College news
• Corina Mitchell of Westminster West, Rese Mulkey of Stratton, and Ainerose Souza of Londonderry were named to the spring 2025 Dean's List at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island.
• Miles Ackerman-Hovis of Guilford has been named to Purchase (N.Y.) College's Dean's List for the spring 2025 semester.
• Anna Bloom of Brattleboro, Eben Wagner of Brattleboro, and Broden Walsh of Marlboro were named to the spring 2025 Dean's List at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts.
• Addison Kujovsky of South Londonderry has been named to the Dean's List at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York for the spring 2025 semester. A May graduate, Kujovsky majored in neuroscience at Hamilton.
School news
• The Brattleboro branch of the American Association of University Women has awarded scholarships to four area women. Sophia Albright of Brattleboro is a 2025 Brattleboro Union High School graduate who plans to attend Norwich University, with the possible goal of entering the field of law enforcement. Erika Favreau of Brattleboro, a 2024 BUHS graduate, attended Community College of Vermont and will enter the University of Tampa to prepare for a career as an orthodontist. She is currently a dental assistant in Brattleboro. Sierra Berrie of Townshend graduated from Leland & Grey Union High School in 2024 and has worked multiple roles at Newfane's Fat Crow restaurant. Now, she intends to formalize her culinary training at Johnson & Wales University. Since graduating from high school 26 years ago, Bethany Kriger of Brattleboro has worked at Boomerang and St. Michael's School and attended CCV. She is transferring in 2026 to the University of Vermont to study pre-law.
• The Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Auxiliary awarded three scholarships to local high school graduates who are pursuing careers in healthcare. This year's recipients are Olivia Maillet, graduate of Hinsdale High School, who will be attending Colby Sawyer College for nursing; Baylie Houle, graduate of Brattleboro Union High School, who will be attending Greenfield Community College for nursing; and Leah Lane, graduate of Brattleboro Union High School, who will be attending the Community College of Vermont next year, followed by Greenfield Community College's nursing program.
• The Wantastiquet Rotary Club of Londonderry has distributed scholarships to four deserving seniors attending Burr & Burton Academy and Long Trail School. The recipients - Cosby Lux, Charles Cry, Moriah Herbert, and Olavi Pajala have each received a $1,000 scholarship.
Obituaries
• Benjamin "Bub" Bell Jr., 68, of Guilford. Died at his home surrounded by family on July 17, 2025, due to a Covid-19 illness acquired in 2021. Benjamin was born in Brattleboro on July 16, 1957, son to Benjamin D. and Frances Bell. He attended kindergarten in Brattleboro before moving to New York, where he finished grade school and high school. He graduated from Fallsburg Central High School in 1975, where he played baseball and basketball. After high school, he worked many jobs in the Fallsburg area, from construction to driving trucks for Fallsburg Lumber. In 1980, he and his wife made the decision to move back to Vermont with their first son, settling in Guilford for the next 45 years, where his wife and two of his sons still reside. His youngest son moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 2007, and then moved with his wife to Houston, Texas, in 2013, where he, his wife and four children still reside. Benjamin worked in many of the same industry fields listed above during his career. His most prized position was held at Brockway-Smith in Hatfield, Massachusetts, where he put in more than 20 years of service and made many great friends. Of his many enjoyments and hobbies, Benjamin loved spending time with his three boys - whether it was collecting baseball cards or playing games (video and board), or having family barbecues for which he loved to smoke and grill the food. Benjamin also loved working beside his father in the garden at Ray's Farm Stand in the summer and, in the later years, at his dad's home garden as well as the family's nearly 4,000 tap maple sugaring operation. