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Tampa, Fla. It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden death of Andrew Nelson Musty in a traffic accident in Tampa, Fla., on May 30. Andrew was born January 14, 1969, in Burlington, Vt., to parents Sherrill (Nelson) and Richard Musty. With younger brother Jamie, he enjoyed a healthy mix of family, friends, dogs, cats, travel and social activism. Andrew attended Burlington schools and graduated from Burlington High School in 1986. After receiving a BA in psychology with a minor in art from the University of Vermont, he studied furniture design at the Savannah College of Art and Design, exploring his love of contemporary design. Following that, he worked in Tampa designing residential outdoor environments with decks, seating, dining and swimming pools. There were early signs of his creativity when, as a 4-year-old, busy at his carpentry bench, he had to remind his mother that his name was “Mr. Worker Man.” Andrew was an enthusiastic model maker, rocket launcher, BMX rider, and member of high school drama, yearbook, and track and ski teams. His friendships from those days were lasting, and he loved being part of organizing high school reunions. Around that time, he and his father built an Old Town canoe in the garage and took a camping trip down the Mississippi River. Andrew adored his younger brother, James, who shared his sense of humor and with whom he was looking forward to some epic talks on a summer road trip to their dad’s hometown of Red Wing, Minn. Strong, beautiful, humble and always with a twinkle in his eye, Andrew leaves his mother, Sherrill; brother Jamie; aunt Jane Nelson and partner, Patricia Meredith; cousin Carrie Haber and husband, Daniel Webster, and their children, Alice and Gahan; cousin David Haber and wife, Dominique Ritter; and the light of his life, Kim Molnar, her daughters and especially the youngest, Emersyn, to whom he was devoted. Andrew joins his loving father, Rik; baby brother Jonathan; grandparents Janette and Hubert Musty of Red Wing, Minn.; Leeds and Alice Nelson; and aunt Holly Nelson, of Montréal. He will finally get to meet his heroes, Buzz Aldrin and Leonard Nimoy from "Star Trek." A memorial celebration of Andrew’s life will take place Saturday, June 23, from 2 to 4 p.m., in the Unitarian Church, 152 Pearl St., Burlington, VT. In lieu of flowers, donations, work or support for addiction treatment services…
Leonard W. McDonald of Colchester went home to be with his heavenly Father on December 24, 2017, in the arms of his beloved wife, Emily, at the McClure-Miller VNA Respite House in Colchester. Leonard owned and operated E & L Siding for 40 years. Leonard loved woodworking and fixing things for folks. His biggest passion in life was fishing. He spent countless hours on Lake Champlain in search of “the big one.” Leonard is survived by his wife, Emily, and four children: Pierre Dufrense and Melanie of Colchester; Kathy Parrow of Rutland; Brian and Jill Knudson of Brookfield; and Colleen Berg and Bruce of New Brighton, Minn. He was also survived by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; a sister, Wanda Shorb, and Jim of Cody, Wyo.; brother Carl McDonald of Cody, Wyo.; several cousins and their families; extended family; and countless friends. He was predeceased by his parents, Fred McDonald and Doris Brace; his brother Eldridge McDonald; and son Brian Knudson. The family wishes to that Dr. Nunnink, the VNA Hospice and nurse Heather, and the McClure-Miller Respite House for the wonderful care and compassion he received while in their care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Len's memory to the McClure-Miller Respite House in Colchester or to an animal shelter of your choice. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on January 11, 2018, at LaVigne Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 132 Main St., Winooski, VT 05404. A private burial service will be held at a later date at the convenience of the family. Condolences may be shared at lavignefuneralhome.com.…
Stephen J. Cain, age 65, passed away of natural causes on Christmas Eve of 2017. Steve was born on May 18, 1952, in Burlington, Vt., the second of seven children born to L. John Cain and the late Paulina P. Cain. Steve had a wonderful time growing up in Burlington. He loved summers at Starr Farm Beach and playing Little League baseball. Steve attended Burlington High School, where he excelled academically. He also found that his true passion was for sports. Whether Steve was swimming laps at the BTC, chasing his friends around at flag football, skiing for BHS or playing high school football, Steve was "all in." He showed up for every game or practice with a big smile and gave it all he had. Steve was so friendly and popular that he was elected president of his senior class in 1970. Steve loved sports because they embodied what he valued most: a common cause, team effort, optimism, commitment, friendly competition and being surrounded with friends. Steve was a relentless sports fan to the end of his life because of the values and good times he had playing sports in high school and college. Steve went to the University of Vermont, where he