Tag Archives: Northampton School for Girls

Ann Doble Abbey ’44

Ann Sterns Doble Abbey, age 96, died peacefully at the home of her daughter Diane A. Elliott on April 24, 2022 surrounded by love. She was the daughter of the late William H. Doble and Elizabeth Gilman Doble of Hingham, Massachuestts. She was the sister to the late Mary Elizabeth Canterbury ’43 and Sally McKenney. Ann was born in Milton and grew up in Hingham. She was married to the late Peter Burr Abbey, also of Hingham. They lived in Jackson, Mississippi, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Lubbock and Arlington, Texas and Denver, Colorado. She lived in Georgetown, Colorado for 30 years and was the proprietor of the Antique Emporium and was a town character. Ann was a homemaker, an enthusiastic Girl Scout leader, candy striper and volunteer for the VA hospital. She was a lover of nature and believed the Great Spirit was Love, Compassion, and above all, Life. She spent the last 5 years of her life gardening, bird watching and being with her family. She leaves behind her 4 daughters: Karen Abbey Banks of Oakland, CA, Meredith Janet Abbey of Fort Collins, CO, Susan Elizabeth Abbey of Fort Collins, CO and Diane Abbey Elliott of Hingham, MA. She also leaves 7 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. The family would like to thank the Norwell VNA Hospice for their incredible support, loving care and competent attention which was give to the entire family. A celebration of Ann’s life will be determined at a later date. Donations can be made to the NVNA/Hospice or Earthjustice who uses environmental laws and regulations like the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Clean Water Act to fight for plants and animals in court.

Lee Mudge Quinn ’65

Lee Anne Quinn, 75, of Chicopee, MA, died June 26, 2022, in Bethesda, MD, of lung cancer. She had been under hospice care for several months in a skilled nursing facility near her sister’s home.

Lee was predeceased by her husband, Donald Quinn, her parents, George and Marjorie Mudge, and her brother, Thomas Mudge. She is survived by her sister, Ellen Johnson, her aunt and uncle, Joan and H. Donald Dixon, nieces Mary Murdoch, Colleen Perlak-Soto, and Annaliese Johnson, nephew Edward Perlak, and several cousins, great nieces, and great nephews.

She was born February 15, 1947, in Afton, NY, and grew up there. After graduating from the Northampton School for Girls (now Williston Northampton School) in Massachusetts and Hiram College in Ohio, Lee returned to the Connecticut River Valley, where she met and married Donald Quinn. Their life together was filled with family, friends, careers, and travel – to their cottage on a lake in New York State, throughout New England, and abroad to Ireland and numerous other places in Europe.

Leader of a small gang of cousins and friends in childhood, she had the best ideas for adventures, and from all accounts this creative bent continued throughout her life. In addition to her penchant for travel, Lee was a voracious reader, an enthusiastic supporter to family and friends – and their children – in their endeavors, a genealogist, a cat lover, and a direct, fair, and no-nonsense person at work and as an officer of her condo association.

Lee lived a full life. She loved sharing it with her family, friends, and colleagues – and they were many. She will be greatly missed.

Calling hours at the O’Brien Family Funeral Home will be 10:00 – 11:00 am on July 16, 2022, followed by memorial service at 11:00am and burial at St. Rose Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Dakin Humane Society, PO Box 6307, Springfield, MA 01101, or the American Cancer Society, 59 Bobola Road, Holyoke, MA 01040.

Jill Shortlidge Drabek ’51

Jill Shortlidge Drabek died peacefully, surrounded by her family in her home in Seattle, Washington on December 22nd, 2022.

Jill was born on February 19th, 1934, in Port Deposit, MD to Raphael and Helen Shortlidge.

She spent her early life in Keene, NH. The family ran the Hill Camp and Camp Marienfeld in Chesham, NH where she was a counselor with her siblings each summer. She attended Keene High School and later graduated from the Northampton School for Girls.

