Milestones

Obituaries

• Douglas Philip Burnett, 84, of West Brattleboro. Died peacefully, surrounded by family, on Sept. 15, 2025. Douglas was born Jan. 1, 1941, in Brattleboro to Philip and Irene Burnett of Hinsdale, New Hampshire. He served in the Air Force and received an honorable discharge. Douglas was an avid hunter, trout fisherman, and golfer. He made amazing memories with family and friends while fishing Harriman Reservoir. He was predeceased by his sister, Lois Adams of Hinsdale. Douglas is survived by his brother Bradley C. Burnett of Hinsdale, and many nieces and nephews. Memorial information: To view Douglas's online tribute, send condolences, or for more information, visit csnh.com.

• Jacqueline Rena "Jackie" Gould, 72, of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, formerly of Brattleboro. Died, surrounded by family and loved ones, on July 26, 2025, at the Hospice Unit at St. Vincent's Hospital in Jacksonville. She fought the good fight against colon cancer and faced, with amazing optimism, grace, and resilience, insurmountable challenges and obstacles. Jackie was born Sept 14, 1952, to the late Florence (née Abelowitz) and Sheldon Gould in Elmont, New York, and grew up a few blocks from Belmont Racetrack. Early on, she became a gifted artist and an accomplished student. She attended Elmont Memorial High School, excelling in both art and academics. Even in high school, she developed a commitment to social justice and equality that remained a guiding principle throughout her life. She attended Cornell University, studying education, environmental sciences, art, and nutrition. Her years in Ithaca were formative, deepening her commitment to social change and political activism. Following college, Jackie moved to San Francisco, where she taught science at the Exploratorium and facilitated classes at the People's Law Center. She lived in the Mission District and navigated the hills and winding streets of San Francisco on a motorcycle. She developed an eclectic collection of friends and friendships that would last throughout her life. Jackie nurtured her relationships like she did her gardens. She returned to the East Coast in 1977, moving to Brattleboro. She studied environmental education at Antioch College in Keene, New Hampshire, where she met Chris O'Brien and married. She went on to teach at Gill Elementary School in Greenfield, Massachusetts. She became a Master Gardener - her vegetable and flower gardens legendary amongst her friends and the Brattleboro community. She had her daughter Sara and her son Zev, the loves of her life. They were born and raised in Brattleboro, both of them becoming foundations and pillars of the local community but later finding their own communities - Sara in Jacksonville Beach, Zev in Denver, Colorado. In 2016, Jackie moved to Florida to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren Molli and Braxton. She very quickly found her niche - volunteering at the BEAM, a thrift store serving the Beaches area, and teaching Sunday school at the Beth El Beaches Synagogue. Some say, "You can make new friends, but you can't make old friends," but somehow Jackie was able to make new friends on a deep and joyful level and surround herself with love and commitment. In the fall of 2023, Jackie was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Her initial course was challenging, but despite this she traveled the country and the world to see her friends and family, somehow putting her own health challenges and concerns aside, and sharing joy and dance and love with those she loved and strangers she met. In January, Jackie unfortunately began experiencing symptoms and cataclysmic setbacks that were later discovered to be due to recurrence of her cancer. Despite all of this, she visited her son and 2-year-old twin granddaughters in Denver. To her family and friends Jackie was a life force - foundational to their world and universe and beacon of light and laughter and knowledge and wisdom for those who had the good fortune to cross her path on their journey. May she rest in peace, yehi zichra baruch, (may her memory be a blessing). Jackie is survived by her daughter Sara Marvin and her husband Malcolm and grandchildren Molli and Braxton; her son Zev O'Brien and his wife Melissa and grandchildren Mazie and Makenzie; her brother Bruce Gould, his wife Lisa and nieces Taryn Teninbaum and Rachel Peacock and nephew Zachary Gould and their families. Memorial information: A funeral was held July 30 at Beth El Beaches Synagogue in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. She was buried at the Beth El Beaches Synagogue section of the Ponte Vedra Valley Cemetery. Donations to the Education Fund at Beth El Beaches Synagogue at us.rakefetonline.com.

