Transitions
• Landmark College announced it has hired Cheryl Adolph as its next Vice President for Institutional Advancement. She will join the college this summer. For the past five years, Adolph has worked for the College of Staten Island, first as Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations and then most recently as Executive Director, a role that included oversight of the offices of Advancement, Alumni Relations, and Communications and Marketing.
• Kassie Rubico recently joined Berkley & Veller Greenwood Country Realtors of Brattleboro as a Vermont-licensed Realtor. Most recently, Rubico has taught college writing to students on probation at Northern Essex Community College, and is currently teaching “Changing Life Through Literature.” She now lives in Williamsville.
Obituaries
• Kendall George “Ken” Bailey, 88, of East Dover, and a former longtime resident of Suffield, Conn. Died April 11, 2021 at his home following an extended illness. He was born in Suffield on April 11, 1933, the son of George and Florence (Birge) Bailey. He was raised on the family farm in Suffield, attending Suffield public schools and was a graduate of Suffield High School, Class of 1950. He went on to proudly serve his country in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict, stationed stateside as a jet engine mechanic. He had been employed as a scientific glass blower for United Technologies in East Hartford, Conn., joining the company when it was United Aircraft. In 1988, he retired following 34 years of dedicated service. Active fraternally, Ken was a member of the Masons, Social Lodge 38 in Wilmington. He was a member of the South Newfane Baptist Church and former member of First Baptist Church of Agawam, Mass. He enjoyed tinkering on his 1946 Ford and attending regional antique and classic car shows. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting, snowmobiling, and sugaring every season. Additionally, he was an accomplished woodworker and liked repairing clocks. Family was important to him and he treasured day trips and time spent with his wife, Beulah Hazel “Bu” Tracy, whom he married in 1959. She predeceased him in 2019. Survivors include two sons, Scott Bailey and his wife, Deborah, of West Springfield, Mass., and Byron Bailey and his wife, Beth, of Suffield; four grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Ken was predeceased by brothers Harold, Carlton, and Douglas, and sisters,Barbara Marston, Gwendolyn Howe, Lois Wells, and Jeanne Webster. Memorial information: Graveside services will be conducted in the family lot in South Newfane Cemetery on Saturday, June 5, at 11 a.m. Donations to South Newfane Baptist Church, P.O. Box 58, South Newfane, VT 05351, or The Wardsboro Yoked Parish, in care of Darlene Rutnik, P.O. Box 248, Wardsboro, VT 05360. To share a memory or send condolences to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Dorothy H. “Dot” Belair, 96, of Brattleboro. Died peacefully April 19, 2021 at Pine Heights nursing home. Dot was born at home in Chesterfield, N.H., on Aug. 22, 1922, the daughter of Fred and Olive (Joslyn) Hunt. She was raised and educated in Brattleboro, graduating from Brattleboro High School with the Class of 1940. She had been employed as a sales associate for several Brattleboro area retail businesses that included Montgomery Ward, Sears Roebuck, Fireside True Value, and Central Parts Supply. In her earlier years, she worked at American Optical and at The Book Press. Very active fraternally, Dot held membership and was active with many Brattleboro area orders and societies that included: Brattleboro Detachment 798, Marine Corps League Auxiliary (Charter President, 2000); VFW Carl M. Dessaint Post 1034 Auxiliary (Life member); American Legion Post 5 Auxiliary (member since 1959, as well as an active Honor Guard member into her 80s); Disabled American Veterans, John Blake Chapter; F.O. Eagles, Brattleboro Aerie #2445 (Charter member); BPO Elks, Supreme Emblem Club 517; and Ladies Shrine Club, Niles Court 94, (Life member). Dot was extremely proud of those members of her family who served their country in the military and was equally proud to share highlights of other members of the family. She always spoke of them with love, appreciation and immense pride. Well known as a doer, staunchly independent and practical, she was sharp and quick witted, enjoying lively conversations. She