Obituaries, Seven Days

Shelburne woman exemplified "a life well lived with grace, love and beauty" Our beloved Doris Elizabeth Wheeler Jenkins, 96, passed away peacefully on April 29, 2020, at the McClure Miller Respite House, in Colchester, Vt. Everyone who knew Doris was blessed by her humor, generosity, spirit and joy. Born in Greenfield, Mass., on November 1, 1923, Doris was raised by her parents, Bert and Margaret Wheeler, alongside her older sister, Margaret. In 1946, she married the love of her life, Russell E. "Brom" Jenkins Jr., who predeceased her in 1987. She never married again. Theirs was a true love story, and they raised three children together — Donald, Nancy and Rosemary — in Rochester, N.Y. Education was very important to Doris — and she taught us so much, just through being with her and by her example. Her mother, who became a caregiver to her siblings at age 12 in Barre, Vt., instilled in her a vision and belief in the value of education. She continued that tradition by proudly providing financial support and encouragement to all nine of her grandchildren to earn college degrees. Doris’ wish was that this amazing legacy would continue through the generations. Singing and music also filled Doris’ home. Music is another rich legacy she leaves for her family. As an avid music lover, she played the piano and sang for many years in the choir at her church, where she was an active member. Always with a ready smile, Doris poured out her heart in a way that made you feel extra special just to be with her. She enjoyed taking family to museums, the zoo, ball games, plays, swimming in her pool at Veldor Park, Lake Ontario, Nauset Beach on Cape Cod and Rochester Philharmonic performances. She also enjoyed golf, bridge and, of course, a frozen custard at Abbotts! She loved every moment of it. Her encouragement and confidence in each of us allowed us to make our own decisions in life. She always gave us unconditional support in our choices. Doris is survived by her son, Donald Jenkins (Naureen), of Boulder, Colo.; her daughter Nancy Jenkins (Bryan Jackson) of Shelburne, Vt.; her daughter Rosemary Mishrell (Kirk) of Bath, N.Y.; her grandchildren Alison Barges, Meredith Barges, Amanda Gerlack, Emily Dusel (Clay), Matthew Jenkins (Meghan), Christopher Jenkins, Luke Mishrell (Jessica Kleiner), Glenn Mishrell and Annalee Mishrell; and her 12 great-grandchildren. Also special to her were her niece Sarah Reeves (Scott) and nephew Andrew Kimball (Lisa),…

Burlington-born man was more than his addiction — he was a traveler, an entrepreneur and a devoted family member Our beloved Jesse Ben Budnick passed away Saturday, April 25, 2020, after a long, cruel battle with the turmoil of addiction. Though we feared his death for more than a decade, we had hopelessly believed it would never come. Jesse was born in Burlington, Vt., on November 12, 1989. When the winter was just beginning, we received our warmest gift yet. He grew up in Burlington, but his overabundance of life took him much, much farther. In his brief time with us, he lived in Las Vegas, Nev.; Hollywood, Fla.; New Haven, Conn.; Brooklyn, N.Y.; Yiwu, China; San Diego, Calif.; and finally, Los Angeles. Jesse attended Burlington High School as a youth and Champlain College as an adult, graduating from the latter in 2017. The former of these two was where Jesse, at a very young age, was first introduced to the pharmaceutical drug OxyContin, beginning a tiresome war that he, heartbreakingly, would never see the end of. Jesse was wildly expressive and creative. He was hilarious beyond words and had an ability to not only amuse any passerby but authentically befriend them, as well. He had a smile that could brighten the night, and by just existing he painted the world colorful for anyone lucky enough to have met him. When Jesse wanted to see you laugh, you would until your belly ached. Knowing Jesse was constantly rewarding. He was always on the lookout for ways to protect and help those closest to him, whether it was providing whatever assistance he could to tackle some obstacle for you, or just a simple kind gesture. At 18, Jesse began managing his father’s business, Strawberry Fields, and continued to do so for nearly nine years. The nature of the business allowed Jesse to travel. He saw most of the country, coordinating and managing concessions at major events nationally. It was here that Jesse’s entrepreneurial spirit was groomed, and in 2016, alongside his partner, Lori Luo, he created a rapidly successful festival fashion company named the Lumi Shop. Jesse was a fiercely driven man in everything he aspired to, from completing his college degree while also employed full time, to his intense work ethic and endless business pursuits, to his relationships with his loved ones. Everything Jesse did was with the utmost diligence and grace. Yet this never seemed enough to him. When Jesse was doing his best and being his…