• Michael R. Henry, 76, of Brattleboro. Died peacefully, holding the hands of his family, on September 15, 2025, at his home. The longtime owner of the former Steak Out restaurant in Brattleboro, he is survived by his wife of 49 years, Elizabeth "Betty" (McGrath) Henry; his children, Colleen, Sean, and Brendan; his son-in-law, Anil Soni; his grandchildren, Rohan and Ava; his sister, Patricia Stans; his brother-in-law, Chip Stans; and his dear cousin, Fred Rieder, and Fred's wife, Mary. He also leaves behind his sisters-in-law, Judith Cunningham and Kathleen McGrath; their partners, Robert Cunningham and Edward Murrin; and many nieces and nephews. Michael was born Feb. 17, 1949, in St. Albans, New York, and raised on Long Island. He excelled in lacrosse, setting numerous high school and college records. At the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, he earned a bachelor's degree in business, discovered a passion for the outdoors, forged lifelong friendships, and met Betty, the love of his life. For nearly 30 years, he ran the Steak Out- first as manager, then as owner - employing hundreds, serving thousands, and creating laughter and lasting memories for all who passed through its doors. Under his watch, the Steak Out became more than a restaurant - it was a community hub where people celebrated special occasions, marked milestones, loved, and mourned, and laughed together. For his devoted employees, it was a place to learn and grow, make new friends, and sometimes fall in love. Michael was known for his quick wit, epic Christmas Eve parties, and festive Fourth of July gatherings. An optimist, a dreamer, and an engaging conversationalist, he loved live music, talking to strangers, and traveling the world. He took great pride in restoring his old house and lit up when passersby commented on the beautiful home and yard he meticulously maintained. In midlife, he and Betty took up sailing and spent decades entertaining friends aboard their boat, the Alvilda Mae (named for their mothers), first at Point Bay Marina in Charlotte, Vermont, and later at City Marina in Charleston, South Carolina. He loved few things more than standing at the helm, gazing out over the open water, and feeling the wind blow through his hair. Michael was a loving, proud father and a delightfully silly grandfather, adored by his children and grandchildren. He loved life deeply and fought to stay with us as long as he could. He will be deeply missed and always held in our hearts. Memorial information: A service celebrating Michael's life was held Sept. 20 at First Congregational Church of West Brattleboro. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Michael's memory to the Heart and Vascular Center Fund at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, or to Brigid's Kitchen in Brattleboro. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.

• June Mildred (Beam) Powers, 76, died peacefully Sept. 12, 2025, at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. June was born Dec. 11, 1948, in Brattleboro to the late Clarence and Leone (Powling) Beam. She was the wife of Chester Powers. They were married Sept. 28, 1968, in Marlboro. June attended and graduated from Brattleboro Union High School in 1966. June was a stay-at-home mom of her seven children until the youngest was five. Then, she went to work on Westminster Farms and later got her Licensed Nursing Assistant certification. She worked at Pine Heights (formerly Eden Park) and later Thompson House Nursing Home, which she retired from in 2011. When not working, June enjoyed taking care of her goats and dog, shopping, crocheting, sewing, and playing Bingo. June enjoyed being around her family and her animals. June is survived and will be missed by her husband, her four sons Jeff (Jen), Kevin, Jason, and Scott Powers; her three daughters Audrey Deitz, June Howarth (Tom), and Leone Powers; and 21 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. June is also survived by her brother, Percy Beam. Memorial information: A graveside funeral service was held on Sept. 22 at South Newfane Cemetery. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To offer condolences, visit phaneuf.net.

