. A resident of Brattleboro, Berg served on the BMAC board from 2008 to 2015, including terms as president, vice president, and development committee chair. In 2011, he oversaw the renovation of the museum's Wolf Kahn & Emily Mason Gallery. Like Berg, Chapman is a Brattleboro native and is a former member of the BMAC board. Originally elected in 2014, he served as president from 2015 to 2019, before stepping down in 2020. He is passionate about civic duty and community service, serving on numerous nonprofit boards and state committees. He is a former member of the Brattleboro Selectboard and a current member of Representative Town Meeting. Originally from Bellows Falls, Toepfer is a wealth management advisor at TIAA, with an office in Hanover, N.H. He is the third-generation owner of Brick House Tile, a Keene, New Hampshire–based business founded in 1984 by his grandmother and father, specializing in handcrafted ceramic, porcelain, and stone tile. He is also the owner of Cider Press Tile, a handmade tile company in Keene since 1998. Toepfer has been a member of the BMAC Finance Committee since 2023. In addition to electing new trustees, the BMAC board also elected the following officers to one-year terms: Katherine Gass Stowe, president; Christie Herbert, vice president; Stephanie Huestis, treasurer; and Christopher Sink, secretary.
Obituaries
• Andre (Andy) Leonel Bernier, 67, of Westminster West. died at his home on March 31, 2025, after several months of declining health. Born in Newport on April 7, 1957, he was the son of Leonel and Carmen (Pouliot) Bernier. A 1976 graduate of Bellows Falls Union High School, Andre was an all-around athlete and participated in track, baseball, football, and basketball. After graduating, Andre joined the Army and served three years in Dexheim, Germany. He was honorably discharged at the rank of sergeant and moved back to Westminster West. He apprenticed as a mason for Newcomb's Masonry for several years. He started his own masonry business in 1986. Notable projects include a replica of the garden pavilion at Monticello for Ken Burns in Walpole, New Hampshire; restoration stonework at Rudyard Kipling's historic Naulakha in Dummerston; and stonework for Gordon Hayward. Andre received a Bricklayer Award and excelled at stonework. Andre was an avid hunter and fisherman. He spent much of his adult life as the caretaker for a large estate in Westminster West, where he lived and enjoyed being surrounded by nature. He is survived by his two sons, Brandon and Trevor Bernier (Jasmine); granddaughters Cassidy, Eloise, and Lillianna; brothers Alain and Randy; a sister, Deborah Taylor; and his father, Leo Bernier. Andre was predeceased by his mother, Carmen. Memorial information: A celebration of life will be planned at a later date. Contact the family for details.
• Danny C. Clemons, 81, of Bellows Falls. Died at his home, surrounded by his family, after a very brief illness. He was born in McAlester, Oklahoma, to Wilfred (Bill) Clemons and Lorene (Franklin) Clemons on September 15, 1943, while his father was stationed there during World War II. Danny moved back to Vermont after the war and grew up in Chester, where he graduated from Chester High School in 1962. He played sports in school and loved hunting and fishing. He joined the Army in 1964 and returned home in 1967. Danny was a sharpshooter in the Army and won many NRA Youth shooting championships. He was the quintessential Vermonter, who loved history, particularly Vermont history. He was an avid collector of old postcards and antiques. Danny is survived by his two daughters: Jessica Boynton, her husband Scott; and Danielle Clemons and her partner, Tracey; and his former wife, Judy Nadeau Lidie, whom he remained close. Danny had one special granddaughter, Grace, named after his Nana. He was predeceased by his parents. Memorial information: No services are planned.
• Richard Crespo, 54, died on April 5, 2025. Born on Aug. 7, 1970, in Brattleboro, Richard spent his life serving his community and bringing warmth, laughter, and unwavering loyalty to all who knew him. A devoted husband, loving father, and dedicated public servant, he proudly served with the Brattleboro Fire Department for 34 years, where his bravery, leadership, and compassion made a lasting impact. In recognition of his exceptional service, he was honored as Firefighter of the Year in 2013-a testament to his commitment and heroism. Beyond the firehouse, Richard found brotherhood and camaraderie as a member of the Red Knights International Firefighters Motorcycle Club for 18 years and as a long-standing member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Club for 33 years. His life was built on service, friendship, and the joy of connecting with others through shared passions. He is survived by his beloved wife, Erin Crespo; his cherished children, Gregory Crespo and Emily Crespo; his father, Ramon Otero; and his brother, David Crespo. Richard's legacy of love, strength, and selflessness will live on in their hearts and in the many lives he touched. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held April 12 at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, with burial at St. Michael's Cemetery in Brattleboro. Donations to the Red Knights Motorcycle Club Vermont II Chapter, VENMO MJC062907 Michael Chamberlain. club treasurer; or mail a check to Red Knights Vermont II Chapter, P.O. Box 8032, North Brattleboro VT 05304.
