College news
• Erica T. Reynolds of West Dover received a Juris Doctor degree from Western New England University in Springfield, Mass., on Aug. 15.
• Emma Hallett of South Londonderry has been welcomed to Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., as a member of the Class of 2018.
• Anna Mary Gaskill of Brattleboro has been admitted to Colby-Sawyer College in New London, N.H., as a member of the Class of 2018. Gaskill is a nursing major.
Transitions
• Kellie Crowder has been appointed as Compass School's new Director of Student Support Services. She has previously served as a special education teacher at Leland & Gray High School and as learning skills and math instructor at Vermont Academy. Crowder will carry on the Westminster school's tradition of outstanding learning skills support, building on the work of the school's previous special educator, Janet VanAlstyne. who is moving on to work at Green Mountain Union High School in Chester. Crowder holds a B.A. in biology from University of Colorado at Boulder and an M.A. in secondary school science and special education from Mercy College in New York.
• The Downtown Alliance (formerly Building a Better Brattleboro) has added six new members to its Board of Directors. They are: Stephanie Bonin, proprietor of Duo Restaurant; Matthew Livingston, associate director of graduate admissions at Marlboro College; Dick DeGray, former Selectboard Chair; attorney Theodore “Ted” Kramer; John Hatton, sales manager at Berkley & Veller Realtors; and Rory Minich, a local craftsman and entrepreneur.
Obituaries
• Lola Pierotti Aiken, 102, of Montpelier. Died Sept. 8 at the Gary Home in Montpelier, where she has been a resident for the past several years. Born in Montpelier, she was class valedictorian at Montpelier High School and started working for a local law firm after graduaton. She then applied for a Statehouse job at the office of Secretary of State and her life's destiny was forever changed. She soon became acquainted with many of the state's political leaders, including the horticulturalist from Putney, George D. Aiken, who served as speaker, lieutenant governor and, starting in 1937, governor until his election to the U.S. Senate in 1940. Newly-elected Senator Aiken recognized Lola as a politically astute woman with strong management skills and, upon invitation, she joined his staff on Jan. 10, 1941. Later in the 1950's, the Senator appointed her as Chief of his Washington staff. After the death of the Senator's first wife, Lola became his social companion and on June 30, 1967, they wed. At the Senator's and Lola's direction, she was removed from the Senate payroll and served without pay until the Senator's retirement in 1975. They came home to Vermont and settled in George Aiken's home town of Putney. When the “Governor” (as Lola fondly referred to him) died in 1984, she returned to Montpelier and spent the remainder of her life in the city she loved with the people who loved her. She was active in many community and state commitments, serving on the boards of the George D. Aiken Lecture Series, Champlain College, Old Rockingham Meeting House Association, Friends of the State House, Vermont Historical Society, Judicial Conduct Board of the Vermont Supreme Court, University of Vermont School of Natural Resources, President Calvin Coolidge Foundation Advisory Board, Honorary Chair for Central Vermont Home, Health and Hospice Capital Campaign, and NECI Scholarships. She also received Doctor of Laws from the University of Vermont and Champlain College, the Outstanding Service Medallion from Board of Fellows, Norwich University, and the first Grace Coolidge award. Throughout her life, she was always an optimistic, positive, outgoing, and caring person and touched many people with her kindness, generosity, and love. Her legacy will continue to embody the spirit of Vermont. She is survived by three nephews; Doug Robie and his wife, Margie Torrey of Underhill, Scott Robie and his wife, Ellen, of Naples Fla., and Lee Robie and hia wife, Penny of Loveland, Ohio and many grandnephews and grandnieces as well as the stepchildren and family members of the Aiken family. She was predeceased by her sisters, Rosina Pierotti and Ollie Robie. Memorial information: Prior to her death, she requested that in lieu of flowers or other acknowledgements, she would like to be remembered with a prayer of one's choice. Following burial in Putney next to her Governor, a funeral Mass will be held at St. Augustine's Church, 16 Barre St., Montpelier on Monday, Sept. 15, at 11 a.m. On-line condolences may be sent to www.guareandsons.com.
• Michael Nicholas “Mickey” Atamaniuk, 93, of Brattleboro. Died Sept. 1 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital following a period of declining health. Husband of the late Anita Anna Weber for 57 years. Father of Michael D. Atamaniuk and his wife, Cheryl, of Brattleboro. and the late Mary, John, and Peter Atamaniuk. Half-brother of the late Virginia “Ginny” Johnson, Francis Siniuk, and Joseph Siniuk. Brother-in-law of Dorothy “Dot” Atamaniuk of Brattleboro. Born in Turners Falls, Mass, the son of the late Daniel and Barbara (Seniuk) Atamaniuk, he spent his first nine years in Turners Falls, later moving to Brattleboro and then to Dummerston where he was raised on the family farm on Wheeler Road. He attended Slab Hollow School and was a graduate of Brattleboro High School, Class of 1941. An Army veteran of World War II, he was stationed in Germany where he met his future wife in Bremen. Upon his honorable discharge from active service, he returned home to Brattleboro and went to work at American Optical, working in the production planning department for many years. He retired when the Brattleboro plant closed in 1981 after 35 years with the company, and 24 years without a sick day. He then went to work in the maintenance department at Northfield Mount Herman on the Northfield campus for 13 years. Prior to his military service, he worked for a year for the Brattleboro Reformer and later as a schaffer grinder at Greenfield Tap & Die. He was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Brattleboro, held membership in American Legion Post 5 in Brattleboro, and the former Protective Grange in Brattleboro and the West Dummerston Grange #401. He loved the outdoors and working in his garden, picking berries, and puttering around his home. He also enjoyed music and played the trumpet, which eventually lead to his qualification into the Army's 421st Band. A quiet, unassuming and deeply spiritual man, he was known for his humility, kindness, generosity, and easygoing nature. Memorial information: A funeral service was held on Sept. 6 at Trinity Lutheran Church, with burial with full military honors in Dummerston Center Cemetery. Donations to Vernon Green Nursing Home Activities Fund, 61 Greenway Drive, Vernon, VT 05354, Rescue Inc. P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302, or to Trinity Lutheran Church, 161 Western Avenue, Brattleboro, VT 05301. Arrangements were under the direction of the Atamaniuk Funeral Home.
