Obituaries
Editor's note: The Commons will publish brief biographical information for citizens of Windham County and others, on request, as community news, free of charge.
• Margaret H. Boomer, 84, of Newport, formerly of Bellows Falls. Died July 16. Wife of the late Donald W. Boomer for 60 years. Mother of Donald Boomer and his wife, Wanda, of Irasburg; Deborah Lowe and her husband Richard Lobdell of Chester; and Diane Laware and her companion Chris Gramling of Sharon. Predeceased by a brother, Robert Malloy. Born in Keene, N.H., the daughter of the late Hugh and Florence (White) Malloy. During her lifetime, she was a self-employed hairdresser and owner of Peggy's Beauty Shop in Bellows Falls. She was very devoted to her husband and family, and enjoyed camping and going to the ocean. Memorial information: A funeral service was held July 20 at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home in Newport, with interment in Irasburg Cemetery. Donations to the Orleans Emergency Unit, in care of Dot Collier, Treasurer, 1327 Dry Pond Road, Glover, VT 05839.
• Margaret Lyons Borkowski, 94, of Guilford. Died July 19 at Thompson House. Wife of the late John Borkowski for 60 years. Mother of Ann-Marie Elkins and her husband, Richard, of Brattleboro. Predeceased by her sons, Timothy and William, and her siblings Francis “Bud” Lyons, Kathryn Thompson, and Barbara Galvin. Born in Brattleboro, the daughter of the late James and Margaret (Fitzgerald) Lyons, she graduated St. Michael's High School in 1935 and attended Keene State College. Known as “Mrs. B” to her students, she was employed as a paraprofessional at Oak Grove School for 15 years. She was also a sales associate for Brattleboro Area Realty and Charles LaRosa Real Estate until she retired in 1992. As a member of the Guilford Historical Society and the Brattleboro Emblem Club, she volunteered at the Brattleboro Red Cross for 14 years. Active with the Guilford Fair Association, she founded and chaired the Guilford Fair Horse Show for 10 years. She was a member of the American Contract Bridge League and a communicant of St. Michael's Catholic Church. She was an avid reader of John Grisham novels, and traveled to the Middle East, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Poland and Bulgaria. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro on July 23, with burial in St. Michael's Parish Cemetery. Donations to St. Michaels Catholic School, in care of Elaine Beam, Principal, 48 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301. Messages of condolence may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Marjorie Stockwell Callahan, 85, of Brattleboro. Died July 20. Wife of William J. Callahan for 62 years. Mother of daughters Terry and Jennifer, and sons Patrick, Timothy, and Dan, and their spouses, and the late Eileen Baker. Sister of Hazel Campbell, Arlene Kathan, and the late William, Raymond, Earl, and Harold Stockwell. Born in East Putney, the daughter of the late Marguerite Blakeslee and George Stockwell. She began her education in a one-room schoolhouse in East Putney just down the road from the family farm. After graduating from St. Michael's High School in 1943, she enrolled in the Providence Hospital School of Nursing in Holyoke Mass., graduating in 1947 with high honors as a registered nurse. She financed her first year of training by raising and selling chickens on the family farm, and her last years by serving in the Navy Cadet Nurses Training Program. She continued her nursing career part-time while she and her husband cared for their six children. She was employed at several medical facilities in Brattleboro: Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Thompson House, Pine Heights, and Vernon Green. With her children grown and in college, she worked full time for the town of Brattleboro's Visiting Nurse Association, from which she retired in the 1980s. She was a Hospice volunteer in the nascent formation of that organization here in Brattleboro. She was an active member of the Brattleboro Camera club and exhibited her work in many competitions, often winning blue ribbons. She was also an accomplished artist in bronze, ceramics, and painting. She was a member of the Daughters of Isabella and an active member of St. Michael's Church. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro on July 23, with burial in St. Michael's Parish Cemetery. Donations to St. Michael's Catholic School, in care of Elaine Beam, Principal, 48 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301. Messages of condolence may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Rebecca “Becky” Fogg-Howard, 32, of Chester, N.J., and a former resident of Putney. Died July 17 in Morristown, N.J., from injuries she sustained in a motorcycle accident. Wife of Glenn Howard. Brother of Eric Fogg and his girlfriend, Lita Robinson, of Hatfield, Mass. Predeceased by a sister, Pamela Margaret Fogg. Born in Greenfield, Mass., the daughter of Timothy and Margaret (Emond) Fogg, she was raised and educated in Putney and was a graduate of Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 1998. She later attended Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. Prior to relocating to New Jersey, she had been employed for several years in corporate offices of the Boston Red Sox. She enjoyed mountain biking, motorcycle racing, fishing and she loved to travel. Memorial information: A funeral service was held July 22 at First United Methodist Church in Brattleboro, with burial in the Emond family lot in Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery on Orchard Street.