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Tammi Bell; their three boys, Duane "Tinker" Bell (Regina Hamel) of Guilford, Ryan Bell of Guilford, and Brett (Massielle) Bell of Rosharon, Texas; brothers Alexander Bell of Guilford and significant other Delia Perez of Guilford, Graham E. (Kelley) Bell, formerly of Dummerston and now of Jacksonville, Florida, Justin E. Bell (Jose Rodrigues), also of Jacksonville, and Scott (Crystal) Bell; grandchildren Allyssa Douglas, Caleb Douglas, Kasandra Bewsee (Anthony), Alana Bell, Thomas Bell, Jenna Bell, Aiden Bell, Corbin Bell, and twins Kenzie and Kooper Bell; a very special uncle and aunt, David and Donna Bell of Brattleboro; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, friends, three brothers-in-law, and one sister-in-law. He was predeceased by his parents, his paternal and maternal grandparents, a brother, Franklin Bell; and one brother-in-law. Memorial information: Services will be held at the West Brattleboro Baptist Church on Saturday, July 26, at 11 a.m., followed by a reception in the lower dining portion of the church. Donations to West Brattleboro Baptist Church, 979 Western Ave., West Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Derrik C. Hoitsma, Jr. (aka Derrik Jordan), 70, died peacefully at home, with his family present, from kidney failure on July 12, 2025. Derrik was an award-winning singer-songwriter, record producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist known for playing electric violin (notably a 5-string), guitar, piano, percussion, kalimba, and ngoni. His song, "Speak Through Me," from Expecting a Miracle, earned first place in the Gospel-Inspirational category (out of 32,000 entries) and second place overall in the 2004 USA Songwriting Competition. His reggae-influenced track. "Something's Gonna Change" won Reggae Song of the Year in 2002 from Just Plain Folks. He was also the creator, host, and producer of 171 episodes of "The World Fusion Show," a public-access TV series and podcast based in Brattleboro in which he interviewed and jammed with musicians from all over the world on different instruments. The show won Best Entertainment & Arts Series (2019) for public-access TV. It airs biweekly across 100 stations in 26 states, and is heard in over 50 countries. Born on an Air Force base in San Antonio, Texas, in 1955, Derrik grew up in Short Hills, New Jersey, with his parents, Joan and Derrik Hoitsma Sr. Joan remarried to Michael Bowman. Siblings are Jim Hoitsma, Lisa Hoitsma, Tom Hoitsma, Michael Bowman (now deceased) and Jonathan Bowman. Siblings Erica and Greg Hoitsma grew up in Remsenburg, New York, with Derrik Hoitsma Sr., who died in 2010. Derrik attended Milburn (N.J.) High School and then Bennington College, where he studied music composition with Henry Brant and Vivian Fine, and percussion with master drummer Milford Graves. After graduating from Bennington, Derrik lived briefly in New York where he met recording artist Angela Bofil who recorded his song, "Share Your Love." Derrik moved to Brattleboro in 1981. He commuted to New York for 10 years to collaborate with Lisa Sokolov, Lorraine Ferro, Last Poets founding director Abiodun Oyewole, Tantra Zawadi, Stephanie Lewis, Ann Curliss, Larry Collins, Jimmy Brelauer, Alvin Mack, Tommy Bailen, Eric Lawrence, and others. Derrik auditioned for jingles with his friend Sherman Foote, and was first runner-up for the lead vocal in the 1984 Olympics jingle for Snickers. He won the male lead in WNBC-TV's promotional campaign in 1983, "We're 4 New York." Derrik played in a succession of local bands, including the Stockwell Brothers, Cayenne, Spunk, and Simba, to which he contributed his original music. Derrik led the samba band called Samba Joy that marched in the Fourth of July parades in Brattleboro and Saxtons River. He also played in local wedding bands with Brian Bender and Al Alyessi. Derrik collaborated with many local musicians including Eugene Uman, Tony Vacca, Moonlight Davis, and Morning Star Chenven, Steve Leicash, Eugene Freisen, Gary Rosen, Jared Shapiro, Barry Hyman, Doug Morton, Doug Raneiri, and others. Derrik received a commission to write Odzihozo and the Lake, inspired by an Abenaki legend about the creation of Lake Champlain. The piece was performed by the Windham Symphony Orchestra with Hugh Keelan in 2006 as well as in numerous venues throughout the state. He also had a work commissioned and performed by the Sage City Symphony, and the Windham Orchestra commissioned and performed Windham Loops that featured the Impulse Ensemble: Derrik, Tony Vaca, and Jim Matus. A longtime artist on Worldsoul Records in Putney, he released several CDs, including Brazilliance - Everyone Loves Brazil, a double album featuring original sambas and bossa novas; Expecting a Miracle, co-produced with Tom "T-Bone" Wolk; Touch the Earth, a world-music, eco-themed concept album; and five solo SuperString Theory albums showcasing his electric violin in world-fusion contexts. More of his music can be found at derrikjordan.com. His musical style spanned Brazilian (samba, bossa nova), reggae, Afropop, salsa, funk, jazz, and world fusion. Derrik is survived by his wife, Marjorie Pivar; his sons Jasper Hoitsma and Jovi Federici; his daughter, Sheyna Hoitsma; his mother, Joan; and siblings Jim, Tom, Lisa, Jonathan, Erica, and Greg. Memorial information: None provided at this time.
