All posts by hstauder

Stephen A. Trudel ’69

Stephen Allard Trudel, age 69, passed away peacefully on August 6, 2019.

He was born on May 1, 1950 in North Adams. He grew up in Williamstown, MA and Glens Falls, NY and attended Glens Falls High School, Williston Academy and the University of Massachusetts.

Steve was beloved by so many people because he was a man of enormous compassion, kindness, humor and wisdom. Everyone with whom he was a friend felt his caring and his love energy. Early in his career he shared his love with young children as a day care provider.

Steve was among the first men to recognize working with men acting abusively was essential to curb domestic violence. In the early 1980s he went to San Francisco to learn how the Men Overcoming Violence (MOVE) program ran its batterer intervention groups. He brought back a vision of believing men could change. In addition to conducting the initial interviews with many of the men entering the program, Steve worked in virtually every court hearing domestic abuse cases in western Mass., and was the first point of contact for men mandated to attend a 40- week batterer intervention group. Steve led groups continuously for nearly 30 years. It is estimated he worked with more than a thousand men and held nearly every position in the Men’s Resource Center’s batterer’s program, Moving Forward.

Near the end of his career, Steve served as the liaison for the female partners or ex-partners of men in the program, a position heretofore exclusively held by a woman. That these women had no issue with a man being their contact speaks volumes about Steve’s capacity to gain these women’s trust. He set the standard for men as allies to women survivors.

When there was something that Steve cared about he invested himself fully in its cultivation. This was literally true about one of his most fervent passions – his extraordinarily diverse and exquisite garden in which Steve spent so many hours and delighted in giving tours to friends.

He became a plant expert through his endless pursuit of making the garden ever more inviting. The same passion was evident in his eclectic love for music, which flowed dependably throughout his home. He especially loved to sing and was part of not one but two a cappella groups where his beautiful voice and enormous repertoire of songs were most appreciated.

Cooking was another endeavor that absorbed and gratified Steve. Many of his signature dishes enriched holiday dinners at the homes of his chosen families. His scones were the stuff of legends and he could be counted on to bring a memorable dish to any potluck.

Steve recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of his graduation from Williston where he sang in the Caterwaulers, performed in plays and ran cross country. He was on the reunion committee and was very pleased to see friends from his class for whom he was both an inspiration and a driving force through the years. Steve loved looking good and he had an impeccable eye for clothing. Men and women consulted him about their outfits, because his taste was so dependably on the money. His style was uniquely his own and fit every occasion. Folks looked forward to how Steve would dress at many events.

But notwithstanding all of these loves, Steve reserved the greatest part of his enormous heart for his friendships, which were the centerpiece of his life. He nurtured each one with the same tenderness, devotion and integrity with which he bestowed his caring upon every plant in his garden. Not only did he forge deep and abiding connections to so many women and men, but he invariably reached out to the children of his friends and they became his friends as well. The outpouring of love, of the litany of ways in which Steve touched so many of his chosen families is remarkable on so many levels. The outpouring of loving emails he received while in the hospital are yet one more testimony to the essential role he played in his many friendships.

One of the most consistent and outstanding relationships Steve helped to sustain is his men’s group, which will celebrate its 41 st year offering support to one another this fall. Steve was a major driving force in having the group be so significant and long-lasting. His contributions to our celebrative monthly dinners, his belief in honesty and the trust he gave and received were hallmarks of the group throughout its tenure.

Steve will be missed beyond the power of words to express by his family of origin and all of his chosen families. His gifts of unwavering caring, concern and devotion will long be remembered by generations of people whose lives he touched and for whom he had an indelible impact. He leaves behind his siblings, Lyn Trudel of Palm Coast, Florida, Sam Trudel and his partner Liz Winn of Middlebury, Vermont, Susan Marton of Martinsville, New Jersey and David Trudel of Glens Falls, NY. He also is survived by his cousin, Rachel Branch, of N. Adams, MA. He was beloved by his nieces and nephews including, Jason, Joseph and Alexis Cenami, Alyssa and Ryan Trudel, Jeremy, Emily, Samuel and Philip Marton, and Timothy Trudel and Larra Wallace. In addition there are a great many friends who will miss him forever.

There will be a CELEBRATION OF LIFE on Saturday, September 21 st .