St. Johnsbury native was an IBM programmer and lover of nature, music and sports Brian Glenn Woods, 68, passed away on Wednesday, April 8, at the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, Vt., with his family by his side, both physically and virtually. We lost him far too soon. He was born in St. Johnsbury, Vt., on January 25, 1952, to Gordon G. Woods and Dorothea E. P. Woods, and he attended schools there. He graduated from St. Johnsbury Academy in 1970, where he was known for his athletic prowess in football, basketball, and track and field — he held the state record in triple jump. The family later moved to Burlington, and Brian attended the University of Vermont, where he studied agriculture. He worked for many years with his father, Gordon Woods, and his brother, Jason Woods, at the architectural firm Gordon G. Woods Associates. In 1995, he began working at IBM as a metrology programmer, where he became an invaluable team member due to his remarkable work ethic and technical expertise. To him, coworkers were family. Brian was extraordinarily kind and compassionate and loving. A selfless giver, he never lost his sense of wonder for the world, or his sense of humor. He had a deep appreciation for nature, music and sports, especially the Dallas Cowboys and Red Sox Nation. He was an avid skier and could often be found shredding fresh powder on the slopes at Smugglers’ Notch. His other passions included fishing, mountain biking, hiking and photography. Brian is survived by his mother, Dorothea Woods; sister Judy Rogers; sister Beverly Spencer; mother of his children, Maryann Woods; daughter, Jessica Woods Lee; son, Andrew Woods; two grandchildren, Bennett W. Lee and Sophia V. Lee; and many beloved friends and extended family. He will be dearly, greatly missed. He was predeceased by his father, Gordon G. Woods, and brother, Jason Woods. Memorial donations can be made to the Cancer Research Institute at cancerresearch.org/join-the-cause/donate. A funeral and celebration of life will be postponed until it is possible to gather. …

Richmond resident's spirit "burned hot and bright in his short 15 and 3/4 years" Soren William Wysockey-Johnson was born July 28, 2004, and died on April 4, 2020. His sudden and unexpected death was horribly devastating under any circumstances, but made more so in the midst of COVID-19, as we cannot gather in person to mourn his passing. Our Soren’s ineffable spirit burned hot and bright in his short 15 and 3/4 years. He will be affectionately remembered as a Renaissance man and humble soul. His interests and skills spanned many disciplines, and his loving, easygoing nature was like no other. Because his life was tragically abbreviated, we are determined to tell his story thoroughly. Soren was born in Old Town, Alexandria, Va., to Kathryn and Doug Wysockey-Johnson and big sister Isabel. They lived for two more years in D.C., soaking in the city and its wonderful people, and then moved back to their home in Richmond, Vt., to live closer to nature. Along with his family, Soren knew and loved the natural world. His time at Saxon Hill School in Jericho, where he attended preschool through kindergarten, nurtured that interest, as well as inspired his out-of-the-box thinking. Their Reggio-Emilia-style philosophy deeply respects the inherent knowledge of each child. There Soren found inspiring teachers, all learning together outdoors — no matter the weather — on the playground, in the woods and brook. His sweet spirit was beautifully tended, and he later returned there as a teen to work at their summer camps. One friend whom he met there at age 3 became a trusted and loyal friend all of his life. At home, Soren spent his younger days playing with stuffed animals — tigers being his favorites. He built boats, villages and forts outside, played backyard baseball, soccer and basketball, and built stuff with Legos. He and friends created elaborate obstacle courses for racing remote-control cars. He, sister Isabel and local friends enjoyed, for six summers, their mom’s backyard Fairy and Elf Camp, complete with magic, art and nature. Birthday parties were always a blast, from circus-themed fun at Shelburne Museum to sleepovers at home after beach parties and drive-in movies. The major challenge in Soren’s life came in January 2013 as the result of a sledding accident. He suffered a seven-inch frontal skull fracture and traumatic brain injury (TBI) requiring several days in the PICU. He worked patiently to recover, finally returning to school full time in the final two weeks of…

Shelburne woman remembered for helping those in need — and for her trademark phrase, "Isn't this fun!" Ruth Bettman Kassel, who lived her life with resolute determination and a truly giving heart, died peacefully on May 5, 2020, at Wake Robin in Shelburne, Vt. She was 89. Her dear husband of 67 years predeceased her there, just over four months ago. Ruth Bettman was born in 1931 to a loving and secure family and raised in the Great Depression in Chicago, Ill. She developed a lifelong love of learning and inquiry as a student at the Lab School at the University of Chicago. She earned a degree at Wellesley College, in art history and music, and during that time she also met the love of her life, Bud Kassel. They settled in Middletown, N.Y., in the late 1950s, and she adjusted to life in a small town and the family’s retail business. Like many intelligent and capable women of her generation, she found ways to thrive despite the constraints women faced. She threw herself into civic life in support of those in need, in particular women and mothers, founding or helping to steer a number of social services and education organizations in her community. She discovered politics in mid-life, starting with the Middletown School Board, and then serving several terms in the Orange County legislature in the 1980s and ’90s, including as chair of its Finance Committee. During this time she also earned a law degree at Pace University Law School and practiced family law, assisting children involved in family court matters, until 2002, when she and Bud moved to Burlington, Vt. In Vermont she was a dedicated and upbeat volunteer at ECHO and the Flynn Theater in Burlington, as well as an avid member of the South County Chorus, and she made close friends and took on new projects in the community of 40 College Street, where she and Bud lived for more than 15 years. Throughout her long and productive life, however, her priority was always her family. She often said the most important thing she ever did was to raise her three beloved sons and foster their growth and happiness in the world. On their behalf, she endured many cold and rainy Mother’s Day canoe trips with a smile and her trademark phrase, “Isn’t this fun!” A Cub Scout den mother (three times), she took an active interest in everything they did and gave them everything she possibly could, including the freedom to…

