Monthly Archives: February 2026

Cathleen C. Robinson, Former Faculty

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Calling hours will be held at Czelusniak Funeral Home in Northampton from 4-6:00pm on Thursday, March 5. Services will be held at Most Holy Redeemer Church in Hadley at 10:00am on Friday, March 6. The family welcomes and invites anyone that would like to attend.

Dear Williston Northampton Community,

It is with deep sadness that I write to inform you of the death of former Williston faculty member Cathleen C. Robinson, a devoted teacher, department leader, mentor, and colleague whose nearly three decades at the school left an enduring mark on generations of students and faculty.

Cathleen joined the Williston Northampton faculty in 1974 and served the school until her retirement in 2001. During that time, she taught Spanish, journalism, religion and philosophy, and a wide range of interdisciplinary courses, while also serving as chair of the Language Department for many years. She was a gifted and exacting teacher who believed deeply in the intellectual and moral growth of young people, and who possessed a rare ability to see potential in students before they saw it in themselves. As one of the early female faculty members to teach at Williston following the merger with Northampton School for Girls, Cathleen was a beloved and influential teacher during a period of great institutional change.

Over the course of her career, Cathleen’s influence extended well beyond the classroom. She was the founder and first advisor of the Areté tutoring program, founder of the Writers’ Workshop Series, a faculty advisor to The Willistonian winning national honors, a mentor to new faculty and interns, and she led student trips to Spain, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. Colleagues recall her as a trusted counselor, a thoughtful listener, and a faculty member whose wisdom and judgment were deeply valued. In recognition of her extraordinary contributions, the Cathleen C. Robinson Scholarship Fund was established at Williston in 2015 to honor her legacy and lifelong commitment to students and their education.

Cathleen is survived by her husband, longtime Williston coach and teacher Ray Brown ’55, and by her stepdaughters, Karen Brown Golding ’81 and Amy Brown ’84. I know that many alumni will remember Cathleen’s intellect, integrity, and steadfast dedication to Williston with great affection and gratitude.

We invite members of the Williston community to share their remembrances on the school’s In Memoriam page, where there is additional information about services for Cathleen. Williston also anticipates hosting a Celebration of Life for Cathleen at Williston’s upcoming Reunion Weekend in early June.

On behalf of the school, I extend my deepest sympathies to her family, friends, colleagues, and to all those whose lives she touched during her time at Williston.

Sincerely,
Bob

Robert W. Hill III
Head of School

Posted in: Former Faculty

Edward A. Lonergan ’54

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Edward (Ed) Augustine Lonergan, of Old Saybrook, CT, passed away peacefully on December 29, 2023, after a short hospital stay and a long battle with Parkinsons, which, like most things, he was too stubborn to allow to disrupt his life unduly. He is predeceased by his sister, Marilyn Fowler.

He was born on St Patrick’s Day in 1935 to Edward J and Lillian Lonergan of Hartford, CT. He was a survivor of the Great Hartford Circus Fire of 1944. God clearly had plans for young Edward. The Lonergan’s spent summers at the beach in Knollwood, Old Saybrook, CT, where he met his future wife, the former Nancy Dunn, and married in 1958.

Ed graduated from Williston Academy and pursued an engineering degree at Union College in Schenectady NY. He would tell you with a chuckle he had “struggled to live up to his potential” in his younger years and was forever grateful for the education he received at Union College. He remained a generous supporter of Union his entire lifetime, culminating with the “Edward A Lonergan scholarship for students of promise,” but not necessarily the best incoming GPA score.

He was recruited to the General Dynamics Electric Boat Division upon graduation and served nearly 50 years across a long and successful career there. He loved submarines and EB. He was extremely proud of his work and thankful for the friendships he built over those years.

He and Nancy settled in Old Saybrook where they raised their two children, Edward F (Laura) and Tammy Lonergan and embedded in the community. Ed was a long time Cub Scout Master and Parks & Recs T-Ball coach. He was particularly fond of crafting speedy Pinewood Derby cars in his home workshop. In his later years, he devoted his attention to St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Essex, CT, where he volunteered for many years.

Ed and Nancy were avid boaters and enjoyed the communities they came to know at Terra Mar and Ferry Point Marinas in Old Saybrook and Townsend Manor in Greenport NY. When not found there, they could be seen cruising to Dairy Queen in one of a series of Corvette’s owned over the last 40+ years, all of which bore the name “Creampuff.” He purchased his last new Corvette in 2023, likely cementing his fame as “the oldest man to ever purchase one of these things.”

