Remembering members of the Williston Northampton community

William E. Gwatkin ’59

William “Bill” Gwatkin, 76, died Sunday, April 2, 2017 at Orlando Regional Medical Center. Bill was born in New Haven, Connecticut. He and his wife Nancy have been “snowbirds” between Cape Cod and Titusville and traveled the country visiting family and friends for over 20 years. Bill owned a Food Distributorship in Cape Cod. He was an avid golfer and loved traveling in his RV.

Bill is survived by his wife Nancy; his children Kristen Reed and her husband Ed of Colorado Springs, CO; Wesley Gwatkin of Massachusetts; David Gwatkin and his wife Betty Ann of Vermont; his grandchildren Emma, Tyler and Cambell; and his stepsons Jon and Greg Whyman.

 

Randall S. Baird ’84

 

Randall Stewart Baird, 51, a former big-8 consulting-firm manager and entrepreneur, died peacefully on Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at his San Francisco home of more than 25 years.

He was born Sept. 21, 1965 in Boston, Massachusetts to G. Stewart and Martha Haskell Baird of Dover, MA, where he grew up. His most precious and enthusiastic loves were raising his two sons, Hunter, 13, and Tyler, 11, as well as singing for over 15 years in the Glide Ensemble in San Francisco.

Adventurous, spirited and ambitious, as a pre-teen Randall bicycled 800 miles and camped out from MA to the US Bi-centennial in Valley Forge with a teenage friend. His desire to experience the world led him abroad to Korea, Japan, Italy and the South Sea Islands and his love of sports never dimmed from playing hockey and tennis to rooting for his favorite Bruins team, a pass-time he remembered fondly doing with his sister Laurie over the years.

While at Williston-Northampton School, he helped develop a sci-fi section at their library, founded an all-male a cappella singing group and sang tenor with the Chamber Chorus and musical comedy productions. He earned his BS degree in mechanical engineering from Brown University in 1989 and was an active participant in his Alpha Delta Phi fraternity winning the Inter-Fraternity Pool Singles Championship in 1987. Later that same year he joined his parents with the Dedham Choral Society to sing the Verdi Requiem in Boston’s famed Symphony Hall.

Randall subsequently relocated to San Francisco, a city that embraced his quirky geek nature and love of all things sushi, where he sang in the Calvary Presbyterian Church choir before joining Glide Memorial United Methodist Church and their Ensemble. He also served as President of the San Francisco Brown Club and worked as a consultant with Arthur Anderson, Deloitte & Touché and Accenture prior to establishing his own company, 3cept, to both minister to individuals as well as provide technology direction and support for growing businesses.

Friends are welcome with their musical instruments, voices and refreshments at a memorial service scheduled for Saturday April 22 from 5-7:00pm at the Lake Merced Boathouse in San Francisco where fond memories will be shared of Randall’s warmth, humor and joie de vivre. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco or charity of your choice.

To a man that, as one friend put it, lived with texture, color and a lot of soul – you will be dearly missed.

Harold H. Kuniholm ’43

kuniholmHarold (“Harry”) H. (Heinrichs) Kuniholm died on Wednesday, February 15, 2017. He was 91. Born in Gardner, Massachusetts, to Mr. and Mrs. C. Harry Kuniholm, Harry attended Williston Academy in Easthampton, MA and later went on to Union College in Schenectady, NY. In the late 1940’s he served in the Navy as a medic and was stationed in Texas. While in Gardner, he met his wife of 61 years, Frances Pearl Gardner, who at the time was a nurse at the Heywood Hospital in Gardner, Massachusetts. The family lived in Petersham before moving to Athol where they resided for over 55 years. Harry spent the better part of his life running Kuniholm Jewelers in Athol and later in life worked for his brother Carl at North American Manufacturing in Holliston. Harry loved to swim and sing and was a talented painter and artist. While in college he was on the swim team and when the family came along built a swimming pool in the back yard. He was an enthusiastic singer and belonged to the Singing Men of Athol and the Yankee Male Chorus. He loved taking trips with Fran to sing at one of his many concerts and taking trips to visit Fran’s family in Nova Scotia. Harry carved birds while Fran quilted and the house quickly filled up with birds that surrounded their house in Athol and ones seen on their trips to Nova Scotia. Harry also enjoyed salmon fishing with his brother Carl. Above all, Harry loved Fran and enjoyed the many years of having family and friends to the house and were totally dedicated to each other after Harold was diagnosed with Alzheimers. Harold is predeceased by his wife Fran and leaves behind his children Alan Kuniholm and his wife Marie Dubois of Portland, ME, Barbara Bellar and husband Don Bellar of Baldwinville, MA, Beverly Abelow and her fiance Steve Pratt of Manchester, NH, James and Marie Kuniholm of Athol, and Erik and Ruth Kuniholm of So. Grafton. He also leaves 10 grandchildren, Kyle Fiske and Chylie Crossley, Jennifer and Jamie Gilman, Ian Kuniholm, Dana Kuniholm, Jeffrey Kuniholm, Matthew Kuniholm, Hannah Abelow, Douglas Abelow, Noah Kuniholm, Ethan Kuniholm, and one great-grandchild Erica Gilman. Harold leaves behind his brother Carl Kuniholm, brother Roland Kuniholm, and brother Thor Kuniholm. The family would like to say a special thank you to Joy Risatti and Frank and Rachel Gonzales who helped Fran and Harry make their last years together in Athol with family and friends possible. The family would also like to thank the staff at Wachusett Manor and Compassus Hospice for their care and support.