• Mary Ellen Koehler, 79, of Vernon. Died peacefully on March 27, 2025, at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. She was born on June 22, 1945 in Keene, New Hampshire, to Theodore A. Koehler and Evelyn Flora Christian Koehler, who owned an antique shop in Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire. She attended Monadnock Regional High School and graduated from Bennington College and Keene State College's nursing program. Known to all as an unusually caring and giving person, she worked at various nursing facilities in the Brattleboro area, such as the Retreat, Pine Heights, and most recently at Vernon Green where she was the night nurse supervisor. She provided compassionate and attentive care to elderly persons. She also was involved all her life with caring for children in her neighborhood, her beloved pets, and even wild animals in the area, in particular near her cabin in Vernon, where she spent her later years. Mary Ellen was a faithful member of Guilford Community Church for many years and ran a program there providing meals for shut-ins as well as preparing church community meals. She was predeceased by her parents, and her brother, Theodore Koehler Jr. She is survived by her partner of 25 years, Barry Levitt; her good friend, Faith Jobin; her nieces Marcia Johnson and Sherrie Schallack; her nephew Scott Corliss, her great-niece Sarah Corliss, and great-nephews Jeremy Johnson and Brett Nemeth. Memorial information: There will be a graveside service on Saturday, June 7, at Pine Grove Cemetery in Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire. For more information, contact Guilford Community Church at 802-257-2776. Donations to Guilford Community Church, 38 Church Rd., Guilford, VT 05301.
• Sula Jane Rowell Rowe, 83, of Brattleboro. Died on April 2, 2025, survived by her husband of 65 years, Douglas Rowe of Brattleboro, daughter Jennifer Rowe and her husband Robert Buckley of Brattleboro; daughter Stephanie Rowe and her husband Lawrence Amrose, of Tempe, Arizona; and granddaughter Helen Rowe, of Alameda, California. Over the course of her long life, Sula was a horseback rider, a librarian, a teacher, a photographer, a painter; a framer of fine art and owner of The Frame Shop in Silver City, New Mexico; a writer, a genealogist, and an adventurous spirit, as well as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, and granddaughter. She loved fabrics, books, animals, wide-open spaces, and baseball. She had an ear-to-ear grin that made everyone around her smile. She will be sorely missed and long cherished in memory by those who knew and loved her. Sula, born on Dec. 28, 1941, grew up in Wells River, Vermont, the daughter of Lewis Wilder Rowell and Dorothy Jane Mansfield Rowell. She married and raised her family in her childhood home. She and Doug later settled in Silver City, New Mexico, and Sunsites and Tempe, Arizona, before making their home in Brattleboro. Sula graduated from Wells River High School and earned degrees from the University of Vermont and Boston University. She was predeceased by her parents; her brother, Reginald Rowell; and her sister, Norma Jean Noble. Memorial information: A graveside service will be held at the Wells River Cemetery on Friday, May 9, at 11 a.m. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• John J. Waite, 77, of Stratton. Died at his home on April 4, 2025. John was born in Katonah, New York, the son of Asahel Miles Waite and Katherine Marotta Waite. He grew up in Weston and attended Weston Village School and Burr & Burton Academy, and graduated from New England College with a degree in economics. John (aka Johnny, Bubba, Waiteless, JDub, Peapa) was larger than life, spirited, and adventurous. He loved to garden, ski, hunt, fish, hike, and golf, and get into good trouble with his lifelong friends. Not long after college, he took a cross country road trip in his Saab that he rebuilt and painted purple. He worked as a line cook at Marshall Tavern on the Northern California coast and got to see up-and-coming musicians like Joan Baez and Neil Young; experienced card dealing and casinos with his cousin in Reno, Nevada; and rescued his beloved white German Shepard-mix, Snowball. Back in Vermont, John pursued his passions of skiing and real estate. He was a ski instructor and racing coach at Stratton Mountain, instilling confidence and leaving lasting memories of fun with his "3s and 4s" and "Hopefuls." He sold real estate with his brother, later starting his own business, which also included building homes. He loved walking the land, researching its history, checking the soil, finding the best views, and conceptualizing the build. John met Linda when she was visiting her college friends in 1980; there was a party, cassette tapes, scotch, a wood stove … and the rest is history. He became an instant stepfather to Linda's three young children: Jay, Glenna, and Kevin; and jumped into that job feet first and with so much love. He and Linda had two sons, Ace and Sam. They were his world; he loved them fiercely and was so proud to teach them all he knew and to learn from them when they became adults. The family lived in South Londonderry until 2000, when they moved to another beautiful home that John built in Stratton. As a Stratton resident with businesses in Bondville, John spent his free time on his above mentioned hobbies; served on the board of the Stratton Foundation; volunteered with the Stratton Volunteer Fire Company, serving as president for many years; and was the Town Agent for Stratton. John is survived by his wife, Linda Waite of Stratton; children Asahel J. Waite and Samuel R. Waite, both of Stratton, Kevin McMahon of West Hollywood, California, Glenna McMahon of Encinitas, California, and J.P. "Jay" McMahon and Carrie, of Marina del Rey, California; and his grandchild, Castle McMahon. He is also survived by his brother's family. He was preceded in death by his brother, Robert "Bobby" Waite. Memorial information: A funeral service and celebration of life will be held in late spring or early summer. Donations to the Stratton Mountain Volunteer Fire Company or the Mountain Valley Health Center. To send condolences, visit sheafuneralhomes.com.
Services
• Graveside committal services with military honors for Dwight Everett Blossom will take place in Pine Grove Cemetery on Friday, April 25, at 11 a.m. Mr. Blossom, a lifelong resident of Hinsdale, New Hampshire, died Dec. 29, 2024, at the VA Medical Center in White River Junction. To view his full obituary and offer condolences to the family, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Graveside committal services with military honors for Alfred W. Franklin Sr. will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 21, in Baker Cemetery in Guilford. Mr. Franklin, 89, a lifelong resident of Guilford, died Jan. 18, 2025, at Rutland Regional Medical Center following a period of declining health. To view his full obituary and offer condolences to the family, visit atamaniuk.com.
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