Tag Archives: Class of 1971

Michael L. Kinsler ’71

Michael Laskin Kinsler, better known to others as Cal, Dad, Pop, or Mr K, age 70, passed away suddenly on March 22, 2024. Everyone who knew him knows how much he loved to tell stories. We wish that we could share some outrageous story that led to his untimely death. Unfortunately, he died of a heart attack with his beloved wife Martha and his adored bulldog Rocco by his side.

Michael was born and raised in Longmeadow, MA. He attended Williston Northampton School where his passion for sports began. He was a four year letterman in soccer, lacrosse, and ice hockey. He went on to study zoology and environmental science at the University of Vermont, graduating with a bachelor of science. He would have graduated in four years but he met the love of his life Martha McCanna and followed the theme of one of his favorite movies, Animal House, graduating seven years later. He obtained his masters degree at Antioch University of New England. His passion for learning was such that he went on to further his education for years beyond receiving his diplomas.

His first teaching position was at Rutland Town Elementary School where he was a science and math teacher for 21 years. Let’s not forget what a great sex education teacher he was. Never were his students so focused as they were in those classes. Michael accepted a position as a math teacher in 2000 at Barstow Memorial School, retiring in 2015. For nearly a decade he was the Girls Varsity Soccer coach at Rutland High School. He was recognized by his peers and was awarded Teacher of the Year, Coach of the Year, and Referee of the Year. Rumor has it that in 43 years refereeing he only made one bad call.
He was a man of diverse hobbies and interests including Chittenden dump socializer, Ben and Jerry’s connoisseur, expert organic gardener, Baird Farm enthusiast, pumpkin growing competitor, frog catcher, afternoon napper, king of leftovers, fierce competitor of the New York Times mini crossword, Wordle, and connections, vacuum apprentice, 60’s on 6 classic rock listener, passionate Boston Sports Fan, weatherman, snowman builder, famous ice candle maker, builder and man of all trades.

He leaves his best friend and beloved wife of 54 years Martha McCanna Kinsler of Chittenden, VT; adored children Dr. Erron Kinsler of Phoenix, AZ, Micah Kinsler and his wife Samantha Hodar of Scottsdale, AZ, Annah and her husband Dr. Gregory Sawyer of Cape Elizabeth, ME, and Jared Kinsler, Esq. and his wife Brianne of Sudbury, MA. He also leaves behind nine treasured grandchildren Eli Kinsler; Madison, Taylor, and Olivia Kinsler; Lylah, Jude, and Levi Sawyer; and Sloane and Tatum Kinsler. He is also survived by his cherished sister SueAnn Spahr, husband David, and their family of Scottsdale, AZ. He is predeceased by many family and friends, and his bulldogs Bertha and Brutus.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday March 30, 2024, from 1-3 pm at Mountain Top Inn and Resort. A private burial will happen at a later date.

Everyone who knew him knows how much he loved nature and valued preserving the beauty of this world, from animals to trees to rivers and lakes to gardening and birdwatching out his kitchen window. He began each morning checking his game camera to see what magnificent creature visited during the night. In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions can be made in his name to Vermont Land Trust VLT.org 8 Bailey Avenue Montpelier, VT 05602 or Four Winds Nature Institute https://fwni.org 4 Casey Road Chittenden, VT 05737.

Most importantly, Michael would want everyone to pause, be in the moment, and enjoy nature. Whether it be kayaking, watching bald eagles, going for a hike, catching a brook trout, or swimming in a fresh body of water. Breathe in the fresh air and think of him.

Mark W. Sullivan ’71

Mark W. Sullivan, a former executive at General Motors , died on March 14, 2023 of complications from diabetes. Mr. Sullivan was born in 1953 in Naples, Italy, where his father was stationed as a U. S. diplomat. After living in Italy and the Netherlands, he spent some time in the United States before joining his family in Vientiane, Laos. He was educated at Williston Academy in Easthampton, MA, and Occidental College. He then spent a period working for USAID in the Philippines before obtaining an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management in 1979. Mr. Sullivan spent 28 years at General Motors, taking positions of increasing responsibility as a manager in benchmarking and strategic analysis; his final role was as Manager of Strategic Analysis, responsible for analyzing industry trends in the automotive industry, and providing advice on financial and corporate strategy. After he left General Motors, Mr. Sullivan built on his experience to provide independent consulting services in the automotive industry. He is survived by two sisters, Anne Sullivan and Margaret Sullivan, and six nephews and nieces, Brian Wallach, Thomas Wallach, Peter Wallach, Mercedes Plessmann, Sarah Ross, and Maximiliano Plessmann. A memorial service will be held shortly. For details, please contact Pixley Funeral Home, Rochester MI at 248-651-9641. Donations in his memory may be made to I Am ALS, https://iamals.org.

