Remembering members of the Williston Northampton community

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.

 

 

Daryoush Farshid Hakim ’54

Daryoush Farshid Hakim passed away on May 18, 2017 at the age of 84.  He died at Yale New Haven Hospital surrounded by his loving family after a brief illness. Farshid was born on December 17, 1932 to Reverend Jollinous and Badieh Hakim and was the youngest of four sons.  He attended grammar school in Tehran, Iran and graduated from Williston Northampton School in Easthampton, MA.  He attended the University of Georgia where he earned a degree in Agricultural Engineering.  After graduation, he returned to Iran and married his wife of 56 years, Faegheh (Fae) Hakim.  Subsequently, he completed his studies at Princeton Seminary. Farshid worked as administrator of Iranzamin – Tehran International School.  In Iran, he was an active member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Tehran and the Rotary Club International.  In 1979, Farshid moved his family to Cheshire, Connecticut. He quickly became an active member of the Cheshire community, joining the local chapter if the Rotary Club and the First Congregational Church.  Initially, he worked as business manager for the First Congregational Church of Waterbury.  He then worked for the Presbyterian Church USA as a missionary, assisting Christian refugees during their transition to life in America.  After his retirement, he remained active by helping students at Cheshire Academy Health Center with their transportation needs.  For the last few years, Farshid was an active congregant of the First Church of Christ, Wethersfield. Farshid served more than 50 years with the Rotary Club International.  During his tenure in Cheshire, he served in many roles, most consistently as the coordinator of the Scholarship Committee. He was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow for his contributions to the Cheshire organization.  In 2014, he received the Rotary District Governor’s Citation for his service. A man of great devotion to the Lord, he faithfully served in several roles, including Deacon, Trustee and numerous boards and committees at all churches he attended.  He, along with Fae, led the Iranian Christian Fellowship of Connecticut for many years. He is survived by his loving wife, Fae, his children, son Ramin and his wife, Linda Boulanger, daughter, Noureen, his beloved grandchildren, Christian and Alexandra, and his brother, Dr. Jamshid Hakim and his wife, Margaret of Pocono Pines, PA.  He was predeceased by his brothers, Houshang Hakim (Redbank, NJ) and Parviz Hakim (Tehran, Iran) and his granddaughter, Alana Saba Hakim (Cheshire).

Priscilla Ruder Lucier ’50

Priscilla Ruder Lucier passed away on Saturday, May 6, 2017 one month before her 85th birthday. She died in her home in Duxbury, MA surrounded by her family and friends after a courageous battle with cancer. Priscilla was born in Mount Lebanon, PA, but spent most of her life in a variety of towns in Massachusetts including Woburn, Amherst, Foxborough, Easthampton, Sturbridge, Wayland and Osterville. She was deeply beloved by her husband of 63 years, Joseph L. Lucier and their four children, Daniel D. Lucier, Mark B. Lucier, Leslie L. Marino and David L. Lucier, their spouses and eleven grandchildren. She is survived by her sisters Susan G. Hull and Paula L. Cole and predeceased by her parents Carl L. Ruder and Mary R. Salmon, stepfather Edward Dwight Salmon, sister Cynthia L. Seifert and son Daniel Lucier. Priscilla was a graduate of the Northampton School for Girls as well as The University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a degree in Landscape Architecture. Her career spanned a love of conservation as well as a talent for fundraising. She worked at The Williston Northampton School, Old Sturbridge Village, Mount Holyoke College, Boston Childrens Hospital, Parmenter Visiting Nurse and Wayside Hospice and volunteered in local land conservancy organizations and garden clubs.

Carlo A. Marchetti ’51

Carlo A. Marchetti, loving and much loved father and grandfather, passed away peacefully in the presence of family on Saturday, December 17, 2016, in Springfield, Massachusetts. He was born on June 13, 1931, in Springfield, to parents Serafino and Carolina Marchetti. He was a champion of the City, beginning his professional life as a City Assessor, moving on to become a Vice President of Real Estate for the Third National Bank and, ultimately, doing the job he loved most, as Executive Director of an organization he helped create, Springfield Central. Upon retirement, he moved to Sarasota, Florida where he lived for the last 16 years of his well-lived life. Carlo was a veteran, having served in the Marines, First Reconnaissance Company, during the Korean War. He was predeceased by his sister Esther Marchetti Ferrero and her husband Julian; and he is survived by his sister Rena Libera Jonathan and her husband Jack; his children, Carolyn Marchetti Branthoover, Lisa Marchetti Lamp and her husband Steve, and John Carlo Marchetti and his wife Karen. Carlo shared much love, joy and energy with his six grandchildren, Christopher, Nicholas, Katherine, Lauren, Alexander and Gabriel. Carlo was delighted when he was able to expand and deepen his friendships with extended family in Italy, in his later years. His trips to Italy became an annual occurrence, which he cherished. He was a world traveler whose favorite trips were those taken with family, the most recent of which was to Chicago in April of this year, organized for him by his Grandchildren.

