Cartoonist, ad man and business man Samuel Ansell, 99, of Waltham, died on August 1st, 2021. Sam Ansell’s career changed course many times but cartooning was always part of it. Mr Ansell grew up in Newton and attended Newton High school where his humorous essays filled the pages of the Newtonian magazine. His love of George Herriman’s Krazy Kat drew him to cartooning and his style and humor saw him published in numerous magazines of the 40s, such as “Colliers”, “Look”, and the “Harvard Lampoon”. Mr. Ansell attended Harvard as an undergrad in English Literature at a time when quotas for Jews made that a rare occurrence. His writing and cartooning made him a perfect candidate for the editorial board of the reinvigorated humor magazine “Harvard Lampoon”. Upon graduation in 1944, he enlisted and served in the Pacific as an ensign in the US Navy. After the war, he went on to receive an MA from Columbia University’s School of Journalism. It was while in college that his cartooning career blossomed. His cartoons and humor columns were regular features in the “Harvard Lampoon” and the “Columbia Jester”. Through syndication, other college humor magazines across the country picked up his cartoons as well. After Columbia, Mr. Ansell stayed in New York and turned his writing talents to public relations, landing a job as a PR man for the New York Metropolitan Opera, a stint that was cut short after the wife of the featured tenor insisted he be fired for neglecting to bring her the coffee she demanded. He then spent the remainder of the fifties and early sixties on Madison Ave as a copywriter and illustrator, continuing to employ his cartooning skills in many of the ads he created. It was during this time that Mr. Ansell met and married Na’ama Lubin with whom he remained for the next sixty-nine years until his death. As TV ramped up, the downturn in print advertising forced his next career move, a return to the Boston area to lead the sales and marketing effort for the family business, S. H. Ansell & Son, a South Boston-based wholesale container company founded by his grandfather Solomon Ansell in 1888. Those driving in Boston in the 70’s and 80’s were likely to have seen bright yellow trucks with “Someone’s getting bottles Fast from Ansell” on the side. His cartooning skills again became a fixture in the marketing pieces he created. A voracious reader and prolific writer, Mr. Ansell was also an avid outdoorsman. He skied, biked, canoed and somehow found time to hike all forty-eight 4,000 foot or higher mountains in New England earning entry into the exclusive Appalachian Mountain Club Four Thousand Footer Club. After retiring, the Ansells moved to a small mountain town in Umbria, Italy where his interests in opera, wine, hiking, great food and medieval architecture were well indulged and rewarded. They returned to live in Waltham when travel became difficult. In his last decade, Mr. Ansell continued his lifetime of education by attending Brandeis’s adult learning center and contributing cartoons to the program’s publication the “Bolli Banner”. Mr. Ansell leaves his wife Na’ama, daughter Aliza Ansell and son-in-law Ric Nudell, son Seth Ansell, son Gideon Ansell and daughter-in-law Mary Rutkowski and grandchildren, Adeline Ansell and wife Ashley Mallon, Ivan Rukowki-Ansell and Leya Ansell. Those wishing to read more about Mr. Ansell’s life can visit his memorial page at https://memories.net/timeline/samuel-ansell-99484. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to one of his favorite charities: Doctors Without Borders or the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Prasert (Pete) Kulvanit, of Bangkok, Thailand, passed away on October 19, 2021. Pete is survived by Sujira (Sue), his wife of many years, their two sons, Panchote (Joe) and Pasan, and two grandchildren.

