College news
• Jonathan Griffin, a business administration major from West Townshend, graduated Magna Cum Laude from Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. Griffin was named to the spring 2025 President's List and was also hired in April, before his graduation, to be an administrative innkeeper at the Windham Hill Inn in West Townshend.
• Rei Kimura of Brattleboro was named to the spring 2025 Dean's List at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.
• Makenna Milbauer of Grafton was named a winter 2024 Chancellor's List honoree at the University of South Carolina at Beaufort.
• Forrest Brooke-deBock, Charlie Slicer, Ashleigh Vanleeuwen, and Caitlin Haumann, all of Brattleboro; John King of Grafton, and Alejandra Morcillo Franco of Bellows Falls were all named to Southern New Hampshire University's (SNHU) spring 2025 President's List. Arnold Clarke of Vernon was named to SNHU's spring 2025 Dean's List.
• Jesse Peter Dykes of West Wardsboro, a senior majoring in data science, was named a Presidential Scholar for the spring 2025 semester at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York.
• Kali Taylor of Brattleboro was named to the spring 2025 Dean's List at Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts.
Transitions
• The new Worshipful Master for Brattleboro Lodge #102 of the Free and Accepted Masons is Jon Buckley of Hinsdale, New Hampshire. Buckley graduated from Hinsdale High School in 2013, and works for Lactalis US in Brattleboro, which produces yogurt and other related products. He is also an active amateur ham radio operator and belongs to the CCDX Radio Club of Marlborough, New Hampshire.
Obituaries
• William Roy "Bill" Bates, 79, of Westminster. Died at home on May 11, 2025, surrounded by those that loved him. He was born on Nov. 15, 1945, in Bellows Falls to the late Floyd and Arlene (Davis). He attended schools in Bellows Falls and graduated from high school in 1964. Bill worked for 33 years for Green Mountain Power, retiring as a head lineman. After retirement, he spent his time working as a school bus driver and carpenter. Bill married Teresa "Terri" Gaspardino on Sept. 9, 1967. After marriage, they moved to Westminster, where they raised their family. Bill leaves behind his beloved wife, Terri; his children Jodi (Joshua) Lemieux, Jeremy (Kimberly) Bates, Jessica (Jeffrey Sholes) Bates, and Jennifer (Timothy) Wyman; and siblings Lorraine Yates and Robert Bates. Bill is also survived by his six grandchildren and many more friends, in-laws, and nieces and nephews. Bill always made time for his family. It was not unheard of to find him with his brothers in-law, Alan ("Gaspar") or Fred. They could regularly be found going to breakfast, or lunch, stacking wood or running to fix someone's house. Bill loved to chat with anyone and everyone he ran into. In his spare time, he could be found spending time with family, helping others, doing carpentry and woodworking projects, working on cars and taking care of his treasured dogs. Memorial information: A funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, May 31, at 11 a.m. at St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls, followed by burial at St. Peter's Cemetery in Drewsville, New Hampshire. Donations to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital (stjude.org).
