College news
• Travis Elliott of Dummerston was named to the Dean's List at Brooklyn (N.Y.) Law School for the spring 2019 semester. Elliot has completed his second year at Brooklyn Law.
Transitions
• Brattleboro Savings & Loan recently promoted Eric Macayan to Assistant Branch Manager at their Putney Road location. Macayan, who has been with BS&L since 2017, has been a Saturday Supervisor in recent months at both Brattleboro offices, in addition to his role as Universal Banker. He has more than a decade of experience in customer service and a B.A. from the Bicol University College of Arts and Letters in the Philippines. He lives in Vernon, where he enjoys hiking and photography.
• Teddy Kramer has joined Berkley & Veller Greenwood Realtors of Brattleboro as a licensed real estate agency. A native of Brattleboro, Kramer will work with buyers and sellers to assist with their real estate needs.
• Members 1st Credit Union of Brattleboro recently elected a new slate of officers at their annual meeting. They are: David Cotton, chair; Stephen Clark, vice-chair; Judith Wisell, treasurer; Tami Gray, secretary. The directors are Amanda Smith, Bill Harvey and Betty Chamberlin (president). Established in 1957 to serve employees of Brattleboro Industries (which later became The Book Press), the credit union now has more than 2,000 members and $15.5 million in assets.
Obituaries
• Helen P Adams, 76, of Bellows Falls. Died July 14, 2019. Helen was born in Brattleboro on Feb. 26, 1943, the daughter of Howard and Lillian (Hall) Adams. She attended grade school in Chester and had fond memories of being a little girl there. Her family moved to Bellows Falls when she was still very young and has lived there ever since. Helen resided for many years at Country Village Community Care and, most recently, at Sterling House in Bellows Falls. She worked at Basketville in Putney and Vermont Academy in Saxtons River. Helen enjoyed her daily walks around the village of Bellows Falls and daily visits to the Dari Joy for ice cream. Helen is predeceased by her parents and her brother Howard. Memorial information: There will be a memorial service on Wednesday, Aug. 7, at 11 a.m., at Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home in Bellows Falls, with burial to follow in the North Street Cemetery in Chester.
• Lillian Pearl (Hubbard) Brigham, 92, of Colrain, Mass. Died at home, surrounded by her son and friends, on July 13, 2019. She was born in Warwick, Mass., on April 4, 1927 to Rolland Walter Hubbard and Irene Effiy Woodbury. In 1945, she married Harold K. Brigham and took up residence in Colrain on Harold's family farm. She and Harold had two children, Chrystal and Bradley. Lillian spent much of her early life with her father, living in various lumber camps throughout southern Vermont. She attended primary schools in Halifax and Whitingham, and graduated high school in Keene, N.H. She matriculated at Keene State Teachers College in 1942 and graduated with an elementary teaching degree in 1946. She went back to school nights and earned a master's degree in geography and social studies in 1970. She taught at the Crittenden School in Buckland, Mass., in the 1950s and retired from the Greenfield School System in 1987, where she taught grades 4-6 for more than 30 years. In retirement, she became famous for her pies and bread & butter pickles, which she sold at craft fairs and out-of-the-house. In addition, she loved to read and travel. Survivors include her son Bradley, several cousins and one nephew. She was predeceased by her husband Harold, her daughter Chrystal, and her sister Roberta. Memorial information: Graveside services were held July 17 at North River Cemetery in Colrain. Memorial contributions may be made to the following: Halifax Union Society, 44 Stowe Mtn Rd., PO Box 108, Halifax, VT 05358, or Eastern Draft Horse Assoc., 738 East Side River Rd., Milan, NH 05358. Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home of Shelburne Falls, Mass.