They loved their Fenwood neighborhood, moving multiple times within a few blocks over the years, primarily to provide Ed with more projects to do around the house and yard. Sitting, even in his later years, was simply not a part of his DNA. His workshop, various cars and boats, home projects and especially his rose and vegetable gardens absorbed his free time. He much enjoyed sitting on the front porch with the view across Long Island Sound and chatting with various friends who stopped by – it was his sole pause in activity most days, except for UConn Basketball, the Red Sox, music at the Kate or a good Western movie. He was most grateful for the many wonderful people he came to know in Old Saybrook, and the friendships he and Nancy built there over 70+ years.

Ed found the silver lining in most things in life, including the total loss of his home in the “Great Old Saybrook Explosion & Fire of 2023.” He and his aptly named cat Lucky survived and recovered thanks to the luck of the Irish, the help of first responders, friends, and community. Clearly, God was still not done with him, as we were given the gift of 6 more months of wry wit and poignant moments with his wife Nancy, extended family and friends. He was also quite sure Haagen Dazs appreciated the 6-month reprieve on the loss of their best customer. Ed ascribed his long life to the love of family and friends, hard work, and to ice cream, jellybeans and wint-o-green Lifesavers.

In addition to his wife of 65 years and his children, he is survived by his granddaughters Taryn, Cara, Viktorija and Taylor as well as his great grandsons, Maxwell, Theodore and Bennett.

Calling hours will be held on Friday January 5, 2024 from 4:00 to 6:30 PM at the Swan Funeral Home, 1224 Boston Post Rd, Old Saybrook, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday January 6th at 11am at St. Teresa of Calcutta, 14 Prospect St, Essex CT followed by a burial at Cyprus Cemetery, College St, Old Saybrook, CT.

In lieu of flowers, Ed would appreciate donations be made to St Teresa of Calcutta Church in Essex, CT.

Posted in: 1950s

Sarah Sloan Evans ’54

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Sarah Sloan Evans of Duxbury, MA, passed away on February 8, 2026 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was 89.

Sarah was born December 14, 1936 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania to Nora (Bossert) and Ambrose V. Sloan, a family physician. She spent her youth in Wilkes-Barre and Glen Summit, PA, and, after a brief stint in parochial school, became a day student at Wyoming Seminary in nearby Kingston, PA. A friend convinced her to transfer to the Northampton School for Girls following the untimely death of her father, whom she adored, when she was 15. After graduating in 1954, Sarah earned a B.A. from Wells College in 1959 spending her junior year abroad at the University of Edinburgh. Following a brief stint working in New York City, she joined her mother in Norfolk, VA where she became a social worker. It was there that she met her husband of 65 years, Arthur B. Evans, then serving in the U.S. Navy. After moving to Duxbury in 1967, Sarah pursued a M.S.W. degree from Simmons College and worked as a psychiatric social worker at the Mayflower Mental Health Center in Plymouth. With an eye for detail and an insistence on precision, she transitioned into book publishing and did freelance writing, copy-editing, and production work for various firms. She later brought these skills to bear on her passion for historic homes, evident in the careful preservation of her 1850s house in Duxbury. While living with Arthur in Detroit in the 1990’s, Sarah was the principal author of the nomination for Lafayette Park, a mixed-use urban development project designed by Meis van der Rohe, to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. When she and Arthur returned to Duxbury in 2002, she researched, wrote, and published a local history book titled Ashdod: The Other Side of Duxbury in 2016.

Sarah had a passion for travel, and she and Arthur visited many countries in Europe as well as Israel, Australia, and New Zealand. She also enjoyed swimming, gardening and especially doing the daily NYT crossword puzzle. She would complete the Sunday puzzle in ink and in record time, unmatched by any who dared to challenge her. Sarah and Arthur’s home in Ashdod has always been known fondly as “Sarah’s Folly,” the family’s favorite place for gatherings of all kinds: dinners large and small, political rallies, garden parties, graduations, and weddings to name a few. Sarah is remembered by all – her family, her friends and their children, and the many friends of her daughters and their children – for the generosity, gracefulness, and welcoming spirit she brought to these events.

Sarah is survived by her husband, Arthur, of Duxbury, her three daughters Catherine Evans (Lee Andrews) of Sydney, Australia, Gwen Evans-Sneeden (Ralph) of Exeter, NH, Deirdre Caldarone (Christopher) of Duxbury and New York City, a sister, Nancy Sarkesian of Auburn, CA, and eight adored grandchildren: Jacob Sneeden (Jenny), Madeleine Page (Tyler), Lindsay Caldarone (Jesse Evensky), Evan Andrews (Lauren Bauer), Sam Caldarone, Calan Andrews, Eliza Sneeden (Jamie Drayton), and Kate Caldarone, as well as four great grandchildren (Jackson and Arthur Sneeden, Owen Page, and Lionel Evensky), and nine nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her sister, Elaine Matter, her brother, James Sloan, and her cousin and fellow Duxburyite, Becky Tonrey.