• George S. Bevis, 95, of East Dummerston. Died on May 18, 2025, in the presence of family, after a time of declining heath. George, better known as Steve, was born June 18, 1929, in Chesterfield, New Hampshire, to Shirley G. and Esther (Darling) Bevis. He was a graduate of Brattleboro High School, Class of 1948. He lived in Chesterfield and Hinsdale, as well as Brattleboro and East Dummerston. Steve started and ended his working career at D&D Service Center in Brattleboro. His employment at the Esso station started at the age of 15 and lasted until his high school graduation, when he enlisted in the Marine Corps unbeknownst to his family. He entered the Marine Corps on Oct. 20, 1948, and proudly served just shy of four years during the Korean Conflict and was honorably discharged on June 1, 1952, at the rank of staff sergeant. Steve returned to Brattleboro and the Esso station. Over the years, he worked as an attendant, mechanic, manager and then co-owner until its sale in 1985 to the state of Vermont for a new Windham County courthouse. Upon his retirement, he enjoyed helping others. Whether it was to drive them to an appointment, pick up medicine, snow blow driveways or pick something up at the local store; it didn't matter to him; he was happy to help. An avid animal lover, he was always with a dog. The last dog he had at D&D was his beloved Penny, a Doberman Pinscher, while the last dog he had at home was Danny Boy, a Lhasa Apso. He was a life member of American Legion Post 5 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1034. He is survived by his daughters, Tani (James) Wallace of Summerfield, Florida, Wendy Pritting (David Bristol) of Dummerston, Darcy Emery (Jock Harvey) of Andover, and Bridget (Randy) Bokum of East Dummerston; sons, Steven (Jay) Bevis of Harmony, Maine, and Michael Bevis of Glover; as well as 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren (with one more on the way). He was preceded in death by his brothers Chester, Harry, and David Bevis; both his sisters, Dorothea Temple and Ann Lavalla; as well as two grandsons, Connor and Aaron Clough. Memorial information: In keeping with his wishes, graveside committal services with military honors will be conducted on Saturday, May 31, at 10 a.m. in the family plot in Chesterfield West Cemetery on Poor Road. A social gathering will follow at the VFW, 1034 Black Mountain Rd., Brattleboro. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302 (windhamcountyhumane.org). To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Mary Catherine Bene, 76, of Guilford, formerly of Brattleboro. Died unexpectedly on May 9, 2025. Mary was born in Jamaica Plain, Massachustts, to the late Isabelle and W. Francis Bene. She graduated in 1966 from Holy Cross Academy in Brookline, Massachusetts and, in 1970, from Emmanuel College in Boston. Mary worked until recently as a mental health and crisis counselor in Brattleboro. Mary is survived by her sisters, Carol Stringer and Alice Kociemba, both of North Falmouth, Massachusetts; her sister-in-law, Cynthia Bene of Lynn, Massachusetts; and numerous nieces and nephews. Her brothers, Edward J. Bene and William F. Bene, predeceased her. Active in the progressive wing of the Vermont Democratic Party, Mary was passionate about social justice, food justice, and the equitable treatment of the marginalized and disadvantaged. In addition to being on the board of directors of the Brattleboro Food Co-op, Mary visited Haiti and sponsored an orphaned Haitian child. As a long-distance runner, she raised donations for autism education and research at the New England Center for Children. And anyone acquainted with Mary knew that she was an avid Boston sports fan, loyal to the city's teams through all their ups and downs. Memorial information: A graveside service will be held at St. Joseph's Cemetery in West Roxbury, Massachustts, on Saturday, June 7, at 11:30 a.m. A celebration of her life will be held in Vermont at a later date. Donations to Belonging to Each Other, P.O. Box 343, Falmouth, MA 02541, or to the New England Center for Children, 33 Turnpike Rd., Southborough, MA 01772.
• Steven Mark K-Brooks, 79, of Brattleboro. Died at home on April 28, 2025, from complications of congestive heart failure. He was born on May 29, 1945, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Jessica Pildes and Stanton Brooks. Steve spent his very early years in Brooklyn, and the family moved to Bayside, Queens, in 1953. He attended Queens College, majoring in psychology. In 1973, he married the late Carol Korenthal, residing mostly in Buffalo, New York. On Thanksgiving Day 1984, he and Donna Faith Kreiner were married at the former Peace House on Birge Street in Brattleboro. When Steve was born, a jockey named Steve Brooks was scheduled to ride in the Kentucky Derby. His father, though tempted by fate, declined