Vicary Gratton Clark ’38

vicaryMatriarch of the Clark Family, age 96, of Falmouth, Massachusetts, and long-time resident of Glens Falls, New York, died March 15th, 2017, surrounded by her family. She was raised in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, daughter of the Reverend John Gratton and Esther Stone Gratton. Graduating from Simmons College in 1942, she worked for General Electric, and served in government intelligence in Washington, DC during World War II. She moved to Boston and worked for MIT where she met her husband, William T. Clark who was attending Harvard Business School. After several years on the North Shore of Boston, they moved to Glens Falls in 1953. Her husband, William, ultimately became chairman and CEO of the First National Bank. Vicary devoted herself to raising and nurturing her five children. She was active in the First Presbyterian Church and the Glens Falls Hospital Guild. She had an active and inquisitive mind and a sharp wit. She was a voracious reader and an aficionado of cross word puzzles and Jeopardy. She loved spending summer months on the coast of Maine and at Lake George. In 1988 she moved to Falmouth, Massachusetts, which became the location of the family gatherings – especially the annual Thanksgiving celebrations. She loved paddle tennis, golf, romantic classic movies, schmaltzy music, sunshine, chocolate, and tuna fish sandwiches on Bowermans Beach on Cape Cod. But most of all, she was fiercely devoted to her family, which included: Children -Vicary Clark Thomas (Peter Thomas), Caroline Clark Ceglarski, Christine Clark Edwards (Thomas Edwards), William Merritt Clark (Kendall Clark), and Cynthia Clark Lipsky (Howard Lipsky); Grandchildren – William Thomas, Carter Thomas, Sarah Ceglarski, Ted Edwards, Abra Edwards, Kelsey Clark, William Clark (Coco Zephir), Mimi Clark, Anna Georges, Elizabeth Kelley (Sean Kelley), and Jamie Lipsky Myers (Jason Myers).

Margaret Lovett Doyle ’35

doyleOn Wednesday, January 4, 2017, surrounded by those she loved, Margaret “Meg” Doyle, Matriarch of Clan Doyle, passed peacefully from this world to the next. There, she’ll get to spend eternity in the loving arms of her God and her husband “Bun”, who predeceased her. Margaret (MOM) was the loving heart of our family which spans four generations. She and Bun had five children: Frank, Pete, Mike, Joe and Margaret. Her children blessed her with eight grandchildren: Michele, Veronica, David, Katy, Chris, Frank, Joe and Shawna. More recently came eight great grandchildren: Justin, Keelin, Joe, Tim, Julia, Molly, Bryce and Madison. Also included in the clan are many nephews and nieces, particularly Liz, whose lives have been touched by the beautiful person who, to us, was MOM. Mom was energetic in civic and church programs and activities, giving care and assistance to all whenever the need was there. One of her greatest pleasures was seeing those she loved succeed in life’s challenges and opportunities. She was always quick with recognition and praise for all her family. Mom was a fifty-year-plus member of the Cursillo Community and an active participant in Opus Dei where, up to the end, she kept many friends close to her heart. Mom’s passing has left a void in the hearts and lives of everyone she touched.

Daniel M. Doolittle ’55

doolittleDaniel M. Doolittle, 81, of Kennebunk, Maine, originally of Darien, Connecticut, died on Monday, March 6, 2017 at Gosnell Memorial Hospice in Scarborough, Maine following complications from surgery. Mr. Doolittle was born on May 20, 1935 to Dwight N. and Dorothy M. (Smith) Doolittle in Stamford. He attended Darien High School, class of 1953, and graduated from Williston Academy, Easthampton, MA, in 1955. Mr. Doolittle attended St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY. He married Cynthia Crider in 1971 and they lived in Darien until his retirement 2001.

