David Gregory ’57

David Gregory, age 77 of Toney, Alabama, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017. He is survived by his wife of 57 years Martha, daughter; Donna (Brian) Fuller, son; Matt (Jan) Gregory, two grandchildren; Alex Fuller and Madison Fuller. Mr. Gregory was preceded in death by his grandson Wesley Fuller. Mr. Gregory retired from IBM after 29 years. He was a U.S. Army veteran and a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church and an avid Alabama fan.

Henry A. Poirier ’48

Henry A. Poirier, 86, of South Windsor, Connecticut formerly of Manchester, Connecticut beloved husband of 57 years to Bibiane (Cloutier) Poirier passed away unexpectedly Friday, June 23, 2017 at Hartford Hospital surrounded by his adoring family. Henry was born in Adams, Massachusetts, August 29, 1930 son of the late Archie A. and Florence (Molleur) Poirier. He attended local elementary schools, and completed high school at Williston Academy in Easthampton, Massachusetts. Later, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Catholic University in Washington, DC. Henry proudly served his country in the U.S. Army from 1954-1956. He resided in Manchester for most of his life before moving to South Windsor in 2016. He worked at Aetna Casualty and Surety Company for 35 years, retiring as Vice President of Farmington Management, a subsidiary of the Aetna.
As a young man, Henry worked in the Poirier family laundry business, Aladco, in Adams, Massachusetts. In later years, Henry was an active member of the Gilbert & Sullivan theater group in Manchester, Connecticut. He was a communicant of St. Bartholomew Church for many years, and he wrote for St. Bart’s Herald. He also enjoyed many friendships through the St. Bart’s Men’s Breakfast group. Henry loved watching the UCONN Huskies women’s basketball team as well as the Boston Red Sox. Henry played bridge with a group of close friends for many years, and together they had many adventures, including an annual weekend trip to Cape Cod.
After Henry retired, he and Bibiane enjoyed many trips around the United States and the world. What Henry loved most, however, was being surrounded by his wife, children, and grandchildren. Holidays were always a special time for Henry, and he and Bibiane enjoyed planning for the family’s stay at their home. Each year Henry and Bibiane also treated the family to an annual vacation at Cape Cod. This vacation has given the family many treasured memories.
Henry is survived by his loving family, his wife Bibiane, two daughters, Michelle Poirier and her children, Adam Bazenas and Adrian Bazenas of Amesbury, Massachusetts, Martha Tagliaferro and her husband, Dean, and their children, Thomas, Daniel, John, and Libby, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts and his two sisters, Claire Rowley and Alice Shea both of Adams, Massachusetts. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews and their families and numerous sisters-in-laws, brothers-in-law and their families. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by a sister, Virginia Harvey.

Clarence L. Simpson, Jr. ’51

Mr. Clarence Lorenzo Simpson, Jr., former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and former Attorney General of Liberia, died January 30, 2016 at his Brewerville, Liberia home. He was in his 83rd year.

Following his return home with a Law degree, Mr. Simpson, son of President Tubman’s first Vice President Clarence Lorenzo Simpson, was appointed Legal Counsel of the Ministry of Public Works.

President Tubman later called young Mr. Simpson as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia.

Following the death of President Tubman and the accession of Dr. William R. Tolbert as President of Liberia, he named Mr. Simpson as Attorney General and Minister of Justice, a job he held for a number of years.

Mr. Simpson was born on June 15, 1933 to the union of Counselor Clarence Lorenzo and his wife Mrs. Abrametta Stubblefield Simpson. He received his high school diploma from Williston Academy in Easthampton, Massachusetts, and later enrolled at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA. He later took the LLB degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

On July 19, 1961 he married Judith Mars Simpson in Kakata, Margibi County and this union was blessed with seven children.

His survivors include his widow, Mrs. Judith Mars Simpson; children, Clarence L. Simpson III, Mrs. Lorraine Simpson Harvey Mrs. Linda Simpson Emiroglu, Clarine Simpson Vaughn, Cheryl Simpson Cornwall, Christian and Alpha Simpson; several grand children; and sister Amanda Simpson.

Mr. Simpson, Jr., like his father, was a lifelong Episcopalian.

Jay S. Brisk ’54

Jay S. Brisk, 81, died of heart and kidney failure in Boston on June 20, 2017. He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Susan Brisk; sister, Hazel Buchwald; nieces, grandnieces and grandnephew. At age 14, while watching a July 4th fireworks display, he was hit by an errant rocket. Despite a long and difficult recovery, he graduated Great Neck High School while also studying piano and music composition at Julliard School of Music. A dedicated New Yorker, he graduated Columbia University, School of General Studies and later taught writing at NYU and acted in some off-off Broadway plays.

Jorge Ibarra Cuesta ’50

At age 85, Jorge Ibarra Cuesta, died in Havana on Wednesday, June 7, 2017. The influential Cuban historian was  author of works essential to understanding the process of construction of the Nation.

For his merits he was distinguished with the National Prize of Social Sciences (1996), the Ministry of Culture and the Cuban Book Institute, and the National History Award (2008), awarded by the National Union of Historians of Cuba, in both cases For the work of all life.

Born in Santiago de Cuba on August 11, 1931, he studied in that city and then in the United States. On his return, he graduated as a lawyer at the Universidad de Oriente. In the Santiago of the 50 participated in the clandestine fight against the dictatorship.

