College news
• Lia Clark, a member of the Class of 2023 from Saxtons River, Alex Shriver, a member of the Class of 2025 from Brattleboro, and Broden Walsh, a member of the Class of 2026 from Marlboro, were all named to the Dean's List for the spring 2022 semester at Tufts University in Medford, Mass.
Transitions
• Brattleboro Savings & Loan has promoted Karen Fortier to the post of Deposit Operations Manager, handling programs such as online banking, deposit capture, ATMs, and cash management. Fortier has been a part of BS&L for seven years, working in a number of different customer-facing roles including branch manager for both the Putney Road and Main Street locations. She has 26 years of banking experience, working with mortgages, commercial banking, and customer service, and will be using all that experience in this new position. A longtime resident of Vermont, Fortier lives in West Dover with her family and friends, and, she says, with “a whole lot of nature, which I need to be happy in life.”
• Grace Cottage Family Health in Townshend has two new mental health providers.
Meredith Kenyon, LICSW, previously practiced in Somerville and Greenfield, Mass., and with the Brattleboro Retreat. She specializes in providing treatment for substance use disorders and people with dual diagnoses and uses elements of mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, and motivational interviewing in her practice.
Elise Kraus, PMHNP-BC, has 20 years of health care experience. A recent nurse practitioner graduate of Maryville University, she completed her clinical rotations at Grace Cottage and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Kraus provides trauma-informed and LGTBQIA+ focused care. Before joining the Grace Cottage team, she worked as an HIV Nurse Clinician for Dartmouth Health and as an RN for Planned Parenthood, the Vermont Department of Corrections, and Maplewood Nursing Home in Westmoreland, N.H.
Obituaries
• Beverly Ann (Smith) “Bev” Covey, 53, of Marlboro. Died July 24, 2022 in her home, alongside her dog Coffee Cup. She was born Dec. 17, 1969, and loved to ride horses and compete in horse shows. She won a saddle when just 4 years old, and was a amazing rider. Bev loved her dogs and horses as much (and sometimes more) than her children. She loved to have a good time playing cards, hanging out fishing with her dogs, and enjoying time with her family and grandchildren. She touched so many lives as a loving mother, daughter, and friend. Beverly leaves behind her two children, Monica Covey and son in-law Michael Smith, and David Covey and daughter-in-law Joclyn Clark; her mother, Maggie Smith; grandparents Violet Howard and David Johnson; her brother Josh (Donald) Smith; sister-in-law Heather Momaney; and grandchildren James, Kyle, and Logunn Turner, Raymond Smith, Aaliyah Clark, and Payton Covey. She also leaves a bunch of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Memorial information: A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.
• Ronald J. Hall Sr., 76, of Brattleboro. Died peacefully on June 29, 2022, surrounded by his immediate family. Many people knew Ron as the talented singer, or the constant comedian of endless “dad jokes,” or as an unpublished author of many Christian theology books or as an amazing trumpet player. But all knew him as a man of endless faith and love. Born on May 27, 1946 in Detroit to Jacob and Edith Hall, Ron was raised in Livonia, Mich., and graduated from Franklin High School in 1963. He attended Walsh Institute of Accounting for a year and then changed his studies and attended Nyack Missionary College in Nyack, N.Y. In 1965, he married the love of his life, Dorothy Call in Butler, Pa. Ron then graduated from Nyack College and they moved to Illinois so he could attend Trinity Seminary. He graduated Cum Laude in 1974. His first pastorate was in Aurora, Colo., but they soon were going to make another move when they found out they were expecting their first and only child. Ronald Hall Jr. was born in Butler, Pa. in 1975. The new family then moved to Yorktown Heights, N.Y., where Ron would assume the pastoral duties at Yorktown Christian and Missionary Alliance Church. But after just a few years, Ron's health, both mental and physical, had taken a heavy toll and he made the decision to move the family back to Butler to be closer to friends and family. He never pastored another church again. In 1987, the family moved to Brattleboro. Though he worked for several years at Bridgeport Metals in Hinsdale, N.H., and Newsbank in Chester, he ultimately had to resign from working and went on medical disability. He and Dorothy lived together at Bradley House in Brattleboro for many years before he was transferred alone to Crescent Manor Nursing Home in Bennington three years ago. He was a member of Grace Community Evangelical Free Church in West Chesterfield, N.H. In July 2021, he lost his wife of 56 years. Ron would spend the next 11 months trusting in his faith that he would be reunited with his soulmate soon. He is survived by his son Ronald and daughter-in-law Sonya Hall of Brattleboro and his precious granddaughter Zoey Hall of Lee, N.H. Ron is also survived by his only sister, Ruth Euler, and her husband Glen Euler of Brighton, Mich. Memorial information: In accordance with his wishes, the immediate family will have a private ash scattering service.
