In Memoriam
Remembering members of the Williston Northampton community

Constance Barowsky Rathbun ’65

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Constance “Tancey” B. Rathbun, 69, of Stonington, Conn., passed away on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. Born April 4, 1947 in Holyoke, Mass., she was the daughter of the late Alfred and Constance Louise (Koegel) Barowsky.

Tancey graduated from Sullens receiving her Associate’s Degree and enjoyed her work as a secretary for Payne Camera. She was an avid reader and cherished her privacy. Most importantly, she was a loving mother and will be missed by those who knew her.

She leaves her son, Joshua L. Rathbun and his wife, Desiree; her granddaughters, Makenna H. and Morgan R. Rathbun; her brother, Frederick K. Barowsky and his wife, Georgette B., of Holyoke, Mass. and their daughter, Candace, of Holyoke, Mass.; along with several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, Jan. 30, at 11 a.m. at the Buckler-Johnston Funeral Home, 121 Main St., Westerly, R.I. Calling hours will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the funeral home before the service. Burial will immediately follow the service at River Bend Cemetery in Westerly. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Posted in: 1960s

William C. Keeney ’54

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William C. “Bill” Keeney, 84, of East Lyme, CT, passed away Jan. 17, 2020. He was born Feb. 14, 1935, in New London, the son of the late Edwin and Blanche (Kenyon) Keeney. In 1958, Bill served in the United States Army Intelligence Corps for two years, and served three more years in the U.S. Army Reserve. He attended New London High School and Williston Academy; and was a graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in political science. He worked at Georgia-Pacific for over 20 years, rising to general manager of the bag division. After leaving Georgia-Pacific, Bill became an entrepreneur, eventually returning to his home state of Connecticut. He purchased the longtime local dry cleaner, Shalett’s, which he successfully ran for over 21 years. Bill’s longtime friend Frank Londregan was instrumental in the purchase of Shalett’s.

Bill is survived by his wife Beatrice (Bindloss); his daughters, Lisa Davne (Sanford), Arden Freeman (David) and Megan Keeney. He also is survived by his grandchildren: Wesley Freeman, William Miller, Clarke Freeman and Hayley Freeman.

Bill loved the Boston Red Sox and could be seen on most summer evenings watching the Sox out on the deck overlooking Banning Cove. One of his happiest days was when the Red Sox broke the “curse of the Bambino” and brought home a World Series Championship. Bill’s career at Georgia Pacific took him many places around the country, to towns both small and large. He made friends easily at all of his stops and most of them remained lifelong friends. His grandchildren’s fondest memories were spent as first mates to Captain Papa on his boat cruising the Niantic River.

Calling hours will be from noon to 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, with the funeral following afterwards at the Flanders Baptist and Community Church, located at 162 Boston Post Road, East Lyme.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Flanders Baptist Church in East Lyme. Thomas L. Neilan & Sons East Lyme Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Posted in: 1950s

James G. G. May, Sr. ’62

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James G. G. May, Sr. of Hypoluxo, Florida, formerly of Buffalo, New York, passed away on October 26, 2019 at age 75.  Beloved husband of 46 years to the late Michele (née Georger) May; loving father of Michele “Mimi” (Thomas Jr.) May Weidemeyer and James “Jamie” G.G. May, Jr.; dearest brother of Henry (Joan) May IV.

Mr. May was a United States Navy Veteran.

The family will be present Saturday, June 13, 2020 from 2-4 p.m. at Amigone Funeral Home (Delaware Chapel), 1132 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, NY where a Prayer Service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Family and friends invited. Interment to be held privately.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Jamie’s memory to The Nichols School, 1250 Amherst Street, Buffalo, NY 14216.

Posted in: 1960s

David P. Montague ’57

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Col. David Perry Montague US Air Force retired, art and craft collector, patron of the fields of classical music and opera, died Sunday, November 17, 2019 at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital, Clinton, MD. He was 80. The cause of death was a massive heart attack, said his wife Clemmer Montague. The Montagues are residents of Fort Washington, MD.

The Montagues, both US Air Force officers, moved to Fort Washington on assignments. Colonel Montague was a student at the Johns Hopkins School of International Studies in international economies. He then moved to the Defense Intelligence Agency as an international relations specialist where he was chief of the briefing team for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. After this assignment, he moved to the Air Staff, followed by a final assignment at the DIA as chief of the Director’s Staff Group. He retired in 1985.

Mr. and Mrs. Montague were involved in art and craft support organizations until his demise. He was a member of the board of directors of the former Friends of the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Having interests of studio and functional craft, they joined the James Renwick Alliance, (JRA), then a support group for the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery. He went on to help establish a Distinguished Artist Lecture Series for JRA, inviting artists to Washington, DC, for demonstrations and a lecture at the Renwick Gallery. He was president of the James Renwick Alliance from 1998 to 2000 when JRA created a formal relationship with the Smithsonian American Art Museum. He was also a current member of the board of trustees of the Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts, Newcastle, ME. The Montagues were early supporters of the Washington Concert Opera, and he served on the board of directors of the Guild for Washington Concert Opera and the WCO board of directors.