Mark R. Berman ’69

 

Mark R. Berman, a fixture of the local business community who enjoyed a second career as a college administrator, died at his home in Williamsburg, MA on Friday, May 5, 2017, after a brief illness. He was 65.

Berman graduated from Williston Academy in 1969. He earned his undergraduate degree from Syracuse University in 1973, where he lettered in men’s swimming. He obtained an MBA and law degree from Syracuse in 1976. In 1977, Berman joined the management of Yale Genton, the venerable West Springfield clothier started by his grandfather. He served as general manager, vice president and eventually president of Yale Genton. In 2008, Berman followed his passion for education and joined the administration of American International College in Springfield as associate vice president for educational enterprise. He later became executive vice president for administration. During his tenure at AIC, Berman was instrumental in a number of major initiatives, including significant capital improvements on campus.

Throughout his business career, Berman devoted his time and talents to a host of local institutions, including as a board member at the Clarke School for the Deaf, the UMass Fine Arts Center, the Springfield Library and Museums, and Baystate Health Systems. He was a past director of the West Springfield Chamber of Commerce and a corporator at the Springfield Institute for Savings. His colleagues and associates will remember him as a leader and mentor who was wholeheartedly devoted to the institutions of which he was a part. He was a man of great personal dignity, and afforded that same dignity to everyone he met.

Berman is survived by his loving wife, Martha G. Baker; his stepchildren, Michael C. Moran and Jennifer E. Norris, and their spouses, Melissa M. Moran and William J. Norris; and his grandchildren, Claire, Ryan, Liam, and Henry. With Martha, Mark joyfully left the office behind, traveled the world, improved his golf game, read voraciously, mastered the grill, perfected the gimlet, relaxed on the beach in his beloved Westport, welcomed the arrival of four grandchildren, and relished in his new role as their “Papa.”

Richard B. Covell, P’70, former trustee

Richard B. Covell, 87, of Yarmouthport, MA, died Saturday April 22, 2017, after a brief period of declining health.

He was the husband of the late Helen Ruth (Powers) Covell who died in 2009. They had been married for 57 years.

Born in Ware, Mr. Covell was the son of the late Bertram M. and Ruth Mae (Launier) Covell. He was a graduate of Becker College and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and completed graduate studies at The Graduate School of Banking, Brown University and The Management Development School at Dartmouth College.

His professional career, spanning 42 years, was spent in banking and he retired in August 1992 as CEO of Heritage Bank. In 1966 he was elected Vice President of Northampton Institution for Savings and elected President in 1968. The bank merged with Heritage Bank in 1986 and acquired Community Savings Bank of Holyoke in 1986. The combined organization had 29 offices in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties with assets exceeding $1.5 billion.

He was active in community affairs and served as Trustee of The Clarke School for 38 years, Treasurer of Look Park for 27 years, Treasurer of Applewood Living Care Community and Member of the Development Committee of Cooley Dickinson Hospital. He also served as Trustee of Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation, and Trustee of Northampton School for Girls and was instrumental in the merger with Williston Academy which would then become Williston-Northampton School. As Chair of the Northampton Development Committee, he worked aggressively to promote and maintain the downtown and keep Hotel Northampton as a focal point. In 1983, Mr. Covell received the Northampton Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year award. He was past President of Northampton Rotary Club and in 1988 was named a Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary’s highest honor for “service above self.” He was also a life member of Northampton Elks Lodge BPOE 997.

Mr. Covell is survived by his three children Jane S. Keeney ’70 and her husband, Normand of Avon CT, Richard B. Covell, Jr. and his wife, Maureen of Plymouth, and Joan C. Cooper and her husband Herb of Arlington, VA; his four grandchildren, Jennifer Keeney-Bleeg and her husband, Jim, of Bristol, England, Jeffrey A. Keeney and his wife, Jenny of Chicago, IL, Richard B. Covell, III and Eric J. Covell, both of Plymouth; and his two great grandchildren, Elliott and Julian Bleeg, both of Bristol, England. Also remembered with love and kindness is his longtime friend, Claire F. Rodrigues.

Nathaniel O. Novak (Luff) ’90

Nat Novak (nee Luff) passed away on April 1st, 2017 after a long illness. He leaves behind his wife, Barbara, and his three kids, Jack, Sam, and Lily.
Nat was a loving father, devoted husband, avid cyclist (consistent with his time at Williston), fearless home renovator, talented writer, cook, car geek, and advocate of humanity.
A beloved community member, Nat resided in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, where he served as crew chief of the town’s volunteer ambulance squad.

Remembering members of the Williston Northampton community