• Geoffrey Edward Nichols, 90, of Brattleboro. Died peacefully in his home on July 10, 2025. Geoffrey was born in Boston on July 6, 1935, the son of Francis and Margaret Nichols, and was educated at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, receiving a B.S. in mechanical engineering and an M.B.A. He joined the Air Force when he was young and spent nearly a decade as an enlisted man flying weather missions out of Tokyo, Japan, into typhoons. He then was accepted into the officer training program and became a lieutenant, serving another 12 years. He was transferred to Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, where he worked in a rocket program, completing many missions. He eventually retired as a captain. He met his wife, Mary, at a Van Cliburn concert at the Hollywood Bowl. They later married and had one son, Matthew, and moved back to Vermont where Geoff was a businessman for a brief period of time before ultimately working at Vermont Yankee as an auxiliary operator. He had a second career through Vermont Yankee for another 20-plus years, before retiring again. In his free time, Geoff enjoyed playing music; he was in marching bands, playing drums and flute. He also enjoyed political fodder and had a passion for landscape and portrait photography. Geoffrey is survived by his devoted wife of 50 years, Mary; his loving son, Matthew and his wife Deirdre; and grandchildren Jackson, Archer, and the first daughter born to the Nichols family in more than 180 years, Mila. He will forever be missed and loved. Memorial information: Graveside committal services with military honors were conducted on July 16 in the family lot in Morningside Cemetery in Brattleboro. Donations to Brattleboro Fire Department EMS, 103 Elliot St., Brattleboro, VT 05301. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Rebecca Jean Pichette, 75, of Brattleboro. Died peacefully at Thompson House Nursing Home on July 11, 2025, following an extended period of declining health. She was born in Gouverneur, New York, on Nov. 7, 1949, the daughter of James and Lillian (Baskin) Ellis. At an early age, with her family, she moved to Hinsdale, New Hampshire, where she attended public schools and graduated from Hinsdale High School with the Class of 1967. Following high school, she went on to attend a two-year college in the Boston area. Rebecca was employed as a secretary at Central Vermont Public Service, from which she retired following 30 years of faithful service with the utility company. In her earlier years during the summer months, she worked at the former Georgia Pacific paper plant and The Book Press, both in Brattleboro. She enjoyed the outdoors, especially hiking, and was an avid reader. On Oct. 9, 1971, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro, she married to Joseph P. Pichette, who survives. Besides her husband of 53 years, she leaves several nieces and nephews. Rebecca was predeceased by her brother, James Ellis, and sister, Judith Ellis. Memorial information: Graveside committal services were conducted on July 19 at 10:30 a.m. in Christ Church Cemetery in the Algiers section of Guilford. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Ruth Gertrude (Williams) Putnam, 71, died at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, on June 23, 2025. Ruth was born on March 22, 1954, in Brattleboro to the late Allen Williams and Barbara (Leary) Blow. Ruth was a lifelong resident of the area, graduating from Brattleboro Union High School in 1973. Many will fondly remember Ruth from her years spent working at Guilford Central School and Vernon Elementary School. She also worked as a daycare provider, a switchboard operator at the Brattleboro Retreat, as a telephone operator for New England Telephone/NYNEX, at the H. Margolin handbag factory, and at her father's gas station as well. When not working, Ruth enjoyed being with her cats, knitting, crocheting, painting, cooking (especially fried green tomatoes), Bingo, trips to Swanzey Lake with her family, and visiting her friends. Ruth was a Life Member of VFW Carl M. Dessaint Post 1034. In addition to her parents, Ruth was predeceased by her sisters Valerie Williams and Vickie Williams. Ruth is survived and will be dearly missed by her ex-husband and lifelong friend Robert Putnam Sr. of Guilford, her son Robert Putnam Jr. of Brattleboro, her son Steven Putnam of Guilford, her sister Verlene LaShay of Guilford, and her sister Nonie Fournier of Dummerston. Ruth is also survived by four nephews and a niece. Memorial information: Burial services for Ruth will be private. To offer condolences, visit phaneuf.net