Mr. Montague’s life was devoted to the celebration of man’s creativity of the world of art and music. Nothing was more pleasurable to him than to sit in front of the stereo to listen and study an opera; and he loved to solve crossword and Ken-Ken puzzles. He was an avid duplicate bridge player and love walking with his dog Figgy.

Mr. Montague was born in Worcester, MA and his family lived in Southbridge, MA. He is a magna cum laude 1961 graduate of Yale University, has a MS from Auburn University, AL, and is a graduate of the Department of State’s Foreign Service Institute. He married Clemmer Slaton in 1972 at Maxell Air Force Base, Montgomery, AL, before moving to Fort Washington where they both completed military service and retired.

Survivors are his wife of 47 years Clemmer Montague, and a sister Emily Scharman of Cape Canaveral, FL, brother-in-law Jessie Benjamin Slaton and his wife Anna, sisters-in-law Rebecca Slaton Lee, Ella Fitzbag and her husband Dean, Linda Johnson and her husband Mickey, several nieces and nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Washington Concert Opera, 2437 15th Street NW, Washington, DC, 20009 www.concertopera.org or Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts, www.watershedceramics.org 19 Brick Hill Rd, Newcastle, ME 04553.

A memorial service is planned for December 14 at 2 p.m. at the Grace Lutheran Church, 10928 Indian Head Hwy, Fort Washington, MD 20744.

Posted in: 1950s

Alfred Carlton Gilbert III ’65

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On Saturday, June 1, 2019, Alfred Carlton Gilbert III, who we all knew as Fred, or if you saw his car in town, ACG3, left us peacefully and quietly, with his wife, Joan, by his side after losing a long battle with cancer.

Fred was born June 28, 1946, in Hamden, CT, to Alfred C. Gilbert Jr. and Jean Tibbetts Gilbert. He was the second of four children and the oldest son. Always proud of his ACG3 name, he honored his family history. His grandfather, AC, invented the Erector set, and Fred remained a member of the AC Gilbert Heritage Society until his death.

Fred enjoyed a typically outdoors childhood in Hamden, which formed the basis of his love of the outdoors. He attended Williston Academy and Norwich University and served two years in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.

A champion swimmer from a young age, he went on to be a powerful force at Norwich,
breaking and holding many records there for decades. His butterfly was a beautiful thing to
behold.

After his discharge from the army, Fred settled in the Mad River Valley and made his life
and home here for 47 years. A carpenter by vocation, he built both of his Valley homes along with countless places in The Valley, creating his beloved Sugar Pail Hill home, nurturing bountiful gardens, cutting timber for heat, having the companionship of several dogs and critters and living the life of a mountain man. His door was always open to friends and family and epic parties just grew around him. Home was his joy and the great outdoors was his passion.

Fred and Joan married in 1999 and continued his tradition of friends, family critters,
bounty and love. They later determined they were better friends than spouses but remained
married and close friends.

One of Fred’s greatest gifts was his sense of civic duty and giving. He hiked and
maintained the Long Trail and was a lifelong volunteer, serving on the Green Mountain Club’s board for several years. He was instrumental in creating the Mad River Path, built bridges, maintained trails and was on their board. Later he gave his talents to planning commissions and conservation commissions in both Fayston and Waitsfield.

Fred is survived by his wife, Joan Bartlett Gilbert; his sister, Julie Gilbert Trail and Shan
Trail; brother, John Gilbert and Ali Gilbert; brother, David Gilbert and Kathy Gilbert; several
cherished Gilbert and Tibbetts cousins, nieces and nephews; and Bartlett in-laws.

His father, Alfred C. Gilbert Jr., and mother, Jean Tibbetts Gilbert, passed away before
him, as well as many close friends that he also considered family.

A memorial service will be held and announced for Fred here in the Mad River Valley at
a later date this summer.

Contributions to Fred’s memory may be made to the Green Mountain Club, 4711
Waterbury Stowe Road, Waterbury Center, VT 05677, or the Mad River Path Association, 4601 Main Street, Waitsfield, VT 05673.