Roger V. Bourdeau ’72

Roger V. Bourdeau, 64, of Thompson, CT, died peacefully on Wednesday May 29, 2019 at the UMass Memorial Healthcare. He was the loving husband of Paula (McQueen) Bourdeau. Born in Ware, MA, he was the son of the late Robert and Josephine (Lorence) Bourdeau.
Roger worked in sales for several businesses including Safety-Kleen, R. Sparrow Hicks, Loomis Real Estate, and Lundgren Honda. Roger loved listening to and playing music. He enjoyed singing, collecting records and played a variety of instruments. Roger was a truly dedicated family man who loved going on road trips and cherished spending time with his wife, his children and grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, Roger is survived by his children, Jessica Aguilar (Omar) of Anahiem, CA, Christopher Bourdeau (Lorena) of Huntington Beach, CA, and Matthew Bourdeau (Alyssa) of Boston, MA; two sisters Diane Arnesen of Hampden, MA, and Joan Callanan of Pasadena, CA; two beautiful grandchildren, Declan and Penelope. He was predeceased by his late brother Richard Bourdeau.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Roger’s family from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday June 5, 2019 in the Valade Funeral Home and Crematory, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale. A Funeral Mass will follow at 11:00 a.m. in St. Joseph Church, 18 Main St., N. Grosvenordale, CT.

Phyllis Seybolt, Former Faculty


Phyllis Seybolt of Boynton Beach, Florida and Gouldsboro, Maine passed away on Saturday, July 13, 2019.

Born on December 7, 1923 in Holyoke, Massachusetts to Willard and Helen Allen, Phyllis graduated from Holyoke High School and entered Penn State. Her college career was put on hold during WWII due to the need for women in the war industries. She worked on airplane production during the war years and then focused on raising her five children. Her husband, James L Beekman II, a career officer in the U.S. Air Force, was stationed in post war Europe where they resided in Chateau-Roux, France. James premature illness and death left her as sole support of her children, a challenge she surmounted by returning to college at University of Massachusetts, Amherst where she earned a Master’s degree in mathematics and initiated a long career in teaching high school algebra and calculus. She initially taught at the Northampton School for Girls and acted as director of admissions. Later she accepted a position at the Williston Academy in Easthampton, MA where she met her husband and life partner, Dr. Stephen Seybolt. Steve’s degree in English literature and Phyllis’ passion for math enriched the lives of generations of high school students.

Phyllis is survived by: her sister Marjorie Yount of North Carolina, her husband Stephen of Boynton Beach, FL, as well as all children: Candace and her husband William Matthew of Hopkington, MA, Dr. Robert Beekman and his wife Ellen of Ellsworth, ME, James Beekman of Portland, OR, Allen Beekman and his wife Sandy of Bend, OR, Laurie and her husband Dana Parker of Plymouth, MA. She is survived by grandchildren: Aria Baker, Brian, Benjamin and Samuel Beekman all of Bend, OR, Julie Matthew of East Greenwich, RI, Allison Miseph of Indianapolis, IN, Michael Miseph of Holyoke, MA, Kimberly Kleinpeter of Gorham, ME, and Andrew Beekman of Boone, NC. She is also survived by 7 great grandchildren: Kiley Shea, Jaya Belle, Jackson Tye, Natalie Kate, Robert Reynolds, Hickson Rudder and George Porter.

Phyllis overcame many challenges in her life, but none so great as her final battle with Alzheimer’s disease. A woman proud of her intellectual gifts, she bore progressive losses with grace and dignity. She taught us all to appreciate the smaller pleasures in life and took great joy in the love and companionship of family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to consider a gift in her memory to the Parkside Inn (Memory Care Center), 1613 SW 3rd St, Boynton Beach, FL. 33435.

Burton J. Landau ’50


Burton J. Landau, microbiologist, medical educator and Associate Dean at Drexel University; loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, died in his home on October 23, 2018. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Ellen Segal Landau, his sons Jim (Lesly) Landau and Richard (Hiromi) Landau, his sister Lois Landau Berman and his brother Peter (Roberta) Landau and his brother in-law William (Joanne) Segal. He was the cherished grandfather of Emily (Jared), Jessica, Andrew (Jennine), Katherine, Joey and his great-grandson Gavin, all of whom will miss his many stories and words of wisdom and love. Family and friends are invited to a Memorial Service, Monday, October 29, 3:00 PM, at Joseph Levine & Sons Memorial Chapel, 4737 Street Road, Trevose, PA. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Cancer Society in Burton’s memory (www.cancer.org).

 