Philip Dearborn Holmes died at home in the early evening of Monday, October 18, 2021 with Jean, his wife of 76 years holding his hand. Philip was born in Whitman, Massachusetts on October 30, 1922 to Carrie E. Chamberlain Holmes and J. Albert Holmes. He was a graduate of Whitman High School, Class of 1940, where he was active in its sports program and played on the football team during his junior and senior years. Dad attended Williston Academy after high School in preparation for his acceptance to Brown University. With the outbreak of WWII Dad left Brown to volunteer for the Navy who promptly rejected him as he could not pass the physical exam. The Coast Guard did the same. Determined to serve his country Dad entered the Maritime Service, a training organization for the Merchant Marine. He was trained as a radio operator and served as such of three Liberty ships and one Victory Ship. The (first) SS Henry Austin took him to the British beach heads Gold, Juno and Sword during the invasion of Normandy. He shuttled between London and the French coast with soldiers through August when the areas were considered secured. On other ships he covered great and dangerous distances off Iran, Antwerp, Mozambique, through the North Atlantic, the Suez Canal, Red Sea, Persian Gulf to bring needed fighting personnel and equipment. Returning home from the war Philip and Jean Harper were wed on November 6, 1945. Their first home together was in Providence, Rhode Island as Philip returned to Brown University and received his BS degree in Civil Engineering in 1949. Philip and Jean brought their young family to Cape Cod in the mid-1950s when Dad took a Civil Engineering job at, the then, Otis Air Force Base located in Bourne. After several years at Otis, Dad decided to start his own company called Philip D. Holmes Registered Civil Engineer and Land Surveyor in the town of Falmouth. His work took place during a period of changes in all areas of town. As his company grew Dad chose a partner and the name changed appropriately to Holmes McGrath, Inc. Michael McGrath bought the company when Dad retired. In 1983 Philip and Jean moved to Dover-Foxcroft, Maine where they managed their 250-acre woodlot and grew several acres of balsam fir Christmas trees. These were sold in their dooryard where families came to choose-and-cut their own tree, have a snowy sleigh ride and hot chocolate in the warm barn. Truly a magical time. In 1999 Philip and Jean returned to Cape Cod to be closer to their children and growing families. Dad is survived by his wife Jean Harper Holmes, daughter Martha Nickerson, and her partner Gail Donaldson, Nancy Sweeney, Susan DeJong, Judith Abbruzzi (Lawrence) and James Philip Holmes. There are six grandchildren; Matthew Sweeney (Allie), Sarah Allers (Philip), Thomas John Abruzzi (deceased), Lauren Medeiros (John), Molly Holmes, Rory Holmes and Taylor Holmes. AND six greatgrandchildren. A memorial service will be held at the Falmouth Congregational Church, 68 Main Street, at 11:00 AM on October 30, 2021, Philipss birthday. A private burial will be held at a later date. Donations are encouraged to both: Hospice of Cape Cod (giving@capecodhealth.org) and Neighborhood Falmouth (neighborhoodfalmouth.org,). The Holmes family cannot say enough about these two organizations and how much they helped comfort Dad in his declining years. From the bottom of our hearts; Thank You to all the volunteers, nurses and home health aides.

Charles Laurier Robitaille, Sr. of Shelburne, VT, closed his final flight plan on July 8, 2021. He passed away at McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, VT.

He was born on July 25, 1925 in Holyoke, MA. He was a veteran of the Army and served tours in the Pacific Theater during WWII. He married Freola Katherine Files in 1946. He is survived by his children, Gary Robitaille of North Carolina, and Susan Wolff of Florida, as well as his 10 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren and his companion Sally Luedeke. He was predeceased by his wife, Freola (Kitty) and his son, Charles Jr.

“Chuck” had a deep love for flying, especially giving airplane rides to many enthusiastic children of the Young Eagles. He enjoyed the friendship of many like-minded pilots who met weekly at the “Coffee Klatch.” He loved his family and friends deeply and will be missed by all.

The family would like to thank the McClure Miller Respite House for their love and compassionate care during the final days of his illness. There will be a private service for family at his interment ceremony. In lieu of flowers, any donations may be made to the McClure Miller Respite House, 3113 Roosevelt Hwy, Colchester, VT 05446.