• Charles Spencer “Chuck” Rogers, 82, of Brattleboro. Died June 8, 2022. He was born on Jan. 13, 1940 in Columbus, Ohio, the son of Marian (Spencer) Rogers and Thomas A. Rogers. As a young man, his life was full of adventures and escapades shared with many friends along the way. Charles grew up during World War II and the McCarthy era in conservative Newark, Ohio. He excelled at chemistry in high school and was one of the top chemistry students in the state. As a young man, he played many pranks with his friends. Using a chemistry set in his parents' basement, he made rockets and sent them into the neighboring fields and across town. He told stories about Gerald Ford, his father's good friend from the Navy, frequently visiting their home before he became President of the United States. He also spoke of Rose Kennedy staying at their home during her campaign visits. Charles remembered playing pool and other games in the third floor game room of his grandparents' mansion. He attended local schools in Newark, and then Denison University in Granville, Ohio, making lifelong friends wherever he went. He stayed in touch with friends from childhood, college, and the Marine Corps, as well as co-workers until his last days. He excelled at the lost art of letter writing by hand. He was a letter writer extraordinaire and, when computers became popular, he wrote email letters with his iPad. Chuck enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1959, and served honorably in Southeast Asia during the early days of the Vietnam War. He was assigned to the 3rd Marine Division/3rd Recon Battalion specializing in underwater recon, which often included long distance swimming in the ocean. He told stories of not being picked up in the water at the designated time and watching big fish swimming around him. When he returned to the states, he served as a Military Police officer at the Brig in Albany, Ga. After his honorable discharge in 1965, Chuck attended Boston University, Harvard University, and Antioch University New England in Keene N.H, earning an M.A. in psychology. He was living in Cambridge, Mass., during the 1960s - the era of great concerts, hippies, drugs, protests, riots and free love. He made a solo cross country trip on his motorcycle, enjoying many adventures on his journey. Over the years, Chuck worked at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Mass., Monadnock Family Services in Keene, Franklin Pierce College in Rindge, N.H., and Mental Health Services (now HCRS) in Brattleboro. As a psychotherapist, he helped many veterans who were challenged with PTSD. Leading veterans in therapy groups, Chuck facilitated healing from the traumas of war. His ability to connect with people on their level with empathy and compassion was very helpful. He is remembered fondly for his kind and caring nature. After retiring, Chuck volunteered to help many people in need. He would offer whatever he could: a ride or long distance bus fare, a hotel room, or food to any indigent person he encountered. He did this regularly for many years. Throughout his life, he was an avid reader, prolific poet, and creative photographer. Always carrying a memo pad and camera, Chuck wrote in his journals daily and in his younger days, would develop and print his photographs. Some of his poems and stories were published by Write Action in Brattleboro, which he participated in. Chuck hiked the trails and roads of Windham County. Into his later years, he could easily hike 16 miles in a day. He also had a special gift for the game of chess. Throughout his life, he was blessed with wonderful canine friends - Heidi, Snoochie, Gretchen, Tyrone, and Ginger - and had dreams of seeing his canine family members at the end of his life. Telling jokes and conviviality came naturally to Chuck. He frequented the former Moles Eye Cafe and would meet friends there, play chess, and converse. His sense of humor was infectious. He is greatly missed by his longtime best friend, life support caregiver Roxanne Morissette; his special friends: Charley Monette, John Rose, Tim Mayo, and Jim Liberman; and many other special people too numerous to mention. Charles is survived by his brother William B. Rogers (Linda), nephews David, John, Peter, and Tom; their children, cousins, and a special new addition to the family, Morey and his family. Memorial information: A remembrance of his life will be private and held at a future date. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society (www.windhamcountyhumane.org) or Groundworks (www.groundworksvt.org).
• Krimhilde Luise (Ziegler) Schneeberger, 88, of Wilmington. Died peacefully at home on July 29, 2022. Hilde was born June 4, 1934 in Gau-Algersheim, Germany to Arthur and Theresa (Berktold) Ziegler and was one of seven children. She lived and attended schools in Kempten in Bavaria. After secondary school, she studied nursing while attending La Pouponniere et L'Abri in Lausanne, Switzerland, where she learned to speak French. In 1963 she accepted a nursing position and opportunity to learn English in New York City, which is where she met her husband George, a Swiss native living in Vermont. They were married in Wilmington on July 16, 1966, and had a second ceremony a week later in Switzerland so that their families could attend. Together, they had two sons, Norman and Raymond. They settled in Vermont where Hilde continued her career as a Registered Nurse working at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and Eden Park Nursing Home. In 1970, she earned her U.S. citizenship, in which she had a great deal of pride. Hilde was an excellent cook and took pleasure in preparing dishes from her native Germany, especially the bread that she so often baked. She enjoyed gardening, canning and pickling vegetables, and making jams. She was an avid reader and liked mystery novels, sometimes joking that she was going to become a detective. She traveled frequently with George and had fond memories of their many adventures including trips to France, China, Egypt, Alaska, and Hawaii. Hilde was an incredibly supportive wife, mother and grandmother who cared deeply for her family. She was a compassionate person who could provide encouragement when it was needed the most. She will be missed by those who knew and loved her. In addition to George and her sons, she is survived by her grandchildren Hunter, Nicole, Mia, and Madison. Memorial information: As she requested, services will be private. Donations to the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital annual fund in care of Covey Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363. To send the family personal condolences, visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.
Services
• A celebration of the life of Diane Branigan Freiberger will be held Saturday, Aug. 20, at 11 a.m., at Hilltop Montessori School, 99 Stafford Farm Hill, Brattleboro. Mrs. Freiberger, 76, formerly of Brattleboro, died on June 26, 2022.