Jeffrey Burke Thomas, 72, of Richmond, Virginia, crossed the bar, as the sailors say, on Wednesday, November 17, 2021. He was the son of the late George and Mimi Thomas; and was predeceased by Jana, his wife of 35 years. He is survived by his daughter, Catherine; son-in-law, Andrew; and granddaughter, Saoirse; his son, Burke; brother, George and wife, Anara; nephews, George and Daniel; cousins, Thia, Christie and Laurie and their children, Becket, Paul, Kendra, Micah, Jenny, Reaghan and Towner; and his brothers-and-sisters-in-law Ed, Francey, Ellie, Rusty, Ellen, Walter; and nieces and nephews Ren, Jesse, Emily, Jenny, Brett, Zach, Gene, Zoe, Bradley, Lindsey, Blake, Taylor, Emily, Patrick, Adelaide, Pete and Will.

Jeff was born in New York City on August 29, 1949 and left after six weeks to live with his parents in South America. George spent his career establishing international operations for A.H. Robins Pharmaceutical Company, now part of Pfizer, as Mimi founded local Christian Science reading rooms. Jeff attended schools in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina, where his headmaster would ring a bell at noon to signal the students to switch from Spanish to English. He moved to the United States at age 13 to attend Williston Academy in Massachusetts and graduated as class president. He attended Wesleyan University, where he again served as senior class president, as well as goalie on the varsity hockey team, followed by graduate studies at the Darden School at the University of Virginia. He delighted in putting bawdy stories in the middle of his papers when he believed his professors were not paying attention. His game was never discovered.

He worked as an investment banker for Wheat First Securities (Wachovia) before owning a number of successful small businesses, ranging from Virginia Controls to A-1 Security to an ornamental ironmaker in Winchester, providing stable employment for dozens of families. After retirement, he sought to give back through public service as a basketball coach at St. Catherine’s School, Saint Gertrude, Jamestown High and St. Edward Epiphany. He co-authored The Complete Guide to Coaching Girls’ Basketball with Hall of Fame UNC coach, Sylvia Hatchell. He pursued his dual passions for boating and photography by publishing feature articles and cover photographs for Sailing and Cruising World. Later, he tried his hand at writing screenplays, winning multiple competitions including Best First Screenplay at the Richmond International Film Festival. He also dedicated his time and skills as a writer to tutoring high school students on their college admissions essays.

Jeff had a unique love of wooden boats and enjoyed sailing with sea dogs, Alex, Bill, Chris, Clinton, George, Mike and Paul and sea pups, Matt, Mary Vaughn and Katie. He was schooled in celestial navigation and could predict the weather by reading the clouds. He also had a special place in his heart for Kit Kats, Krispy Kreme, Goombay Smashes and sea shanties.

He traveled with his wife on eight medical and humanitarian mission trips to Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Peru. He served as interpreter and sponsored the education of several Dominican medical students.

Jeff could play any instrument he picked up and speak a new language in a month. He won every board game and was an especially intuitive chess player. He remained an avid UVA basketball fan during the brief time between Ralph Sampson and Tony Bennett, always watching games in the same pair of lucky shorts that were validated after 30 short years. He was wildly funny, warm, generous, kind, fair-minded and eternally optimistic. He endeavored to make everyone he met feel special. He stood faithfully by his beloved wife, Jana during many years of her difficult illness. As his own health waned, he had the great privilege of a wonderful travel companion and friend (Judy), the care of a fantastic team of nurses (Abby, Whitney and Crystal) and the support and love of many, many friends and family members. Despite his physical limitations, he spent the last year of his life writing a children’s book (The A to Z Guide to Boating) dedicated to his granddaughter, Saoirse.

A funeral celebration for Captain Jeff will be held outdoors in the spring. Donations may be made to Church Hill Activities and Tutoring (CHAT).

Eric Britton, of Paris, France, passed away on October 31, 2021. A funeral ceremony will be held on Monday, November 15 at 11:15 a.m. at the Parisian cemetery of Saint Ouen (69 avenue Michelet, St. Ouen).
A homage to Eric will be held on the same day at 4 p.m. at the café brasserie Les Facultés, 110 rue d’Assas, 75006 Paris.

Donald Jamieson Scott passed away November 15, 2021, at the age of 87, in Naples, Florida. He dedicated his life to caring for others through his faith, work, and volunteer service.

He was born on January 18, 1934, in New Haven Connecticut to parents Leslie and Earlyne Scott. He spent his childhood in Connecticut where he attended Hopkins Grammar School, Williston Academy and Trinity College (AB ’56, Economics). He married his high-school sweetheart Susan Breck from Wallingford Connecticut. They were married for 25 years until her death in 1981.

After ten years of flying all over the world with the United States Air Force and Pan American, Don settled into a 35-year long career as a Financial Advisor in Naples in 1980. Through his work he met Gale Waterland; they married in 1985 and became business partners. Don retired in 2015 from Moran Wealth Management.

Don was an active volunteer member in the Naples Community, where he served as the first president of the YMCA Endowment Board, the Board President Volunteer Collier and numerous roles and committees at his beloved church, Trinity-by-the-Cove. He served on the Board of Directors of the Naples Yacht Club for nine years; serving as Commodore in 2011.

He will be remembered for his smile, silly accents, corny jokes and his intense love for God and his family. “God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in them.” 1 John 4:16

Donald is survived by his loving wife, Gale W. Scott, daughters, Alicia S. Wholley (Paul) and Andrea S. Radulovic; granddaughters, Meredith B. Wholley, Grace M. Wholley, Beverly B. Radulovic, Emma S. Radulovic; brother, Gordon B. Scott (Annette); nieces, nephews and long-time family friends.

A memorial service will be held Friday, November 26, 2021, 11:00 A.M. at Trinity- by-the-Cove Episcopal Church, 553 Galleon Dr. Naples, FL 34102 and will be livestreamed via the church’s website.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Trinity-by-the-Cove Episcopal Church. The family extends their appreciation to the caregivers of Avow Hospice Care, McKenney Home Care, and Arbor Glen Assisted Living.

Aldo Orlando Cipriano, of Waterbury, Connecticut; husband of T. Brenda (Stamates) Cipriano; father to Heather DeLorenzo, Brenda Cipriano, Jill Cipriano and Milly Bourdeau; father-in-law to Joseph DeLorenzo and John Bourdeau; and grandfather to Leah, Lindsey, Alexa, Joey, and Dylan DeLorenzo, died Sunday, October 31, 2021.

Aldo was born in Waterbury, September 24, 1937, son of the late Carmine and Ann Marie (Orlando) Cipriano. He was a graduate of Crosby High School, Williston Academy and Colgate University and was a teacher at Wilby High School in Waterbury.

He was an All-American athlete, holding records in the backstroke. He enjoyed fishing, camping, and nature.

Services are private.

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.