was proud to support the troops during World War II, driving trucks on the home front while so many were at war. Dot continued this commitment from the Vietnam Era through to the Gulf War in her club work and being an active member of the area Yellow Ribbon Group. Dot's life centered around Brattleboro, her family, friends and clubs, but she treasured her memories and experiences traveling. Because of her son John's military career in the Navy, she and her late husband Joe were able to visit Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Scotland. In 2018, just short of her 96th birthday, she was awarded the title of Super Senior by WCAX. A 15 minute in-person video was recorded during and after the 4th of July parade in Brattleboro. In a review of that year, Dot was one of six whom the WCAX producers credited with gaining the most interest and applause. She enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, sewing, candlepin bowling, cooking, dancing, and her participation in her club work. On Dec. 24, 1959 in Brattleboro, she was married to Joseph Belair, who predeceased her in 1996. Survivors include three sons, Maurice Howard (Josephine) and Richard Hodgdon (Barbara) of Brattleboro, and John Hodgdon (Patty) of Pensacola, Fla.; 10 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, niece Joan Dwyer (Charlie) of Las Vegas, and others. She was predeceased by sisters Evelyn Dessaint, Myrtle Buzby, and Alice Batchelder. Memorial information: A private graveside service was held April 23 in Locust Ridge Cemetery. Donations to the Toys for Kids Program, in care of Brattleboro Detachment 798, Marine Corps League, P.O. Box 1942, Brattleboro, VT 05301. To send condolences to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Rita Mary Angelina Josephina Barbieri Bruce, 90, of Bellows Falls. Died April 12, 2021 at Springfield (Vt.) Health and Rehab. She was born Nov. 9, 1930, in Bellows Falls, daughter of Augusto and Mary (Datti) Barbieri. She attended St. Charles School and was a 1948 graduate of Bellows Falls High School. Following high school, she earned an associate's degree at Burdett College in Boston. Rita worked as the Rockingham Town Clerk from July 1981 to her retirement in November 1995. She was a member of St. Charles Church, Women of the Moose and the Bellows Falls American Legion. Rita loved her family, and her grandchildren were her pride and joy. In 1950, she married William Bruce, who predeceased her. She is survived by her daughter, Diane Stack and her husband, Keith; three grandchildren, Corina Anne, Austin William, and Isabel Marie; and many nieces and nephews. She was also predeceased by two brothers, William and Francis Barbieri. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held April 24, at St. Charles Catholic Church in Bellows Falls, with burial in St. Charles Cemetery in Westminster. Donations to the Bellows Falls Area Senior Center, 18 Tuttle St., Bellows Falls, VT 05101.
• Joyce (Bover) Cook, 91, of Southbridge, Mass., formerly of Brattleboro. Died peacefully on April 10, 2021 in the Southbridge Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center. She was born Feb. 6, 1930 in Brattleboro, the daughter of the late Harold G. and Anna (Gembarowski) Bover. Joyce started playing the piano at the age of 3. This passion continued throughout her life and took her to many venues. At 18, she had a jazz trio on Nantucket; in the 1970's she was employed as a harpsichordist at The Club 33 as well as a pianist at the Blue Bayou Restaurant in Disneyland in California. After this, she played a grand piano in the lobby of the South Coast Plaza Hotel in Costa Mesa, Calif. Her final “gig” was entertaining the residents of the Southbridge Rehab. Joyce did not have a mean bone in her body and was adored by everyone she met. Joyce was a friend of Bill W. for more than 60 years. She leaves two daughters, Abigail Veshia and her husband, Michael, of Southbridge. and Sydney O'Connor and her husband Jerome of Moultonborough, N.H.; two grandsons, Mark Denault and his wife April of Southbridge and James Denault of Framingham; her great granddaughter, Samantha Denault; two brothers, Raymond Bover and Douglas Bover and his wife Lynne; and two sisters, Irene Hull and Ann Reed. She was predeceased by Charles Bover, Peter Bover, Gloria Brooks and Beverly Kaye. Memorial information: Funeral services and burial will be private.
