College news
• The following local residents were honored for academic achievement in the fall 2021 semester at Clark University in Worcester, Mass.: Morgan K. Brooke-deBock, Lucy M. Szpila, Freddie G. Learey, and Liam R.S. Kennedy of Brattleboro; Nicholas M. Mitchell, Andrew M. Foster, and Jack T. Langeloh of Putney; Max H. Spicer of South Newfane; and Julianne L. Liebow, of Townshend.
• Ella Warner of Putney was named to the Dean's List for the fall 2021 semester at the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford, Conn.
• Lia Clark of Saxtons River, Emilia Dick Fiora Del Fabro of Brattleboro, and Alex Shriver of Brattleboro were all named to the Dean's List for the fall 2021 semester at Tufts University in Medford, Mass.
• Neil Thorley of Londonderry and Molly O'Brien of Vernon were both named to the Dean's List for the fall 2021 semester at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine.
• Luke Williams of Guilford made the Dean's List at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston for the fall 2021 semester.
Obituaries
• Bert John Crossman, 57, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died Dec. 28, 2021 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital due to complications from COVID-19. Bert was born in Claremont, N.H., on October 28, 1964, the son of Robert A. Crossman and Lorraine M. Schultz. He was raised and educated in Brattleboro, graduating from Brattleboro Union High School with the class of 1982. He proudly served his country in the Navy for 29 years, including during Operation Desert Storm in 1990-91. Following his honorable discharge, he attended ITT and Phoenix College, where he earned his associate's degree. For the past year, Bert worked as a school bus monitor for F.M. Kuzmeskus with his two sisters and nephew. He moved back to Vermont after living in California for 30 years. Bert enjoyed cooking, watching cooking shows, art, and hanging out with family that he missed for so long. Bert also very much enjoyed talking about his sons. He was extremely proud of them. Bert is survived by his two sons, Robert N. Martin and Zach Crossman; his sisters, Carlene Davis, Roberta Crossman-Whitman, Debra C. Crossman, and Kim Towle; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and his older brother, Marlin F. Paquette. Memorial information: In honor of Bert's final wishes, there are no formal funeral services scheduled. A small and private celebration of his life was held for the immediate family at the Hinsdale VFW. To send condolences to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Teresa Louise “Terri” (Curtis) Elliott, 62, formerly of Brattleboro. Died Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, after a brave struggle with COVID-19, at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Plymouth, Mass. Terri was born in Rutland on March 9, 1959. Her family moved to Brattleboro shortly thereafter and she attended Brattleboro schools, graduating from Brattleboro Union High School in 1977. After graduation, Terri attended several semesters at Greenfield (Mass.) Community College. Terri worked in the Brattleboro area for several years after college and lived in New England all of her life. She moved to Massachusetts in 1987. Her last residence was the Pine Hills area of Plymouth, moving there in 2018. Terri spent 18 years, the bulk of her professional career, working at Avalon Bay Properties in Boston as executive assistant to CEO Bryce Blair, retiring in 2010. In 2011, she married J. Michael “Mike” Elliott of Brattleboro, who predeceased Terri in 2018. Terri was known as an affectionate and generous person, with a vivacious personality and a magnetic ability to draw people into her life. She had many lifelong friends. In the four years she lived in Pine Hills, she was well-known and loved by many in the neighborhood. Terri was also known for her love of animals and attended many Jack Russell show trials in New England and the northeast with her terriers over the years. She donated a good deal of her time to issues involving dogs and cats. Having no children of her own, her pets became her children. Terri was fortunate enough to find love again with John T. Smith and became engaged to him several months before contracting Covid. Terri was predeceased by both of her parents, Richard and Dolores (Zullo) Curtis. She is survived by a brother, Michael Curtis and his wife Rebecca of Canton, Ga.; a sister, Lynn Curtis and her husband, Lt. Col. Terrance Portman (USMC, Ret.) of Lee's Summit, Mo.; nieces Lauren (Curtis) Bowling, her husband, Bo, and their children Caden and Eva of Woodstock, Ga., Lindsey Curtis of Johns Creek, Ga., and Samantha Curtis and her children Brayden and Rocco Portman of Lee's Summit, Mo. Terri also leaves behind numerous cousins and will be sorely missed at Zullo family reunions. Memorial information: A memorial service was held Feb. 21 at Atamaniuk Funeral Home in Brattleboro, Donations to the charity of one's choice. To send condolences to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Kenneth David “Bubba” Giroux, 42, of Guilford. Died Feb. 11, 2022, with his parents and sister by his side, following a long-term illness. Born on Jan. 29, 1980 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, he attended schools in Jamaica, Guilford, and Brattleboro, graduating from Brattleboro Union High School in 1999. During high school, he participated in the Explorers/Junior Police program in hopes of becoming a policeman after graduation. He lived most of his life in the Brattleboro area, working for several local businesses. He had a huge heart, always wanting to help others, which was evident in his career choices. He was most proud of working for Hunter North as a security officer and being on the Rockingham Volunteer Fire Department. He was a huge WWE fan, as well as a fan of the Red Sox and Patriots. He enjoyed fishing with his great-grandfather, gaming, watching movies and sports, cooking and, most of all, spending time with family and friends. He was always up for a pig roast or barbecue. Ken is survived by his parents, Victor and Nancy Giroux of Guilford; a sister, Melissa Mullarkey and her husband, Bobby, of Colchester; his cherished nieces, Nicole Garneau and Rachel Mullarkey, also of Colchester; and Michael Fournier of Hinsdale, N.H. He is also survived by his devoted grandmothers, Vivian Dubiel (with whom he lived), of Guilford and Beverly Warren of Dunnellon, Fla. He had a large extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins who loved him dearly. He was preceded in death by one brother, Gary Allen, who died at birth, and his beloved dog, Neko. Memorial information: A funeral service for Kenneth will be held in the spring. Donations to the Guilford Volunteer Fire Department or to Rescue Inc. Both organizations were instrumental in Ken's ability to live independently for so long.
