Marie Elizabeth (Lawler) Aquadro, 93, passed away peacefully in Leeds, MA on November 21, 2020 with family at her side. Marie was born to the late George Edward and Genevieve (Swiatek) Lawler in Northampton, MA at Cooley Dickinson Hospital on March 16, 1927.
Marie grew up in Northampton, graduating from Northampton High School in 1944 and then the Northampton School for Girls in 1945. While at Northampton High School, she was on the Girls’ Basketball team and enjoyed special outings with friends. She then attended the Elms College, graduating in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. Following graduation, she worked as a Phlebotomist at the New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, MA where she became the unofficial house expert at drawing blood from infants.
On September 3, 1951, Marie married Richard Conz Aquadro, her knight in shining armor and the love of her life. Marie and Richard started their family in the Boston area with their first three daughters before moving back to Northampton in 1954 and completing the family with a son and daughter. Marie enjoyed volunteering as a leader for her daughters’ Brownie troops and also as a member of the Hampshire Regional YMCA’s Board of Directors. Marie was a devout Catholic and incorporated her religion and the church into her daily life and that of her family. In 1970, she received the Pious Catholic award for her dedicated service as a CCD teacher. She was also an informed and passionate political participant and worked as a poll worker for over 20 years.
During her later years she cherished her time with Richard in New Smyrna Beach, FL where they had an open-door policy and would go months with guests rotating in and out. They valued the good meals they had there from Hot Dog Day at Dairy Queen to Burger Night at the Breakers, always with friends in tow.
Marie was an avid swimmer enjoying her swims at both the Hampshire Regional YMCA and the Northampton Country Club; this continued into her later years switching to water aerobics both in Northampton and in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. When not in the water, she could be found soaking in the sun, but never without her signature visor. From April through October, she watched her beloved Red Sox as often as she could.
Marie loved travelling. She and Richard travelled frequently when their children were grown both internationally and nationally visiting many countries and states. After Richard retired, they traveled across the country seeing amazing sites. They kept a travel log which she recently found and read. She enjoyed reminiscing about the trip with her children.
Marie was a life-long avid reader and it was not unusual for her to be reading two or three books at a time depending on which book was in which room, or whichever one was the lightest (in her later years, never hard cover – “too heavy”). She loved cooking and especially searching for new recipes to try out on her family. She became an exceptional cook, passing on her enthusiasm and talent to her children and grandchildren – and always made sure to critique where necessary. Everything was from scratch- “There will never be a boxed mix or meal in this house!” Marie also shared her love of bird watching with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and many others. There was rarely a bird she couldn’t identify, and always made sure to educate everyone around her. She ensured the birds were well fed with her collection of bird feeders, and much to Richard’s dismay, found a way to please the rival squirrels and chipmunks with seed on the patio.
Marie loved her time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and often commented, no matter how long the visit, that she wished it were longer. She was always up to date on what was happening in the lives of her grandchildren and supported them unconditionally. She never missed a holiday, big or small, and ensured everyone received their cards filled with $2 bills and her classic “Guess Whoooo” signature for Halloween. We will miss her infamous eye rolls, diva-like personality, and her first-class taste. She will always be remembered through Sunday mimosas, eggs benedict, and butter pecan ice cream.
Marie is survived by her 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. She 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. She is also survived by her sister Patricia Brooks of Ellicott City, MD. She was predeceased by her true love and husband of 68 years, Richard Conz Aquadro ’47, and sister Virginia Lebeau.
We would like to thank all compassionate caregivers at O’Connell Home Care for the loving care they provided to Maire over the past year.
Calling hours for Marie will be Saturday November 28 from 9:30-11:30 AM. Due to the pandemic, masks are required for all guests, and physical distancing must be observed. Other services for Marie will be private and held at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Elms College, 291 Springfield Street, Chicopee, MA 01013, Shriners Hospitals for Children, 516 Crew Street, Springfield, MA 01104 or The Sidney F. Smith Toy Fund, Daily Hampshire Gazette, P.O. Box 299, Northampton, MA, 01061.
Monthly Archives: November 2020
Deborah Wickes Schwabach ’59
Deborah A. Schwabach of Gilbertsville, New York, died Thursday, July 9, 2020, following a long illness.
