Edward J. Chmura, Current Staff

Edward J. Chmura (1956 – 2013)

HATFIELD – Edward J. Chmura, 56, of 11 Scotland Road, passed away suddenly Monday, March 25, 2013, at home.

Born Aug. 29, 1956, in Northampton, he was the son of Mildred (Novak) Chmura and the late Eugene Chmura.  Ed grew up in Hadley but also spent much time in Hatfield farming with his family.

In 1974, he graduated from Hopkins Academy. He later earned an associate’s degree in accounting from Holyoke Community College.

Continue reading

William H. S. Roberts ’48

SOUTH HADLEY – William H. Roberts, 82, of Woodbridge St., died May 4, 2012. he was born in South Hadley. He was the son of the late Raymond and Alice (Missett) Roberts. Bill served in the United States Air Force. He was predeceased by his companion Shirley Perron. Bill is survived by his aunt, Rudy Roberts, and his former wife, Carol Roberts. The funeral for Bill will be held on Tuesday morning at 11:00 a.m. in the Ryder Funeral Home followed with his burial in St. Rose Cemetery both in South Hadley. A calling hour will be held Tuesday from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.

Thomas E. Stasz ’67

Thomas E. Stasz of Weybridge, Vermont died Saturday, March 16, 2013 at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.  He succumbed, at age 63, after a long, heroic battle with myelofibrosis.  His family and friends surrounded him at his bedside as snow fell in Central Park.

Tom graduated from Williston Academy, ’67 and Middlebury College, ‘71. He also held advanced degrees from the University of Vermont, a PhD from Cornell and a JD from Syracuse University. His professional life included work as a bench scientist, the founder of a start-up company and as a corporate attorney.  He was known for his genuine concern for others, his level head and an analytical mind.

Thomas was the essence of the Renaissance man:  a builder of homes and barns, an orchardist, a master syrup maker, a bee keeper, and an athlete. Most importantly, especially to him, he was a loving husband and devoted father. His was a life well lived, and he touched with humor, imagination and grace all who were lucky enough to know him.

Services will be private. Contributions can be made in Tom’s name to Addison County 4-H Foundation, (Attention: Martha Seifert), 23 Pond Lane, Suite 300, Middlebury, Vermont 05753.

Two of Tom’s brothers, Paul Stasz ’65 and Peter Stasz ’65, are also graduates of Williston Academy.

Janice Butterworth Stratton ’43

Janice Wonson Stratton, age 87, a longtime resident of Stamford, died on Friday, November 2, 2012, at home with her family by her side. Born in Brooklyn, NY, on March 6, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Benjamin and Evelyn Wonson Butterworth of New Canaan. She was the wife of Arthur G. Stratton.

A graduate of Northampton School for Girls and the New York Fashion Institute of Technology, Jan began her career at Saks Fifth Avenue in NYC. After marrying Arthur in 1956, she devoted the next 25 years to raising her three children. Jan became a licensed realtor with Coldwell Banker in 1972 and maintained her license and stayed involved in the realty business until her death. She was a member of the Pine Grove Association in Canaan, CT, for 47 years and spent their summer weekends there with husband Art, and children, Nancy, Betsy and Bill. Her remarkable spirit and positive outlook on life were an inspiration to all who knew her, especially her family.

In addition to her husband, survivors include a son, Bill Stratton, and his wife Kerry and their children, Steve, Chelsea, Randy, and Jamie from Trumbull, CT; two daughters, Betsy Kerr and her husband David and their children Tim, Charlie and Sam from Newtown, CT; Nancy Utter and her husband Henry and their children Ben, Charlie and Natasha of Arlington, Mass; two sisters, Priscilla Butterworth of Greenfield, MA, and Sally Mortimer of Stamford, CT.