After the revolutionary triumph he worked in the National Council of Culture, joined the Revolutionary Armed Forces, worked in the ICRT and the Institute of History and was developing a consistent work in which he emphasizes his contribution to the writing of the Manual of Cuban History , Of the Political Direction of the FAR. The University of Havana was awarded the title Doctor in 1997. He was an active member of the Writers Association of Uneac.

His height as an essayist was revealed in Mambisa Ideology (1967); Approaches to Clio (1979); Nation and national culture (1981); A psychosocial analysis of the Cuban: 1898-1925 (1985); Cuba: 1898-1921, political parties and social classes (1993); Cuba: 1898-1958, structures and social processes (1996); And Máximo Gómez in the face of imperialism (2000).

About himself, with modesty, he affirmed: “I have only thought of sketching problems, revising the conceptions of the past and discussing everything. I do not pretend to have created a new school or way of seeing things. If I have made some contributions it has been in the field to stimulate discussion and criticism among my colleagues. It is true that, like every historian, I have brought to light some unpublished facts, but the interpretation I have given it is yet to be discussed. In the end, it is not I who values ​​my work more knowledge of cause, but the new promotions of historians.

When Ibarra dedicated the XVIII International Book Fair of Havana in 2009, his colleague Fernando Martínez Heredia spoke these words to extol the legacy of who now says goodbye: “Jorge has come the long way with the upstanding flag of the social scientist And the difficult militancy of the intellectual, with unshakeable honesty, a lofty and growing prestige, and an ever-fighting spirit. ”

This is a translation of the following page:  http://www.granma.cu/cuba/2017-06-07/fallecio-el-historiador-jorge-ibarra-cuesta-07-06-2017-23-06-41

 

Craig S. Wright ’07

June 21, 1988 – June 3, 2017
Naples, Florida

Craig was one of those rare and remarkable people that enriched the lives of every one he touched. He brought love, smiles and happiness to people he met all over the world as he lived his life to the fullest with a thirst for adventure and travel.

Craig was born June 21, 1988, in Springfield, Massachusetts and grew up in Massachusetts and Maine. He graduated high school from Williston Northampton School in 2007. He then went on to permanently relocate to Florida, first for college at the University of Tampa where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship, and then graduate school in Miami where he earned a master’s degree in Hospitality Management at the Florida International University. Tampa and Miami were his homes ever since and where he has more friends than anyone could even begin to count. He seemed to know everyone everywhere, and everyone loved him.

Craig was a lover of all animals, especially horses and kitties. He was a kind and gentle soul that animals could sense and felt very comfortable around him. He was so proud of his recently acquired horse, named Anna that would soon make her new home with him and Bob on their farm in Tampa. Craig traveled more in his short life than most anyone we know and made friends around the world. The entire world is heaving deep sobs over a life tragically taken too soon.

We found this list on a lined piece of paper in Craig’s handwriting among some of his things – almost like a To Do list. Yet, if you knew him, you know this wasn’t a bucket list or a list of things he wanted to do, but instead these are among the things he most loved in life; the things that brought him joy.

Hiking

Enjoying the View

Mountains

Ocean

Lakes

Boating

Horses

Four Wheeling

Snowmobiling

Watching the Sunset

Running

Exercising

Watching the Stars

My Family

In addition to the many friends Craig leaves behind, he leaves his mom and dad, Bill and Anita Wright of Naples, Florida; his partner, Robert Glaser; his grandparents, Ned and Jean Wright, his aunts and uncles, Joanne and Dean Wolfe, Carole and Roger Halvorsen, and Kenneth and Rebecca Squires; and his cousins Colleen Wolfe, Amanda Halvorsen, Allison Wolfe McGrimley, and Jeffrey Halvorsen.

Stephen C. Finn ’66

Steve Finn passed peacefully in the arms of his wife Connie with his son Jeremy at his side and in the heart of his daughter Sarah at Brigham and Women’s hospital on Sunday evening, May 28, 2017. He fought a long courageous battle with many different illnesses for several years.

Steve attended Williston Academy in Northampton and Bentley College. He was the owner and President of E&J Distributors a third generation business in Northampton. Steve was among the first to break ground and move his business to the Northampton Industrial Park. Steve served on community and industry boards. In support of the Jimmy Fund, Steve organized and ran numerous Massachusetts Legislature golf tournaments.His favorite spot was Block Island and after retiring he was able to enjoy, even more, his love of sports and the outdoors. He was an avid golfer and sports fan with special love for the Red Sox and the Patriots. Steve enjoyed boating and fishing and gardening and riding his mower to make the most beautiful lawn. He loved all the birds and animals that would visit him on his deck especially his friend Mike the duck. Steve loved to travel and took numerous cruises to the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. He spent several weeks in Nevis, a gift from his friends Mike and Ronnie Hartnett. He had an amazing rock collection that he gathered on his early morning walks on the beaches of Block Island. He found heart shaped and Block Island shaped rocks that were special gifts to his nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents and his sister Barbara “Bonnie” Snyder. Steve leaves his loving wife Constance Volante Finn; his son Jeremy Finn and his wife Erika; and their four children, Liam, Rian, Kiera and Owen; his daughter Sarah Finn Cullen and her husband John; and their two children, Daniel and Justin; his brother William Finn and his partner Holly Sherick; and many nieces and nephews. There was a special place in his heart for Bill Dawkins who was a second son to him. Most important Steve was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend. He was a kind and generous man who loved and was loved by many.