She was born Deborah Ann Wickes on June 23, 1942, at Albany Medical Center and grew up in Scotia.
She graduated from the Northampton School for Girls in Northampton, Massachusetts, and attended the University of Chicago. She later graduated from the SUNY Regents College and University of Kentucky.
She loved nature, birds, wildlife and exploring back roads to see where they would take her. She had an extensive knowledge of New York State history and wrote articles for Adirondack Life, Kaatskill Life, New York Alive, the Encyclopedia of New York State, as well as many newspapers and national magazines. She also had some poetry published. She drove the Alaska Highway in an old pickup truck and crossed the country many times, visiting every U.S. state except Hawaii and Alabama.
She taught writing at SUNY Oneonta, Syracuse University, SUNY Cortland, the University of Delaware, and the Marist College program at Oneonta Job Corps.
A lifelong proponent of Civil Rights, she was honored as the NAACP’s Person of the Year for her campaign to get Oneonta library cards for Job Corps students.
She is survived by her sons, Aaron (spouse, Qienyuan Zhou) of San Diego and Jon of Gilbertsville and daughter, Karen of Hammondsport; sister, Cynthia (spouse, James Vail) of North Carolina; nieces, Gabrielle and Lindsay; and grandchildren, Veronica, Jessica and Daniel.
She was predeceased by her daughter, Jennifer; nephew, Jeffrey; and brother, Robert.
A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 14, in Brookside Cemetery in Gilbertsville, with a memorial service planned for a later date after the pandemic.
The family asks that those who wish to do so please donate to the Gilbertsville Emergency Squad in her memory.
Paul W. Stasz ’65
Paul William Stasz of Vancouver, Washington died
on November 2, 2020. Born on May 30, 1947 in Northampton, Massachusetts, Paul was the son of the late Edmund and Carol (Baldyga) Stasz of Southampton where he attended the local grammar schools. He graduated from Williston Academy (now the Williston Northampton School) in 1965 where he was an outstanding swimmer on the Williston championship team. He graduated from Dickinson College in 1968 where he was a leading member of the swim team.
He had a decades long and successful career in risk management, first for Syracuse University, then for Borden Corporation, International Paper Company and Icahn Enterprises from which he retired in 2017. In his retirement he enjoyed maple sugaring at the home of his sister-in-law Bird Stasz Jones in Weybridge, Vermont. He also volunteered maintaining public gardens and trees in Vancouver.
He leaves daughters Emily Morgan and Eleanor Hanna of Syracuse, New York; his son Phillip Stasz of Keizer, Oregon; his fraternal twin brother Peter Stasz ’65 of Holyoke, Massachusetts; his brother Edmund Stasz Jr. of Southampton, Massachusetts; his former spouse Marisa Arezzi Stasz of Hillsdale, New Jersey; three grandchildren; a niece Megan Stasz of Maine; a nephew Jeffrey Stasz of South Carolina; a sister-in-law Bird Stasz Jones of Weybridge, Vermont, and many cousins. He is predeceased by his brothers Gregory ’68 and Thomas Stasz ’67.
Paul donated his organs and body to medical science therefore there will not be a funeral. Memorial services in several locales will be announced at a later date.
Donations may be made to the Williston Northampton School Class of 1965 Scholarship Fund or any other scholarship fund at the Williston Northampton School, 19 Payson Avenue, Easthampton, MA 01027. Donations may also be made online at www.williston.com/give. Please mark donations to be used for scholarships only.
Bruce L. McHugh ’78
GySgt. Bruce Luke McHugh, USMC Ret., 60, of Sneads Ferry, NC, died Thursday, November 5, 2020 at Lower Cape Fear LifeCareCenter in Wilmington.
Bruce was preceded in death by his father, Dr. Edward McHugh ’50. He is survived by his wife, Lisa McHugh; his mother, Janice McHugh; and two brothers, Edward ’77 and Michael ’79.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 20, 2020 at Jones Funeral Home, Holly Ridge Chapel, with Rev. Alan Sasser officiating. Burial, with full military honors, will follow at Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society through www.cancer.org.