Continue reading

Lily Cram Rossi Carlberg ’60

ROSSI CARLBERG, Lily Fleming Cram

Lily passed away March 2013.  She was born in Chicago and grew up in Libertyville and Kenilworth, Illinois. She was a graduate of Northampton School for Girls and Northwestern University and attended graduate school at UCLA where she was a Teaching Assistant. In the late 60’s she taught English at the Universita’ di Roma.

Continue reading

Carl G. Ericson ’55

Carl Ericson

1937-2013

George Carl George Ericson died of Parkinson’s Disease at The Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital on Feb. 10, 2013. Carl was born in Westfield, Massachusetts on March 15, 1937.

He is survived by his wife, Penny, his four children: Braxton (Heidi Manzar) and Gregory (Nicole O’Bryne) of Fredericton; Juliana of London, England; Brian (Casey Ericson) of Yarmouth, Maine and his five grandchildren: Jacob, Kyle, Alexandra, Zachary, and Harper Ericson. He is also survived by his sister, Lee Krein (Bill Krein) of Quechee, VT and his brother-in-law Stanley King Jr. (Linda Waters) of Oakton, VA, and honorary family member Mary Saunders (George Saunders) of Mount Hope, NB.

Continue reading

Lawrence H. Voight ’48

Lawrence H. Voight, 82, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Thursday, January 24, 2013 at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital after a long illness. He was the devoted husband of Sandra Bertaccini and father of their daughter, Sophia Voight.

Born Feb 8, 1930 in New Haven, CT to Lawrence M. and Laura (Gilroy) Voight, Larry grew up on the CT shoreline. He served in the Air Force National Guard from 1951-53. After attending Brown University and Southern CT State College he earned his Masters Degree in Education and began his life-long career of teaching high school English, first at Jonathan Law High School in Milford, then at Litchfield High School from 1963 – 1996.

Known for his Socratic teaching method, his sensitive and meticulous correction of student work, as well as his sharp editing skills, Larry earned a reputation as one of LHS’ outstanding faculty.

Jazz music, especially jazz piano, was another love of Larry’s. A self-taught stride jazz pianist, he regularly showed up an hour early at school in order to be able to play the Music Dept’s grand piano. Larry typically practiced, he would never aver to “playing,” an hour a day, everyday, up to a few months before his passing. With summers off, he was happy to take in some of the jazz festivals in the area.

In his retirement, Larry turned to travel, crossing the U.S. several times by car visiting National and State Parks and to enjoying the outdoors, especially the NW hills of CT and Mass. He hiked many trails and biked many country roads with his wife, Sandra, and although later being stricken with COPD, he never lost his love of the outdoors and could be seen occasionally, with his portable 02, walking the trails of White’s Woods.

It was in January, 2010 that Larry suffered his first pneumothorax, was hospitalized and, ultimately, diagnosed with embolitic emphysema and fibrosis of the lungs/COPD. Despite being on oxygen 24 hrs/day from that point on, he continued being as active as possible including the above mentioned short walks and taking his daughter Sophia to the library and music lessons. As well, reading remained a lifelong pursuit of his, with Larry typically reading three to four books at a clip.

He is pre-deceased by a son, Alex Voight of Bridgeport, CT; two daughters, Lisa and Laura Voight, and a stepson, Arthur Greiner.

Besides his wife and daughter, Larry is survived by a son, Hans Voight and grandchildren Alexis and Nicholas Voight, all of Crescent City CA; a daughter Gillian Voight and partner Aaron Shepard and grandchildren Dylan, Gracie, and Layla all of Lee, Mass; a sister and brother-in-law Drucilla and Larry Harder of Portland, CT and former wives Bonnie Voight of Weatogue, CT and Shirley Keyes of Milford, CT.

Donations in his name may be made to: Oliver Wolcott Library/OWL, P.O. Box 187, Litchfield, CT 06759; the Morris Volunteer Fire Dept—Charlie Pac Fund, PO Box 48, Morris, CT 06763; or White Memorial Foundation, PO Box 368, Litchfield, CT 06759.