College news
• Davin Visconti of West Townshend and Nora Ward of South Londonderry were among 23 young Vermonters who Vermont’s congressional delegation is nominating to United States military service academies for the class of 2030. Visconti, who was nominated by U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch; and Ward, who was nominated by Sanders, Welch, and U.S. Rep. Becca Balint; both seek to be accepted at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. The five U.S. military academies provide tuition-free undergraduate education and training for individuals commissioning into the armed forces. As part of the application process, candidates must receive a nomination. While applicants may qualify through other political sources, a congressional nomination is the most common. Graduates of the military academies are commissioned into the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, or Space Force, with a five- to eight-year service obligation.
• Rei Kimura of Brattleborowas named to the fall 2025 semester Dean’s List at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.
• Grady Lockerby of Putney has been named to Southern New Hampshire University’s fall 2025 Dean’s List.
• Oscar Korson of East Dummerston was named to the fall 2025 Dean’s List at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
Obituaries
• Richard Snow Johnson Jr. of Hinsdale, New Hampshire, died peacefully Jan. 4, 2026, after a courageous six-year battle with cancer. He was surrounded by love and leaves behind a legacy of kindness, service, and deep devotion to family and community. Richard was born in Brattleboro, the son of Marjorie and Richard Snow Johnson. Though born across the river, Hinsdale was always his home. He was raised there and spent his entire life dedicated to the town he loved so deeply.He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Cathy Johnson (Wojchick); sons Richard Snow Johnson III and his wife Laura, and Michael Paul Johnson and his wife Meghan; daughter Emily Elizabeth Allen and her husband Matthew; and granddaughter, Evelyn Harper Allen. He is also survived by his siblings, David Johnson and his wife Mary; Susan Dejnak and her husband Peter; Robert Johnson and his wife Karen; and Nancy Wright. Richard was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, uncle, and grandfather, and was affectionately known as “Uncle Richard” even to those outside his family, a reflection of his welcoming and familial nature. Richard worked for 24 years at Hinsdale Raceway, later known as Hinsdale Greyhound Park. He spent the remainder of his professional career in the transportation and safety industries, retiring in August from GMH Transportation. He was a lifetime member of the Brattleboro Elks, served as a St. Michael’s School Board member, helped pioneer the development of the HCDIC, and was president of the Hinsdale Alumni Association for many years. An avid tinkerer, Richard was always working on a project. He had a lifelong love of electronics, especially speakers, and was an early adopter of the personal computer. He was a devoted New York sports fan, with a particular love for the Yankees. Richard cared deeply for Hinsdale and devoted decades of service to the town. He served for 30 years as Town Moderator and an additional six years as a Selectman. He valued fiscal conservatism and consistently focused on long term financial outcomes and sustainability for the community he loved. In his later years, Richard cherished traveling with his family, both domestically and abroad. His travels included the Outer Banks of North Carolina; York Beach, Maine; and the Adirondacks of New York. He also traveled internationally to Iceland, Germany, Italy, England, and France, experiences that brought him great joy and lasting memories. Known for his warmth, humor, and familiar phrase, “Keep the faith,” Richard was, above all else, a kind and gentle man. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and the many people whose lives he touched through his work, service, and friendship. Memorial information: Interment in the Johnson family lot in Pine Grove Cemetery will be private at a later date. Donations to the Hinsdale Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, in care of Ann Diorio, 588 Brattleboro Rd., Hinsdale, NH 03451. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Charles Murray, 85, formerly of Jamaica and West Townshend, died Jan. 6, 2026, in Grand Junction, Colorado, surrounded by loved ones. Charles was formerly an international banker at Morgan Guaranty Trust Company in New York City prior to moving to Vermont in 1978. Charles and his family owned and operated the Three Mountain Inn in Jamaica for 21 years, then lived in West Townshend for two more decades. He was active with the Jamaica Planning Commission. He enjoyed skiing at Stratton, walking in the woods, and spending time with family. Charles is survived by his wife Elaine, and daughters Kelley Murray, Claire Ninde, and Sarah Murray-Shiflet. Memorial information: None provided. Donations to Grace Cottage Hospital, P.O. Box 216, Townshend, VT 05353.
• Carolyn Muzzey, 91, of Westminster. Died January 3, 2026. She was born in Swanzey, New Hampshire, to Charles and M. Esther (Severens) Freihofer. Carolyn was the fourth child, following her brothers Charlie and the twins, Paul and Dale, all of whom have predeceased her. For many decades, Carolyn was employed as the executive secretary to the president of the J.H. Dunning Corporation in North Walpole, New Hampshire. In addition, she kept the books for the family farm, raised three children, took in mending, and sewed custom attire often for weddings. With minimal free time, Carolyn somehow found a few moments to play her beloved Wurlitzer piano. Her rendition of “The Tennessee Waltz” was haunting. Friends and family who stopped by for a dip in the pool or an evening of card playing would often be served her much-loved homemade apple pie coupled with a slab of sharp cheese. On many Saturday nights in the 1980s, Carolyn and her husband Warren could be found dancing at the Moose Club. She was a dedicated member of Women of the Moose and contributed to many fundraising efforts. Carolyn is survived by her husband of nearly seven decades, Warren Muzzey. Carolyn’s life was defined by kindness and generosity. She radiated a warmth that drew others to her. While Alzheimer’s cast a shadow over her final years, it could never diminish her gentle spirit. She is also survived by her sister, Judith Merchant of Gilsum, New Hampshire; her son, Warren “Ed” Muzzey of Londonderry; and her daughter, Jane (Robert) Kirkpatrick of Westminster; grandchildren Travis (Eliza) Mann, Caroline (Chris Stockwell) Kirkpatrick, Ali (Mike) Hamilton, and Rachael (Margaret Armstrong) Kirkpatrick; and four great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her youngest daughter, Debbie Mann. Memorial information: A funeral service will be held at Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home in Bellows Falls on Sunday, Jan. 18, at 1 p.m. There will be no calling hours. Donations to Westminster Cares, P.O. Box 312, Westminster, VT 05158.