majored in political science. Steve was always interested in politics and closely followed the state and national elections. Of course, Steve was immersed in intramural sports and played every game he could. Baseball, softball, flag football, tennis, soccer — you name it; he played it. He even decided it would be fun to play rugby barefoot! Steve graduated in 1974 and went looking for a job in politics. Steve got lucky when he got a job as driver for Burlington mayor (and uncle) Frank Cain's campaign for United States congress. Jim Jeffords won the job, but this did not dim Steve's passion for politics. His next job was as an aide for the newly elected United States Sen. Pat Leahy. Steve was in his glory in Washington, D.C., as he watched the business of politics play out before his eyes. Steve worked in D.C. for three years before returning to Burlington. When he returned to Burlington, Steve began showing signs of mental illness. Steve had to deal with mental health challenges for the last 40 years of his life. Our brother did not let this disease define him; in fact, he made the best of…
John W. Hennessey Jr., age 92, of Shelburne, Vt., and formerly of Hanover, N.H., died of natural causes on January 11, 2018, at the Wake Robin Continuing Care Retirement Community. Hennessey was a much beloved and respected academic. He had a great love of teaching and was a mentor and adviser to his students, colleagues and friends, many of whom have said, “He changed my life.” Hennessey was a scholar, a feminist, a progressive and an ethicist with an exceptional career. Despite his myriad commitments, he always made time for his family. He and his wife, Jean, took each of their three grandchildren on cross-country trips, which covered all 50 states, and the two spent 10 weeks with them in the Cotswolds of England. His family called him “Super,” short for “Super Pal,” an apt description of his special friendships with all children. More recently, he became the proud great-grandfather of five great-granddaughters, a new joy in his life. Hennessey was born on March 25, 1925, in Danville, Pa., to Martha Scott Braun and John W. Hennessey. He attended public schools in York, Pa., before entering Princeton University’s class of 1945 at the age of 16. His college education was interrupted in 1943 by World War II, when he enrolled in Officer Training School at the age of 18. By the age of 21, Hennessey achieved the rank of first lieutenant in the United States Army and managed more than 200 men in the Philippines Ordinance Department. He returned to Princeton in 1946, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1948 with a degree in economics and social institutions. The subject of his senior thesis at Princeton was universal health care. Just after their graduations, John married Jean Marie Lande (of Seattle, Wash.) at Vassar College. The couple moved to Cambridge, Mass., where John entered Harvard Business School, receiving his MBA in 1950. They then moved to Seattle, where Hennessey received his PhD in organizational behavior from the College of Business Administration at the University of Washington. While in Seattle, the couple had two children, John William Hennessey III (1952) and Martha Scott Hennessey (1954). Jean has been long admired as a leading environmental and Democratic activist; she died in 2004. In 1957, Hennessey accepted a full professorship, teaching organizational behavior at Dartmouth College’s Amos Tuck School of Business Administration. In 1959, he accepted a short-term faculty position at IMEDE (later…
On January 13, 2018, Nancy Griffith Cathcart moved on to her next adventure, leaving her legacy of love and passion with all of us. Nancy was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., and always had a warm place in her heart for that city and the rich family memories from her youth in and around Pittsburgh and her nearby and beloved Indian Lake. The University of Vermont brought her to Vermont in her undergraduate days, and she fell in love with Burlington, leaving only briefly for graduate school in Oregon, and then returning to Vermont for the rest of her life. Although most recently she lived in Colchester, she was and will always be a true Burlingtonian. It was nearly impossible for her to walk down Church Street without stopping for a hug and a long chat with a friend every few feet of the way. Nancy began her career in early childhood education at Trinity College Child Care Center and then Addison County Parent Child Center. But a move to Vermont Public Television began the career that we all know her for: brilliantly and passionately fundraising and grant writing for nonprofit institutions with missions that she believed in. Nancy conducted this work for a number of other local institutions, including Trinity College and Fletcher Allen Health Care, as well as serving as chair of the board of directors at Vermont CARES. Eventually she formed her own consultancy providing financial resource development strategies for nonprofits. The next step in her career focused on passing on this legacy to the next generation as the founder and director of Champlain College’s Center for Service and Civic Engagement. This was the role and period of time where Nancy most flourished. Working with young, intelligent and passionate students, many lifelong friendships and relationships began. Nancy later worked as VP of development and community relations at the Greater Burlington YMCA, director of development at Boys & Girls Club of Burlington, and most recently as the president and CEO of the Humane Society of Chittenden County. Throughout this time, Nancy raised her two sons, Hunter and Sam, cheering far too loudly (in her boys’ teenage opinions) at their basketball games and always showing up anytime and anyplace in their lives to help them through hard times and to help them celebrate the good times. She was a wonderful mother and a role model in the delicate mixture…