Past president of the Vermont Heart Association was a caring physician and trusted friend Thomas Chometon Gibson died on Saturday, May 2, at age 99. He was born in Burnley, England, on April 30, 1921, to John and Christiane Gibson; he was the outcome of a Franco-Scottish alliance. His father met his mother in France when he was serving as a medical officer during the first World War. Tom was educated at Repton School, Clare College, Cambridge and London Hospital. He obtained a BA and MA and, in 1946, the medical degree of MBCHB. Whilst he was a medical student, he survived multiple air raids, served in the home guard and had the unforgettable experience of participating in the liberation of Bergen-Belsen. This led to a profound effect on his attitude to the human state. After internships at the London Hospital, he was drafted into the Royal Air Force, serving in the UK and Singapore as a medical specialist. Returning to the London Hospital, he did residencies in internal medicine and cardiology, later going into private practice in London. In 1957, he was offered a fellowship in cardiology at the North Carolina Memorial Hospital. He had always felt drawn to the specialty, attributing this to his birth in the house of Sir James Mackenzie, the doyen of British cardiology. Here he met his future wife, Barbara Wilmer, who was a pediatric resident at the hospital. In 1962, he moved to the University of Vermont, initially in the Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine and later in the Department of Medicine. Here he exemplified the role of an academic cardiologist, known for his teaching ability, patient care and research, and publishing many papers. He was notably interested in the prevention of coronary artery disease and lectured extensively in the Vermont community and elsewhere on the risk factors associated with the disorder. He was also attracted to and developed a cardiac non-invasive laboratory and spent sabbatical years at the echocardiographic laboratories of the North Carolina Memorial Hospital and the Massachusetts General Hospital. He was a past president of the Vermont Heart Association and served on numerous committees both regionally and nationally, including the editorial board of several cardiology journals. He was a fellow of the American College of Physicians, American College of Cardiology and the Royal College of Physicians, the latter an honour rarely given to expatriates. Retiring in 1986, he was awarded the title of emeritus professor by the University of Vermont. Professor Gibson…

Longtime St. Mike's teacher fostered a love of language in his students Will Marquess, longtime teacher at Saint Michael’s College, died peacefully on Monday, May 11, 2020. He was a devoted friend, beloved teacher and colleague, and loving brother and son. He tended all of his relationships with care and generosity, and brought thoughtful attention to his interactions in and outside the classroom. His friends, students and colleagues became like family to him. His wit and whimsy delighted us. He leaves no progeny but a line of students who, he hopes, will love language as he ever did. He is survived by his mother, Jane Newton Marquess; his sister, Anne Marquess Camp, and her family; his brother Jack Marquess and his family; the family of his late brother, David Reese Marquess; and his dearest friends Joel Dando and Emily Skoler. He adored them all. He expressed deep gratitude for the care he received from Dr. Caroline Slimovitch, the staff at the University of Vermont Medical Center, and the UVM Home Health Care organization. Special thanks to Dr. Farrah Khan and nurse practitioner Janet Ely, who offered him extraordinary human and medical care for 10 years. We hope it will be possible to hold a memorial this fall. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the general fund of Saint Michael’s College.…