• William Edward Roberts, 99, of Hinsdale, New Hampshire. Died at home on July 9, 2025. He was born Feb. 1, 1926, to Raymond Sawyer Roberts and Carrie Begiebing Roberts. He grew up in Jacksonville and graduated from Whitingham High School before enlisting in the Army Air Force during World War II. In 1947, he married Marguerite Deming Roberts. His devoted wife of 73 years predeceased him in February 2021. They settled in Hinsdale in 1956. Bill worked at R. S. Roberts, Inc. in Brattleboro for 25 years, and was the service manager for 12. Later, he started RoBust Sales and Services Inc. in Hinsdale with two friends and eventually owned and operated the business for 20 years before retiring. Bill served in the New Hampshire Legislature for two terms, where he was a member of the Resources, Recreation and Development Committee. He also worked on the Wantastiquet Region River Subcommittee and the Connecticut River Joint Commission. He was a council member of the Friends of Pisgah State Park for 18 years and served several years as president. He served as a selectman in Hinsdale for two terms, was a member and chair of the Zoning Board of Adjustment, and was a member of the Fire Department for 22 years. He was an active member of the Hinsdale Historical Society, being honored in 2016 for his work on the restoration of the barn at the Col. Ebenezer Hinsdale House. In addition, he served on the Hinsdale Conservation Commission for more than 10 years. In 2006, the Hinsdale Board of Selectmen dedicated the Town Report to Bill and Marguerite for "their many years of dedication to the town." Bill enjoyed the outdoors, including fishing, snowmobiling, and golfing. There were a number of memorable hunting trips in Canada with his brother Doc and his son Ken. Bill was a mechanic at heart; he understood how things work and could fix them. He repaired old bicycles for all of his grandchildren to ride while visiting, as well as snowmobiles which he rode with them. After retiring, he spent many years restoring antique gas and diesel engines. Surviving Bill are his son Kenneth (Natalee) and daughters Susan and Martha. Their son Raymond died in 1990 and their daughter Joyce died in 2012. Bill's older brothers Oscar (Doc), E. James, and Richard also predeceased him. Additional survivors are grandchildren Rachel Sooter (Josh Joy), Kailin Kroetz (Jon Cook), Stacia Kroetz, Troy Sooter, and Jennifer Roberts (Ted) Keating; and great-grandchildren Kiera, Avery, Sawyer, and Juniper. Bill will also be missed by nieces, nephews, and friends, including those of the local coffee group and community lunches. Memorial information: There will be a brief graveside service with military honors on Saturday, July 26, at 11 a.m. at the Pine Grove Cemetery on Depot Street in Hinsdale. Everyone is invited to join the family for lunch at the Millstream Community Center in Hinsdale following the service. Donations to the Hinsdale Fire Department, 13 Depot St., Hinsdale, NH 03451, the Hinsdale Historical Society, 609 Brattleboro Rd., Hinsdale, NH 03451 or a charity of your choice. To offer condolences, visit csnh.com.
Services
• Friends of Lew Sorenson are invited to an open house Celebration of Life on Thursday, July 31, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Naulakha on Kipling Road, Dummerston. Memories will be shared at 5 p.m. Mr. Sorenson, of Dummerston, died on June 24, 2025. For more information, email [email protected].
This Milestones item was submitted to The Commons.