to place a bet. As it happened, Steve Brooks (the jockey) won the Derby four years later. Steve loved this story. To him, it summed up the low expectations he faced growing up - and how he quietly exceeded them, often on his own terms. When he raised his own son, he always made sure that he knew that he believed in him. He was also proud to have helped thrust Vermont's battle against what he believed was the misuse of eminent domain into the national conversation, particularly after the publication of his guest column, "Shop Talk at 30: Scrutinizing Press Coverage of an Issue in Vermont" (Editor & Publisher, Sept. 23, 1989), relating to protests against the proposed Champlain natural gas pipeline. The piece brought broader attention to what he saw as an unconstitutional trend of using eminent domain for private profit, and it was cited by several journalists soon after. Steve's writing made waves in other areas too. According to noted author and animal rights advocate Jim Mason, Steve's "seminal" article on animal rights spurred a fourfold increase in media coverage on the topic. But what Steve was most proud of took place in his own Clark-Canal neighborhood. He wrote: "You start off meaning to change the world in some momentous way. Eventually - if you're lucky - life teaches you that making a lasting difference right in your neighborhood is more than enough. Every time I sat on my porch and heard the laughter of children ringing out from the once-abandoned playground nearby, I felt a quiet joy - I'd helped turn a forgotten lot into a space full of life. If you remember me for anything, let it be that-that I did something real for the children of my neighborhood." Steve was also dedicated to representing homebuyers, working as a Realtor from 1993 until shortly before his death. He founded Brattleboro Buyer Brokerage Real Estate in 1996, becoming the first exclusive buyer's broker in Vermont, and previously worked with Stepping Stone Real Estate and Martocci & Henry. Before that, he served as assistant to the librarian at Editor & Publisher. He was also an amazing cook and baker who rarely used a recipe, and was especially appreciated for his all natural, sugar-free, grain-free birthday cakes and delicious cookies. In his lifetime, Steve continued the impassioned legacy of local justice-seekers like Guido Condosta and Peter Diamondstone, offering extensive support to many. He wrote, he argued, he blogged (blog88.com) and he cared. A lot. Steve leaves behind his wife of 41 years, Donna K-Brooks; his son, Leif K-Brooks, and Leif's girlfriend, Jessica Redekop; his dog, Chispita; his brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Laurel Brooks; his sister and brother-in-law, Lora and Ralph Frisch; niece, Pam Gill and her partner, Sod; nephews Russell, Joshua, and Jason Brooks, and their partners, Catina and Adriana; as well as great-nieces and nephews: Evan, Kyle, Cordelia, James, Elora, and Eowyn; and special friends, including Mark Laurence, Rosa Guerra, and David Dias. He was predeceased in 1985 by his stillborn daughter, Ember K-Brooks. Steve was also proud and delighted to have helped raise two daughters in a previous marriage: Grace Shippens Scott and Eve Shippens. As his son, Leif, wrote on blog88.com, Steve wanted to form a genuine connection with everyone. He loved jokes because if he could make someone laugh, he knew he had touched their soul - at least a little bit. Memorial information: A memorial gathering is gradually being planned for late summer or early fall. Stay tuned for further details, or contact Donna at [email protected]. Donations in Steve's memory can be made to The Commons, The Center for Solace (formerly Brattleboro Area Hospice), or Brattleboro Time Trade.
• Nancy Jean Buckley-Howard, 70, of Brattleboro. Died peacefully on May 21, 2025 at the Jack Byrne Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire after a courageous battle with COPD and other health complications. Nancy was born in Brattleboro on Oct. 19, 1954, the daughter of Fred and Marion (Crosier) Watson. She grew up on Cotton Mill Hill, attending Oak Grove School, and graduated from Brattleboro Union High School with the Class of 1972. She went on to attend Keene Beauty Academy (1972–1973), and later attended Community College of Vermont. Nancy was a licensed hair dresser and cosmetologist working in the profession for a few years. She later drove for Brattleboro Taxi, worked as deli clerk at Tony's Market (Gouger's) on Canal Street and, for 20 years, was facility steward at VFW Post 1034. She also worked in the business office at Early Education Services in Brattleboro. Active civically and fraternally, her memberships included VFW Auxiliary Carl M. Dessaint Post #1034, Department of Vermont VFW Past President's Club, VFW National Home Association, American Legion Post 5 Auxiliary, Department of