VNA staffer and cofounder of the Madison-Deane Initiative focused on end-of-life care Estelle Deane died May 14, 2020, on a beautiful Vermont spring afternoon at Wake Robin in Shelburne, Vt. Estelle, who had just celebrated her 90th birthday, was born on May 12, 1930, in Pretoria, South Africa, the fourth of five children and the youngest daughter of the late Hendrik and Doreen Alberts. She was educated in public schools and graduated as an accomplished student from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, with a BS in physical therapy. She became a member of the staff of the Johannesburg General Hospital and the Baragwanath Hospital before spending two years working in England. She then returned to the University of the Witwatersrand, where she served as a member of the teaching faculty for two years. Estelle married her husband, Dr. Robert (Bob) Deane, in 1955 and, in 1962, leaving their families and the world they knew behind, they journeyed together with their two small children across the Atlantic from Cape Town, South Africa to begin a new life in Burlington, Vt. Bob completed his residency in anesthesia at the University of Vermont Medical Center (then the Mary Fletcher Hospital) and then continued his career as an attending physician at the hospital. Estelle joined the physical therapy staff of the rehabilitation unit of the Bishop DeGoesbriand Hospital and subsequently continued as a dedicated member of the Visiting Nurse Association of Chittenden and Grand Isle County, traveling many miles and bringing clear direction and healing to her clients through many Vermont seasons. Estelle participated enthusiastically in both professional and community organizations. She was a member of the American Association of University Women, serving as president of the Burlington branch and state vice president. She brought her perspective and experience to her subsequent work as a member of the boards of HomeShare Vermont, the Converse Home, the American Lung Association of Vermont and the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Regional Board. In partnership with Joan Madison, and in recognition of the shared vision of Dr. Bob Deane and Dr. Jim Madison (who died only months apart from pancreatic cancer in 1997), Estelle founded the Madison-Deane Initiative, a sustained effort to highlight the critical need for expanded education and resources to physicians and caregivers providing care and comfort to those facing the challenges at the end-of-life. Through 20 years, MDI supported annual presentations by recognized thought-leaders in palliative and end-of-life care and sponsored critical learning opportunities for students…

Starksboro man was a cross-country state champion Malcolm Ellis Plunkett, of Starksboro, Vt., died unexpectedly on Tuesday, May 12, 2020. Malcolm attended Robinson Elementary School in Starksboro and Lincoln Community School in Lincoln, followed by Mount Abraham Union High School in Bristol through his sophomore year. Malcolm graduated from South Burlington High School in 2013 as a member of the National Honor Society. He completed two years of study at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he was a part of the prestigious UW cross-country team and planned to major in economics and English. As most anyone who knew him can attest, one of Malcolm's greatest passions and natural talents was running, which he pursued with determination, courage and a spirit of camaraderie. In his junior year, Malcolm was named the 2011-12 Gatorade Vermont Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year, which recognized both his athletic achievement and his strong academic record. That year he also earned the title of Vermont cross-country state champion in the 5K event, for which he still holds the state record with a time of 16:56. His personal record for the 5K is 15:50, which he ran in Manchester, N.H., in 2012. He was also a two-time indoor track state champion in both the 1600 and 3200 meters. Most recently, Malcolm ran the 2019 Brooklyn Half Marathon, which he entered on the spur of the moment after a long hiatus from training, and which he finished, seemingly effortlessly, in the top 15 percent of more than 26,000 participants. Malcolm was known for his goofy, animated and unrivaled sense of humor; his boundless charisma; and his innate sensitivity and ability to engage with others. He was a voracious reader and incisive writer (winning the VFW Speech Award in 2012) and had a deep appreciation for music and for artists. He was also a notorious loser of phones, lover of chickens and diehard consumer of hot sauce. Malcolm leaves behind his mother, Ruth Polishuk, and his three sisters: Joanna (and her husband, Theo, and daughter Alice), Izzi and Olivia, his twin. He was predeceased by his father, John Plunkett, in 2014. Malcolm will be fondly remembered, deeply loved and sorely missed every day. Plans for a formal memorial are pending due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the meantime, folks are invited to share memories, words, photos and/or mementos (via Olivia Plunkett, 1002 Jerusalem Rd., Bristol, VT 05443 or oli.may.plunk@gmail.com), to be compiled into…

A 2018 Vermont Citizen of the Year worked tireless on behalf of his community and state With great sadness, we announce the passing of our father, Daniel John O’Brien, 86, affectionately known by his family as “Big D.” He passed away peacefully from natural causes in the early morning hours of May 19 after fighting a prolonged and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease at his home in Grand Isle. By his side, as always, was his loving wife of 53 years, Sandra (Corey) O’Brien, and their five children. He was the best father, a devoted husband and loving grandfather. A third-generation Vermonter, Dan spoke more with his actions and deeds than with his words. In his understated way, he left a significant impact on South Burlington, Chittenden County and his beloved state of Vermont that will serve as his legacy for years to come. Big D’s strong work ethic, love for his family and God, commitment to community, and compassion for those in need always guided him. Daniel J. O’Brien was the second son born to Leo O’Brien Sr. and Mabel Hayes O’Brien, following his older brother, best friend, lifelong neighbor and business partner Leo O’Brien Jr. and his sister Rita O’Brien. Born in South Burlington to a farming and cattle-dealing family, he grew up on the family farm on Patchen Road, in what is now known as Jaycee Park. Dan became a successful businessman, leader, political strategist, volunteer, and the title that meant the most to him and to us: beloved family man. Following in his father’s footsteps, first in agriculture and then in politics, Dan became well known and respected for both his business intellect and political instincts. He was a lifelong Democrat who simultaneously believed in government’s ability to improve the lives of our citizens while also fiercely believing in the entrepreneurialism, resourcefulness and the work ethic of Vermonters. He volunteered for many years as the chair of the South Burlington and Vermont State Democratic Committees, as well as the Democratic National Committee. He was a highly effective leader; during his tenure as chair, Vermont voted for a Democratic presidential ticket for the first time in history. In addition to his political volunteerism, Dan served for nearly three decades as chair of the Vermont Department of Liquor Control and served the state on the National Alcohol Beverage Control Board, where he and Sandra made many friends, as well as on a number of nonprofit boards and committees. In 1958, Dan and his brother…