• Bruce Dittrich, 59, a former resident of Brattleboro and Spofford, N.H. Died April 18, 2021 at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington. At the time of his death, Bruce was a resident at the Bennington Health & Rehabilitation Center, following a lengthy period of declining health. He was born in Brattleboro on Aug. 18, 1961, the son of the late David and Joan (Cote) Dittrich. Bruce attended Chesterfield Elementary School and was a graduate of Keene High School, Class of 1980. Gifted in culinary arts, he had a talent for cooking and had worked at several Brattleboro restaurants that included The Steak Out and the Tavern Restaurant. He also volunteered as a cook at Camp Spofford. More recently, Bruce worked as custodian for Grace Community Evangelical Free Church in Chesterfield. In his youth, Bruce had a love for all things fast - cars, his motorcycle, and his boat. An ardent outdoorsman, he enjoyed gardening and snow and water skiing. He had an artistic eye and enjoyed drawing, painting, and, more recently, authored a book on poetry which was published in 2014. Bruce was known for his spirit of friendship and was always at ease around people. He enjoyed sharing stories about his fellowship with his church family at Grace Community Church. During his period of declining health, it was his deep faith in God that sustained him. Bruce was an inspiration to all who knew him and he will be missed by whose lives he touched. Survivors include a brother, Blake Dittrich (Wendy) of Virginia Beach, Va; and sisters Denise Woodman (Keith) of Swanzey, N.H., and Diana Menard (Brian) of Chichester, N.H. Additionally, he leaves five nephews, two nieces, seven great-nephews and two great-nieces. Memorial information: Graveside committal services in Friedsam Cemetery in Chesterfield Center will be private for the immediate family only. Donations to Joan's Pantry, 532 NH Route 63, Chesterfield, NH 03443; or to Camp Spofford, 24 Route 9-A, Spofford, NH 03462. To send condolences, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Frederick W. “Fred” Kendall Jr., 66, formerly of Brattleboro. Died unexpectedly April 13, 2021 at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Desoto in Southaven, Miss. He was born in Bellows Falls on Nov. 29, 1954, the son of Frederick and Beatrice (Stowell) Kendall. He was raised and educated in Brattleboro, attending public schools, including Brattleboro Union High School. Prior to retiring to Horn Lake, Tenn., he had been employed as maintenance supervisor for the Sugar Mill Mobile Home Park in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. While residing in Brattleboro, Fred worked as a truck driver for Dewitt Beverage Co., eventually becoming warehouse foreman. He also worked for the former Stan's Towing Service in Brattleboro. Fred loved music, especially Elvis Presley. He was a devoted longtime fan of Elvis which brought him and his wife to Horn Lake, near Memphis, Tenn. He had a dream of eventually securing a part-time position at Graceland, which he thoroughly enjoyed visiting. Additionally, Fred enjoyed riding his Harley-Davidson with his wife, hunting and was a classic and vintage car enthusiast, attending local and regional car shows. First and foremost, Fred held a deep love for his family and was a faithful and devoted husband, father, and grandfather who would do anything for his family. He will be remembered for his generosity and spirit of friendship, always willing to assist anyone in need. In 2002 in Memphis, he married the love of his life, Wendy Bell, who survives. Besides his loving wife of 18 years, he leaves his mother, Beatrice Kendall of Brattleboro; three daughters, Tonia Newton and husband, Scott, and their daughters Anna Bella, Astrid, and Aurora; Heather Martocci and her son, Paul; and Felicia Kendall and her sons Brendan, Damien, and Reedy, all of Brattleboro; three brothers, Michael, Barry and Glenn, all of Brattleboro; one sister, Kathy King of Brattleboro; two half-brothers, Curtis and Edward Kendall; and a half-sister, Michele Johansen. Additionally, he is survived by many nieces, nephews and several cousins. Besides his father, he was predeceased by a sister, Sheila McClure. Memorial information: A memorial gathering in celebration of his life will be held in Brattleboro at a future date. Donations to Ride for Heroes, in care of The Brattleboro Retreat, Attn: USP Development Office, P.O. Box 803, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To send condolences, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Freda Mann, 98, formerly of Brattleboro. Died peacefully, with family members by her side, at her home in Maine on Dec. 21, 2019. Freda was predeceased by her husband, Ivan, and daughters Cynthia and Elizabeth. She is survived by her daughter Jennifer and grandchildren Nason, Lauren, David, and Lisa. Freda was born and raised as the sixth of 10 children on a farm in Pipestone, Manitoba. She maintained close relations with her family throughout her life and never missed a yearly trip back to Canada to visit. During World War II, Freda met and married her husband, Sgt. Ivan Mann, then of the Royal Canadian Air Force. They moved to his hometown of Campbellton, New Brunswick, but soon moved to Brattleboro, where Ivan's aunt and uncle were living and became U.S. citizens. Freda worked with the telephone company until she retired, then worked as a receptionist at The Brattleboro Retreat until well into her 80s. Never idle, Freda spent her later years baking, traveling, gardening, and watching baseball. Freda was a strong and independent woman who lived a full life, instilling a healthy work ethic and strong values in her family. Memorial information: A graveside celebration of her life (delayed because of the pandemic) will be held at Morningside Cemetery in Brattleboro on June 5 at noon.
