Milestones

Obituaries

• Herbert W. Eisenberg, 87, of Brattleboro. Died July 17 in a hospital in Boston. Husband of Car­olyn Eisenberg of Brattleboro. Father of Stephen, Melin­da, Bethany, and Martha, all of Massachusetts; Peter, of Califor­nia; and Clyda, of Florida. A presence in Brattle­boro and Townshend for more than 60 years, he born in Boston, the son of Ida and Sa­muel Eisenberg. After graduating from high school, as World War II was com­ing to an end, he enlisted in the Navy and served aboard the USS Sitka, a troop carrier, in the Pa­cific. Following in his fa­ther's and brother's footsteps, he attended the Massachusetts Insti­tute of Technology and was grad­uated in the class of 1952. He was active in international stu­dent affairs and traveled exten­sively as vice president of the National Student Association. After becoming a registered ar­chitect, he joined his father's company in Boston. Ninety years after that firm was founded, it is now known as Eisenberg Haven Architects and is one of the old­est in Boston. He served as its president for a great many of those years. In 1968, he bought an old farm and farmhouse on Gramma Cutts Road in Townshend, and the place became the love of his life. Wherever he traveled in the world, he kept coming home to it and his wife will scatter his ashes there. He ran in the Grace Cottage Hospital road race annually. Memorial information: Donations to Grace Cottage Hospital, P.O. Box 1, Townshend, VT 05353.

• Catherine W. Emond, 82, of Brattleboro. Died Aug. 17 at Pine Heights Nursing Home following a courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease. Wife of the late Robert R.J. Emond for 46 years. Mother of Richard Emond of Brattleboro; Barbara Simonds and her husband, Philip, of Winslow, Maine; Margaret Fogg and her husband, Timothy, of Putney; and Theresa Emond of Brattleboro. Sister of Susan Margaret O'Connell of Brattleboro, Hugh Whitney of Marlboro, and the late Barbara Hewes. Born at home on the family farm in Guilford, the daughter of the late J. Perry and Pearl (Elmer) Whitney, she was raised in Brattleboro, attending Oak Grove School and graduating from Brattleboro High School, Class of 1948. She had been employed for more than 30 years as supervisor of the tape room at Stratford Publishing, which she retired from when the company closed. Previously, she was assistant administrator of the Thompson House Nursing Home, and had also worked at the Holstein-Friesian Association. She served as a den mother for Cub Scout Pack 54 in Brattleboro, was an active volunteer at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital in the transportation department, and also volunteered for Brattleboro Area Hospice, working in the organization's Experienced Goods store. She enjoyed singing and was a member of the Brattleboro Senior Singers. She was an excellent cook and baker and was known for her beautifully decorated wedding and special occasion cakes. She enjoyed knitting, travel, and vacations spent with her family at the beaches in Maine as well as at Acadia National Park. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Aug. 22 at First Baptist Church in Brattleboro with burial in Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery. Donations to the Alzheimer's Association, Vermont Chapter, 300 Cornerstone Drive, Suite 128, Williston, VT 05495-4031, or to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302. Arrangements are under the direction of the Atamaniuk Funeral Home.

• Gordon J. Forrett, 82, of East Dummerston. Died Aug. 17. Husband of the late Arlene Gathje Forrett. Father of Jay Forrett, Maria Glabach, Martin Forrett, and Deb Forrett. The sixth of seven children born to the late Alfred and Alice (Momaney) Forrett, he was raised in Brattleboro and shared many fond memories of his childhood, his education at St. Michael's, and the variety of jobs he held as a young man coming of age in Brattleboro in the late 1940s. In the summer of 1950, he enlisted in the Army. He gave great credit to his service in the Army for his development as a man and his love for travel. He was deployed in Europe during the Korean Conflict. While he was stationed in San Antonio, Texas, he met and married his wife. He will be remembered for the lives he touched as a Boy Scout leader, as a tireless advocate for Disabled American Veterans, and as a member of Our Lady of Mer­cy Catholic Church in Putney. An avid outdoorsman, he loved hunting, fishing, hiking, and gardening. He was fortunate to travel extensively during his re­tirement and loved to share the humor and lessons of his adven­tures. Memorial information: A graveside service was held on Aug. 27 at St. Michael's Parish Cemetery in Brattleboro. Donations to Our Lady of Mercy Cath­olic Church, 52 Old Depot Rd., Putney, VT 05346, or Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45290. Condolences may be offered at www.kerwesterlund.com.