Barre native became the first female electron-microscopist in the Western hemisphere Ruth M. Sprague, PhD, age 92, died on Friday, May 22, 2020. Born in Barre, Vt., she is survived by sons Dennis and Douglas and daughter Sharon; grandchildren Ryon and Hilary; great-grandson Solomon; and several cherished in-laws and out-laws. She was predeceased by her youngest son, Terry; and older sisters Joyce and Eula. Ruth graduated from Spaulding High School in Barre in 1945 and attended the University of Vermont, where she earned a BS in 1949 and an MS in anatomy in 1964. In 1983, she earned a PhD in microanatomy from Columbia Pacific University. Trained in Los Alamos, she was the first female electron-microscopist in the Western hemisphere and taught anatomy and microanatomy to nurses and medical students at UVM for 25 years. During this period, she published numerous scientific papers and teaching manuscripts. She continued writing after leaving the university. Among her works are a musical, Vermont Is a Homeland to Me, and short stories including Vermont Tales for Fools and Other Lovers and Bag Visitors. We are very grateful to the many caregivers, friends and neighbors who shared the fruits of her backyard garden and watched over her for many years. Because she loved animals, expressions of sympathy may be directed to the animal welfare organization of your choice. And because she loved privacy and solitude, there will be no formal funeral or wake. Instead, Ruth would like it if you were to enjoy a poem by Ernest Fenwick Johnstone called "No Vermonters in Heaven." It can be found at digitalvermont.org/items/show/795. Arrangements are in the care of the Ready Funeral & Cremation Service. …

Essex Junction man's career spanned acting to airlines Marc Richard Kamhi passed away at the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester on Saturday, April 25, 2020, after a 12-year fight with cancer. He was 62. Marc was born on September 7, 1957, to his parents, Ralph and Rachel Kamhi, in Roslyn, N.Y. He attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and pursued a career in acting throughout his twenties and early thirties in New York and Los Angeles. Marc moved to Vermont in 1994, where he worked at United Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Sodexo and Collins Aerospace, and volunteered with Temple Sinai. He deeply valued his family, work and coworkers, as well as fairness to others. Marc is survived by his wife, Laura; his daughter, Joanna, and son, Reid; and his sisters and brothers-in-law, Elaine and Robert Greenwald and Sherry and Neal Simon. In lieu of flowers, donations in Marc's memory may be sent to the McClure Miller Respite House, 3113 Roosevelt Hwy., Colchester, VT 05446.…

Blind date led to an 'amazing life' for mother of Seven Days publisher Angelina "Angie" Routly died just after sunset on Memorial Day, with her daughter by her side and the smell of lilacs drifting in through an open window at Burlington's Converse Home. Six weeks earlier, she had been diagnosed with metastatic ovarian cancer. She never stopped smiling and, until she could no longer speak, always took an active interest in others: family, old friends, new friends, her loving caregivers and Dr. Karen Sokol, who made sure Angie's death was as gentle and dignified as her life of 93 years. Born on November 12, 1926, to Sicilian immigrants, Angie grew up during the Great Depression in New Brunswick, N.J., where Johnson & Johnson offered steady employment and her father ran a barbershop. Angie loved going to the movies — and remembered the names of the actors for years, later providing answers for many a crossword puzzle clue. Despite their limited resources, Frank and Pauline Catanese managed to buy a duplex on Easton Avenue for their family of five. They almost lost the property paying for medical treatment for Angie's younger brother Carmen, who died before his 10th birthday of an illness for which a cure was found soon thereafter. Her older brother Joe served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Angie loved school and excelled at academics. But her father did not believe in higher education for women and would not help her pay for college. So Angie worked her way through secretarial school, traveling daily by train from New Brunswick to Manhattan, a full decade before the "Mad Men" era. One day on that commute, she got a tip from a stranger that led to her first job, as executive secretary to the dean of men at Rutgers University. Angie was earning her keep, but still living at home, when she reluctantly agreed to accompany a friend on a double blind date at Princeton University, a half hour's drive south. She wasn't expecting to like Paul Routly, a Montréal-born PhD student in astrophysics, but they danced for most of the evening. Back home in New Brunswick later that night, "I went to bed thinking, I really like that guy. I think I'd like to marry him," she recalled a few weeks ago. Motivated by an impending research gig at Mount Wilson Observatory in southern California, Paul proposed. So began Angie's great adventure — life with…