Harvey E. Goldberg ’71

Harvey Goldberg, beloved father, grandfather, son, brother, husband, uncle, cousin, and friend was tragically struck by a car and killed while out walking in his neighborhood on January 5, 2023. A friend to all, Harvey was a kind and loving soul, devoted to his family and friends, full of humor and contagious laughter. He had many and varied intellectual interests and had an unusual gift for listening.

The son of Albert and Judith Goldberg, Harvey grew up in Holyoke Massachusetts, attended public schools there through eighth grade, and then spent his high school years at Williston Academy in Easthampton, Mass, where he was the editor in chief of the school newspaper. He attended and graduated from Yale University, where he studied philosophy and economics, and where he sang in the famed Yale Russian Chorus. He later earned a second undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and his interest in computers and computer technology became the focus of his early career.

After working for a number of years in the Boston area, Harvey moved to South Florida, where he lived until his death. In Florida he continued working as an electronic engineer until he gravitated to working with family business interests. There he met his wife, Cindi Goldberg (Tresser), and they were married until she pre-deceased him.

Harvey maintained his lively intellectual interests throughout his life as an avid reader of nonfiction books, periodicals, and documentaries- especially around history, economics, and current events. He had a love of music and especially opera, and he was a world traveler. But family was his greatest interest of all. He was beloved by all for his warmth, sense of humor, dry wit and humor, and his interest and helpfulness. Universally, upon hearing the tragic news, the reaction was some version of “Harvey- one of my very favorite people in the world.”

Harvey is survived by his daughters, Stephanie Goldberg and Mara Feil; his son-in-law Brian Feil; his brother, Steven Goldberg ’70; his sister in-law, Sandee Blechman; his sister, Michelle Marcus; his brother-in-law Robert Sherman; and his nieces and nephews Abby Goldberg (Scott Hechinger), Maryl Sackeim (Alex Sackeim), David Goldberg, Seth Marcus (Dayna), Jaimee Wold (Ryan); his grandchildren Clay and Dakota Feil; and his grand nephews and nieces Jonah Hechinger, Cooper and Rami Sackeim, Ava and Aven Wold, and Leighton Marcus. He is also survived by his cousins Louise Citron, Debbie Goldberg and Seth Waxman, and Janet and Richard Greenfield; Stephanie’s partner Jake; and his companion, Pam Kagan. He will be sorely missed by all.

Funeral Services and Burial for Harvey will be held 2:30pm, Sunday, January 8, 2023 at IJ Morris at Star of David of the Palm Beaches, 9321 Memorial Park Road, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33412.

Mark W. Clemens ’71

Mark Clemens passed quietly on May 2, 2022, after a brief battle with lung cancer; he was 69 years old. At his side as he slipped away was his loving and devoted wife of fourteen years, Kimberly.
Born at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina on November 5, 1952, he was the oldest child and only son of Walter Henry Clemens ’47 and Margaret (Peggy) Dwyer Clemens. Mark lived his formative years on Long Island, New York, first in Wantagh and then in Garden City, where he attended Garden City High School, transferring to Williston Academy in Massachusetts for a year, and then graduating from Acalanes High School ’71 in Lafayette, California. After high school Mark attended Claremont Men’s College where he studied Psychology, earning his degree in 1975. After college, Mark spent his career working for two large national insurance companies, specializing in the Surplus Lines area of the business. He eventually went out on his own, using his great knowledge to form his own company.
He was a humble and unassuming man, known for his integrity, his wicked sense of humor, and his love of family. He especially enjoyed going to The Alisal Guest Ranch every year with his entire family to play golf, ride horses, spend time with his nieces and nephews, cowboy up to the bar for a drink or two, play dominos, and most of all, make lasting memories. His love of family extended to the fury kind as well, doting on his dogs, Bailey and Bella, every chance he could. He is now joyfully reunited with his all-time favorite dog, Hermie, an Olde English Bulldogge. Mark also enjoyed all types of sports from college to professional. He had a love of NASCAR and Formula 1 racing, attending races, and rooting for his favorites on TV.
Mark married Kimberly Rae Henderson on April 5, 2008. In their time together, they enjoyed many things, especially traveling in their RV around this great country, visiting friends and family, and seeing new sites. They were two peas in a pod, and totally devoted to one another.
Mark leaves behind the love of his life, his wife, Kimberly, his son Terrance (Stephanie), his brother-in-law Terry (Maureen) and his sister-in-law, Jennifer; his sisters Marybeth (Greg), and Susan; stepdaughter Ashlee, grandchildren Makayla, Kyler, Easton, Hadley, Adalynn, Rachel, and Joshua; great grandchildren Dominic and Stephen; nieces, Katie and Laura, nephew, Michael; great nieces Dakoda, Emma, and Stella and great nephew Max.
Visitation is on Thursday, May 5, 2022, from 5-7 pm at Tetrick Funeral Home Bluff City Chapel. Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 6, 2022, at 11:30 am in the Chapel of the Bluff City Funeral Home 245 Main St, Bluff City, Tennessee. Followed by internment at 2:00 pm in the Mountain Home National Cemetery, Mountain Home, Tennessee.
Donations in Mark’s name may be made to The Washington County Animal Shelter 3411 North Roan Street, Johnson City, TN 37601 and The Washington County Humane Society 2101 West Walnut Street, Johnson City, TN 37604.

