Stephanie Brown Fehm, a fifty-year resident of Davis, California died on January 26, 2022, after bravely living with cancer for over two years.

Stephanie was born in October 1940 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts to Barbara (Nath) and Chester Brown. She grew up in Kent, Connecticut and spent summers in Campton, New Hampshire at her beloved family home on Mad River. She attended St. Mary’s School for Girls in Peekskill, New York and later Northampton School for Girls, in Northampton, Massachusetts, from which she graduated in 1958.

After graduation, she entered the nursing program at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut from which she graduated in 1961. She continued to practice as a registered nurse at Yale New Haven Hospital. The family moved to Florence, Italy where her husband, Tony, worked on his Ph.D. in Art History. After returning to the United States, the family settled in Davis, California, and she always returned to New Hampshire for as many summers as possible.

In California Stephanie continued to practice nursing and later became a nurse practitioner. She was a member of one of the first classes to graduate from University of California, Davis, Nurse Practitioner Program when it was established in the 1970’s. Stephanie worked as a nurse practitioner in rural health clinics and in vulnerable communities during her clinical career. She went on to become a labor representative for the California Nurses Association until she retired in 2005. Through her hard work, along with all the dedicated people at CNA, nurses in California have safer working conditions, higher salaries, better benefits, and more secure retirements.

Stephanie was a life-long FDR Democrat and an ardent women’s rights advocate. Over the years she worked for numerous candidates both on the local and national level. She was passionate about her civic obligation to be an informed voter and an active participant in the democratic process.

In retirement she became deeply involved with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) program in Davis. She served on a variety of committees and enjoyed a host of friends and courses. In one of her OLLI writing classes, she wrote: “I would want to be remembered as a good and loyal mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. I hope that I would be remembered as a fair person, one who tried to treat all people equally. It would please me if others would remember me for two absolute rules: never cross a picket line or buy art to match the furniture!”

Stephanie was also an active and devoted grandparent to her three granddaughters. When they were young, she picked them up from school, took care of them when they were sick, and attended every school function and athletic event. She was a powerful support and role model.

Stephanie was predeceased by her father, Chester; mother, Barbara; brother, Jonathan; and sister, Katharine. She is survived by her daughter, Gretchen (Ian) Blake, Sacramento, California; her granddaughters, Anna Blake, Portland, Oregon; Allison Blake, Berkeley, California; Elizabeth Blake, Santa Cruz, California; her sister, Susan Norris (Tim), Andover, New Hampshire; and her nephew, Matthew Norris, Seattle, Washington, along with many cousins.

Stephanie’s family could not have managed her final weeks without the loving care, professionalism, and unwavering support from Lisa Saephan, RN and Vihn Tran at Honest Living. We will be forever indebted. Her family would also like to express gratitude and thanks to Mercy Cancer Center, Sutter Home Health, Sutter Hospice and Sutter Davis Medical Group for their commitment and dedication to Stephanie’s care.

Stephanie was a woman of substance, determination, and kindness. She was greatly loved, will be hugely missed, and long remembered.

New Hampshire was always in her heart, and Stephanie’s hope was to get back again for a visit. There will be a summer family gathering and remembrance at Mad River Cemetery, Upper Road, Campton. For all her friends and family in the Davis area, there will be a celebration of her life at a later date. For more information, please email: Steph.Brown.Fehm.Celebration@gmail.com.

Christian Gerhard, born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1924, died at home in Bethesda on October 10, 2021. The daughter of Christine and John Murray-Allen, late of Cambridge, England and Mombassa, Kenya. She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Hans Gerhard; daughters Lynn Gerhard of Spring, TX, Suzanne with husband Allen Tubis of Annapolis, MD; and son John with Berit Holthe of Jaerna, Sweden; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Christian came to the United States at the outset of WWII, and after graduation from Radcliffe College served as a coder in the Women’s Royal Naval Service. After the war she continued her studies in musicology, earning a Master’s degree, and playing cello and piano in university orchestras. Dedicated to raising her three children, Christian paused her professional career until they had outgrown the home. She then changed direction to devote most of her professional work to education, specializing in reading. She taught that subject at local high schools, and, after earning a doctoral degree, at George Washington University. Her book on the subject (Making Sense) was published by the International Reading Association in 1975, and she lectured at professional conferences at home and abroad. Christian’s professional work reflected her deep commitment to social and political causes. Private service scheduled for a later date