Alexander Johannesen, 30, formerly of Fly Creek, N.Y., died unexpectedly in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, on Thursday, January 18. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 3, at the Louis C. Jones Center at the Farmers’ Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y. Alex was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on September 30, 1987, the son of Jennie Johannesen of Fly Creek and Roy Johannesen of Colfax, Calif. He was also the grandson of Dr. Robert William Mackie of Fly Creek, who passed away in 2008. Alex grew up living with his mother, grandfather and beloved older sister, Kate, and spending many summers in California with his father. No matter where he was, Alex was most at home outdoors and particularly loved fishing. Alex graduated from Cooperstown High School in 2005. He spent countless hours on the basketball court at the Clark Sports Center and was an accomplished swimmer and wrestler. He also shared his talents as a natural performer in school musicals and the senior play. During summers in his teenage years, Alex could be found stocking shelves at the Fly Creek General Store and, later, crafting pizza at Tino’s. Alex studied wildlife and fisheries biology at the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vt., graduating with a BS in 2010. After finishing his degree, Alex biked from Vermont to Washington with three friends, camping, working side jobs and generally hustling their way across the country. He had started writing a book about the experience called The Squalor Boys. In 2011, Alex started working as a biological observer on fishing vessels in the Bering Sea, based out of Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Observers are responsible for collecting data on the catch of commercial fishing operations and documenting safety or harassment violations, as well as any mishandling of marine mammals or protected species. It is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Alex excelled in the challenging conditions, helped train new hires and was recognized as one of the most competent observers in the industry. He worked for Alaskan Observers, Inc. at first and, most recently, as a lead field biologist for Saltwater Inc. The cause of Alex’s death is still under investigation by the City of Unalaska Department of Public Safety at this time. Alex’s infectious sense of humor, quick wit, engaging storytelling ability, cooking, honesty and compassion made him a favorite of crews and fellow observers alike.…
Alverta L. Perkins was born June 12, 1924, in South Bend, Ind., to Lynn and Irene Hagenbush Leighty. She died in Burlington, Vt., January 19, 2018, after a short illness. In 1945 Alverta graduated from Epworth Hospital Nursing School in South Bend as a registered nurse. She married Bradford Marr Perkins in 1946 and moved to Montpelier, Vt. She lived in Vermont for the rest of her life except for a few years spent in Manchester, N.H. Bradford predeceased her in 2001. After raising her three children, she attended and graduated from the University of Vermont in 1976 with a degree in professional nursing. She was employed at various times at Mary Fletcher Hospital (now the UVM Medical Center), the Burlington Community Health Center, Birchwood Nursing Home and VPSRO, and as a reviewer for Vermont Medicaid. Alverta worked with Women Helping Battered Women and the Rape Crisis Center during the ’70s and ’80s. She was a longtime activist for women’s rights and gay and lesbian rights. She received one of the first Susan B. Anthony awards from the YWCA. At age 75, Alverta began competing in the Senior Games in track and field, training at the UVM indoor track. She threw the javelin and shot put and loved the long jump. A high point for her was competing in the 2005 Senior Olympics at age 81. Alverta is survived by her three children: Doug Perkins and wife, Chree, of Leicester, Vt.; Lynne Pirkkanen and husband, Perry, of Salisbury, Vt.; and Steve Perkins and wife, Mary, of East Calais, Vt. She also is survived by her six grandchildren: Tasi Perkins; Alex Perkins and wife, Katy; Jake Pirkkanen; Erin Pirkkanen; Lauren Williams and husband, Justin; and Lindsey Perkins. She is also survived by her two great-grandchildren: Devin Perkins and Grayson Williams. A memorial service will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 10, at the Burlington Friends Meeting, 173 North Prospect St., Burlington, VT. A celebration of her life will follow. In the spring she will be buried next to her husband in East Calais. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Alverta’s name to Steps to End Domestic Violence (formerly Women Helping Battered Women) or to any chapter of the Humane Society of Vermont.…