The family wishes to extend its gratitude to the staff at South Shore Hospital and Pat Roche Hospice Home for their support and attentive care. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to either institution, or to Wyoming Seminary. A Celebration of Life in Sarah’s honor will be held this summer

Posted in: 1950s

Denise D. Wayne ’70

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Denise Deborah Wayne was born in Northampton, MA on March 19, 1952 to Frank D. Wayne and Lucille Ruth Wayne. Denise attended the Northampton School for Girls and went on to study English at UMass Amherst and later graduating from Montana State University.

Denise built a meaningful and impactful career as a mortgage lender. Over the years, she proudly helped thousands of individuals and families achieve the dream of homeownership. She understood that a home was more than a financial decision—it was the foundation of a life.

Denise loved the outdoors and loved to travel. She cherished the memories of sneaking away from work to meet up with her children on the slopes at Big Sky, cross-country skiing at Lone Mountain Ranch, camping and fishing along the Madison River, and taking restorative “mental health days” at the beach with her kids. Later in life she had the pleasure of traveling throughout Europe with her son and his family and watching her grandchildren at swim meets throughout the country. These moments brought her great happiness.

Above all else, Denise loved her family. Her children and grandchildren were the center of her world, and her love for them was deep, unwavering, and unconditional. She was a devoted mother and grandmother whose presence will be profoundly missed.

Later in life, Denise met Tony Palano and together they shared many adventures and traveled the world. Denise introduced Tony to her love of hiking and the outdoors. Tony liked to joke that he loved to “hike to the front door of the Marriott,” a line that perfectly captured their shared humor and the joy they found in experiencing life together.

She is survived by her daughter, Sara (Tim) Gram; grandchildren, Will and Georgia Gram of Bozeman, MT; her son Karl (Jennifer) Weidhaas; granddaughter, Elizabeth Weidhaas of Salt Lake City, UT; the love of her life and partner, Tony Palano of Bradenton, FL; and a wealth of extended family and friends in New England, Montana and Florida. She will be missed by all those privileged to know her.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, February 20th from 11 to 1 pm at Robert Toale & Sons at Lakewood Ranch.

In lieu of flowers please consider making donations to: Moffit Cancer Center Ovarian Cancer Research, 12902 USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612 or Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, PO Box 32141, New York, NY 10087-2141

Posted in: 1970s

Sheila (Popkin) Budnick ’49

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Sheila Budnick died on February 5, 2026 in Jupiter, FL at the age of 94.

Born Sheila May Popkin in Springfield, MA, the daughter of Gertrude and Jacob Popkin, she resided in Longmeadow, MA until 1993 when she and her husband Alan Budnick moved to Juno Beach, FL. They also had a residence in New London, CT.

She was a graduate of Northampton School for Girls and attended Wells College and Brandeis University. She and her husband Alan were fundraisers and construction coordinators for the former Heritage Academy building in Longmeadow. They were both heavily committed to many philanthropic endeavors in the local Jewish community as well as national and international causes. She was an active fundraiser for former Senator Henry “Scoop” Jackson who was a family friend. From 1970-1980 she was personally involved in extricating emigrants out of the Soviet Union and integrating them into American society, working closely with Senator Ted Kennedy’s office. She served as PTA president at Heritage Academy and was chairperson of the United Jewish Welfare Fund Women’s Division in 1971 and 1973. For 10 years she also managed her father’s thoroughbred racing stable. An avid gardener, she was responsible for landscaping at her FL condo in addition to being secretary of the Board of Directors and liaison to the town of Juno Beach.

In her spare time she indulged in painting, composing rhymes, power walking, cooking and enjoying time with her grandchildren.

She is predeceased by Alan, her beloved husband of 50 years, and her daughter Susan Budnick. She leaves her son Adam and his wife Heather of New Canaan, CT, grandchildren Alexandra and Maxwell and beloved cousins descended from the Popkin families.

To honor Sheila’s dedication to Jewish causes, the family welcomes donations to the Popkin and Budnick Family Philanthropic Fund at the Jewish Endowment Foundation and Rachel’s Table.

Posted in: 1940s

Sara Strait Egan ’84

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Sara Strait Egan passed away on August 8th, 2024, with her family by her side, after a nearly two year battle with cancer. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bradley Charles Egan, who passed away on April 29th, 2022, at their home in Madison, CT.