Lynda Swenson’s sparkling blue eyes, gentle spirit, and beautiful smile warmed the hearts of all who knew her. She was full of kindness yet also possessed a quiet inner strength and stubbornness, which helped her live a full and happy life, even during her long battle with brain cancer. Lynda was born and raised in the New Hampshire lakes region. A native of Center Sandwich, she never missed the fair. She went on to elementary school in New Hampton’s little red schoolhouse and attended Northampton School for Girls. Lynda met her husband, Lenny, on the shores of Lake Waukewan. They recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Lynda’s positive influence was deeply felt by many in the Monadnock Region. Raising her three children, she was a vital and supportive piece of the New Ipswich community for over 38 years. Lynda was the favorite neighborhood mom, loving and accepting as her own, her children’s friends. Always cheering, present, and helpful during community activities, school performances, and Mascenic Viking sporting events. In 2015, she retired to Center Harbor to enjoy the lakes and mountains of her youth.
Lynda had the loveliest flower gardens and a true gift for horticulture. She relished working in the earth, making her passion her profession: one full of flowering colors, bright designs, and happy growth. Lynda had great expertise in gardening and landscaping; she worked with herbs, in greenhouses, commercial spaces, garden centers, and in the community. Lynda loved all things outdoors. Many have fond memories of shared early morning walks, serene (sometimes exhilarating) X-C skiing, hikes, and kayaking adventures. By the gallery of joyful memories proudly displayed on her walls, there is no doubt of her immense love for her children, grandchildren, sisters, family, and friends. Lynda will always be remembered for the beautiful things she grew, her sweet cheerful smile, kind soul, and loving spirit.
In honor of her wishes, there will not be a service, but a celebration of life will be held later this summer.

On Friday, January 7, 2022, Emily Gilman Hayden of Wilbraham, Massachusetts, passed comfortably to meet her many friends and loved ones in God’s kingdom and take her place in the alto section of the Heavenly choir, wearing Groucho Marx glasses and a fake mustache. She was surrounded by loving friends and family, and, after a mostly successful seven-year battle with lung cancer, she was ready to meet Jesus at last. Emily was predeceased by her parents, Doris (Ekstrom) and Donald Bertram Gilman, and brother, Hugh Gilman ’57, of Wellington, New Zealand. She is survived by her husband John ’62; son Peter ’88 and daughter-in-law Melissa; son Daniel ’93; grandchildren Kyra, Tyler, Giles and Ian; and siblings-in-law Peg Gilman, Priscilla Santiago and Tony Santiago, and many nieces and nephews. Emily was born on July 18th ,1943 in Elmhurst, Illinois. She spent her early years in Jackson, Mississippi before the family relocated to Warren, Massachusetts. However, she retained the ability to call up her best southern drawl on command. She attended the Northampton School for Girls, where she met John, her husband of 54 years, at a Valentine’s Day dance with the nearby boys school he attended. She was a gifted athlete (including archery and field hockey) and singer. She would go on to graduate from Skidmore College, where she was a member of the Sonneteers, with whom she toured. A life-long lover of books and knowledge, she earned her graduate degree from Springfield College, and held positions at several area bookstores, including Logos, Johnson’s, and the Christian Bookstore, before opening her own bookstore, The Last Word, in West Springfield, which she operated for years in person and later online. Above all, she was a homemaker, wife, mother and grandmother. In her later years, she was nearly always adorned with some item from one of her grandchildren’s colleges, and for whose school football teams she cheered raucously each fall weekend. She was also a caretaker of a several cats, who were her constant companions. In her later years, Emily devoted her time, passion, and creative energy to service in the Orchard Covenant Church and to the Community Survival Center of Indian Orchard. She was grateful to be welcomed into the community of Kenyan and Congolese families that have settled in our area. Through her many travels around the country and abroad, perhaps her most satisfying visit was to the village of Muhudu, in Kenya, where she was able to meet and share in the love of her adopted family. She faced her illness with characteristic frankness and toughness, but also with the reassurance that her journey would bring her home to the Lord. She was very grateful for the excellent care and support she received from doctors Michael Rosen and Philip Glynn; Lisa, Bonnie, and the nursing staff at the Sister Caritas Cancer Center, and the staff at Mercy Hospital. She could not have continued without the enduring support of her loving husband John, who was constantly by her side. She passed on at home, cared for by friends and family, and was welcomed in Heaven at last with love. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at a later date. Wilbraham Funeral Home, 2551 Boston Rd., Wilbraham, MA 01095 is in charge of the arrangements. The family requests those who wish to to consider a donation to Community Survival Center of Indian Orchard, 240 Main St., Indian Orchard MA 01151, https://communitysurvivalcenter.org. or Orchard Covenant Church, 95 Berkshire St. Indian Orchard, MA 01151, https://www.orchardcovenant.org.