Elaine Burns Little, born Barbara Elaine Burns in Troy, N.Y., on June 29, 1921, to Stanley Livingston Burns Sr. and Christine Regina Bayer Burns, died peacefully January 28, 2018, at her residence in Shelburne, Vt. She attended public schools in Rutland, Vt., and graduated from Rutland High School in 1939, where she was active in sports and activities, an early master of the slopes at Pico Mountain, and a lover of the trout streams of Rutland County. She graduated from the University of Vermont in 1943; at UVM, Elaine was a member of the Mortar Board women’s honorary society and Pi Beta Phi sorority, as well as a founder of the women’s ski team that practiced by climbing and descending the original Nose Dive trail at Mount Mansfield. Also at UVM, she met the love of her life, George Edward Little Jr. of Burlington. They married on August 3, 1943, as George prepared to deploy to the Pacific Theater in the Army Air Corps. George predeceased her in February 2009. Elaine worked during the war as secretary to governor Mortimer Robinson Proctor in his Montpelier and Proctor offices, notably scrambling to coordinate Vermont’s VJ Day celebration while the governor and lieutenant governor were returning from out of state. After the war, she and George moved to Pittsburgh, Pa., where she worked at the University of Pittsburgh while George completed graduate studies in offset lithography at Carnegie Tech. Elaine was a devoted mother to an active family of four children, but she saved time for her church and civic responsibilities. She chaired the state March of Dimes campaign in the early 1960s. She helped lead a group of area women in the later 1960s to transform the drab hallways of the then-Mary Fletcher Hospital by hanging self-matted and -framed prints throughout the hospital, an experience that later inspired her to become one of Chittenden County’s premier tag sale “pickers,” refinishing and selling her better finds. Perhaps her most sustained and passionate volunteer work was as a member of the Burlington Planning Commission in the 1970s, a period when she also helped lead the fight to preserve the historic Bishop’s House on South Williams Street, a fight which (alas) was unsuccessful, as the house was razed and paved for a large parking lot. Elaine also served as a member of the state Water Resources Board and the Burlington Design Review Board. Elaine…
Michael King, 44, of Essex Junction, Vt., died peacefully on Thursday, February 1, surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Montpelier, Vt., on August 9, 1973, when his father, Donald, was teaching at Union Elementary School. When Michael was 1, his family returned to New Jersey, where he lived in Chatham and Florham Park. He had very fond memories of traveling around town on his bicycle having wonderful adventures. He adored his grandfather, Dr. Charles Thomas King, who was a loving inspiration to him throughout his life. His family returned to Montpelier when he was 11. He pursued vocational studies until he discovered Landmark College. Landmark was able to give him the tools he needed to achieve academically — in great part due to the generous scholarship from Jorge Arellano, who was a mentor and guide to Michael. He then pursued his BS at Lyndon State College. Michael worked in the communications field, then spent much of his adult life working in the insurance industry. His last and favorite job was working for Heritage Automotive as an estimator. When he was no longer able to work due to his disabling metastatic cancer, he began volunteering for the 501st Legion, dressing as an imperial gunner; and volunteering for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visiting children at the Vermont Children's Hospital. Michael was a very thoughtful man who loved helping others. He will be deeply missed by those who knew him. Michael is survived by his wife, Catherine, and his son, Lucas. He is also survived by his mother and father, Ellen and Don King of Gulfport, Fla., and his in-laws, whom he lovingly called Mom and Dad, Marsha and Mark Lang of Montpelier, Vt. He is survived by his siblings: Charles Thomas King II and his fiancée, Annie Donnelly, of Lake Worth, Fla.; Christopher and Josie Lang of Essex, Vt.; Robyn King and her companion, Ryan Schauer, of Las Vegas, Nev.; and Elizabeth Lang and her fiancé, Ryan Mitofsky, of Essex, Vt. Michael is also survived by his niece and nephew, Zoe and Benjamin Lang of Essex, Vt., whom he loved very much. The family cannot express their gratefulness for the love and support of friends and coworkers who have cared and helped out along this journey. The family would like to thank Seth Anderson, RN; Amy Fox, APRN; and Dr. Dennis Sanders for…