Sara was born on September 20th, 1965, to Charles “Sandy” Strait and Joan Sommer (Strait) Kratky, and was raised in Fairfield, CT with her older siblings, Don and Jody. Sara attended Fairfield University for two years before transferring to Skidmore College, where she majored in English. After graduating in 1988, she worked in various editing roles for publications and magazines in CT.

Brad was born on December 11th, 1959, to Paul and Ruth Egan, and was raised primarily in Norwalk, CT and Wilmington, DE with his older sister Sara. Brad attended Connecticut College, where he played on the hockey and tennis teams, as well as spent a year studying abroad in England. He graduated in 1982 with a degree in Economics and Political Science, and embarked on a successful career in management consulting, commercial real estate lending, and real estate development.

Brad and Sara were introduced by mutual friends in the summer of 1987 and started dating long distance, with Sara finishing up school at Skidmore before she moved to Stamford, CT after graduating. Brad proposed on the rocks in Rowayton, CT in December 1989, and they were married in Westport, CT on September 29th, 1990. They had their first son, Kyle, in 1993, and moved to Madison, CT a couple of years later, where Blake was born in 1996. They loved the town of Madison and their neighborhood, instantly making lifelong friends. They were very active in their community, including as local business owners, being involved in Madison Little League, and helping to organize the annual neighborhood charity golf tournament. Brad loved coaching the boys’ Little League teams, and when Blake and Kyle later went on to play soccer, tennis, baseball, and football, Brad and Sara never missed a game. They were immensely proud of their sons and found great joy in the boys’ accomplishments through sports, school, and in their careers.

Brad and Sara were not just partners but best friends for their nearly 32 years of marriage. They made each other laugh and found entertainment in the little, everyday things. Together they enjoyed tennis, skiing, reading, spending time at the beach, cooking new recipes for their family, walks with their dogs, and spending summers with their family in Maine. They had so much fun together, and brought the same infectious joy to everyone around them.

Brad had a quick wit and sharp mind, assessing any situation quickly and accurately and delivering hilarious one-liners. He was confident and self-assured, and was the life of every party. He had a great mind for real estate, and found success in commercial real estate, flipping houses, and owning and running Shoreline Modular Homes in Madison. Throughout his career, he always put his family first and prioritized spending time with them over his work.

Sara was loving, patient, and kind, and lit up every room with her bright and gentle spirit. She was the best cook, whether it was Eggs Benedict every Easter and Christmas morning, or lobster dinners for birthdays spent in Maine. She adored all animals, especially her four Springer Spaniels throughout her life: Freckles, Cocoa, Bailey, and Colby. Following Brad’s sudden passing and her cancer diagnosis just 5 months later, she showed incredible strength and tenacity in the face of unimaginably painful circumstances and fought her cancer until the very end.

Above all, Brad and Sara loved their family unconditionally and devoted their lives to each other and their sons. They will be endlessly missed by Kyle, Blake, Sara’s mother Joan, stepmother Agnes, sister Jody, brother Don, Don’s wife Debbie and children, Brad’s sister Sara, Kyle’s wife Laura, Blake’s girlfriend Emily, their beloved Springer Spaniel Colby, and countless friends and neighbors.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society Relatives and friends are invited to attend Brad and Sara’s memorial service on Saturday, September 14th, 2024, at 11:00 am at St. Margaret Church, 24 Academy Street, Madison, CT 06443.

Posted in: 1980s

Brian W. Bourque ’90

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Brian W. Bourque, 53, of West Springfield, MA, died unexpectedly, surrounded by his family, Monday night, January 26, 2026, after complications during surgery.

Brian was born in Springfield, the son of Wilfrid J. and Cindy (Sutter) Bourque Jr. and has lived in West Springfield his entire life. He was a 1990 graduate of the Williston Northampton School and was the vice-president of Cardinal Homes of West Springfield. A communicant of St. Thomas the Apostle Church. Brian loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He also loved spending time at the Cape.

Besides his parents, he leaves two daughters Madelyn M. and Claire M. Bourque and their mother Katie Bourque: his sisters Lisa Pellegrini and Amy Bourque ’93 and her fiancé Steve Scott and nieces and nephews Abby Bourque, Andrew and Nathan Pellegrini and Max Schaetzer.

Visiting hours will be held at the West Springfield Curran-Jones Funeral Home Thursday, February 5th starting at 10:30am and concluding with a funeral home service at noon followed by burial in St. Thomas Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Thomas the Apostle annual fund, 75 Pine Street,West Springfield, MA 01089 or the Deer Hill Rod & Gun Club, 225 Porter Hill Road, Cummington, MA 01026.

Posted in: 1990s