• Theresa R. Gratton, 85, of Brattleboro. Died Aug. 15 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. fol­lowing a period of declining health. Wife of the late Leo J. Gratton for 43 years. Mother of Leo Pierre Gratton, and his wife, Kristina, of Lansdale, Pa; Linda M. Houston of Brattleboro and her husband, Da­vid, of Hinsdale, N.H.; and Janine T. Gratton and her partner, Sharri, of Keene, N.H. Sister of Marcien Roy of Pownal, Rene Roy of Orlando, Fla., Lucy Cary of Latham, N.Y., and Bea­trice Bopp of Loudonville, N.Y. Born in Ben­nington, the daughter of the late J. Henry and An­toinette (Bilodeau) Roy, she was raised and educated in Bennington, later graduat­ing from the Austin School of Beauty Culture in Albany, N.Y. She earned her GED from Brattleboro Union High School in 1993, an accomplish­ment of which she was very proud. She owned and oper­ated Theresa's House of Beauty, located for many years in the Barber Building on Main Street. She eventually relocated her shop into her home on Highlawn Road. Her hairdressing career spanned more than 60 years and many in the business got their start un­der her. A devout Catholic, she was a longtime communicant of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church. She thoroughly loved her work and the personal relationships that were established with her many clients throughout the years. Her life primarily centered around her family. She enjoyed traveling, the outdoors, and strawberry and blueberry picking. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on Aug. 21 at St. Michael's Catholic Church with burial in Saint Joseph's Cemetery in Hinsdale. Donations to St. Michael's School, 48 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, in care of Elaine Beam, principal; or to Da­vid's House, P.O. Box 660, 461 Mt. Support Rd., Lebanon, N.H. 03766. Arrangements are under the di­rection of the Atamaniuk Funeral Home.

• Patrick E. “Paddy” Mulhall, 66, of Brattleboro. Died Aug. 16 at his home following a lengthy illness. Husband of Kelley Patrick for nearly 16 years and the late Wendy Elmquist. Father of Kendra Mulhall of Brattleboro, Shannon Simonelli of Fresno, Calif., Colleen Briski of Westminster, Calif., and Heather Mulhall of Brattleboro. Brother of John Mulhall of Winter Haven, Fla., and the late Andrew Mulhall and Mary Thomas. Born in Astoria, Queens, N.Y., the son of Thomas and Mary (Egan) Mulhall, he was raised in Astoria, attending Most Precious Blood Parochial School and graduating from Thomas Edison High School in Queens, Class of 1965. He served in the Army for three years, with one tour in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged from active service at the rank of sergeant. He had been employed at the Brattleboro Retreat as a plant engineer for over 20 years. Previously, he worked as a plant engineer at various hospitals in New Jersey, including Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck. A resident of Brattleboro for the past 14 years, he was a former resident of West Dover, where he was an active volunteer on the West Dover Fire Department. He was a past Grand Knight and member of the Knights of Columbus, Leo Council #917, and a Fourth Degree member, Leo Assembly #1154. He was also a past member of the VFW in Brattleboro. He enjoyed genealogy and was very proud of his Irish heritage. He also enjoyed travel, playing cards, and was known for his storytelling abilities. He was an avid New York Yankees and New England Patriots fan. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on Aug. 23 at St. Michael's Catholic Church, with burial with full military honors in Long Island National Cemetery. Donations to a charity of one's choice.

• Philip W. Spencer, 84, of Guil­ford. Died Aug. 21 at his home after a long struggle with cancer. Husband of Barbara Spencer for 59 years. Father of Richard, James, and Donald and his wife, Shirley, all of Guilford; Sylvia Burns and her husband, Mark, of High Point, N.C.; and Lisa Provatas of Morehead City, N.C. Born in Newton, Mass., son of the late Orville and Sylvia (Clement) Spencer, he spent his early years in the Boston area. He came to Brattleboro in 1968 as production manager at The Book Press and to establish the offset department. He was proud of his family. He also loved animals, especially his dogs. Gardening was his joy and he took great pride in his plant col­lections. He was knowledgeable in many botanical areas and was approached by many for help with their gardening concerns. Memorial information: A memori­al service was held Aug. 25 at First Baptist Church in Brattleboro. Donations to Bayada Hospice of Vermont and New Hampshire, 66 Benning St., Suite 6, West Lebanon, NH 03784.

• A memorial service for Bertrand C. “Toby” Sprague, 74, of Brattleboro, who died on July 30, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 11:30 a.m., at St. Michael's Episcopal Church on Putney Road in Brattleboro.