She graduated from Smith College in 1955, after spending her junior year abroad in France where her love of everything European was established. She visited Europe again many times during her lifetime and always continued studying French. After graduation she took a job working for the CIA in Washington, DC where she met her husband, Jaroslav “Jasha” Drabek. They married in 1960 and raised their family in New York.

After her husband’s death in 1992, she returned to New Hampshire, settling in Peterborough and was an active member of the community, working first at Beech Hill Hospital in Dublin and finally at Harrisville Designs from which she retired in 2012.

Upon her retirement, she made the most of her time; walking the trails with her beloved dogs, visiting the Peterborough library, practicing Yoga, being of service in the recovery community, knitting, avidly reading, and enjoying time with friends and family who will forever miss her wisdom, patience and wit.

She is survived by her three children: Jan Drabek (Kathy) of Seattle, Washington, Amy Drabek of Bedford, New York, Christine Drabek of Cape Elizabeth , Maine , her three grandchildren: Raphael and Karl Drabek and Chloe Siddons and her Cocker Spaniel, Beanie.

Kathleen A. Horton ’52

Kathleen A. “Kate” Horton, 87, passed away peacefully on December 11, 2022 at Penacook Place in Haverhill, MA. Born in Boston on March 24, 1935, she was the daughter of the late Justin B. and Estelle M. (Lessor) Horton. Kate graduated from Northampton School for Girls and continued her education graduating from Vassar College and Columbia University. Kate moved to Manhattan where she began a long and exciting twenty-five year career as a travel agent for American Airlines and American Express. This experience afforded her the opportunity to travel throughout the US and Europe, with Paris being her favorite destination. Kate relocated to Haverhill to be close to her family and worked as a Senior Analyst at Lucent Technologies for twenty-five years before her retirement. Kate spoke fluent French, and enjoyed participating in drama groups, art organizations, and classical music. Kate’s close group of friends include Dorothy “Dottie” Moskal and her husband Danny, Priscilla Bellairs, Shirley Provencher, Jean Moskal, Tasha Moskal of whom she was very proud, Marty Moskal, with whom she enjoyed playing trivia. Kate always remembered her late friends Joan Ladd and Barbara Baldwin, both accomplished artists, and her cat, Diva. Arrangements under the direction of Dole, Childs & Shaw Funeral Home, 148 Main Street, Haverhill will be private. Donations in Kate’s memory may be made to the Patient Activity Fund, c/o Penacook Place, 150 Water St., Haverhill, MA 01830.

Beverly Butterworth McEntee ’54

Beverly Ann McEntee, 85, died peacefully, with family by her side, on November 4, 2022, following complications from a fall taken a few days earlier.

Beverly was a thoughtful, beautiful, kind, considerate, positive, and fun person and so much more. She travelled the world, loved her family, and was gracious to all.

Born in Salem, MA in 1937 to parents Edward R. and Elizabeth (Learned) Butterworth, Beverly was the oldest of five girls, affectionately known as ‘The Five Belles.’ The Butterworths raised their daughters in Nahant, MA, and during Beverly’s high school years, the family moved to Swampscott, MA.

Beverly was graduated from Northampton School for Girls and Bradford College, with classmates who hailed from all over the country, many with whom she maintained lifetime friendships. She furthered her education at Katherine Gibbs School and in 1957, embarked on an exciting career in the travel industry. She moved to Chicago, IL to work for United Airlines and run the 100,000 Mile Red Carpet Club, under the direction of the President of United Airlines.

Two years later, she happily transferred back to Boston with United. A year later, she met and married Leon J. McEntee, of Lynn, who obtained his law degree and went on to practice law in MA. They were married for 29 years, raised two daughters on Rockland Street in Swampscott and often said their daughters were their proudest accomplishments.

In the era before personal computers and websites, Beverly booked leisure and corporate travel arrangements for clients from all over the North Shore and Boston, for Aladdin Travel of Swampscott. Instrumental in generating group sales, she started Flagship Travel in Marblehead as Vice President, joining forces with a group of business partners. Her loyal clients appreciated she went the extra mile to make sure their travel arrangements were always top notch.