Vermont American Legion Auxiliary Past Presidents Club, Marine Corps League Auxiliary #798, and Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary #15. She also was a former member of the Ladies Oriental Shrine, Nile Court #94, and was a member of the National Rifle Association, NRA Golden Eagles, and was an NRA Millennium member. She enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing cards, listening to country & western music, and time shared with her family. She was first married to George H. Buckley Jr. in Brattleboro on May 17, 1975. He predeceased her on June 8, 1992. She later married Harvey F. Howard, who died on Jan. 29, 2016. Survivors include one daughter, Gail Buckley (Rob) of Winchester, New Hampshire.; one son, Eric Buckley (Jennifer) of Brattleboro; six stepsons, Steven, Warren, Bruce and Glenn Buckley, and Tyson and Joseph Howard; one sister, Susan Mayotte (Chuck); more than 20 grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was predeceased by a daughter, Ginger Buckley, a stepdaughter, Lisa Howard Brothers, and a stepson Wayne Buckley. Memorial information: Graveside committal services in the family lot in Christ Church Cemetery in Guilford will be conducted Sunday, June 1, at 2 p.m. A celebration of Nancy's life will follow at VFW Post 1034 on Black Mountain Road from 3 to 6 p.m. Donations to VFW Auxiliary Cancer Research Fund, in care of Charlotte Martin, P.O. Box 8233, North Brattleboro, VT 05304, or to Atamaniuk Funeral Home, 40 Terrace St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, to help with the funeral costs. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• The Rev. Francis Edward Connors, 85, formerly of Brattleboro. Died peacefully on May 7, 2025, at Elderwood of Burlington. A native of Brattleboro, he was born on June 21, 1939, the son of William G. and Bernice M. (Smith) Connors. He received his early education in Brattleboro attending St. Michael's Parochial School and graduating from Brattleboro High School. He went on to attend the Bentley School of Accounting in Boston. He enlisted in the Navy in 1961 and the majority of his tour was in logistics for Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica. Upon his honorable discharge from active service, he returned home and entered the Seminary at St. John Vianney in Barre, from 1964–1967. Fr. Connors later attended Seminary in Boston from 1967 to 1971. He was a theology graduate of Beda College in Rome, Italy, and upon his return to the states, was assigned to St. Mary's Catholic Church in Springfield, Vermont, as a deacon prior to becoming ordained as a priest on June 2, 1973. After ordination, Fr. Connors spent the next 51 years lovingly serving parishioners in Vermont with his first assignment at St. Augustine in Montpelier, 1973–1976. Fr. Connors' other parish assignments included: St. Mary's, Springfield, 1976–1980; Holy Cross, Mallets Bay, 1980–1981; St. James, Island Pond, 1981–1986; St. Anthony, Bethel, 1986–1990; CPE Training at Holy Family Hospital, Methuen, MA, 1990–1991; served as chaplain at UVM Medical Center, 1991–1999; St. Jude, Hinesburg, 1999–2000; St. Luke, Fairfax and Ascension, Georgia, 2000–2006; St. Michaels, Brattleboro, 2006–2008; St. James, Island Pond, 2008–2012; with his final assignment at St. Steven, Winooski, 2012–2015. Fr. Connors earned his senior priest status on July 1, 2015. He is an honorary perpetual member of the Knights of Columbus receiving his 4th degree in Brattleboro, Leo Assembly 1154. Fr. Connors was also a member of American Legion Post 80 in Island Pond. He is survived by two nephews, Mathew Patrick and his wife Ann, of Agawam, Massachusetts, and Timothy Patrick, of Springfield, Massachusetts; and his brother-in-law, William Patrick of Chicopee, Massachusetts. He was predeceased by his parents and two sisters, Judith Connors and a sister who died at birth. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on May 16 at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Brattleboro, followed by committal rites and burial with military honors in St. Michael's Parish Cemetery. Donations to the Priest Benefit Fund, in care of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington, 55 Joy Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Charles A. "Charlie" Dunn, 91, of East Dummerston. Died May 19, 2025, at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. He was born in Troy, Vermont, on April 28, 1934, the son of Earl and Regina (Prevey) Dunn. He attended school in Troy and Coventry, later serving his country in the Air Force during the Korean War. He worked for many years as a mail dispatcher for the U.S. Postal Service in Miami, Florida, and later in the Hartford, Connecticut, post office. Prior to moving back to Vermont, Charlie resided in Dayville and Putnam, Connecticut. A skilled arborist, for several years he pruned