Posted in: 1960s

Richard C. Aquadro ’47

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Richard Conz Aquadro, born to Virginia Conz and Mario Aquadro on July 17, 1926 in Northampton, MA, passed away peacefully on December 30th, 2019 surrounded by his loving family sharing great stories in a time of sadness. Richard, better known as “Dick”, grew up in Northampton, MA and graduated from Northampton High School in 1944. He entered the NAVY in December 1944, serving in World War II until 1945. Richard went to Williston Academy after the NAVY for a post graduate year then enrolled in Norwich University. He finished his education at MIT graduating in 1952 with a degree in Civil Engineering. Richard then married the love of his life, Marie Lawler and started not only his professional career with Perini Inc., but also his family with his first three daughters being born in Boston. He returned to Northampton in 1954 joining his father and brother in the family construction business, Aquadro & Cerruti, Inc, and rounded out his family with a son and daughter. Today as you drive through Northampton and the surrounding communities you will see some of their work from Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Smith College, Amherst College, Hampshire College, various elementary and high schools, municipality buildings, and projects on the UMASS-Amherst campus. Richard was well-respected throughout the industry and considered fair and honorable by everyone from the tradespeople, to the vendors, to the subcontractors to the engineers, to the architects and to various owners of the many buildings he helped to construct. Richard’s strong bond for his community was strengthened during his tenure serving on the Board of the Northampton Co-Operative Bank, currently known as Greenfield/Northampton Co-Operative Bank. He joined the Board in 1972 becoming the Chairman in 1976 and retired from the Board in 2007.

Richard enjoyed skiing with family and friends regularly at Berkshire Snow Basin, and those around him fondly remember him for his beloved ski vacations across the globe. When his family was young, they spent many summers on the shores of Cape Cod with friends. He loved to travel with Marie and bring anyone along that wanted to go. During his later years, he cherished his time in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, where he developed new friendships and opened his house to many visitors. He was an avid reader, especially enjoying historical biographies of political figures. His love of learning never stopped, and he kept up on with the latest technology and was always aware of current affairs, especially pertaining to financial markets. Not to mention, he evolved with the social media era, and his accidental Instagram posts will be greatly missed.

He had intimate bonds with each of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren that each will take with them ahead into life. He was genuinely proud of each one of them and kept up with their lives and education, supporting them always.

He is survived by his wife of 68 blissful years, Marie Lawler Aquadro ’45, and his five children Elizabeth Kouri ’70 and husband Kevin of Naples, FLA, Alison Gleason and husband Daniel of Leeds, MA, Kimberly Sapienza and husband Thomas of Chelmsford, MA, Richard D. Aquadro and wife Sabra of Northampton, MA, Jennifer Egan and husband James of Walpole, MA. He has thirteen grandchildren: Kevin, Daniel, Kristen, Bryan, Aileen, Christine, Timothy, Courtney ’11, Andrew, Anthony ’15, Ania, Natalie ’17 and John. Seven great-grandchildren: Sapphire, Theodore, Declan, Parker, Genevieve, Elizabeth and Marie. He is also survived by his brother Robert Aquadro of Florence, MA. The two brothers worked side by side creating one of the top General Contracting companies in Western MA. He was predeceased by his brother, Francis Aquadro and sister, Gladys Aquadro Stiles.

A funeral will be held at Our Lady of the Hills Parish, 173 Main Street, Haydenville, MA on Monday, January 6 at 10:00 am followed by a burial at Assumption Cemetery, Route 9/Haydenville Road, Leeds. Calling hours will be held from 1:00 – 5:00, Sunday, January 5, at CZELUSNIAK FUNERAL HOME, 173 North Street, Northampton, MA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of the Hills Parish, PO Box 277, Haydenville, MA 01039-9703, Our Lady of the Elms College, 291 Springfield Street, Chicopee, MA 01013 or to Northampton High School Virginia Aquadro Scholarship Fund (checks made out to the City of Northampton), c/o Northampton High School, 380 Elm Street, Northampton, MA 01060.

Posted in: 1940s

Blair Douglas McMillin ’84

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It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Blair Douglas McMillin on Tuesday, December 10, 2019. He was at home surrounded by his wife Chrissy and their children Callahan, Teegan, Delaney and Shea who collectively were the loves of his life. He is preceded in death by his parents Julia Jones and Blair Steele McMillin. Along with his wife and children he is survived by his brother and best friend James and sister Barbara Smith (Rick). Doug was born and raised in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania and summered at his family house in Chautauqua, New York. He spent a post graduate year at Williston Northampton and graduated college from Ohio Wesleyan where he was a stellar football and track star. After graduation he moved to the Roaring Fork Valley and resided in Woody Creek and Basalt for over 30 years. He made a living in construction and enjoyed his passions for photography, sailing, skiing and woodworking. Doug was a kind and gentle soul with a smile you could never forget. He had a kind word for all and if you knew him he considered you a friend. He had four rules for his children and the last one he lived by every day … Give more than you take.

Doug’s celebration of life will be held on January 25, 2020 at 12:30 p.m. 70 McCabe Ranch Road Old Snowmass 81654. All who knew and loved him are welcome. Warm attire and think about carpooling.

Posted in: 1980s

Remembering members of the Williston Northampton community