Beverly met her life partner, Roger B. Conant of Lynnfield, MA. In the 1990’s they moved to Marblehead, MA and wintered in Naples, FL. When the couple moved permanently to Naples, Beverly enjoyed working part-time as a concierge at the Bella Sera, the 5-star boutique hotel in downtown Naples. Following Roger’s death in 2015, she relocated to Kings Beach Towers of Lynn and enjoyed a community of wonderful neighbors.

She was a member of Saint John the Evangelist Church in Swampscott, the Little Sisters of the Assumption Guild, North Shore Children’s Hospital Auxiliary, Junior Aid Society, and Corinthian Yacht Club. She volunteered for many organizations through the years in the North Shore area and in Naples, FL.

She leaves two daughters, Pamela (McEntee) Thomas of South Portland, ME, and Elaine McEntee-King, and son-in-law, Donald L. King, III of Salem, MA. She leaves three sisters Barbara (Butterworth, Cleary) Bostley and brother-in-law, Paul Bostley, of Peabody, MA, Betty (Butterworth) Fitzgerald and brother-in-law, Attorney John P. Fitzgerald, of Marblehead, MA, and her youngest sister, Martha Butterworth Bartlett (formerly of Plymouth, MA) and brother-in-law Shawn F. Michaud, of Bonita Springs, FL. Her sister, Brenda Butterworth Palleschi, preceded her in death. She leaves many special nieces, nephews, and godchildren, who dearly loved their ‘Auntie Bev.’ She leaves her Shea family (formerly of Lynn) cousins. She leaves dear and cherished friends. She will be greatly missed.

Service Information: Beverly’s family will welcome family and friends on Friday, December 2nd, from 9AM to 10AM in the new reception area of the main entrance of St. John the Evangelist Church, 174 Humphrey Street, Swampscott, MA. A Funeral Mass, celebrating her life, will follow at 10AM. Interment will immediately follow at Swampscott Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Beverly’s memory to:

The Beverly School for the Deaf, Beverly MA, The St. Vincent de Paul Society, Naples, FL, The Natalie Norton Scholarship Fund, Springfield, MA.

Mary Ellen Debarbieri Kozuch ’58

Mary Ellen Kozuch, 81, of Huntsville, Alabama died Saturday, April 23, 2022.

Mary Ellen was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts and moved to Huntsville in 1963. Preceding her in death were her parents, Edward and Dorothy Debarbieri; husband, Joseph Anthony Kozuch; and sister, Linda Debarbieri.

Mary Ellen leaves her beloved son Joseph Kozuch, her cherished grandchildren Alexander (Emily) LaRussa-Kozuch; Haley Kozuch, and Weston Kozuch; and a host of other relatives and friends. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, May 2, 2022, at the St. Brigid’s Cemetery in Easthampton.

Elizabeth J. Snow ’60

Elizabeth Jean Snow was the daughter of the late Jean and Clary Snow. Elizabeth was born in Williamsburg, MA on March 1, 1943; proud of her family, Snow Farm, and English teacher mother, joined her ancestors in Heaven, on August 4, 2022, of pancreatic cancer at age 79.

“Betsy” has been a good sister to Judy Denison (Colorado) and Stephen Snow (Williamsburg). Her nieces and nephews loved her much.

She attended Northampton School for Girls and graduated from ‘Burgy High in 1960. She later attended Colorado State University, studied English composition, and enjoyed all Colorado had to offer. She had a tough car accident in 1963, out west, caused by a drunk and uninsured driver in another car.

She lived in Northampton, then later moved to Boston doing secretarial jobs and writing some poetry. Around 1990 Betsy moved back to Williamsburg, then South Hadley.

She always loved her friends from way- back- when… A unique and caring soul, who will be missed by all who knew her.

There will be a celebration of her life Saturday, September 17th at 2:00, at the First Congregational Church, 4 North Main St. Williamsburg.

Lucy Jobson Wierum ’46

Lucy J. Wierum, age 93, of Boston, Massachusetts died peacefully in her home on July 5, 2022 after a prolonged illness.