Lynda Elliott Swenson ’71

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.

Mark C. Reichenbacher ’71

Mark Charles Reichenbacher, age 67, of Alexandria, Virginia passed away on Sunday, August 29, 2021.
Mark grew up in the Boston area before attending Williston. He was active in choirs starting at Williston and continued to sing in church throughout his life. He earned degrees from the University of Indiana and the University of Massachusetts and had a career as a labor relations specialist with the Departments of Labor and Agriculture in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. He fought cancer for five years and founded an internet support group for glosectomy and laryngectomy patients.
Mark is survived by his wife, Susan; his children, David, Sarah, and Lisa; his brothers, David ’69, and Bruce ’74, and their families.

Ellen J. Tabachnick ’71

Ellen Judith Tabachnick, 68, of San Francisco, CA, passed away from cancer on March 24, 2021 in Boston, MA. Ellen was the daughter of the late Dr. Henry and Betty (Greenberg) Tabachnick of Portland, Maine. She grew up in a large Portland house, where the family lived upstairs from her father’s practice. Her father was generous and outgoing, a congenial man. Portland notables were always in and out of the house. It was an active, lively household. In her early years Ellen attended Portland Hebrew Day School and later enrolled in Waynflete College Preparatory School, Portland and Northampton School For Girls in Northampton, Massachusetts. She completed an advanced three-year Bachelor of Arts degree at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.

Ellen’s greatest passion was the pursuit of justice. She developed an early concern for the oppressed. While in her teens Ellen volunteered at a local prison community with the goal of advancing conditions for the inmates. Later, in order to actualize her quest for an equitable society, Ellen earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Cal Western Law School, San Diego.

Ellen practiced law at Contra Costa Legal Services Foundation, in California. However, she was not your average attorney. A cross between Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Bella Abzug, Ellen was a force to be reckoned with, a woman who seized life by both lapels. She began her practice as a Reginald Heber Smith Fellow, educating low-income community groups about their legal rights and responsibilities while carrying a full caseload challenging termination of government benefits. She believed holeheartedly in civil liberties, justice and a level playing field. Ellen’s imaginative legal insights, her indefatigable passion, and pure chutzpah enabled her to win most of her cases.

In particular, Ellen championed the Hmong’s community right to communicate with government agencies in their own language. A dedicated, fierce and creative advocate, she succeeded in assisting many families retain their benefits. Ellen spent her final years as a pro bono advocate for undocumented persons, including minors threatened with deportation.

She loved music. Forever the life of the party, Ellen would pick up her guitar and play folk tunes for the children or sit at the piano, her father’s Stetson firmly atop her head, and bang out the score from “Fiddler on the Roof”. She was bighearted, generous. She never forgot a birthday, and enjoyed giving presents even when there was nothing in particular to celebrate. Giving was in her heart and one could not refuse. She was Auntie Ellen, Aunty-Godmother Ellen, Auntie Chicklet, Ms. Civil Liberties, Ellie. She was our own Auntie Mame, a woman brimming with life, a justice warrior who lived unequivocally by the concept in Judaism of tikkun olam, ‘repair the world’.

In addition to her parents, Ellen was preceded in death by her brother, Robert Tabachnick, and her nephew, Henry Tabachnick. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Aileen Tabachnick, and her nephews Jacob, Abraham, and Elijah Tabachnick. Ellen is buried at Beth El Memorial Park, Portland, Maine alongside her father, mother, and nephew.

Donations in Ellen’s memory can be sent to:
The Campaign for Justice https://caforjustice.org/

Steven S. Allen ’71

Steven S. Allen, age 66, passed away on Tuesday, July 28, 2020, at University Hospital and Clinics in Lafayette, LA. At the request of family, private Inurnment will follow at a later date in Oakwood Cemetery in Syracuse, NY. Steven, affectionately known as “Steve”, was born on August 17, 1953, in Syracuse, NY and was a long-time resident of Acadiana. Steve attended Cazenovia High School in Cazenovia, NY and Williston Academy in Easthampton, MA. He earned a bachelor’s degree at the State University of New York at Oneonta. Steve worked in sales and installation in the home tile-flooring industry for many years. He attended the First United Methodist Church in Lafayette. Steve was Cajun music’s biggest fan and loved to dance. He was very fond of animals, especially his pet cats. Most of all, Steve loved to spend time with his friends and family and will be very deeply missed. Steve is survived by three siblings, his two sisters, Lindy McMahon and her husband Richard, of Stowe, VT and Becky Rizzi and her husband Joseph, of West Rutland, VT and one brother, William Allen, Jr., of Killington, VT as well as numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Miller Allen and Doreen Ynez Lukeman Allen. The family wishes to thank the doctors and nurses at University Hospital and Clinics for the compassionate care given to Steve and his family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Steve’s name to the First United Methodist Church at 703 Lee Ave., Lafayette, LA 70501.