trees in Vermont, Connecticut, and New York state. Most recently he cut, split and delivered firewood from his home on Route 5, his business known by the locals as Firewood Man. At age 16, Charlie owned and operated his own taxicab business in Bellows Falls. He was a member of American Legion Post 5 and VFW Carl M. Dessaint Post 1034, where he was an active volunteer with Post 1034's Bingo program. He enjoyed cutting and stacking wood, puttering around his home, pruning his apple trees, and keeping a large vegetable garden. Country & western and bluegrass were his favorite music and he attended several concerts throughout the years. On July 21, 1979, at Whipple's Chapel in Ballouville, Connecticut, he married Thelma Hulett, who survives. Besides his faithful and loving wife of 45 years, he leaves two sons, Rodney and Thomas Dunn, both of Florida; two daughters, Brenda Dunn of Florida and Janice Dunn of Georgia; two stepdaughters, Cecile Fournier of Saxtons River and Bonny Lafayette-Haley of East Dummerston; two stepsons, Jesse Lafayette of Brattleboro and Ben Dencare of Keene, New Hampshre; and two grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by three brothers, Homer Dunn, Sr., Patrick Dunn, and Maney Dunn; a half-brother, Roland Sanda; a step-daughter, Juanita Haley; and a sister, Pearl Wheeler. Memorial information: Graveside committal services with military honors will be conducted Saturday, May 31, at 2 p.m. in West Hill Cemetery in Putney. Donations to the West Dummerston Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 40, West Dummerston, VT 05357. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Christine Ann Keller Guarente, 76, formerly of Townshend. Died May 15, 2025 in Bedford, New Hampshire, after a brief battle with cancer. An alumna of Laconia (N.H.) High School, Christine returned to school as an adult to complete her bachelor's degree in psychology at the University of New Hampshire in 1999, followed by a master's degree in counseling psychology at Antioch New England University in 2002. She went on to work as a counselor at Genesis Behavioral Health and Lakes Region Mental Health in Laconia, retiring in 2023. Christine was proud of the work she did restoring the 200-year-old home where she raised her children. She was well known as a baker and enjoyed making many pie flavors. She was an avid reader, keeping a stack of books handy to suit her mood. She enjoyed classical music and, in high school, was an all-state flutist two years in a row. She is survived by her sons, Dan and wife Julie of Merrimack, New Hampshire, Michael of Kerhonkson, New York, and Timothy and fiancée Katrina of Brattleboro; grandchildren Nicholas, Odin, Johanna, and Riker; and brothers Scott and Rick, and their families. She was predeceased by her parents, Seth and Peg; and a brother, David. Memorial information: Christine was a very private person and requested that there be no services after her death. In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation to fund cancer research or to your local hospice organization.
• Leo D. Howell, 82, of Bellows Falls. Died on May 10, 2025, at the Jack Byrne Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. Leo was born on Nov. 16, 1942, to the late William and Virginia (Mortensen) Howell. After graduating from high school, Leo attended Brigham Young University and was a member of the Elks Lodge #1619 and Polish American Club in Bellows Falls. He also enjoyed playing golf. Leo worked at Hubbard Farms for many years. On June 11, 1966, at St. Peter's Church in North Walpole, New Hampshire, Leo married Barbara (Griffin) Howell, who survives. Leo is also survived by his daughter, Heather Howell-Golder and grandchild, Finn Golder. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held May 17 at St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls, followed by burial at St. Peter's Cemetery in Drewsville, New Hampshire.
• Eric M. Kohler, 50, of Putney. Died suddenly on May 1, 2025, in Dummerston. Eric was born in Burlington to the late Andrew and Barbara (Potter) Kohler. Eric graduated from high school and attended college. Eric worked many years for the IT department at C&S Wholesale Grocers. Eric enjoyed Fantasy Football and online gaming. He enjoyed a variety of music genres with an extensive collection of vinyl LPs and CDs that he accumulated over the years. He even dabbled in playing the drums. Eric also spent many years playing softball in a local men's league. Eric is survived by his daughter, Chloe Kohler; his sisters, Randi LaFrance and Shirley Kohler; and brothers Leroy Hescock, Andrew Kohler, and Kurt Kohler, as well as many friends. Memorial information: A celebration of life will take place on Saturday, May 31, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Kiwanis Shelter on the top of Living Memorial Park in Brattleboro.