• Edward Willard “Ed” Petrie, 87, of West Guilford. Died April 17, 2021 at Charlene Manor Convalescent Center in Greenfield, Mass., following a period of declining health. Ed was born at home on Hinesburg Road on Jan. 15, 1934, the son of Walter E. and Etta J. (Akeley) Petrie. He was raised in West Guilford, attending Guilford public schools and later attending Brattleboro High School. He went on to proudly serve his country in the Army with the peacekeeping troops stationed in Korea at the close of that Conflict. Following his honorable discharge, he returned home to Guilford. Ed worked his entire career as a farmer, employed at various farms in the Guilford/Brattleboro area. During his younger years, he worked as a logger. A devoted family man, he dedicated a good portion of his life as caretaker of his mother during her later years up until her death in 1996. He was fearlessly independent and had a stubborn streak, but he was also known for his spirit of friendship. Ed was a quiet, somewhat private, unassuming man, always willing to help anyone in need. He lived his entire life in his childhood home adjacent to the old blacksmith's shop. He enjoyed the outdoors, chopping firewood with his nephews every fall, and collecting antiques, tractors, and trucks. He had several old classics parked in his yard. Survivors include a sister, Lorretta “Jane” Slicer, of LaFargeville, N.Y., many nieces and nephews whom he loved and would do anything for, and several great-nieces and great-nephews. He was predeceased by sisters Shirley Franklin and Frieda Franklin and brothers Herman and Richard Petrie. Memorial information: Graveside committal services in West Brattleboro Cemetery on Mather Road will be held later this spring. Donations to the Guilford Volunteer Fire Department, 108 Guilford Center Rd., Guilford, VT 05301. To send condolences, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Rose Alice Newell (Stoodley), 70, of Titusville, Fla. Died April 7, 2021, surrounded by her beloved family, from respiratory failure due to COVID-19. She was born Aug. 21, 1950 in Springfield, Vt., the daughter of Frank E. Stoodley Sr. and Rosalin (Leary). She was a 1969 graduate of Bellows Falls High School. In 1974, Rose Alice married Paul Newell, who predeceased her. She is survived by her beloved son, Daniel Newell Rennie and his wife Shauna; granddaughter Ariel Rennie and great-granddaughter Hurley Rennie of Titusville; daughter-in-law Janel Baker and her son Jimmy; brothers Frank E. Stoodley Jr. and his son ,Jeffrey, Michael Stoodley and his wife, Debora, of Bellows Falls, and John T. Stoodley and his wife, Suzanne, of Westminster; sister Joan Edwards (Stoodley) of Plant City, Fla.; sister-in-law Margaret Badger of Manchester, Vt.; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by brothers Donald Badger and James Stoodley, brothers-in-law John Black and Royal Edwards, and a son Richard Newell. Rose Alice worked many years as a server at Fat Boy's BBQ prior to her retirement. For the past six years, she was a snowbird and traveled back to Vermont and spent the summers at her baby brother John T's home. She spent countless hours visiting with her brothers, nieces and nephews, and dear friends “On the Porch,” while passers-by would toot their car horns to acknowledge a friendly hello. She was truly radiant, beautiful, loving and a bright light to all who knew her, especially on the dance floor. She will truly be missed at the BF Alumni weekend dance at the American Legion Hall. Her infectious laughter and the way she loved will never be forgotten. She was a kind soul to everyone and anyone she encountered in her life. Memorial information: A celebration of her life will be held May 1 in Titusville, and also that day at her brother's John T's home, 7836 US Route 5, Westminster, from 1 p.m. until when the fire pit light burns out.
• Noah Axum Shapiro, 51, of Springfield, Vt., formerly of Brattleboro. Died April 18, 2021 at the Springfield Health & Rehabilitation Center, following an extended illness. Noah was born in Brattleboro on March 12, 1970, the son of Howard S. and Dianne (Williams) Shapiro. He was raised and educated in Brattleboro, graduating from Brattleboro Union High School with the Class of 1989. While at BUHS. he was a semi-finalist in the statewide Chrysler Motors Trouble Shooting Contest. He went on to attend Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Pa., where he received his associate's degree in auto mechanics. He had been employed as a mechanic and truck driver for several service stations and in the family business. Noah also operated a small auto parts business until he was disabled in 2002 by mental illness. He had a deep passion for vehicles and also enjoyed playing ice hockey. Survivors include his mother, of Brattleboro, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was predeceased by his father and his sister, Portia “Poppy” Shapiro. Memorial information: Graveside services were conducted April 22 in the family lot in the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community Cemetery. Donations to the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community, P.O. Box 2353, Brattleboro, VT 05303, or the Windham County Humane Society, PO Box 916, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To share a memory or send condolences, visit www.atamaniuk.com.