Lynn Harrison Cheney ’71

Lynn was born on February 5, 1954 in St. James, New York. It was there she spent her childhood, excelling at school and athletics. She was a member of the first graduating class of Harbor Country Day School in St. James where she was the top scholar and athlete, earning the Trustees Prize at her graduation. From there she attended the Northampton School for Girls, achieving the highest academic rank in the school and recognized as a National Merit Scholar. She attended Colorado College, graduating with a B.A. in Political Science, Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa. Lynn was never one to bring any attention to her remarkable accomplishments. She was reserved, genuine and without guile. She had a radiant smile that powered a quick and infectious sense of humor that she instinctually used to spark laughter or to diffuse difficult situations.

Lynn was unabashed about expressing her point of view with disarming frankness and insight. Her sense of values and integrity were unassailable. She was well respected for her leadership as Chairman of the Cornwall Consolidated School Board in northwest Connecticut, and on the Boards of the Cornwall Conservation Trust and the Cornwall Library Association. Her membership in two local book groups and weekly Scrabble games were evidence of her love of words, reading, and the expression of her thoughts that were out of the ordinary and well-stated. It was a common day for Lynn to play tennis with friends, work hard in her beautiful gardens, and purge the day with a long swim across Cream Hill Lake. Evenings were spent either immersed in a book, working a crossword puzzle, or pestering her husband.

Of all aspects of this life that brought her joy, Lynn’s greatest pleasure was her family. Lynn met Hugh at Colorado College and they married in 1976. Their children Hope, Rusty, Ted, and Tyler soon followed. Lynn’s children and her husband received the benefit of being raised by a mother and a spouse who combined her humor and strong sense of values to develop individuals who are kind, honest, and loving as she was. Her love of her husband, children, and grandchildren had no bounds, a love she expressed by a loyal and active interest in their lives. While Lynn made them work and study, she tempered her discipline by playing board games, pitching baseballs, and rolling about on the ground with her children or several of her eight grandchildren. Lynn intuitively knew when to intervene or stand aside to let mistakes educate. She was fiercely competitive, even with her children, and they loved her for it. It was a wonder to see Lynn together with her three sisters Gay, Sandy, and Marian and the love they held for each other. They easily fell into childhood rank and mannerisms, yet Lynn would scatter them in terror when her competitive nature surfaced over some slight she felt in a game of cards or Scrabble.

It is difficult to convey the core of this extraordinary woman who endured two of life’s most daunting challenges. With unfailing grace and remarkable courage, Lynn shouldered the death of her son Rusty in 2015 and the glioblastoma that took her life on May 7, 2018. Lynn was not in a battle with her brain cancer. Rather, she treated it as an inconvenient intrusion in her life, and she simply adapted to it with resilience and without complaint. While these two events cast a shroud over the last three years of her life, there is so much more about her that defined how she lived.

Lynn’s death has unraveled some of the fabric that held her close-knit family together, and we feel diminished by her absence. Her deep love of family and our love for her have made this a hard grief. In time, however, we trust that our memories of her remarkable life will eclipse grief. At times, we will miss her more than we can bear, yet we are thankful for this life she shared so generously with us all. Now may she be at peace, with no more hard challenges to conquer.

Our family would like to thank a large community of friends and neighbors for their consistent kindness, care and support of us over the past three years. We are convinced that, as a result of all the love that embraced us, Lynn far outlived her prognosis. We felt secured by all of you and lifted above the worries. We have experienced the best of humanity.

 

Mark Hannabury ’71

Mark HannaburyMark David Hannabury, 63, passed away on December 19th, 2015 after a 4-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

He was predeceased by his parents, Herbert and Ruth Flaherty Hannabury and step father Leo Flaherty.

He leaves sisters Susan Hannabury Sheridan and Tracy Hannabury and nephew Marcus Sheridan, aunts, uncles, cousins and a loving circle of friends including Eric and Liz Barklund and family.

A successful attorney Mark also enjoyed reading, art, music, running, photography, cartooning and he just recently obtained his parachuting certification. He was possessed of an endless curiosity, amazing wit and profound intelligence.