Mr. Doolittle learned how to skate and played hockey on Darien ponds in his youth. He taught youth skating and hockey to local children, some of whom would later join his hockey team at Darien High School. He was Darien High School head coach for a number of years, finally winning the state championship for Darien High in 1969. Mr. Doolittle played hockey for Williston Academy and also for St. Lawrence University. He was also a member of the Home Oilers, a semi-pro team made up of players from Fairfield County.

Mr. Doolittle worked for Pitney-Bowes as a service repair technician before being drafted into the United States Army. He spent two years stationed in France using skills he learned with the U. S. Army Signal Corp and worked installing and repairing phones at his base. Mr. Doolittle was home for almost a year before being recalled into active duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Mr. Doolittle returned to Pitney-Bowes as a technical service writer. He became manager of technical publications and continued employment with the copier division.  After 40 years, Mr. Doolittle retired from the company. The next day, he and Cynthia moved to Kennebunk, Maine.

In Maine, Mr. Doolittle belonged to The Church on the Cape in Cape Porpoise and to Laudholm Farm in Wells. He was an avid wood turner and loved creating things out of wood. He was always fixing or building something. Mr. Doolittle loved his family around him and enjoyed his summers on the water in Maine, often kayaking with the loons.

Mr. Doolittle is survived by his wife of 46 years, Cynthia Doolittle of Kennebunk; two daughters: Alyssa M. Doolittle of Newark, Vermont and Robin Illian and her husband Randy of Portland, Maine; six grandchildren: LunaMay Doolittle Waterman, Gordon Simpson Doolittle, Jack Simpson, Francesca C. Illian Sparrow, Leonard Daniel Illian, and Sequoia Shriver Illian; one sister, Donna E. Rajczewski of Darien, Darien’s Town Clerk; two nieces: Lee R. Richardson of Burlington, North Carolina and Dana Turton of Richmond, Virginia; and many cousins.

 

Lolita Machon Williams ’50

lolitaLolita Jane Williams (Lee), of Bridgewater, died on March 4, 2017, at the age of 84. She was born in Providence, Rhode Island on April 2, 1932, to the late Elsie and Norman Machon. Lee grew up in Providence and in Andover, Massachusetts. She graduated from Northampton School for Girls in Northampton, Massachusetts, in 1950. Lee’s family summered at Newfound Lake in New Hampshire, and there she met her future husband Robert (Bob) Williams. She attended the University of New Hampshire for two years, leaving to marry Bob and settle permanently in New Hampshire. Lee was a homemaker, caring for Bob and their three sons while Bob established a family lumber business, R.P. Williams and Sons. Lee’s life revolved around her family, and many weekends were spent skiing at Ragged Mountain, hiking in the White Mountains or boating on Newfound Lake. Lee was active in the Bristol Federated Church for many years, and also served as a trustee of the Newfound Lake Association. During a long retirement, Bob and Lee enjoyed traveling around the country in their RV and spent winters in the Florida community of Estero. During the late 2000s, Lee gradually descended into dementia; Bob took care of her at home until shortly before his own death of cancer in 2014. Lee is survived by three children, Robert Penn Williams III of Bridgewater, Steven Williams of Bridgewater and Bruce Williams of San Francisco, California; four grandchildren, Travis Williams, Kiersten Williams, Alicia Williams and Kyle Williams; as well as three great-grandchildren.

Daniel M. Cain ’64

cainDaniel M. Cain passed away on March 31, 2017, at his farm house in West Cornwall, CT, after an eight month battle with brain cancer. His wife of 21 years, Kathleen, was at his side at the time of his death and for every step throughout his long ordeal. In addition to his wife, Mr. Cain is survived by his son William, 20, a sophomore at Cornell University, three siblings, William Cain and Constance Decelles of Holyoke, Massachusetts and James Cain of Larchmont, New York, and numerous nieces , nephews, and in-laws.

Mr. Cain was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts, on February 24, 1945, the third of four children of William P. Cain a local plumber and Sabina (Wozniak) Cain, a homemaker. Mr. Cain’s father passed away in 1959 and his mother held things together while raising her four children, ages 9 to 18. His mother passed away in 2006.

In his senior year in high school Mr. Cain was selected as one of top 100 high school football players in the nation during the fall of 1963. His Holyoke High School team was the Western Massachusetts co-champion that year and he broke the schools rushing and scoring records, both of which stood for decades after his graduation. His skills on the grid iron along with his enthusiastic and warm personality opened the door to a full scholarship for a post graduate year at Williston Academy in Easthampton, Massachusetts. At Williston he led his team to an undefeated season while earning First Team All-New England honors. After entertaining offers from college football programs throughout the east and mid-west, including Notre Dame, Army, Columbia, Dartmouth and Holy Cross, Mr. Cain chose Brown University where he started on the freshman team before sustaining a career ending knee injury during his sophomore year.