• Raymond M. Curran, 83, of Mamiou, La. Died Aug. 21 at home. Husband of Mary Ida Fontenot Curran. Father of Alan Curran and his wife, Lynn, of Walker, La.; Michael Curran and his wife, Theresa, of Pensacola, Fla.; Steven Curran and his wife, Angela, of Milton, Fla.; Carolyn (Curran) Sleeper and her husband, Corydon, of Townshend; and Elaine (Curran) Hill of Townshend. A native of Boston, he served 29 years in the Navy, retiring at the rank of lieutenant commander. He loved spending time with his wife, being outdoors, playing golf, watching birds in his yard, and attending to his toy poodles. He talked with his grandchildren often and came to visit when he was in good health. He always remembered his grandchildren's and great-granchildren's birthdays and other milestones in their lives. Memorial information: No service information available. Donations to your favorite charity or to the American Cancer Society.
• Catherine Blake Larkin, 90, of Yonkers, N.Y. Died Sept. 4 after a long illness. Wife of the late Arthur J. Larkin for 41 years. Mother of Robert F. Larkin and his wife, Elizabeth, of Yonkers and the late Maureen Ruland. Sister of the late Mary Rivers and John W. Blake Jr. She was born in Brattleboro, the daughter of the late John and Opal Blake. Though a Yonkers resident for more than 60 years, she enjoyed going “up home” as she called Vermont, every chance she could. She will always be remembered for her beautiful smile. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Sept. 8 at Saint Anthony's Church in Yonkers, with interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Donations to Michael Malotz SNP, 120 Odell Ave., Yonkers, NY 10701
• Scott Gordon Therrien, 47, of Vernon. Died Aug. 26 at his home following a courageous battle with cancer. Husband of Robin (Squiers) Therrien for five years. Father of Jacob Therrien. Stepfather of Isaiah Squiers. Brother of Steven W. Therrien and his wife, Kathy, of Stamford; Paul A. Therrien and his wife, Kim, of Brattleboro; James A. Therrien and his wife, Diane, of Stamford; John L. Therrien and his wife, Tammy, of Whitingham; Mary L. Therrien of Whitingham; and Lois A. Therrien of Springfield, Va. Born in Adams, Mass., the seventh of seven children of Wilfred and Helen (Jillson) Therrien, he grew up in Adams, but spent weekends, holidays, and vacations at his grandmother's farm in Whitingham. The family moved to Whitingham permanently in 1983, where he attended Whitingham High School. He moved to Vernon in 2001. He worked at many interesting and diverse careers, such as ski lift operator, cook at both a pizza parlor and a fine dining restaurant, making and installing granite countertops and tombstones, candy maker, truck driver for concrete and construction companies, and manual labor. After Tropical Storm Irene hit in 2011, while working for Renaud Brothers Inc., he worked on the reconstruction of many of the bridges that had been destroyed. He was exceptionally proud of this work because of the speed and quality with which they completed such a challenging task. He had a passion for his family, dogs, and the outdoors. Hunting, fishing, swimming, boating, watching the stars, walking, and working around his home were all activities he enjoyed. He also loved barbequing and using his smoker. He was a jokester and loved to laugh. Family get-togethers were a favorite, because he could pick on the whole family. Memorial information: Funeral services were held on Sept. 7 in Vernon at his home. His ashes will be spread on the family farm in Whitingham in a private service. Donations may made be made to the family. Checks should be made out to John Therrien, with the memo saying Scott Therrien Family Benefit, and sent to 656 Allard Road, Whitingham, VT 05361.
• Frederick “Fred” J. Wiley, 56, of Brattleboro. Died Aug. 28 at home after a long battle with cancer. Husband of Diane (Dean) Wiley. Father of Melanie (Wiley) Fox and her husband, Keith, of Brattleboro; Kevin Wiley, and his girlfriend, Samantha Gritsavage, of Walpole, N.H.; and Steven Wiley of Walpole, N.H. Stepfather of Brian Dixon of Vernon and Darcy Hill, of Dover. Brother of Kenneth Damon Sr. and his wife, Yvonne, of Rowlett, Texas, Christopher Damon of Hinsdale, N.H., and Donna Holliday of Wardsboro. Stepson of the late William Damon. Born in Mount Vernon, N.Y., as the first New Year's baby in New York on Jan. 1, 1958, to the late Wayne and Margaret (McAleer) Wiley, he was a self-employed carpenter. His favorite pastimes were reading, fishing, boating and spending time with his family. His family lovingly remembers him for the love and joy he felt spending time with his family and friends. Memorial information: A memorial service was held Sept. 5 at the VFW in Brattleboro. Donations to the Oncology Department at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital.