College news
• Kayla Wood of East Dummerston, a junior at Castleton University, was named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District I team for her work on the softball field and in the classroom. Wood is a two-time North Atlantic Conference (NAC) First-Team All-Conference selection who ranked among the best in the NAC in six major pitching categories, including league-leading marks in shutouts (3), saves (2), ERA (0.81) and batting average against (.160). Her six wins in conference play ranked her third in the NAC, while she was the only pitcher to record double-digit strikeouts per game in conference play, at 11.22. Wood also ranks among the top 10 in the nation in ERA, hits allowed per seven innings, and strikeouts per seven innings. Off the field, Wood is a physical education major with 3.86 GPA. She has been named to the Dean's List three times and the President's List twice.
• Elkanah Linder, a doctor of pharmacy student from Townshend, was inducted into the Alpha Lambda Delta (ALD) Honor Society at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia on April 17. Invitations to join ALD, a national honor society for first-year students, are based on attaining a first-semester academic average of at least 3.50 and ranking in the top 20 percent of the class.
• Colton Butler of Whitingham has been named to the Elmira (N.Y.) College Dean's List for Term II, Winter 2016.
• Seth Marcil of Brattleboro was one of four Castleton University mens' tennis players to receive North Atlantic Conference East Division All-Conference honors. The junior and his partner Kevin Rosset were named to the NAC East First-Team for doubles after going 7-2 overall and 4-0 in the NAC in the top flight. Marcil was also named to the Second Team for his singles play. He compiled a 6-7 mark on the year with three wins in conference play. Marcil and Rosset were joined on the Second Team by senior Soren Pelz-Walsh of Brattleboro and junior Quentin Barthe.
School news
• The following individuals were named Student of the Quarter at the River Valley Technical Center in Springfield: Tanner Bischofberger, Audio Video Production I; Jared Neathawk, Industrial Trades I; Christopher Starr, Culinary Arts; Tegan Jowett, Health Careers I; Seth Martin, Pre Technical Studies; Kayla Quimby, Human Services I; Haley DeCelle, Culinary Arts I; Brandon McCutcheon, Horticulture & Natural Resources I; Taylor Drinker, Tech Essentials; Jacob Muse, Criminal Justice I; Liam Pammer, Audio Video Production I; Madeline Woods, Health Careers II; Holly Prue, Human Services II; Dana Morey, Culinary Arts II; Amanda Ferguson, Horticulture & Natural Resources II; Jasmine Goings, Hands On Computers; Bjorn Bartlett, Criminal Justice II; Heather Morse, Audio Video Production II; Ben Tubbs, Industrial Trades II; Rebecca Delbove, Culinary Arts II; and Mike Hinds, Audio Video Production II.
Obituaries
• Henry F. “Ebby” Ebbighausen Jr., 73, of Brattleboro. Died April 30 in Milton, Fla., following a brave 11-week battle with cancer. Husband of Judith (Goodenough) Ebbighausen for 55 years. Father of Greg and his wife, Christy, of Milton, Fla.; Rodney and his wife, Lynn, of Hinsdale, N.H.; Randal of Millington, Tenn.; Laurie Ebbighausen and her partner, Tracy, of Pflugerville, Texas; and the late Henry “Hank” Ebbighausen, III. Brother of Daniel Ebbighausen of Windsor and Janice Porter of Woodstock. Also survived by 11 grandchildren; one great-grandchild, and many nieces and nephews. Born in Brattleboro on Nov. 4, 1942, the son of the late Henry and Bridget (Fitzgerald) Ebbighausen, he attended St. Michael's Parochial School and was a graduate of Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 1960. He had been employed as maintenance foreman for the Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Department at Living Memorial Park where he retired due to an on the job injury, following 18 years of dedicated service to the town. Previously, he worked for Jewett Plumbing & Heating in Brattleboro where he served his apprenticeship under the late Shorty Jewett. He also owned and operated Ebby's Atlantic Service Station on Western Avenue. He was a communicant of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church and was a life member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Brattleboro Aerie #2445. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping trips to Old Orchard Beach, Maine, with his family. He also enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. Memorial information: Graveside committal services in Christ Church Cemetery in Algiers will be conducted sometime in early July at a date and time to be announced by the funeral home. Donations to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To sign an online guestbook with messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Stanley Pennock “Stan” Holt, 84, of Townshend. Died May 4 at his home that overlooks the family farm he loved. During his 84 years, he was a Presbyterian minister, community organizer, Christmas tree grower, devoted husband, and beloved family patriarch. He was born on Jan. 30, 1932, and raised in West Hartford, Conn, one of five children of the late Guy B. and Helen Pennock Holt. He was educated at the Loomis School, Middlebury College, and at Union Theological Seminary in New York. While at Middlebury, he met Marjorie Morgan and they married in 1954. From 1957 to 1961, he served Presbyterian parishes in St. Lawrence County, New York, and from 1961 to 1968 he was a University of Cincinnati campus minister. He trained as a grassroots community organizer in the late 1960s and helped empower ordinary citizens to become effective leaders in their struggle for safe neighborhoods, better housing, and clean air and water. He started organizing on Chicago's West Side, then in Providence, Baltimore, Fall River, Boston, Vermont, and finally throughout the country. He moved to Vermont in 1981 and devoted his time to growing Christmas trees, logging, stacking cordwood, and managing the family farm in Townshend. For more than a decade, he was president and a motivating force for the annual Grace Cottage Hospital Fair Day, which he dearly loved. He served on the Board of Directors of the Grace Cottage Hospital of Townshend, on the Board of Directors of Youth Services, and on the Townshend Planning Commission. He is survived by his wife, Marge; his children: Tim and Lisa Holt of Newburyport, Mass, Laurent Holt and Jocelyne Lacombe of Montreal, Canada; Guy Holt and Eileen Ryan of Watertown, Mass., and Constance Holt of Waterbury, Conn; nine grandchildren; and by siblings Eunice Van Vleck and Katherine Barnes. His brother, Nicholas, and sister, Penny Holt, have predeceased him. He is also survived by over 150 members of the Pennock Pines family of Skaneateles, N.Y., of which he was the last male member of his generation. Memorial information: A graveside service will be held in Townshend's Oak Grove Cemetery on Sunday, June 19, at 1 p.m. Donations to Grace Cottage Hospital, P.O. Box 1, Townshend, VT 05353.
