Tag Archives: Williston Academy

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

John W. Sands ’50

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John Woodbury Sands, of Hayward, CA, passed away on Saturday, November 30, 2019. He lived a long life full of generous service to his community and a passion for improving the lives of others.

John was born in Staten Island, NY and spent his early years in New Jersey. He graduated from Williston Academy in Easthampton, MA in 1950. After serving in the U.S. Marines, John earned a teaching credential from San Francisco State College, and began a 28-year career as a high school math teacher in Castro Valley, CA. A resident of Hayward since 1958, he was devoted to his community, serving as a member of the Human Relations and Human Services Commissions, as president of Hayward Neighborhood Alert and as site coordinator of Kids’ Breakfast Club at Longwood School. His service was recognized with awards from the City of Hayward, the Hayward Lions Club and the Hayward Area Democratic Club.

John is survived by his loving wife of sixty-six years, Marion; devoted children Amy Barakos (Dimitri) of Dripping Springs, TX, Peter Sands of Hayward, and Tim Sands (Laura) of Blacksburg, VA; grandchildren Jessica Barakos of Las Vegas, NV, Alex Barakos of Oakland, Amanda Schwab (Zack) of Chicago, IL, Kenneth “K.C.” Sands (Anna) of Chicago, IL, Kathryn Sands of Chicago, IL, and Haley Sands of Washington, D.C.; and great grandson, Owen Schwab of Chicago, IL.

Friends and family are invited to a memorial on Monday, Dec. 16, 2019 from 3-5 PM at Sorensen Chapel, 1140 B Street in Hayward.

 

Posted in: 1950s

Herbert E. Riedel ’45

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Herbert E. Riedel, 91, of Glens Falls, NY, passed away peacefully at Glens Falls Hospital on September 16, 2019. He was the third son of Marjorie and Wallace Riedel of Easthampton, Massachusetts. He leaves behind, his wife, Marilyn of 66 years; two daughters, Sally Bromfield (Walt), Julie Fingeret (Rick); five grandchildren, Corinne Bromfield, Stuart Bromfield, Martha Goodwin (Devin), Benjamin Fingeret, Joshua Fingeret; and two great grandchildren, Jack and Paige Goodwin.

Herbert graduated from Williston Academy and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a degree in chemical engineering. He served in the army at the Army Chemical Center. He worked for International Paper in several locations, including, North Tonawanda, New York, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, South Glens Falls, New York City, and Corinth. After he retired, he and Marilyn visited 25 foreign countries plus Alaska and Hawaii. When not traveling he volunteered as President of the Glens Falls Senior Center, President of the Board of the Meikleknox Presbyterian Home in Cambridge, drove for Meals on Wheels, served on the Town Emergency Planning Board and the President of Golden Kiwanis. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Glens Falls, serving as trustee and usher. He donated his body to the Anatomical Gift Program at The Albany Medical College.

A Memorial Service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church at the convenience of the family.

Posted in: 1940s

Lawrence E. Bachman ’64

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Lawrence “Larry” Bachman, 74, of Farmington, CT, passed away unexpectedly Monday, December 2, 2019, at his home. Born in New Britain, son of the late Clarence and Ruth (Peck) Bachman, he was a former Newington resident, moving to Farmington in 2006. A graduate of Williston Academy, he attended Rutgers University and later received his Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Hartford. Larry owned and operated Advanced Electronic Development in Old Saybrook and later worked for H&R Block for over 20 years. He was a former member of Shuttle Meadow Country Club. Surviving is his son, David Bachman and his wife Lisa of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Funeral services are Monday 10 AM at Carlson Funeral Home, 45 Franklin Square, New Britain. Burial will follow in West Meadow Cemetery, Newington. Calling hours are Monday morning from 9:15 AM until the time of the service. Memorial donations may be made to Masonicare Charity Foundation, 22 Masonic Avenue, Wallingford, CT 06492.

Posted in: 1960s

James Harvey Dreikorn ’66

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James Harvey Dreikorn, 72, of Longmeadow, MA died unexpectedly on Sun. Nov 3, 2019 with loved ones by his side. Born on June 20, 1947 in Ft. Worth, Texas, he lived the majority of his life in Massachusetts. He graduated from Williston Academy and Kansas State University.
Jim had a distinguished career in the baking industry: President of Dreikorn Bakery, Chairman of N.E Bakery Employees, Director of Quality Bakers of America, Chair of Young Bakery Executives of the American Bakers Association, and V.P of Nissen Baking Co., a member of “The Wild Yeast.” In addition, he was a Director of Westbank.
Jim was dedicated to his volunteer work and was a devoted Trustee to Clarke School for the Deaf, a position he had held since 1986. He was also a Board Member of the Ronald McDonald House in Springfield, MA.
Jim was an avid golfer, gardener, dog lover and Patriots fan. Even after years of living in New England, he remained a proud Texan and his personality matched the size of his native state. He was a loving son, brother, uncle, Godfather, and friend; a loyal confidant whose charisma, charm and humor will be sorely missed.
Jim is predeceased by his parents, Anita and Otto Dreikorn. He is survived by his sister, Darlene (Harvey) Ducker of Friendswood, TX, step-sister Nancy (Dreikorn) Crider of Stuart FL, and friends and loved ones, of which there are too many to count.
Donations can be made in Jim’s memory to Clarke School for the Deaf, 45 Round Hill Rd., Northampton, MA 01060, Ronald McDonald House of Connecticut and Western MA, 501 George Street, Suite A, New Haven, CT 06511, or The Make A Wish Foundation of Western MA, 181 Park Avenue, Suite 12, West Springfield, MA 01089. Private funeral arrangements will be held at the convenience of his family.

Posted in: 1960s