Dorothy May Seale-Brown died January 20, 2018, at her beloved Converse Home in Burlington, Vt. She was predeceased by her son, Mark Victor Brown, and leaves behind her daughters Martha Brown and her husband, Rob Donaldson, and Faith Isabelle Brown and her partner, Lynn Mansfield. She also leaves her cherished granddaughter Tabatha Soliz and her husband, Richard; her grandson Joseph Brown; and her daughter-in-law Patricia Brown. Dorothy was born on Long Island, N.Y., in 1928. Her family lost everything in the Great Depression, but Dorothy went to nursing school and put herself through New York University, earning a degree in education. Dot moved to Vermont in 1952 and married Donald Brown in 1954; together they had three children. Dorothy worked first as a nurse educator at the Mary Fletcher School of Nursing, then as a school counselor while raising her family. She earned a master's degree in psychology from the University of Vermont in 1980. She went on to become a family therapist, a teacher at CCV and, finally, an ombudsperson for Vermont Legal Aid. Dorothy's aim in life was to keep her sense of humor and to "be useful." At her heart, she was an educator and advocate for the vulnerable. She valued using her knowledge and skills in a way that would make a difference. She was a member of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington and served as its president for several years. Of particular importance was her participation in a Unitarian women's group for more than 30 years. When Dorothy could no long travel to the meetings, the group came to her at the Converse Home monthly. Dorothy's last years were harder for her, given her limited physical capacity, but she spent her time listening to music and books on tape, reading books, and organizing poetry readings at Converse Home. A private ceremony will be held in the spring at the Unitarian Universalist Society Memorial Garden in Burlington. If so desired, donations can be made to the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington or the Visiting Nurse Association of Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties.…
Janet — intrepid adventuress, tugboat captain, small plane pilot, gourmet caterer, fashion plate, flower gardener, interior decorator, antique collector, art appreciator, horseback rider, Chessie dog trainer, practiced teller of funny, true stories and ever so much more — has cast off the mooring lines after a blessedly brief tangle with cancer, with her son Zachary and Anita Lazar together by her side in Boston. Janet totally adored grandchildren Adriana and Nico and always will, and her special drawer packed with super fun gifts is forever full of her magic for both of you, from the other side of the great water. Every time you enjoy a good laugh, she’ll be laughing with you. Anytime you need encouragement, she’ll be rooting for you! Janet arrived as a twin, the eldest daughter in a family of nine sibs, thanks to Mike and Janet Jacobs (formerly of Jericho Center, Vt.). She graced Burlington periodically over the years with her work for the Mozart Festival, as social coordinator for Ina Coors of the University of Vermont and as island caretaker. Janet is much missed by us all, both here and in her home ports of Boston; Scottsdale, Ariz.; and St Thomas, USVI. We wish Janet a sincere bon voyage with full, warm and grateful hearts!…
On February 9, Alfred (Fred) Fengler left this earth for his next adventure — an adventure he was intrigued by and had extensively researched and taught courses in: “Is there life after death?” He believed strongly that there is and that the experience is more beautiful and loving than can be described in words. Almost two years ago, Fred was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Through months of treatment, he remained strong in spirit and determined to live life to the fullest. He continued to garden (and grew the most delicious tomatoes), kayak (54 times this past summer!) and work on his numerous research projects, including completing a novel coauthored with his son. Fred was born in the Bronx, N.Y., to Wilhelm and Florence Fengler. When he was age 2, they moved to Berkley Heights, N.J. Growing up, Fred shared a love of baseball with his father and became an avid Yankees fan. This past September, it was a major highlight for him to visit Baltimore, Md., to see the Yankees beat the Orioles. Fred graduated from Colgate University with a degree in sociology and obtained his master's and doctoral degrees at the University of Wisconsin. His interests at that time were in gerontology, marriage and family, and he began teaching those subjects at the University of Vermont in 1975. Shortly after, Fred became a proud father of twin boys, lovingly sharing full duties in their upbringing with his first wife, Christie. Fred prioritized his family and was a wonderful father and role model to Paul and Carl throughout his life. In 1981, Sally Conrad, then director of RSVP, asked Fred for help in developing intake forms for home-sharing applicants for a new program she was starting called Project Home, now HomeShare Vermont. Fred and his colleague, Nick Danigelis, performed evaluation services for Project Home for over 10 years. In 1991, Columbia University Press published their book, No Place Like Home: Intergenerational Homesharing Through Social Exchange. In 1986, after reading Out on a Limb by Shirley MacLaine, Fred found his interests moving in a new direction. He was fascinated as he began to learn about reincarnation, after-death communications, Atlantis and the possibility of life beyond our planet. His curiosity and research in these areas led him to teach courses on these subjects, which included “Are We Alone in the Universe?""Science and Spirituality," and After Death Communications. Fred loved teaching,…