Artist, tastemaker, mother and friend never lost her childlike wonder Tennant Glenn Davitian, artist, tastemaker, beloved mother and friend, departed to the Pure Land of Great Joy as the sun set and Venus rose on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, near her home in Burlington, Vt. Tenny was born in a snowstorm in Buffalo, N.Y., on February 5, 1937. The Second World War was gearing up, and Britain’s King Edward had just abdicated for the “woman he loved.” Picasso’s “Guernica” hit the world stage, while Kahlo, Miro, Magritte and Dali produced the mind-expanding work that defined the century and, ultimately, the art of Tennant Davitian. While history marched on, Tenny spent her childhood in nature and imagination, by the falls of the Cazenovia Creek in East Aurora, N.Y. Here she lived and played with her Scotch Irish artist parents, Bob and Bea Glenn, and her beloved older brother, Sturgen. Bob Glenn was an immensely talented artist who left his career in New York to run the family-owned Emulso Corporation (“makers of fine cleaners, polishes and waxes”) in Buffalo. A Renaissance man, he also built an exquisite home in their aerie over the falls. With the strength of a bull and the softest of hearts, Ten’s dad remained the great influence of her life. Bea, her fairy mother, cultivated Tenny’s young imagination. Ten loved their “teas” with Midder Bear and many forest visitors. Ten’s abiding curiosity, excitement to improvise and desire to connect were nourished during these early years. Her love of singing, storytelling, dressing up, party planning, making pictures and producing plays never dimmed, making her the most unique of grown-ups. East Aurora was a close-knit village community. Tenny grew up next to her grandparents; down the road from her uncle, aunt and cousins; and in the midst of so many remembered friends. “Heading up town for a milkshake” was a shared family joy, healing all manner of infirmities. Tenny attended the local elementary school and maintained an ever active social schedule. She went to the progressive Park School of Buffalo with her brother during their high school years (where her mother had been schooled in its first class of 5-year-olds in 1912). At Park, Ten’s success as Mad Margaret in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Ruddigore (“I lost my shoe and made them laugh”) turned her head to acting and cemented her love of audiences. During her late teens, Tenny was drawn to Buffalo’s jazz hot spots, where fellow outliers and…

Former Vermont director of public health was a fierce advocate for children and families Patricia Berry, 73, of Concord, Mass., and formerly of Burlington, Vt., died peacefully at home of metastatic melanoma on Wednesday, May 27, with her loving daughter by her side. She is survived by her daughter, Tian Berry of Burlington, Vt.; twin brother, Peter J. Berry, and his wife, Joan Fischer, of Acton, Mass.; sister Nancy Alston and her husband, Phil, of Williamstown, Vt.; and brother David J. Berry and his wife, Peg, of Canton, Conn.; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Her parents were Helene Ciglar Berry and Henry Arnold Berry, formerly of Fairfield, Conn. Born on March 16, 1947, in Bridgeport, Conn., Patricia grew up in Stratford and Fairfield, where she developed an early love of the sea, spending long summer days on Fairfield beach. After graduating from Notre Dame High School in Bridgeport, she received her BS in nursing from Boston College, worked at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx, N.Y., and then moved to Vermont, where she began a distinguished 40-year career as a pioneer in public health. She received her master's of public health from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md., in 1982, and served in the Vermont Department of Public Health as public health planning and policy chief, director of local health services and, ultimately, as the director of public health for the state from 1989 until her retirement in 2007. Patricia’s dedication to improving public health held no bounds. She was a fierce and effective advocate for children and families in Vermont, especially those at risk. Her vision focused on infrastructure, integration and partnerships, and she worked tirelessly to build and strengthen the local district office structure and community services throughout the state. She was also instrumental in obtaining federal funding to support statewide school-age health programs. Among her many professional accomplishments, Patricia’s legacy includes securing funding for and cofounding the Vermont Child Health Improvement Program at the University of Vermont's Larner College of Medicine, where she continued to work following her retirement. She also received national recognition for her development of Vermont’s WIC/Medicaid prenatal helpline campaign, and earned the March of Dimes Vermont Chapter 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award. At the age of 52, Patricia traveled to China to adopt her daughter, Tian, whom she loved “to the moon and back.” As Tian grew up, Patricia enthusiastically joined school PTOs, cheered on the sidelines of countless soccer games and cross-country meets, and…