Born in Santiago, Chile, Lucy spent the first decade of her life in Sao Paolo, Brazil. Her parents were Katherine Bartholomew Jobson and Edward Russell Jobson.

Lucy attended Northampton School for Girls and then went to Sarah Lawrence College. She transferred to Columbia Presbyterian School of Nursing where she attained her R.N./B.S. degrees.

She had a long career in nursing working in hospital units, schools, clinics, and other health care settings. Her last nursing position was at Englewood Hospital Outpatient Clinic in New Jersey. She also did extensive volunteer work at Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative, Englewood Hospital, hospice organizations, and children’s theater. She was a longtime Demarest and Tenafly resident.

Lucy was first married to Hugh F. Fitzpatrick, a surgeon at St. Luke’s Hospital. She and Hugh had four children, Tracy, Amy, Hugh, and Tim who survive her.

After Hugh’s death, Lucy married Dr. Carl Wierum in 1983 and became step-mother to his three children, Craig, Christopher and Anne.

Lucy has three grandchildren, Katie, Chris, and Anna and is step-grandmom to Isa, Olivia, Elisabeth, Michael, and Dean.

Lucy’s brother, Edward Jobson, pre-deceased Lucy. She is survived by her sister Margaret, aged 97, as well as her children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

In 2019 Lucy and Carl moved Boston to be near her daughter and quickly became veteran Bostonians navigating Fenway for their COVID vaccine and watching the Boston Marathon and July 4th Esplanade fireworks from their apartment window. Lucy made friends easily even in her later years and was known for her zest and wit. She loved reading, crosswords, word games, tennis, and gardening. Until the last days of her life, she took loving care of her husband, Carl, aged 97 with whom she spent 39+ years of married life.

Funeral arrangements are private.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Lucy’s name to Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative (BVMI): https://www.bvmi.org/

Ellen Clifford McGuire ’66

Ellen Clifford McGuire, 73, of East Longmeadow, MA, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, surrounded by her loving family.
Born in Holyoke and raised in South Hadley, Ellen was the only child of John Clifford and Mary Long Clifford. After her father’s death in 1961, Ellen and her mother lived with her aunt and uncle, Margaret and Arthur Higgins, and their daughters, Carol and Margaret. While attending the Northampton School for Girls, Ellen lived with her beloved aunt and uncle, Helen and Pat Padden. Ellen earned her bachelor’s degree from Newton College of the Sacred Heart and a master’s degree in education from American International College.
A lifelong educator, Ellen began her teaching career at Blessed Sacrament in Holyoke. Ellen would later teach at Peck Middle School also in Holyoke, and spent decades as a children’s reading tutor, a role she truly relished.
Speaking of relish, you may know Ellen from her popular food column, The Readers Exchange, which she first edited and then authored in this paper from 1988 until the column’s retirement in 2020. Ellen was a talented writer and self-taught cook, and The Readers Exchange proved the perfect forum to share both of those gifts as well as her love for the community, as the recipes she highlighted were often requested and/or submitted by readers. She also authored two cookbooks. Her columns and featured recipes were approachable, and, well before the emergence of today’s cooking blog, imbued with entertaining and honest personal anecdotes. The Reader’s Exchange may live on eternally thanks to the power of the internet, and Ellen’s family encourages you to try summertime favorite, cold soup, or perhaps J.P. McMahon’s Irish beef stew.
Ellen wore many hats, and she wore them all well. In addition to teaching, she worked as a real estate agent for nearly three decades. Based in Longmeadow, where Ellen settled to raise her daughters, she was often seen driving to a house showing with her beloved poodle in the front seat. Ellen loved the role she played helping families find their home and community. Countless relationships that began as generic “fellow agent,” “buyer,” or “seller” acquaintances evolved into deep and long-lasting friendships that continue today.
While real estate, teaching, and writing all kept Ellen busy, her top priority and true source of light and love was her family and her friends. Ellen leaves behind her loving husband, Dr. Arthur T. McGuire. Ellen and Art married in 2003 and shared an intellect and sense of humor and an enthusiasm for new ventures, including international travel, Italian lessons, and ballroom dancing.
Ellen is survived by her two daughters, Molly Kenney and her partner Joseph O’Brien IV of Brookline and Longmeadow, and Bevin Kenney and her husband Scott Davidson of Jamaica Plain, and their two children, Neve and Desmond Davidson, adoring fans of their “Nani.” Through her very nature, Ellen impressed upon her girls the truly important things in life, beginning with kindness, humor, love, and acceptance, including of oneself. Ellen and her girls were and will forever be a unit, a package deal.
She leaves behind four stepsons, Timothy, John, Mike (Amanda), and Matthew (Kara) McGuire, as well as 11 McGuire grandchildren: Maggie, Frank, Maureen, Justin, Elizabeth, Mabel, Joe, Ellen, and Charlotte, Ted, Gus, all of whom Ellen adored. She will be dearly missed by a vast community of friends and family.
The family would like to thank her care teams at Baystate Medical and Kind Hands, both of which provided exceptional care and support. Calling hours for Ellen will be Tuesday, June 14th from 4-7PM at Forastiere Smith Funeral Home, 220 N. Main St., East Longmeadow. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, June 15th at 10:30AM at St. Michael’s Church, 128 Maple St., East Longmeadow. The family appreciates if masks can be worn. Interment will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Springfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Michael Steingart Endowment or D’amour Center for Cancer Care, both at Baystate Health Foundation, 280 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA, 01199.