• John Robinson Garfield, 86, formerly of Putney. Died March 4 at his home in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Husband of Ursula Bronische Garfield for 37 years. Former husband of June Ann Merz-Garfield. Father of Jonathan Garfield, Robin Garfield Crosby, and Alison Garfield Himmelberg. He was the son of the late James Garfield and Edith Townsend Garfield and great-grandson of President James A. Garfield. Born in Cambridge, Mass., he spent many summers as a child and young man at the family home on Holland Hill Road in Putney. In World War II, he was a pilot instructor in the Army Air Force. After the war, he graduated with a degree from the Harvard School of Design and Architecture. He spent some time in France and England rebuilding Air Force bases for NATO. Later he worked for a firm in Scranton, Pa., which, in 1958, sent him to St. Thomas to rebuild the Truman Airport. He and his family settled there, and St. Thomas was his home from then on. He formed his own firm, John Garfield & Associates, designing homes, office buildings, churches, and schools. An avid sailor, he participated in races all over the Caribbean, continuing a long tradition started in single sail catboats during childhood summers in Duxbury, Mass. Memorial information: A family memorial celebration will be held at the end of this month. Inquiries and messages may be sent to canoebrook1@gmail.com or Elizabeth Greenhoe at P.O. Box 191, Putney, VT 05346.
• Frank L. Grimes, 65, of Keene, N.H. Died July 15. Longtime companion of Connie Harvey of Winchester, N.H. Father of Michelle Grimes and fiance Rich Casano, of Enfield, Conn.; and Kerri Machado and husband, John, of West Chesterfield, N.H. Brother of Tink Grimes and wife, Marion; Jerry Grimes, and wife, Marilyn; and George Grimes, and wife, Wendy, all of Chesterfield, N.H.; and Alice Dembeck, and husband, John, of Northfield, Mass. Predeceased by brother Alfred and Ralph Grimes. Born in Brattleboro, the son of the late Earl and Rose (Collis) Grimes, he graduated from Brattleboro Union High School in 1963. Memorial information: A graveside service was held July 23 at the Chesterfield West Cemetery. Donations to Long Trail Canine Rescue, P.O. Box 1115, Wilder, VT 05088.
• Victor A. Leonard, 51, of Saxtons River. Died July 10 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. Brother of Alfred O. Leonard of Saxtons River, Ruby C. Parker of Bellows Falls, and the late Charlotte A. Thompson. Born in Bellows Falls, son of the late Alfred J. and Pearl A. Leonard, he lived with his mother and gave her loving care until her recent passing. He loved to go to auctions in seach of old collectibles, and visit with his friends and family. Memorial information: Burial took place in the Saxtons River Cemetery on July 23.
• Alex Charles Raymond, 23, of Putney. Died July 14 at his home. Husband of Nicole Orne. Father of Gabriel Raymond. Brother of Jamey Raymond and Eric Raymond, both of Putney, Samantha Merrill and husband, Andrew, of Hinsdale, N.H., and Wendy Raymond of Putney. Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on Feb. 15, 1988, the son of Normand and Heather McKinnon Raymond, he was raised in Montreal and moved to Putney with his family in 1999, He was a graduate of Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 2006, and was employed as a mason tender for Vermont Stoneworks of Wilmington. He served in the Vermont Army National Guard, and completed a one-year tour of duty in Afghanistan in December 2010. From 2007 to 2009, he served as a deputy sheriff with the Windham County Sheriff's Department, having completed the law enforcement training required by the department. An ardent outdoorsman, he enjoyed hiking, camping, mountain biking, and snowboarding. With his family, he was a communicant of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church of Putney. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on July 20 at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Brattleboro. Full military honors were conducted in front of the church following the Mass. Donations to the American Cancer Society, 237 East Ave., Burlington, VT 05401-3438. Condolence messages may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Marjorie J. Ryan, 77, of Largo, Fla., formerly of Hinsdale, N.H. Died July 16 in Clearwater, Fla. Wife of the late Harold Ryan. Mother of Doreen (Debbie) Skiathitis of Florida, Norman “Bucky” Frink Jr., and his wife, Lynil “Chicky” of Henniker, N.H.; Rosamond “Peach”Blouin of Hinsdale; Toni Bartlett of Jacksonville; Melinda (Jake) Cook of Sarasota, Fla.; Belinda Parker of St. Petersburg, Fla.; Mikell “Mike” Lasch and her husband, Rob, of Newfane; and the late Roberta Goddard. Sister of Bill and Bob Sherwin, and Pauline Whitney and Marlene Wyman, all of Keene, N.H. Born in Keene, the daughter of the late Lionel and Alice May Perry Sherwin, she worked in the food service industry as a manager for New England Sports Service at Hinsdale Raceway for over 20 years. She had also worked at the Four Leaf Clover Restaurant in Bernardston, Mass., and Mount Snow in West Dover, Vt. Memorial information: A funeral service was held July 27 at Fletcher Funeral Home in Keene.