Loving wife and mother to be honored with a "book nook" at Shelburne library Wendy Dale (Werthamer) Oppenheimer passed away on May 9, 2020, just minutes before Mother’s Day in Bradenton, Fla. She was born the second of four daughters in Springfield, Mass., on August 23, 1946, to Norma (Bailey) Werthamer and Erwin “Dutch” Werthamer. She grew up and attended public schools in Agawam, Mass., where, in 1962, she met her high school sweetheart, Bob. Just after their marriage in 1968, Bob began his 20-year career as an Air Force doctor — and, in 1971, with the birth of their first child, Wendy settled into the role she was meant to play: wife and mother. Her love, wisdom, patience and good humor were an inspiration to her children, and she gave them the two things all parents should give their children: the roots of family and home, and wings to fly away on their own. In 1986, with her family proudly looking on, she graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts degree in art history from the University of Maryland’s overseas campus in Germany, where they were stationed from 1982 to 1988. This experience gave them a home base from which to launch their world travels, something Wendy always wanted to do and something she wanted her children to experience. They moved to Vermont in 1988 upon Bob’s retirement from the Air Force. In later years, she and Bob lived the “snowbird life”— spending half the year in Bradenton, Fla., and the other half in Shelburne, Vt. Wendy loved to read, garden and travel. She was an excellent cook and loved trying out new recipes. She had an unquenchable thirst for learning and experienced life to its fullest, always encouraging those around her to do the same. An attentive and compassionate listener, as well as a witty conversationalist, she had many lifelong and new friends, all of whom she valued deeply. Family and home were dear to Wendy. Her heart was large, and her capacity to love, limitless. Her smile could light up a room. Being a parent or grandparent was never a job to her — it was her life’s work and a calling she took very seriously. Bob and Wendy’s union was a 52-year fairy-tale romance and a marriage of lifelong devotion. Their love was a joy to witness and an inspiration for the rest of us. Besides her husband, Wendy leaves three children: Libby and her husband,…

101-year-old lived last quarter of her life happily at Wake Robin in Shelburne Jane Gurley Denker, age 101, died peacefully with her daughter by her side on Saturday, May 2, 2020, at her Wake Robin home in Shelburne, Vt. Born in Philadelphia on September 5, 1918, to Marion and Franklin Gurley, Jane Denker lived a life bookended by the Spanish flu and the coronavirus pandemics. Jane grew up in Buffalo, N.Y., where her father founded the W & F Manufacturing Co., still remembered for its production of wax novelties including wax lips and syrup-filled wax bottles called Nik-L-Nips. After graduating from Smith College in 1940, Jane moved to New York City, where she worked at Current History magazine and for the New York Times. It was there that she met David Denker, whom she would later marry in 1943 when David was stationed at Camp Maxey in Paris, Texas. After the war, they moved to New Haven, Conn., where Jane taught English at a local community college while David took advantage of the GI Bill to earn his PhD from Yale. When David was hired at Rutgers University, the family moved to New Jersey. It was there that Jane and David raised their four children. Jane was forthright, independent, nonconformist and immensely curious. She valued education, lifelong learning, being informed and following one’s interests. She encouraged her children in their occasionally maverick pursuits. She had a strong moral sense of fairness and justice and believed that everyone should be treated equally and graciously. Jane was genuinely interested in everyone's life — all of the children's friends and their families, the cabdriver, the grocery clerk, the delivery person. When she had a doctor's appointment, she had to be reminded not to spend all of the allotted time asking the doctor about his/her life. She was a good listener. She rarely talked about herself; she wanted to know about you. Her grandchildren nicknamed her “the question lady.” Throughout her long life, Jane was an avid reader. When she lost her vision, she turned to listening instead, taking in at least 50 books a year. She always read to her children when they got home from school, and then later at bedtime. Webster's Dictionary held an honored spot next to the dinner table and was regularly consulted when Jane wanted to confirm a definition or proper usage during a mealtime conversation. Jane was always up for an adventure. In 1937, she embarked on an eight-week…

Builder and private pilot "embraced life with all his might" David J. Winrock was born February 20, 1942, on Staten Island, N.Y. He attended Curtis High School, where he joined the swim team. He continued his life in the water as a lifeguard and scuba diver. Dave went on to become a builder and excavating contractor on Staten Island. He left thousands of buildings and houses in better condition than he found them and built the foundation for many more. By the time he left Staten Island, he said he probably knew 10,000 people there. Dave had many lifelong friends. There was always a project on hand. Dave, with an affinity for airplanes, became a private pilot and avid flier as a young man. He owned, traded and rebuilt several aircrafts. He denied having any interest in helicopters for 77 years. In 2019, he learned how to fly one. The experience left him wanting more. His travels took him far and wide in the United States and abroad. Dave biked thousands of miles and crossed the country numerous times by vehicle. In later years, he was accompanied by his wife, Brenda. Recently, two of his sons joined him for a boat trip down the Intercoastal to Florida. They faced a plethora of challenges, which did little to hinder their adventure. After a months of repair on their craft, the crew started out again and reached their final destination during a second trip a year later. They did not linger on the beach. Many were lucky enough to be taken on rides in his airplane, in the bucket of his beloved backhoe, and in the Chris Craft. Dave was always on the move but would stop and talk a while with acquaintances and strangers. He was interested in what people had to say and how they lived. Dave had a love for learning. He studied German, was AP- and ASC-certified, and was a self-taught musician. He shared his love of music with those around him. Through it all, Dave remained deeply humble and generous. On May 31, 2020, David Winrock went into the portal. At the end of his life, he made the choice to be home with his wife and family. He had enjoyed a good life. He is survived by his wife, Brenda (Bennett) Winrock; his three sons, Kevin, Thomas and Fred Winrock; his daughter, Kathy Winrock; his sister, Gloria Budgett; and several grandchildren, lifelong friends and the…