• Russell Frank “Russ” Howe, 76, of West Brattleboro. Died May 3 at his home following a courageous battle with leukemia. Born in Brattleboro on Dec. 14, 1939, the son of the late Ralph and Amy (Moore) Howe. He attended Brattleboro schools and was a graduate of Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 1958. Following graduation, he proudly served his nation in the Army. He was stationed in Germany and was honorably discharged from active service in 1963. He worked all of his life as a general contractor. He started his career under Arnold Lane Builders. In 1970, he established Russell F. Howe Builders, which he operated for 40 years. He was well known and respected for his meticulous detail and skill as a builder. Of his many building projects through the years, included are the Country Kitchen Restaurant, The Tavern at Colonial Motel, renovation work at the Putney Inn and many homes in the greater Brattleboro area. In addition to his general contracting business, he also worked as a logger. He loved the outdoors and nature and enjoyed fishing, walks through the woods on his property, and working around his home. Survivors include his two sons, Brian Howe of Brattleboro and Christopher Howe of Somerville, Mass, two grandchildren, and several cousins. Memorial information: A memorial service will be conducted on Saturday, May 14, at 11 a.m., at Green Mountain Chapel on Western Avenue. Burial will follow in Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery on Orchard Street. Donations to Holton Home, 158 Western Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301 or to Grace Cottage Hospital, P.O. Box 1, Townshend, VT 05353. To sign an online register book or send messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Scott J. Switzer, 55, of Rutland Town. Died May 2 in Rutland. Born in Brattleboro on May 29, 1960, he was the son of the late Verne B. and Barbara (Molaghan) Switzer. His mom was quite proud he shared a birth date with John F. Kennedy. He graduated from Brattleboro Union High School in 1978, and was on the boys' tennis team that won the state title that year. He earned a B.S. in communications from Castleton State College in 1984. He attended St. Peter Church in Rutland. In 1986, Scott married his college sweetheart, Sandi. He loved spending time with his family and attending his two daughters' many music, athletic and academic events. He was so proud of their many accomplishments, but more importantly, he admired them for growing up to be such kind, caring young women. He was on the board of directors at PEG-TV in Rutland and helped coach his daughter's basketball team at Rutland Town School to a 94-2 record. He was a self-taught musician and played the guitar and sang in several bands. In recent years, he often volunteered to perform at area senior citizen centers and nursing homes as well as Open Mic events around the county. He could put a smile on anyone's face with a joke, story, or singing one of his many beautiful tunes. In 1985, he and his wife formed Video Unlimited, a video production company that operated for over 30 years with many of their clients becoming dear friends. In 2012, the Switzers. and co-producers Robert Gershon and Marquis Walsh produced the documentary “And They Kept Silence” exploring life inside the only Carthusian Monastery in North America. It was the first and only time the monks of this silent order ever allowed cameras inside the granite walls on Mount Equinox. He was a devoted Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots and Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan. He enjoyed playing tennis, hiking with his dogs Callie and Ollie, kayaking, skiing, playing his guitar, and camping in his 1966 vintage Scotty camper. He is survived by his wife, Sandi (Senecal) Switzer of Rutland Town; daughters Shannon Switzer of Rutland Town and Chicago, and Kristen Switzer of Rutland Town and Burlington; siblings Paul Switzer of Jeffersonville, John “Jay” Switzer of Brattleboro, Leslie Switzer of Spofford, N.H., and JoEllen Switzer of Marlborough, N.H. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A celebration of his life was held May 7 at The 1787 Room of the Castleton University Campus Center. Donations to the Castleton University Development Office, 62 Alumni Drive, Castleton, VT 05735