• Grace “Gay” Gibson Newcomer, 96, of Westport Point, Massachusetts, formerly of Brattleboro. Died peacefully, surrounded by family and friends, at Saint Anne’s Hospital in Fall River, Massachusetts, Dec. 16, 2025. The daughter of former Vermont U.S. Senator, Governor and Federal Judge Ernest W. Gibson, Jr. and Dorothy Pearl (Switzer) Gibson of Brattleboro, Gay was the former wife of the late Sam H. Newcomer of Westport Point. She graduated from Brattleboro High School in 1947, and earned a B.A, from Vassar College in 1951 and an M.A. in teaching from Wesleyan University in 1968. Gay leaves behind her children: Eric Newcomer and wife Nadine Zubenko of New York City; Ariana Lise Newcomer of Westport Point; Kirsten Newcomer and husband James Horton of Bedford, Massachusetts; Tor Newcomer and wife Janet of Westport Point, and Anders Newcomer and wife Jennifer of Westport Point. Gay was grandmother to Erica Newcomer, Alex Newcomer, Jason Smidt, Morgan Smidt, Blake Newcomer, Nikola Newcomer, Dustin Plant, Sage Newcomer, and Emma Newcomer of Westport Point. She was great-grandmother to Craig Beausoleil and Eva Beausoleil. Gay was predeceased by her siblings, former Vermont Supreme Court Chief Justice Ernest W. Gibson III, and Robert and David Gibson, both former Secretaries of the Vermont Senate, and partners in the Gibson & Gibson law firm. She is survived by sisters-in-law Jeannine Nield, Charlotte Gibson, and Nancy Turgeon, as well as by many beloved nieces and nephews. Memorial information: A celebration of Gay’s life will be held Saturday, Feb. 7, at 1 p.m., at Potter Funeral Home in Westport, Massachusetts. Visitation will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., prior to the celebration of life. Donations to the Vermont Historical Society (vermonthistory.org) or Planned Parenthood (plannedparenthood.org).
• Gale Galati Stachelek, 80, of Wilmington, and New London, Connecticut. Died Dec. 2, 2025. She was predeceased by her husband, Bob, the love of her life, with whom she is reunited in spirit forever. Gale touched so many lives as a third-grade teacher at Griswold School in Berlin, Connecticut, where she taught for 35 years. She loved her students and created her “Super Citizen” program that spotlighted each child for a week of special events. Gale would give a bag full of candy and treats, have the class write compliments and positive messages, and invite the parents in to view the wonderful tribute to their child. Certainly many of her children will fondly remember those great days with “Mrs. Stack.” Gale was a dynamo who loved snow and water skiing, golf and playing games. She and her husband had many adventures: renting a vacation house full of mice, launching their boat without the plug engaged, wearing huge sleigh bells around their necks to keep bears away on walks, getting lost on a cross-country ski trail for four hours in a snowstorm, pitching their tent on a railroad track, feeding the foxes and hummingbirds in their backyard, and that fateful day when Gale hit a hole-in-one on a major South Carolina golf course (she loved that trophy). If she met you, you were “beautiful,” “a doll,” and a “new part of her family.” Gale had a heart of gold; she loved everyone and they loved her back. She was tremendously generous. No repairman ever left her house without a huge tip and handfuls of candy. She loved the Chimney Hill snow plow crew, the office staff, her grass mower, her house caretaker, and other workers like family. She had so many friends she loved: Maryann, Linda, Carol and more that she credited for keeping her alive after Bob’s death. She loved goofy hats, writing funny roasts for birthdays, and going to Mass and being together. Her family is devastated by her loss. Gale would always say, “You are a gift to my life,” but really she was a gift to to all her knew her. Gale leaves behind: her sister, Joan Ruitto, who graciously opened her doors to her and with whom she lived for two years after Bob’s passing; her sister and brother in law: Lynn and John Williams; her niece and nephew, Deb and Jim Scully; and many many friends. Memorial information: There will be a celebration of Gale’s life in the spring. Donations to Deerfield Valley Rescue. P.O. Box 85422, Wilmington, VT 05363 (dvrescue.org). She was forever grateful to them for the beautiful way they handled the tragic death of her husband when they were involved in a terrible car crash two years ago.
This Milestones item was submitted to The Commons.