Jazz guitarist played gigs until his nineties Our father, Michael Martello, passed over into spirit on the morning of May 28, 2020, at home with family by his side. Born in Burlington, Vt., on Dec. 12, 1927, to the late Constance and Thomas Martello, he and his wife, Marion, raised four children together. All four and their spouses live in Vermont: the eldest, Pat and Jim Little of South Burlington; Tom and Gail Martello of Fairfield; Randy and Patty Martello of Richford; and Kelly and Randy Quenneville of Wolcott — all successful, happy and as individual as their parents. He lived close to three grandchildren, Jacob and Nathan Little and Thomas Martello; and five great-grandchildren, Haley Drown, Ethan and Tegan Little, and Skylar and Maddox Martello. He is survived by his sister Corona Shepherd, brother Tony Martello and sister Dorothy Corrigan. He and Marion lived with their eldest daughter and her husband for the last 20 years. Marion predeceased him in 2003. In this secure and loving environment, he happily lived to the ripe age of 92. With the care and attention he received from those he lived with, he remained not only active and driving but playing gigs until he turned 90. After his 90th birthday bash, he slowed down some but still enjoyed frequent lunches or dinners out with family and friends. He enjoyed a close friendship with two fellow musicians Jeff Wheel and Anthony Santor. Michael started his musical journey as a young boy playing traditional Italian songs on mandolin for his Italian immigrant mother and uncles. His mother would hum the tunes, and he would play the notes. He became a well-known, gifted jazz guitarist. Playing during the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival or anywhere else, he loved when family and friends would gather to watch and listen. You can read a wonderful Seven Days front-page article from December 14, 2016, on his musical career. In the last several years, he was able to spend more time getting to know each of his kids. He enjoyed going to New York to the casinos with Pat and her husband, Jim. While he never did hit the jackpot, it never made him stop wanting to go, even if he “lost his shirt.” Kelly and Randy were able to have him up for long weekends on their small farm in Wolcott, Vt. While there, he loved to sit snuggled up in warm blankets on…

Longtime City of Burlington employee took pride in keeping streets and sidewalks safe Richard “Dickie” Hammond of Crowley Street in Burlington passed away on May 26 from complications related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Born on September 23, 1957, to Richard and Georgette Hammond, Dickie lived in Burlington’s Old North End for his entire life. A few years after graduating from Burlington High School, Dickie went to work for the City of Burlington Street Department (later renamed Department of Public Works) in October 1979. Over the course of the next 37 years, he rose from a laborer position to foreman of the Street Division of DPW. He took great pride in building and fixing the streets and sidewalks all across Burlington. For nearly four decades, Dickie worked every winter around the clock to keep the streets and sidewalks safe for our community. A modest man who never sought attention, Dickie was proud that his work made life better for other people. For years Dickie rose before dawn to meet his coworkers for breakfast at the Doughboys Diner on Pearl Street. When he finally retired in 2016, Dickie earned the distinction as one of the longest-serving city employees. As much as Dickie loved his work at DPW, his proudest accomplishment was raising his children as a single father. He often said that Travis and Chelsea were the best thing that ever happened to him. Every time he left the house, neighbors could hear Dickie call out to them from his truck that he loved them and to be good. He always made sure his children were safe, healthy and educated. Dickie was predeceased by his parents, Richard and Georgette Hammond, lifelong Burlington residents. Survivors include Travis Hammond and his daughter, Irelynn, of Burlington; and Chelsea Hammond and her partner, Raymond Laplante, of Burlington, and their children Sophia, Ray, Jayden and Jaelynn. Dickie is also survived by his brothers Randy (Priscilla), Robin (Jessica) and Robert, and his sisters Brenda and Linda. A memorial service is planned for Sunday, June 21, from noon to 4 p.m. at the upper picnic shelter at Oakledge Park. Due to COVID-19, bring a chair, wear a mask and practice physical distancing. We will be serving burgers and hot dogs. Please bring a dish if possible.…

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Obituary: Tennant Glenn Davitian, 1937-2020

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Obituary: Wendy Oppenheimer, 1946-2020

Obituary: Jane Denker, 1918-2020

Obituary: David Winrock, 1942-2020

Obituary: Michael Martello, 1927-2020

Obituary: Richard Hammond, 1957-2020