• Lorraine J. St. Cyr, 75, of Brattleboro. Died July 19 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Mother of Kendrick Brown of Burlington, and Kathy Brown of Myrtle Beach, S.C. Sister of Mary St. Lawrence, Richard Capen, and James Capen. and many nieces, nephews and great-grandchildren. Memorial information: A graveside memorial will be held at Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery at a later date. Donations to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, 5005 LBJ Freeway, Ste 250, Dallas, TX 75244.
• Albert Joseph Sievers, 87, of Newfane and East Haddam, Conn., Died July 12 at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend. Husband of Margaret Corbett for 64 years. Father of Bruce Roy Sievers of Lebanon, Conn., and Christie Lynn Legnani of East Haddam. Born in Staten Island, N.Y., the son of the late Albert and Anna Sladek Sievers. Upon graduating high school, he enlisted in the Navy which sent him to photography school. He was then assigned as photographer aboard the USS Wasp, where he spent the next three years seeing action throughout the Pacific during World War II. Upon discharge, he entered Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, graduating in 1950 with a degree in chemistry. He spent his working career in the photographic reproduction field, retiring in 1987 as Quality Control Manager for all divisions on Arkwright Co. In the late 1960s, the Sievers purchased a home in Newfane. They spent most weekends there for the next 30 years, retiring there in 1998. He was an active member of the East Haddam Lions Club with 35 years of perfect attendance, serving as secretary, treasurer and president. He helped organize the East Haddam Ambulance Association, also the East Haddam Town Beach. He was a member of American Legion Post 156 in Haddam. He was a member of the First Church of Christ, Congregational, East Haddam, having served as chairman of the Deacons, Trustees and church moderator. An enthusiastic fly fisherman, he belonged to the Connecticut Fly Fishing Association. He greatly enjoyed canoeing and cross country skiing. He was most proud of his Gravely tractors, and belonged to the Gravely Tractor Club of America. Memorial information: No formal services were held. His ashes were interred at the First Church in Haddam.
• Sally Ruth Sonin Tucker, 84, of Brattleboro, formerly of Margate, Fla. Died July 19. She had arrived in Vermont three weeks earlier with her husband of 64 years, William “Bill” Tucker,” to be near their children. Mother of Ronald and his wife, Sharon (Ingersoll) Tucker; and Robert and his wife, Laura (Lawson) Tucker. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., when she was two years old the family moved to Long Beach, Long Island. She met the man who would be her husband during World War II when he was in the Navy. He describes falling in love with her instantly. She dedicated herself fully to her roles as a wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend. She was a secretary and sales clerk for a variety of businesses, including working at the Empire State Building and at her husband's window treatment business, Sonin's Blinds. The Tuckers traveled extensively, crossing the country three times. They also enjoyed many cruises together. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's 13 years ago, and her husband provided her with beautiful, attentive care until her death. Memorial information: A graveside service was held on July 25 at at Mt. Ararat Cemetery in Farmingdale, N.Y. Donations to Association for the Help of Retarded Children (AHRC) Suffolk, 2900 Veterans Memorial Highway, Bohemia, NY 11716, or Hospice of Gold Coast, 2101 West Commercial Blvd., Suite 4500, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309. Cards of condolences for the family may be sent to Robert Tucker, 4075 Guilford Center Road, Guilford, VT 05301.
College news
• Monica Speranza of Vernon, a member of the class of 2012 who is majoring in Communication, and Carleen Busick of Wardsboro, a member of the class of 2013 who is majoring in English, were both named to the Dean's List for the Spring 2011 semester at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
• Monika Grist-Weiner, a Production Design major from Brattleboro was named to the Dean's List for the Spring 2011 semester at the Savannah (Ga.) College of Art and Design.
• Two local students received Dean's Honors for the Spring 2011 semester at Connecticut College in New London, Conn. Madeline Conley, class of 2014, of Dummerston, was named to the Dean's High Honors list, while Chloe Ingalls, class of 2013, also of Dummerston, was named to the Dean's Honors list.
School news
• Ian Baker of East Dummerston, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Francis Baker, II, was among 254 seniors at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Conn., to graduate at the school's 121st Commencement on June 5. Baker will attend the University of Vermont in the fall.
• Fifteen students graduated from The Grammar School in Putney on June 10. Miles Brautigam of Westminster West, Erin Sternfels of Putney, and Zoe Staley of Westminster will attend the Putney School; Nate Greene of Dummerston, Jamie Lumley of Putney, Nevada McOwen of Northfield, Mass., Wyeth Olmsted of Westmoreland, N.H., Emma Roos and Julian Stolper of Walpole, N.H., and Sebastian Wu of Saxtons River all will be at Vermont Academy; Antonia Dufort of Grafton will attend Bellows Falls Union High School; Victoria Jaenson of Guilford will go to Brattleboro Union High School; Nathaniel Todd Long of West Chesterfield, N.H. will go to Keene High School; Traven Gaffney of Dummerston will attend Compass School; and Isaac Karlan-Mason of Guilford will be at Northfield-Mount Hermon School.