Nancy Atwood Gordon Brewster ’43

Nancy Atwood Gordon Brewster, 96, died peacefully on May 11, 2022 with her family nearby.
She is survived by her daughter The Rev. Elizabeth (Gordon) Meade of Ballwin, Missouri, son Geoff Gordon of Norwell and daughter Carol (Gordon) Stone of Duxbury, six loving grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and five nieces and nephews. Her beloved husband, Bill Brewster, passed away in February. She loved this country and loved all the birds and all the flowers that grow between its Atlantic and Pacific Northwest shores.
Nancy was born in the summer of 1925, raised in Litchfield and Madison, Connecticut. She graduated from Northampton School for Girls and Smith College, a longtime active alumna of both. She taught grade school at Derby Academy and in Marshfield.
She married Andrew Gordon in 1950 and moved to Norwell to raise their three children. The family spent time in Freedom, New Hampshire where they enjoyed skiing, hiking, swimming and socializing with friends. She and Andy then pivoted to Marsh Harbour, Abaco, Bahamas for many winters into springs, enjoying the flora, boating, swimming and friends.
Nancy was an active member of the Norwell community, including the North River Gardeners, the Community Club, the VNA Rummage Sale and other Norwell community magnets. Nancy was among the original group that conceived a Congregational Church in Norwell, signing as an esteemed Charter member of the United Church of Christ, Norwell.
Nancy moved to Seattle in 1991 and immediately became involved in the Washington Beaches cleanup campaign. She continued to play a lot of tennis with friends near their home in Innis Arden, not giving up the game until age 88.
After her husband Andy died in 2005, Nancy reconnected with her childhood friend William Brewster, also of Litchfield, Connecticut. Nancy and Bill married on July 2, 2021, and lived in Duxbury tackling crossword and sudoku puzzles together daily, and enjoyed watching tennis, golf, Jeopardy and football.
Nancy loved travel, gardening, bird watching, her family and friends, and all kinds of music, especially the Hallelujah Chorus. She loved collecting things, including shells from Abaco, and clearing debris from Washington coast beaches, and found joy on the community tennis courts.
Friends and family will miss her, but she knows not that she is gone: “Do not weep for me, child of my womb. Do not weep for my life gone by; my agony, my pain. For I am with you.”
Special remembrances to the caring and compassionate team at Newfield House, to Cranberry Hospice and to Always Safe at Home, most notably Laura, Maxine, Chrissy and Guerline, for their tender care.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances in Nancy’s name may be made to the Massachusetts Audubon at massaudubon.org.