• John (Jack) Alden North, Jr. 93, of Brattleboro. Died peacefully on Feb. 9, 2025. Jack was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on April 30, 1931. He grew up in West Hartford and was a 1949 graduate of The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut, and a 1953 graduate of Trinity College in Hartford. At Trinity, he served as class president and was a proud member of Delta Psi (St. Anthony) fraternity. Jack married his first great love, Jean Elizabeth Pressley, in 1953 at Trinity College Chapel. They moved to Simsbury, Connecticut, in 1956, where they raised their three children, Jay, Sterling, and Susan. Jack and Jean lived in Simsbury until 1996, when they moved to Brattleboro. Their house on Ames Hill Road was originally a shed for storing apples, located in the middle of an old apple orchard. Many years before, Jack's father renovated the shed into a hunting camp. Jack and Jean then added on to the camp and built the home it is today, lovingly known as The Appleshed. Jack served two years in the Navy as a recruit instructor and history teacher at the Recruit Training Center in Bainbridge, Maryland, and aboard the USS Kearsarge during the Korean War. Jack was president and co-founder of Baker & North Inc., an advertising agency in Hartford, for 30 years. He was nationally recognized for dedication, leadership, and excellence in all aspects of advertising and public relations. He oversaw the business at the executive level and was also a copywriter, art director, graphic designer, illustrator, and salesman as well as a radio and television producer. He produced a popular television quiz show, What in the World?, on WTIC-TV that showcased local celebrities being asked their knowledge of world geography. Jack's strong commitment to his community led him to proudly serve as chair of the Easter Seals Society of Connecticut and as a past president of the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center of Greater Hartford. He was also a past President of the Greater Hartford Advertising Club. He was a trustee of the Connecticut River Watershed Council and served as director of the following: the Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Hartford, Child and Family Services of Connecticut, the Better Business Bureau of Greater Hartford, and the Connecticut Foundation for Independent Schools. Jack was named Simsbury's Outstanding Young Man of the Year in 1963 and a Simsbury Hometown Hero in 1994. He was a charter member of the Farmington Valley Junior Chamber of Commerce. Jack proudly served as a member and chair of the Simsbury Zoning Board of Appeals for 25 years. He was elected to the Simsbury Board of Tax Review and was a volunteer voting poll checker in the town for 20 years. In Vermont, Jack continued his volunteer work as a trustee and past president of the Ames Hill-Marlboro Community Center and as chair of the trustees and deacons of the Marlboro Meeting House. He served as vice president and director of Camp Waubanong (now known as Camp W), and truly enjoyed his tenure as chair of the board of the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum. As an avid fly fisherman, Jack always looked forward to his annual excursions to the Allagash in Maine to catch a few "brookies." An angling highlight he thoroughly enjoyed was an adventure in Ireland with his son-in-law, fly fishing for wild salmon, while standing on the banks of the famous River Moy in the middle of the Town of Ballina, County Mayo. Jack was an extraordinarily talented gardener and for many years his large, prolific garden produced the most beautiful, delicious vegetables and sublime flowers (especially multi-colored gladiolus) anyone could imagine. An accomplished golfer, sporting a 2 handicap at one time, Jack was proud of shooting a 77 at Brattleboro Country Club, (where he was a member for many years) at the age of 82, 5 shots under his age. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, John Alden North Sr. and Lorene H. North. His wife of 47 years, Jean P. North, died suddenly in 2000. He lost his second great love, Ruth C. White, who died in 2017, with whom he played golf in Vermont and around the country. Jack and Ruth joyfully traveled the world, sharing adventures and happiness for 17 wonderful years. Most recently, Jack's beloved son, Sterling Alden North, died in 2022. Jack is survived by two children, John (Jay) Alden North III and Susan Alden Flynn, her husband, Shane Flynn, and their two children, Jack Conor Alden Flynn and Grace Catherine Alden Flynn. He leaves Sterling's family, his wife Regina North and their twin daughters, Victoria Alden Knight and Priscilla Alden Bolton; Victoria's husband, Taylor Knight, and their children, Esme Alden Knight, Atticus Sterling Knight, and Fletcher Taylor Knight, and Priscilla's husband Daniel Bolton and their daughter Marigold (Goldie) Alden Bolton. Jack leaves an close extended family of Ruth White's daughter, Sally White, her son Justin White-Chandler, his wife, Jennifer White-Chandler, and their son, Larsen Arne White-Chandler. He also leaves a cherished niece and nephews (Everitt/Wittmann) and their families, as well as the most incredibly kind, caring neighbors and friends on Ames Hill Road and beyond. Jack was a true people person who appreciated old and new friends, charming them with his wit, wisdom and fantastic sense of humor, because he loved to laugh and make others laugh. "He was a joy to know, a pleasure to meet and a treasure to love." Memorial information: A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 14, at the Marlboro Meeting House, 524 South Road. A reception follows the service. Burial will be private. Donations to Marlboro Meeting House, P.O. Box 67, Marlboro, VT 05344. