College news
• The following local students were named to the fall 2017 Dean's List at Stonehill College in Easton, Mass.: Cameron Baldwin Wright, Class of 2020, from West Dummerston, Alexa Litchfield, Class of 2019, from Jamaica, and Sabin Litchfield, Class of 2020, from Jamaica.
• The following local students received academic honors for the fall 2017 semester at Southern New Hampshire University: Nicholas Koskoris of Brattleboro has been named to the Dean's List, and Sarah Forrett of East Dummerston and Danielle Magnant of Wilmington were named to the President's List.
• The following local students were named to the fall 2017 Dean's List at Curry College in Milton, Mass.: Thomas Carroll of Vernon, Dylan Florence of Searsburg, Tyler Godin of Vernon, and Karlee Walkowiak of Whitingham.
• Stephanie Louise Green of Westminster, a junior who is currently enrolled in Husson University's B.S in healthcare studies/M.S. in occupational therapy program, was named to the President's List for the fall 2017 semester.
Transitions
• Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) recently appointed Michelle Wright, RN, BSN as the new Manager of Care Management. In her new position, Wright will oversee the hospital's care coordination system, population health, financial management, and resource utilization to yield cost-effective outcomes that are patient-centric, safe and provided in the least restrictive setting. In 2012, Wright joined BMH as a medical surgical nurse. She later moved into a care management position within the quality department in 2015. Prior to her tenure at BMH, Wright gained experience in geriatric medicine, long-term care, and rehabilitation.
Obituaries
• John D. Esau, 67, of Marlboro and Lake Rescue, Vt. Died January 9, 2018 after a graceful, courageous battle with acute myeloid leukemia. Born on Sept. 4, 1950 in New York City, he was raised in Port Washington, N.Y., by his loving parents, John W. Esau and Norma Bonelli Esau. In 1975, he married his best friend, Joanne Sehnal Esau and, in 1983, his daughter Corey was born, fulfilling his life beyond measure. He graduated from Paul D. Schreiber High School in Port Washington and Saint Michael's College in Burlington, where he was a member of the SMC Choir. Soon after, he attended Keene State College to earn an education degree. He entered the teaching profession in Vermont at Windham Elementary School as a teaching principal. For much of his career, he had the privilege and joy of teaching at Marlboro Elementary School. He also taught at Reading Elementary School and served as the Turn off Texting presenter for the Vermont Governor's Highway Safety Council. While at Marlboro Elementary, he coordinated the building of the Johnny Esau Covered Bridge and co-directed the annual school musicals. His classroom was known as a place filled with music, laughter, hammering, and creative chaos. He sang with the Blanche Moyse Chorale. Later his joyful voice joined the Brattleboro Music Center Chorus where he assumed the role of “chief mischief maker.” He was a member of the Marlboro Fire Department and sat on the board of directors of the Vermont Covered Bridge Society. He enjoyed laughing, being with friends, building, boating, beaches, metal detecting, his truck's GARLIC license plate and Italian food. He spent hours working on his wooden boat “Knock On Wood.” He adored his Golden Retrievers but, in the end, it was his little dog Tucker who was his constant companion. He was predeceased by his parents and is survived by his wife of 42 years; his daughter and son-in-law Corey and Julian Jaworski of Quechee; his brother and sister-in-law Raymond and Kathy Sehnal of Pomfret; sisters Cynthia (Anthony) Jerolino of Cavendish and Lisabeth (Edward) Fisher of Malvern, Pa.; as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, and a grand-niece and nephew. He was exceptionally proud of his Italian heritage. He adored his grandparents, “Papa and Nannie” and held his Bonelli cousins close to his heart. He was also predeceased by his birth mother, Mary Masucci, whose identity he discovered in the last year of his life. He was lovingly embraced by his newly found Masucci cousins and his niece, Denise Renda and her husband Denis of Northport, N.Y., and Grafton. Memorial information: A funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, Jan. 27, at 11 a.m., at St. Anthony's Parish in White River Junction. A gathering of friends and family will take place immediately following at The Quechee Club in Quechee. The family asks friends to honor Johnny's memory by giving the gift of one's time or resources to a family that is caring for a loved one with cancer.
• James C. Holton, 92, of Westminster and Venice, Fla. Died Dec. 5, 2017, surrounded by family and friends. He was born in Saxtons River on June 21, 1925, son of Charles and Elizabeth Bartlett Holton. He graduated from Bellows Falls High School in 1943, and then joined the Marine Corps. He served from 1943 to 1946 in the South Pacific. After the service, he went on to Arnold College, graduating with a bachelor's degree. He later attended the University of Massachusetts, graduating with a master's in physical education. He married Barbara Wentworth in 1948 and, together, they served as house parents at Kurn Hattin Homes in Westminster, where he was also the director of physical education. Leaving Kurn Hattin, he went to his first love, farming, and raised potatoes for 25 years. Leaving farming, he went to work in the school system, first as a bus driver and custodian at Bellows Falls High School and then spending 20 years as groundskeeper for Bellows Falls Union High School, retiring in 1994. Over the years, he served as Police Chief and Tax Collector for the Village of Westminster. He was a member of the Windham County Sheriff's Department and the Westminster Volunteer Fire Department, and served on the Westminster Institute Board of Directors. He was a member of the Vermont Football Officials Association and the New England College Football Association, officiating in high school and college games for many years. He was a life member of the Bellows Falls Elks Club, the Polish-American Club of Bellows Falls, the American Legion of Bellows Falls and Venice, the VFW in Englewood, Fla., and the Bellows Falls Moose Club. While living in Venice, he was an active member in the Military Order of the Devil Dogs and Toys for Tots. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; a son, Gregory and his wife, Joan, of Westminster; daughter Raynie Laware and her husband, John, of Walpole, N.H. He is also survived by four grandsons, eight great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, and brothers Bill and George. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held at a later date at the convenience of the family. Donations to the Congregational Church of Westminster, P.O. Box 122, Westminster, VT 05158.