Bob “Bomber” Bombardier, 45, of Craftsbury, Vt., and seasonally of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, passed away on March 12, 2018, in Nicaragua after being fatally struck by a drunk driver. An avid snowboarder, mountain biker, surfer and sailor, Bob lived for outdoor adventure and inspired others to do the same. Bob grew up in Seymour, Conn., where he loved spending time with his friends in the area woods and fishing. He also loved time with family on his Gramps' nearby farm and gathering with extended family. His love of outdoor adventure grew from learning to sail on Long Island Sound with his dad, Ed, riding BMX and dirt bikes with friends, gardening, snowboarding, and family camping vacations. His love of nature and passion for creating a better world was inspired in great part by his mom, Laura. A graduate of Seymour High School, he was known by childhood friends for limitless energy, passion for music, fearlessness and daredevil bike skills. Bob graduated in 1994 from Western New England College with a BS in mechanical engineering, and he worked for the R&D department for HearthStone, a gas and wood-burning stove company in Vermont. After several years there, Bob branched off on his own to form Wide Array Engineering and Computer Capabilities, an engineering design and technical writing business. In 1995, Bob became involved with the design and prototyping of Burton snowboards, contributing to the engineering of many of the boards on the market today. Bob also operated a 40-acre farm he created in 1997, Wild Branch Organics, growing organic produce. Bob was fiercely passionate about spending time in nature and sharing that love with others. From extreme snowboarding down Mansfield, Tuckermans, and mountains in British Columbia and Chamonix, to sailing his Hobie Cat across Caspian Lake in Greensboro, Vt., or sailing with his dad, Ed, on Lake Champlain, to building jungle trails for hiking and biking, to surfing in Nicaragua, Bob was most at home in the wild. Bob is remembered for his intense passion, dedicated athleticism, willingness to help others and penchant for fervent intellectual debate — all things of legend. Also his unforgettable laugh and smile! Bob is the beloved son of Laura Dikovsky Smith and Edward Smith of Willsboro, N.Y. He is also survived by his beloved daughter, Andria Curtiss Channels, previously of Northfield, Conn., and her husband, Stephen Channels of Clarksville, Tenn.; dearly loved grandparents…
Susan had three sons, Mike, Mark and Matt Szymanski. She lost her older sister, Patricia Damiani on Christmas last year and is survived by her sister Cate Mares in Ohio. She worked at Sears, Fletcher Allen and retired at UVM. She was a very strong woman loved by all who knew her. She had a very comical sense of humor. She will be missed. Thank you to all her caregivers for their loving care. Peace, love and laughing.…
Milton – John Wayne Tomczyk, 31, died unexpectedly on Monday April 16, 2018 at his home in Milton. “Johnny” was born on November 29, 1986 in Burlington, the son of John and Melody (Shepard) Tomczyk. He is survived by his parents of Milton and by his sister Desiree Tomczyk and his brothers Daniel and Perry Tomczyk, all of So. Burlington and his grandmothers Ivy Shepard and Lucia Lord and a wealth of relatives. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him. A Memorial Service will be held on Monday April 23, 2018 at Noon in the Minor Funeral and Cremation Center in Milton. Burial will follow at St. Francis Cemetery in Winooski. For those who wish, online condolences may be made to minorfh.com…
Frederick Grant Hill was born December 6, 1935, in Tulsa, Okla., grew up in nearby Bartlesville and died peacefully on April 17, 2018, at the Vermont Respite House in Williston after a prolonged illness. He leaves behind his partner since 1979, Dianne Monaco; his son by first marriage, Tristram, and daughter-in-law Preetha Kurudiyara, both physicians in Wisconsin; granddaughters Zara and Violet; and stepbrother Tom Murray and stepsister Marion Murray Olivier of Texas. Before passing away, Fred had the following reflections on his life. “He was an artistic and commercial/industrial photographer; a collector of discarded materials, some now a perplex of industrial-wire sculptures; a writer of letters to editors and some children’s verse; and an omnivorous reader with a large, select and cataloged accumulation of books. “Start to finish, Fred was a naïve, conflicted small-town city boy — in love with Boston, at home in Burlington and comfortable with but unexcited by yard work in exurbia. He was solitary, introspective, friendly and likable but not sociable, at a loss for what to say after 'Hello,' usually out of step, nor could he dance. Obsessively neat, he respected creative disorder but had to tidy it a bit. He enjoyed (and kept) his