After graduation from Brown in 1968, Mr. Cain began a career in commercial banking with the Bank of New York. Realizing at an early stage that reading estate plan documents in the bank’s trust department was not his natural calling he left the bank in 1970 for an extended tour of Europe on his BSA motorcycle. A near fatal accident in Rome encouraged him to submit an application to the MBA program at Columbia University where he graduated in 1972.

After a brief tenure in the corporate finance department at Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith, Mr. Cain joined his brother, James, at a fledgling health care investment banking group within Eastdil Realty in 1974. Over the past 40 plus years Mr. Cain was regarded as one the industry’s top health care services investment bankers. He was a pioneer in the origination and execution of countless merger and acquisition transactions among non-profit and investor owned health care providers. In the 1980s his recognition that the health care industry was plagued with inefficiencies and excess capacity convinced him that the industry was ripe for consolidation, a trend that is in full bloom today. In addition, Mr. Cain executed hundreds of millions of dollars in capital raises for hospitals, physician groups and various organizations serving the health care industry.

After five years at Eastdil, Mr. Cain and his brother, James, left together to join the public finance department at Salomon Brothers where Mr. Cain served as the head of the group. While tax exempt bond financing was the focus of that group within Salomon Brothers, Mr. Cain’s real interest and passion was in bringing health care organizations together through mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and other forms of affiliation. As a result the Cains left Salomon Brothers in late 1982 to form the firm now operating as Cain Brothers.

Mr. Cain’s brother, James, vividly recalls his father in law saying the Cain boys were crazy to leave Salomon. The Cains were making more money than most players on the New York Yankees. James remembers that they left Salomon on very good terms and were told to come back if things didn’t work out. Things did work out and 35 years later Cain Brothers is growing, prospering and is well known and highly regarded throughout the industry. Most importantly this success has occurred while maintaining a culture focused on doing right by its clients and employees.

Mr. Cain was also a founding partner of two venture capital firms-CB Health Ventures and Health Enterprise Partners. Implementing a strategy to raise capital for and within the health care industry these funds raised capital from organizations that would also be informed users of the services and products provided by the portfolio companies. Both venture funds have successfully raised and invested hundreds of millions in early stage health care service and technology companies.

Mr. Cain displayed a high level of energy and creativity. He was often ahead of his time and enjoyed developing innovative and at times overly complicated strategies for addressing a capital or strategic need that others may have address with more traditional and conventional solutions. If plain vanilla was the solution he quickly lost interest. His support team often cringed when asked to execute his game plan. That said, clients loved his creative gene and his ability to convey his enthusiasm for the work he did and the extraordinary outcome he envisioned. He was also loved by his colleagues and respected by competitors.

Entering a meeting room or event with his customary “hey sports fans” Mr. Cain would inject a jolt of energy into any event or meeting. As time passed and his dual careers as an investment banker and venture capitalist thrived his philanthropic interests grew as well. In addition to supporting his various alma maters he was a generous benefactor to many health care, educational and cultural organizations thorough the United States. He also gave of his time serving on numerous boards including the Williston-Northampton School, the Salisbury School, the Norman Rockwell Museum, the Shaker Hancock Village and the Columbia Business School.

When not in the office or the board room Mr. Cain spent his time traveling with friends and family to destinations throughout the world or tending to the needs of the several farms he owned in Connecticut, upstate New York and Virginia. He loved to burn off his high octane energy levels building stone walls or bailing hay. His West Cornwall farm served as a setting for annual Thanksgiving gatherings and touch football games for his growing immediate and extended family and many other festive occasions. His wife, a gourmet cook, would spends days preparing the proper and substantial menu and decorating the farm to reflect the event being celebrated.

His brother James said that “Dan was more than a brother, a mentor, a partner and friend.” His one great year on the football fields of Western Massachusetts opened a new world to our whole family. We were suddenly introduced to new experiences, people, organizations and attitudes outside our hometown of Holyoke, Massachusetts. Dan dragged me off the couch and onto practice fields in Holyoke, then to Williston, an Ivy League education and finally diverted my career path as a bartender and wrestling coach to one in investment banking. He had a similar and lasting impact on my siblings and their children. Dan loved his family, his farms, his friends and his business colleagues and always extended a helping hand whenever a need or an ask arose.”

The family held a private service near his farm in Litchfield County and plans to hold a memorial service at the Salisbury School within the next two months. Mr. Cain gives credit for his success in business and life to not only his family and friends and to the opportunity provided at Williston. Accordingly, the family suggests that voluntary contributions in his honor be made to the Williston Northampton School.

Remembering members of the Williston Northampton community