• Henriette Maria van Oord Swarts, 94, of Bellows Falls. Died September 11, 2025, at Maplewood Nursing Home in Westmoreland, New Hampshire. She was born to Marius and Wilhelmina (Segers) van Oord, on Sept. 22, 1930, in Werkendam, Holland. She married Michiel Swarts of Groningen, Holland on May 29, 1952. A longtime resident of the area, Henriette was an exceptionally active member of the community since her family's arrival more than 60 years ago. Originally from the Netherlands, the Swarts family, including husband, Michiel, and children, Hans, Helma, Trudy, and Micheline, settled in Bellows Falls in 1962. It wasn't long before Henriette became a volunteer, collecting money door-to-door to build the town pool. By 1964, she became the local chairman for the Fresh Air Fund, a nonprofit organization based in New York City that brought city kids to the country for a couple of weeks each year. She volunteered for them, eventually becoming the Windham County fund representative, until 1991. In 1969, Henriette became an American citizen and thereafter became an active member of the local Democratic Party Committee, serving at times as a poll worker and a campaigner. She served as a Justice of the Peace and later was appointed to serve as a member of the Vermont Dental Board. In the early 1970s, Henriette owned and operated Henriette's Gift Shop located on the Square in Bellows Falls and memorable for its interesting window displays and its yellow bags with the bright green dandelion logo. With the arrival of her first grandchild, Jurrien, in 1976, she started a new career as a childcare provider, which soon earned her the moniker "Oma" (Dutch for grandma). For the next 30 years, Oma helped raise over 70 local children, including seven of her nine grandchildren. Often she cared for them from infancy to kindergarten age, and many of them continued to spend school holidays and vacations with Oma as well. Henriette, herself a cancer survivor, reached out to countless community members by helping to raise money for the American Cancer Association and the American Red Cross and serving as a hospice volunteer for several years. She also become known for her generous donations of exquisitely baked cookies, almond-filled tarts, cheesecakes, and pound cakes to friends, neighbors, deployed troops, her church, and even as a "thank you" to the town road crews who kept her sidewalks cleared in the winter as well. Henriette is survived by her sons, Hans and Jurrien Swarts; daughters, Helma Holton (Joe), Trudy Byington (Rob), and Micheline Canty (Chris); and nine grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Memorial information: A private graveside service was held Sept. 14 at New Westminster Cemetery. Donations to North Star Health, Attn: Charitable Gifts, 100 River St., Springfield, VT 05156.

• Beverly Ann "Bev" Wyckoff, 81, of Brattleboro. Died Sept. 12, 2025 at Pine Heights Nursing Home, following an extended period of declining health. Bev was born in Brattleboro on Sept. 29, 1943, the daughter of Bernard and Alice (Hanley) Benjamin. Raised and educated in Brattleboro, she attended St. Michael's Parochial School and graduated from St. Michael's High School with the Class of 1961. On Sept. 1, 1962, at St. Michael's Catholic Church, she married Ronald Wyckoff, who predeceased her in May 2014. She worked her entire career as a registry clerk at the Holstein Association, starting her employment on Jan. 19, 1977. Bev retired Aug. 31, 2005, following 28 dedicated and faithful years with the Association. A lifelong Catholic, she was a communicant at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church. Bev enjoyed gardening, camping, knitting, and time shared with her family. She will be remembered for her pleasant and fun-loving personality. Survivors include one son, David Wyckoff (Sandy) of Brattleboro; two daughters, Deanna Fletcher (Brent) of West Chesterfield, New Hampshire, and Donna Lawry (Charles) of Bedford, Massachusetts; nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a daughter, Monica Wyckoff, in 1991, and a sister, Suzanne Zumbruski, in 2015. Memorial information: A funeral Mass will be held Saturday, Sept. 27, at 11 a.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Church with committal rites and burial to follow in Meeting House Hill Cemetery on Orchard Street. Donations to the Pine Heights Nursing Home Activities Fund, 187 Oak Grove Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.

This Milestones item was submitted to The Commons.