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Carolyn Sullivan Pieciak, 79, of Brattleboro. Died peacefully on May 20, 2025, surrounded by family and loved ones, at the Jack Byrne Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, after a year-long battle with lung cancer. Born on Dec. 18, 1945, in Springfield, Massachusetts, Carolyn was the daughter of the late John R. and Mary S. Sullivan Sr., and grew up with her older sister, Maureen, and younger brother, Jack, in nearby West Springfield. Carolyn met the love of her life, Joseph S. Pieciak Jr., in 1962 after being set up on a blind date by her best friend, Maureen Doody O'Donnell. Carolyn and Joe married on June 12, 1965, West Springfield, and began their family shortly thereafter. Their daughter Jennifer was born in 1970, daughter Elizabeth in 1975, and son Michael in 1983. Carolyn and Joe moved to Brattleboro in 1970. They were welcomed to the Vermont community with open arms and formed a deep love for the town and its people. Carolyn was not only the heart of the Pieciak family but also a thoughtful, kind "Mom" to many. At a young age, Carolyn was called to serve others, saying, "God wanted me to work with the poor." Deeply dedicated, she volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and Meals on Wheels. She and her husband served as United Way campaign co-presidents, and when she stepped down as leader of the Windham County Humane Society, he succeeded her in the post. Carolyn's biggest life passion was born on St. Patrick's Day 1982 when she helped open one of the region's largest soup kitchens, St. Brigid's Kitchen and Pantry in Brattleboro. At the time, Carolyn was head of the St. Michael's Catholic Church peace and justice committee, when the pastor noted a growing number of visitors requesting food. Carolyn, working with fellow volunteers, raised money and ordered, obtained, and cooked food at the church's former convent for four decades before retiring as director last year. Originally serving a few dozen people, St. Brigid's now provides more than 45,000 meals annually. To Carolyn, there were no strangers, only friends she hadn't yet met. True to her Irish spirit, she built a community with love, laughter, and unshakable loyalty. She had a heart big enough to hold the whole world and a circle of loved ones that just kept expanding. Whether it was traveling, spending time on the golf course, enjoying her garden club or celebrating at a friend's birthday lunch, Carolyn loved her friends, and they loved her. Carolyn was a lifelong learner of her faith. She attended Elms College in Chicopee, Massachusetts, and regularly participated in spiritual retreats throughout New England. Through these retreats and her ongoing personal spiritual journey, she sought not only to deepen her relationship with God but also to grow and improve herself as a person. Her devotion to nurturing her faith was a cornerstone of her life, inspiring those around her to do the same. Carolyn's illness never dampened her spirit nor dimmed the light of love in her eyes. Her family grieves her loss but is comforted knowing she is at peace and in the arms of God. Carolyn leaves behind her husband of nearly 60 years, her two daughters, Elizabeth Lawyer and her husband, Travis, of Brattleboro, and Jennifer Rau of Chicopee, Massachusetts; her son, Michael Sullivan Pieciak and his husband, William Holder, of Winooski; siblings Maureen Sullivan-Iannitelli and her husband, Richard, of The Villages, Florida; and John R. Sullivan Jr. of Sweetwater, Tennessee; as well as numerous cousins, niece Megan Perrault and nephew David Iannitelli, and her pride-and-joy dog, Piper. Carolyn was lovingly known as "Yaya" to her four grandchildren, Nathaniel and Kelsey Rau and Michaela and Riley Lawyer, and to many honorary grandchildren, including Jamie Lynn Boudreau and Katie Costello. Memorial information: Calling hours will be held on Thursday, May 29, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Atamaniuk Funeral Home, 40 Terrace St. Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 30, at 1 p.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro, with burial immediately following at St. Michael's Cemetery. A celebration of life reception will take place at The Retreat Farm's North Barn. All who knew Carolyn and the Pieciak family are invited. Donations may be made to St. Brigid's Kitchen and Pantry, 47 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
This Milestones item was submitted to The Commons.