• Michael J. Shaughnessy, 51, of Bellows Falls. Died Thursday, July 11, 2019. He was born in Bellows Falls on Dec. 19, 1967, the son of the late Frederick and Beverly (Fontaine) Shaughnessy. He was a 1986 graduate of Bellows Falls Union High School and a 1988 graduate of Champlain College, he worked as the finance manager for the Windham Regional Commission for more than 30 years. He also served as adjutant and finance committee chair for American Legion Post 37. He served as president of the Bellows Falls Downtown Development Alliance for 10 years, was on the Diversion Board for 10 years, was on the finance board and cemetery board for St. Charles Church, and was at the St. Charles Adoration Chapel every Wednesday morning for many years. He was also chairman of the Make A Wish golf tournament for 20 years, helping raise more than $325,000. He coached Little League, Walpole softball, and CYO basketball. In 2005, he married Tracie Chickering, who survives. Also surviving are his children, Ryan and Jordan; his sister Judi Cray and her husband, Kevin; and his nephews Michael Cray and his wife Rachel and Jason Cray. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held July 20 at St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls, followed by burial in the St. Charles Cemetery. Donations to Make A Wish LMP Classic, in care of Tracie Shaughnessy, P.O. Box 834, Bellows Falls, VT 05101.
• Raymond Ronald “Ray” Van, 83, of Readsboro. Died July 15, 2019 at Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center, after a short illness. Born Nov. 25, 1935, he worked at the Readsboro Chair shop. Ray was a charmer, could fall asleep anywhere, had a stubborn streak, and loved scrapping, chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting, pumpkin pie, old country music, and old westerns. Ray also loved his family home on the hill, the feel of sun on his face, and seeing how far he could go on long rides on his scooter. Ray was predeceased by his wife, Elizabeth, the love of his life and the most patient, kind woman he said he had ever met; his daughters Polly and Cindy; and his grandson, Christopher. He is survived by his granddaughter, Anna, great-grandkids Eddie, Elizabeth, and Christopher; and his nephew, Jackie. He had another family that adopted him into their family and he is survived by Brad, Erin, Kaelyn, and Brady Lackey. He is also survived by his very special friends Debra Cox, Brianna O'Hearn, and Joshua Carpenter-O'Hearn. Memorial information: Ray requested that donations in his memory be made to Kayla's Playground, P.O. Box 922, Jacksonville, VT. To post a tribute in memory of Ray, visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.
• Edna Edith Wunsch, 86, formerly of Hinsdale, N.H. Died July 17, 2019 at Vernon Green Nursing Home, following a period of declining health. Born in West Townshend on July 18, 1932, the daughter of Robert J.J. and Wanda (Johnson) Johnson, she was raised and educated in Brattleboro where she attended local schools. In 1953, she married Edward F. Wunsch. Her faithful and devoted husband of 65 years predeceased her on Aug. 9, 2018. She prided herself on being a devoted homemaker, but did work at several area companies throughout the years that included the former Future Biotics Company in Brattleboro, Tempstat Corporation of Hinsdale, and at Walmart where she was employed in the ladies department. Steadfast in her lifelong walk of faith, she was a member of the North Hinsdale Community Church, where she served as a deaconess. Additionally, she was a member of the Brattleboro American Legion Post 5 Auxiliary. Edna will be remembered for her humility, kindness, generosity, and spirit of friendship. She always put others before herself. Her life centered around God, and her family. She enjoyed gardening, birdwatching, and completing crossword puzzles. She was also an avid reader, and always had a book in her hand. Survivors include one daughter, Paula Howe and her husband, Stephen, of Hinsdale; two sons, Theodore “Ted” Wunsch and his wife, Kelly, of Vernon, and Edward Wunsch and his partner Marcia of Claremont, N.H.; one brother, Robert J.J. Johnson, Jr. of Hinsdale; a half-brother, Richard Johnson of Williamsville, and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and a great-great granddaughter. Additionally, she leaves several nieces and a host of friends. Edna was predeceased by a daughter, Sheila Wunsch; a grandson, Jacob Wunsch; and a half-sister, Shirley Martin. Memorial information: A memorial service in celebration of her life will be conducted Thursday, July 25, at 11 a.m., at the Vernon Advent Christian Church. A reception will follow the services to be held at the church. She will be laid to rest next to her husband and daughter in Pine Grove Cemetery in Hinsdale. Donations to the North Hinsdale Community Church, 105 Meeting House Rd., Hinsdale, NH 03451, or to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To sign an online register book with messages of condolence to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.