John Arthur Harvey, age 91, of Topsfield, MA, an accomplished businessman, tennis player, downhill skier, jazz aficionado, and storyteller, died peacefully on October 7th, 2021 in Harwich. Born in Boston on April 14, 1930 the youngest son of Roger Laighton Harvey and Aagot (Berg) Harvey. John attended Williston Northampton School, Boston University, and Monterey Language School. Later, he served in The U.S. Air Force during the Korean War in Germany. He married “his girl” Linda Gorham of Wellesley. He and Linda proudly raised their four children in Topsfield. There, they played hockey on the backyard pond, despite the thin ice, attended many Red Sox games, despite the Yankees, and hosted numerous Thanksgiving dinners despite the year the electricity went out. John’s business acumen led to his founding Harvey Tool Company, a business he started in the family living room became a leading machine tool company in North America, and is still thriving today as Harvey Performance Company in Rowley. John loved telling stories. Whether it was the one room schoolhouse he attended growing up in Ellsworth, Maine, his days skiing in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, his Club 92 tennis matches or trekking Tuckerman Ravine with lifelong friends, John never ran out of memories to share. As many friends have said, “John Harvey was one of a kind.” He found great joy in helping future generations and loved offering his business and financial advice to young people. He took great pride in watching his granddaughters Kristen and Katie succeed in their careers. Later in his life, he found special meaning mentoring two young men from East Africa and watching them flourish in their new lives in America. John and Linda enjoyed their retirement years with friends and family in Harwich Port, Sanibel, FL and Bridgton, ME. To say that he loved his summer place on Highland Lake in Bridgton would be an understatement. He spent his days puttering around Juniper Lodge and Plumed Thistle painting boards and repairing screens. He delighted in the cry of the loon, drinking his morning coffee on the dock, and paddling around the lake in his Old Town canoe. He is survived by his wife of 63 years Linda; and three daughters Julie and her husband David Carignan of Bradford, NH, Sally and her partner John Richardson of Barton, VT, and Elizabeth of South Portland, ME; as well as grandchildren Kristen and Katherine Doering. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews who adored Uncle John. He was predeceased by his son John Jr., and his sisters Virginia Harvey Brett and Priscilla Harvey Churchill. A Celebration of his Life will be held at the Gould Barn, 1 Howlett St., Topsfield, MA on Thursday, October 21st at 12:00 p.m. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Lakes Environmental Association in Bridgton, Maine (https://mainelakes.org), or Southern Maine Community College Foundation in South Portland, Maine (https://my.smccme.edu/ICS/Online_Giving.jnz).

Philip C. Viscidi Jr. left the world shortly after his 74th birthday on September 24, 2021, survived by his loving wife, two children, three siblings, and a grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents Rose and Phil. A hero to both his children, Phil was a family man guided by sound principles and good morals. Contemplative and responsible, his strong sense of right and wrong can be equally attributed to the influence of his father and the honorable Judge Judy. He tackled life’s challenges with determination and vigor. Volunteering as a coach, advocating for liberal justice, and working as a mentor to all who asked, Phil assertively supported those around him. His presence will be missed, but his spirit will live on in the many who he inspired. In lieu of flowers, his family requests donations be given in his name to his childhood school, the Williston Northampton School, or to the Viscidi Family Scholarship Fund he proudly established at the College of Charleston.

Hugh P. Gilman passed away peacefully from medical complications on August 24, 2021, aged 81 years. Dearly loved husband of Margaret (Peg) Gilman, married for 53 years. Brother to Emily Hayden ’61 of Wilbraham, MA; father of Andrew, Nathaniel, and Christian, and grandfather to Phoenix, Lakota, Samantha and Michael. Before moving to New Zealand in 1985, Hugh and his family resided in W. Brookfield and Westminster, MA. In his time he was a race car driver, a NASA physicist, a science teacher, an IT guy, an AA sponsor, a hospital chaplain, a puzzle enthusiast, a church sexton, and the greatest of all pancake chefs. Messages to the family may be posted to c/-PO Box 44-176, Lower Hutt 5040. In accordance with Hugh’s wishes a private cremation has taken place.