day jobs, lived frugally, arrived early for appointments and wondered at finding himself so often among free spirits, as he was not one. “Less ambitious than curious, he preferred discovery and was exhilarated to find intuition serving better than his instinct for planning. His best accomplishments, including photographs, were accidental. He wondered if even acceptance by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology hadn’t been by mistaken identity. Math and physics inspired decades of reading. Thermodynamics, though, he flunked; a senior-year requirement, it was clearly his limit, so he quit, with less regret than expected. “Calling his formal education good, he proceeded with the informal. Reading was an adventure, learning still a habit, nothing else as much fun. In 1958 the U.S. Army assigned him to write film scripts at the Army Chemical Center in Maryland, where he waited a year for security clearance. No time wasted: He learned stagecraft at the little theater, improvised a silent skit that brought modest chuckles from a packed house and repaid his college loan.” Fred maintained a lifelong love of theater, film and the arts thereafter. Fred’s favorite charities included the Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS), the King Street Youth Center, the food shelf…
Kate Ellen Nicholson, my beautiful daughter, passed away unexpectedly April 9, 2018 at Texas Falls in Hancock, Vermont. She was only 35 years old, born on September 30, 1982 in Aspen, Colorado to Marsha and Mark Nicholson. Mark preceded Kate in death 5 years ago and, sadly, Kate is also joining her brother Zachary who died in 2015. The family moved to Waitsfield, Vermont when Kate was 6 years old. She attended Waitsfield Elementary and graduated from Harwood Union High School in 2000. During her school years, and beyond, she loved playing soccer, but skiing was her passion. Kate just plain loved being outdoors; walking, biking, snowshoeing, jogging, skiing, and contemplating. Kate received several grants from George Washington University, where she did well until mental illness began invading her mind and took over her aspirations. Always a fighter she didn’t want this illness to get the best of her, but it did, and she struggled with that knowledge everyday. Kate wasn’t always easy to deal with, but neither is living with psychotic, paranoid schizophrenia. She knew her illness and knowing that she could not lead a “normal life” was very painful for her. Kate is survived by her mother Marsha VanLeeuwen and her husband Don of Plattsburgh, New York. And her aunts and uncles; Robert and Deb Barris of Boothbay Harbor, Maine, Barbara and Sid Smidt of Fayston, Vermont, and Judith and Paul Cote of Weare, New Hampshire. Also her cousins Matt Cote and Siemen Smidt. Special thanks and gratitude to those people (and they know who they are) in the Mad River Valley and the Rochester and Middlebury areas who gave housing and friendship and a helping hand to Kate. And many, many thanks to the various law enforcement officers in her many times of need. And many, many gratitudes to the patient people at Washington County Mental Health and Vermont State Psychiatric Hospital who worked so hard to help Kate. You all meant a lot to her. This Buddhist chant goes to Kate and all the other people who are suffering: May I be happy. May I be free from suffering. May I be free from harm. May I have ease of heart. Mai I be calm and at ease. May I be peaceful. May your mind be finally at peace my beautiful daughter.…
Robert Seth Dansker passed away on April 23, 2018. After being diagnosed with brain cancer, he beat the odds and lived for six additional and amazing years. He was a national ballroom dance champion, loved the Spanish culture, played multiple instruments, found nature to be a sanctuary, and was a natural philosopher and a true romantic. He had high standards and enormous self-discipline. He set lifelong goals, and his ability to meet them was remarkable. He accomplished things by committing to devoted and daily practice. He broke things down to their basic elements and practiced them over and over again — the Spanish language, a variety of musical instruments, and his dance routines. He was particularly careful of how he spent his time, focusing only on the things he loved most, sometimes disappointing people when he declined their invitations. His willingness to listen to and respect himself was a lesson to us all. He loved the outdoors and bought all the latest gear, primarily for its light weight or compact size, only to sell it on Craigslist to get the next best thing. He meticulously planned his trips, taking into account the time of year, the weather, the busy season and the black fly situation. He preferred the off-season and loved the subtle changes of March and April (trillium!) and October and November (bug-free!). He loved to travel and had many trips planned for the future: Spain, Argentina, Iceland, the Allagash, Saranac Lake and the Bog River. He was an excellent cook with no fear of spices, meats or new recipes. As a matter of fact, he often made up recipes and quite frequently could not replicate them. He was curious, loved to read and retained a ton of information. Essentially, he was wicked smart. His references to significant places, people or events during casual conversations were a bit overwhelming for some, yet he connected deeply with people and developed valued friendships. He was an inspiration. “There is pride in accomplishment at the cost of terror in the process.”—Robert Seth Dansker, 2016. Rob leaves behind his beloved Sandy Klima, as well as Jamie, AJ and Zoe Aponas, Judy, Anna, Anders and Kuba Thelemark, Denise and Ben Sanders, Dolores Cox, Norman Carpenter, Susan Dansker, Matt and Jon Bogaty, Chetta Vecchione, and many others. If you want to honor Rob, volunteer for maintenance of the Long Trail, take a dance…