• Nancy E. Howe, 82, of Vernon. Died Jan. 2 at her home. She was born to Perley and Viola Philbrick of Keene N.H., on Aug. 27, 1935. Her survivors include her children, Faith Jobin, with whom she lived, Ginger Jackson of Winchester, N.H., Roger Jackson of Keene, and Andrew Jackson Jr. of Winchester. She had 10 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren; three surviving brothers, Perley, Artie, and Frank Philbrick; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws. She is predeceased by her sister Anne Hubbard and her brothers Kenneth Philbrick and John Dounovant. Throughout her life, she worked at many places including Erving Paper Mill, Schoolhouse Grocery, Against the Grain Gourmet, and served as a domestic engineer for many clients that became her extended family. One of her great joys was her community. She loved greeting children dressed as the Easter Bunny for the town of Vernon's annual Easter Egg Hunt. She spent time volunteering with the Vernon Fire Department in many different roles. She will be remembered by her family for her legendary apple brownies, providing mountainous Jacuzzi bubblebaths to her granddaughters, giving scratch tickets for stocking stuffers on Christmas, overcooking food, losing track of where she watched the Easter Bunny place the eggs, and her forays in keeping backyard critters. Memorial information: A celebration of her life was held at the Winchester VFW on Saturday, Jan. 13. 2018. The family is collecting stories about her life. Do you have one? If so, please tell them. Log onto the American Cancer Society Mosaic web page at main.acsevents.org/site/TR/Events/MosaicofHope?pxfid=2293923&fr_id=9910&pg=fund, and enter a story to share with her family and friends.
• Thomas Peter “Tom” Manning, 73, of Boca Raton, Fla. Died Dec. 30, 2017 after a brief hospitalization. Born in Springfield, Mass., on Oct. 15, 1944 to Thomas and Mary Manning (Palpini), both deceased. Tom is survived by his siblings, Richard Manning, Sandra Waldo, and Marylou Allen, as well as his son, Robb Manning. His passions were nature and sports, be it paddling on Vermont waters observing eagles, or watching pelicans fish the beaches of Boca Raton. He and beloved girlfriend Ellen Yeagle enjoyed time cheering on the Patriots and Red Sox. Tom lived in Brattleboro and worked at the Brattleboro Retreat for over 25 years. His insight and expertise helped many regain healthy and recovering lives. He helped create the Uniformed Service Program. He was an active and loved member of A.A., sharing his 35 years of recovery, experience and hope with those who needed it. He touched many lives and will surely be missed. He served his country in Vietnam as a member of the Marine Corps and was awarded a Purple Heart during his service. As many others did, he joined the Vietnam Veterans Against the War after his return to the states. Deeply compassionate with his service peers, he volunteered to work with homeless veterans finding homes and other support for them. Memorial information: A Celebration of Life gathering will be held at 6 p.m., on Jan. 27, 2018, at the Saturday Night Live AA meeting at the First United Methodist Church in Brattleboro. A military burial ceremony is planned at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph in the spring. Donations can be made to Turning Point, 39 Elm St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, call 802-257-5600. For more information, contact Michael B. at 802-579-8923.
• Rose M. Stone, 89, formerly of Whitingham. Died Jan. 2, 2018 at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend. She was born on March 25, 1928 in Readsboro, the daughter of the late John and Florence (Bosley) LaCross. Her family moved to Griswoldville, Mass. She graduated from Arms Academy in Shelburne Falls, Mass., and then worked at Kendall Textile Mills in Griswoldville, then Vermont Hardwoods in Readsboro, G.S. Precision in Wilmington, Mount Snow. and then retired from Coombs Maple Products in January 1995. She married Robert “Buster” Berard in 1947 in Readsboro, where they lived on the family farm. Buster died in 1988. In 1993, she married Clayton Stone and moved to Whitingham. Clayton died in January 2015. In September 2017, she moved to the Holton Home in Brattleboro. She enjoyed crafts, reading, especially romance novels, cooking and watching television and was a longtime member of the South Readsboro Community Club. She was known by her fiestiness and love for her family. She is survived by her children Barry Berard of Readsboro, Jeannette Taylor (Frank) of Crossville, Tenn., and Rose Holcomb (Michael) of Wardsboro; stepson Dana Stone of Whitingham; and two stepdaughters, eight grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides her two husbands, she was also preceded in death by siblings Louis, James, and Catherine, a daughter, Ina Rose in infancy, son Robert Berard, Jr. and grandson David Holcomb. Memorial information: Graveside funeral services will be announced in the spring. Donations to the Whitingham Ambulance Service, in care of Covey-Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363.