• Phyllis A. Pickering, 79, of Drewsville, N.H. Died Feb. 9, 2022 at her home, surrounded by her family. Phyllis was born March 6, 1942 in Windsor, Vt., the daughter of Lewis and Lily (Green) Adams. Phyllis attended Walpole High School and graduated in the Class of 1960. She married Russell E. Pickering in 1960. In addition to raising a family and taking care of her home, Phyllis worked at several local businesses, including Gerry's IGA, the Bellows Falls Trust Company, and most recently the Bellows House Bakery. She was an active member of the First Congregational Church of Walpole, holding several leadership positions in its Women's Fellowship group. Phyllis also was active with the Walpole Seniors and earlier in her life was a proud member of the Bellows Falls Terriers' Booster Club. Phyllis is survived by her husband, Russell, and her children Tony Pickering, Terry and her husband, Kenneth Hodgdon, Tom and his wife, Karen Pickering, and Tyler Pickering. She is also survived by her sister, Lynn Kimball, and her five grandchildren, Nicole, Aaron, Jason, Katherine, and Brianna. Phyllis was predeceased by her parents. Memorial information: A service and burial will take place in the spring. Donations to the First Congregational Church of Walpole.
• Ann S. Phillips, 96, formerly of Orleans, Mass. Died on Feb. 5, 2022 at Vernon Green nursing home. Ann was the mother of four children: William F. Phillips, of Taftsville, Vt., Stephen R. Phillips, of Brattleboro, Mark A. Phillips, of Plainville, Mass., and Susan C. Ebbs, of Dover, Mass. Ann was always welcoming to other relatives and friends and many of them thought of her as a surrogate mother. Born in Keene, N.H., in 1925, to Hermine Trask Snyder and William M. Snyder, Ann graduated from Keene High School and then went on to Mary Hitchcock School of Nursing in Hanover, N.H., where she earned a degree in nursing. Ann lived in Needham, Mass., and in Nashua, N.H., finally settling in Orleans. Ann worked in a number of hospitals and then for more than 20 years served as the Orleans Town Nurse, a job she loved. She served in a dual role as Orleans Elementary School nurse and as a visiting nurse for the town's elderly and shut-ins. When she retired, she was honored as Town Person of the Year. After retirement, she enjoyed part–time work for the Nauset Workshop in Orleans and Brewster Mass., (now named Cape Abilities) a residential care facility serving individuals with disabilities. Even as a teenaged babysitter, Ann loved caring for children, so motherhood was a natural for her. When her children started having children, she criss-crossed New England for many years helping with her grandchildren. Ann was a crackerjack Scrabble player, and made the self-declared best chocolate cookies in the world. She loved bingo and mah-jong with her friends. She was a fun and caring friend to many. She gladly took an interest in anything that her children were interested in, including becoming a die-hard Tom Brady fan. A resident of Orleans for more than 50 years, Ann welcomed a parade of relatives and friends to visit her in her cozy Cape Cod home. She made many friends in Orleans and particularly enjoyed her friends at the Orleans Senior Center, where she spent much time in her later years. Ann moved to Brattleboro in 2018 and took up residence at the Holton Home, where she made many new friends, moving to Vernon Green at the end of her life. Ann was predeceased by her parents, a brother, William L. Snyder, a sister, Helen Costaras, her son-in-law Michael Ebbs and her ex-husband, Foster. Ann is survived by her children and their spouses, Sara Phillips, wife of Stephen, of Brattleboro, and Kathy Phillips, wife of Mark, of Plainville. Ann also leaves behind 11 grandchildren, Simon, Tessa, Zachary and Alexandra, Sam and Hannah, Catherine and Brian and Matthew, Seth and Benjamin, as well as six great-grandchildren, and also beloved nieces and their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Memorial information: Plans for a burial service in Nashua, N.H., will be made at a future date. Donations to Cape Abilities, 895 Mary Dunn Rd, Hyannis, MA 02601.
• Gary Arthur Wells, 69, a longtime resident of Chelmsford, Mass. Died peacefully on Monday, January 31, 2022 at Lowell (Mass.) General Hospital, surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of Pamela Ruth (Prouty) Wells, with whom he shared 40 years of marriage. Gary was born in Brattleboro on Dec. 23. 1952, the son of the late Winston “Brud” Kenmore and Ruth Ellen (Holden) Wells. Gary was a graduate of American International College. After graduating, he worked at Vermont National Bank in Brattleboro. Gary later took a position at Commercial Union Insurance Company in Boston and moved to Massachusetts where he started his family. Gary remained with the company until he retired in 2010. Gary loved spending time with family and visiting his hometown and reminiscing shared memories. He enjoyed the beach and never missed an opportunity to soak up the sun and get lost in a good read. He was a passionate sports fan with the gift of gab. His charm and genuine kindness turned everyone he met into a new friend. Gary was a man of strong faith and sang with his church choir, served as a Lector and served on both the Social Ministry and Mutual Ministry committees. He served the community by volunteering at the Lowell Transitional Living Shelter and the local libraries. In addition to his loving wife, Gary leaves his children; Matthew and Heather. He was a loving brother to Kimberly Mckay of Brattleboro and Linda Delano of Berlin, Conn. He will also be remembered as “Ho-Ho” by many nieces and nephews. His contagious laugh and comforting hugs will be remembered always. Memorial information: A Celebration of Life will be held for family and friends in Vermont in the spring. Donations to Trinity Lutheran Church in Brattleboro.