Arthur Ross Shelmandine IV: amazing stay-at-home dad, husband, grandfather, luggage designer, creative genius behind It’s Arthur’s Fault! sauces and marinades, and source of knowledge on countless topics. On May 14, he passed away surrounded by his loving family after 10 days in the ICU following a massive brain bleed caused by an arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a rare condition that affects just 1 percent of the population. Arthur was born in Amsterdam, N.Y., to Marlene Foss and Arthur Shelmandine Jr. He took great pride in his family history and their connections to Vermont during the Revolutionary War, and he chose to build his family and home business in Vermont. Arthur leaves behind his wife of 41 years, Laurel Burnstine Shelmandine; their two daughters, Marikje and Annalise; Marikje’s husband, Steve Beams, and their daughter, Katherine Laurel; and Annalise’s fiancé, Erik van Eck. He is survived by siblings Paul Shelmandine, Matthew Shelmandine, Karol Spenard and deNise Ellison and their families. So many friends have written remembrances of Arthur's joyful, compassionate and generous spirit, his fatherly guidance to many young (and not so young) people, and his booming laughter. While we will all miss Arthur, the legacy of the amazing food that he created will continue through his It's Arthur's Fault! business, led by his daughter Marikje and supported by the family. Thank you to wonder dog Lily, who alerted an employee that Arthur had fallen; to Essex Rescue; and to all the doctors, nurses and staff members at the University of Vermont Medical Center's Surgical ICU. To honor Arthur, enjoy fantastic food and good company, take time to watch the sunset and look up at the stars, or learn a random fact and share it with as many people as you can. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to North Country Animal League in Morrisville: ncal.com. The celebration of Arthur’s life will be held on August 25, with details to be posted on the It’s Arthur’s Fault! Facebook page. Arrangement by Cremation Society of Chittenden County, a division of the Ready Family, at 261 Shelburne Rd., Burlington.…
Tampa, Fla. It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden death of Andrew Nelson Musty in a traffic accident in Tampa, Fla., on May 30. Andrew was born January 14, 1969, in Burlington, Vt., to parents Sherrill (Nelson) and Richard Musty. With younger brother Jamie, he enjoyed a healthy mix of family, friends, dogs, cats, travel and social activism. Andrew attended Burlington schools and graduated from Burlington High School in 1986. After receiving a BA in psychology with a minor in art from the University of Vermont, he studied furniture design at the Savannah College of Art and Design, exploring his love of contemporary design. Following that, he worked in Tampa designing residential outdoor environments with decks, seating, dining and swimming pools. There were early signs of his creativity when, as a 4-year-old, busy at his carpentry bench, he had to remind his mother that his name was “Mr. Worker Man.” Andrew was an enthusiastic model maker, rocket launcher, BMX rider, and member of high school drama, yearbook, and track and ski teams. His friendships from those days were lasting, and he loved being part of organizing high school reunions. Around that time, he and his father built an Old Town canoe in the garage and took a camping trip down the Mississippi River. Andrew adored his younger brother, James, who shared his sense of humor and with whom he was looking forward to some epic talks on a summer road trip to their dad’s hometown of Red Wing, Minn. Strong, beautiful, humble and always with a twinkle in his eye, Andrew leaves his mother, Sherrill; brother Jamie; aunt Jane Nelson and partner, Patricia Meredith; cousin Carrie Haber and husband, Daniel Webster, and their children, Alice and Gahan; cousin David Haber and wife, Dominique Ritter; and the light of his life, Kim Molnar, her daughters and especially the youngest, Emersyn, to whom he was devoted. Andrew joins his loving father, Rik; baby brother Jonathan; grandparents Janette and Hubert Musty of Red Wing, Minn.; Leeds and Alice Nelson; and aunt Holly Nelson, of Montréal. He will finally get to meet his heroes, Buzz Aldrin and Leonard Nimoy from "Star Trek." A memorial celebration of Andrew’s life will take place Saturday, June 23, from 2 to 4 p.m., in the Unitarian Church, 152 Pearl St., Burlington, VT. In lieu of flowers, donations, work or support for addiction treatment services…