Thomas H. LaBelle ’53

Thomas H. LaBelle, 95, of Easthampton passed away peacefully surrounded by his family July 2, 2019 at the Elaine Manor in Hadley. He was born in Holyoke, April 2, 1924, the son of the late Henry and Marie (Tagliolato) LaBelle. Tom was educated in the Easthampton schools and was a graduate of the Williston Academy. He was a WWII US Army Air Corp Veteran serving as Radio Operator. Tom owned and operated The Camera Shop as well as Jessie’s Taxi Co., both in Easthampton, for many years. Additionally, he was a self-employed freelance photographer working independently and contributing to the Daily Hampshire Gazette. He was a member of the Easthampton Lions Club, the Easthampton Chamber of Commerce and sang with a local Barber Shop Quartet. Thomas was a scratch golfer belonging to many local country clubs and had eight holes-in-one to his credit. Tom’s beloved wife for 54 years June (Ladnier) LaBelle passed away in 1999. He leaves his daughters, Sandy M. Colpack (Jim) and June “Jill” Prosciak, both of Easthampton, and Barbara “Bonnie” Johnson (Cliff) of Southampton, his 6 Grandsons Thomas, Jarrett, Heath, Michael, Kyle, and Chris, his 8 Great Grandchildren, his sister Shirley Slavas of Belchertown, and his many nieces and nephews. Tom was predeceased by his daughter Janice LaBelle and his son-in-law John Prosciak. Funeral services will be private, the O’Brien Funeral Home has been entrusted with all arrangements. Memorial gifts can be made to Riverside Industry 1 Cottage St. Easthampton, MA 01027 or to the Hospice of the Fisher Home 1165 North Pleasant St. Amherst, MA 01002.

Corinne Rogers Honkalehto ’46


Corinne Rogers Honkalehto, of Hamilton, NY – beloved mother and friend, dedicated swimmer, reader, gardener, and crossword aficionado – died peacefully in her sleep on March 29, 2018, at her daughter’s home in Boise, Idaho, after several months battling heart failure and vascular disease. She was 89.
Corinne was born to Virginia Thompson Rogers and Reginald B. Rogers on March 9, 1929, in Manhasset, NY, and grew up in the Long Island town of Huntington. She and her sister Judy attended Adelphi Academy in Brooklyn, NY, while their mother attended library school at Pratt Institute. Later the family moved to Northampton, MA, when her mother became Head of Circulation for Nielson Library at Smith College. Corinne graduated from Smith in 1950 with an A.B. in Sociology and later earned a Masters in Library Science from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn.
Corinne’s professional librarian positions included school, business and academic settings. While working as a reserves librarian at MIT in Cambridge, MA, she met a handsome Finn from Quincy, MA, Oswald Honkalehto, who was pursuing a Ph.D. in Economics. They married in 1953 and lived in Brookline, MA, and also in Princeton, NJ, while Ozzie worked at Princeton University. In 1957, they moved to Pittsburgh, PA, (Carnegie Mellon) where their daughter, Taina, was born, and next to East Lansing, MI, (Michigan State) where their 2nd daughter, Liisa, was born.
In 1962, Ozzie was recruited to teach Economics at Colgate University in Hamilton, NY, where they settled as part of a cohort of young faculty who arrived in the 1960s – most of whom raised families and stayed in Hamilton for many years. Corinne worked as full-time mom, then on and off in the Colgate Language Lab, as a substitute librarian at Hamilton Central School, and as librarian at the American Management Association. She also served on the board of the Hamilton Public Library.
The family enjoyed playing tennis, spending summers at Colgate Camp, Old Forge, and Speculator, NY, with close family friends, and visits with relatives and friends on Cape Cod. Corinne and their daughters also accompanied Ozzie to England over several fall semesters with the Colgate London Economics study group. Later, after he retired the two of them enjoyed many trips to New York City, to Europe and elsewhere with the MIT Alumni Association, and on South American and south Pacific voyages aboard the Queen Mary II.
Corinne was active in the women’s Hamilton Fortnightly Club, and she loved swimming almost anywhere, especially in the ocean or with friends at the Colgate pool. In addition to tennis and swimming, she played guitar and sang, and later took up the piano. She enjoyed dancing, reading books, traveling, and became a master at Sunday New York Times crossword puzzles.
Corinne was thoughtful, kind, and patient, and delighted in experiencing both the quiet outdoor beauty around her in Hamilton and the culture of world cities. She maintained strong friendships with long-time friends, and welcomed new friends from her travels with ease. Her last years were spent enjoying reading, movies and art in Hamilton, Manhattan, Boise and Seattle with her daughters and their friends. She had a knack for remembering little jokes and rhymes, and she shared them with family, friends and caregivers into her last days.
Corinne was preceded in death by her husband, Oswald, in 2013, and sister, Judith Rogers Atwood ’45, of Kingston, RI, in 2001. She is survived by her daughters, Taina Honkalehto (Ed Melvin), of Seattle, WA, and Liisa Rogers, of Boise, ID, and two nieces.
The family wishes to thank Treasure Valley Hospice of Nampa, ID, for their expert care and services during her last weeks.
A remembrance gathering for Corinne will be held in Hamilton in late spring or early summer 2018.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Colgate University Lineberry Natatorium, Colgate University Gift Records, 13 Oak Drive, Hamilton, NY 13346.

Howard H. Tiley ’49


Howard H.“Bub” Tiley, 89, of New Smyrna Beach, FL, formerly of Williamsburg, MA, passed away Friday, April 5, 2019. Mr. Tiley was born on March 26, 1930 in Williamsburg, MA, the son of the late Charles and Ethel (Harlow) Tiley. He was a professional golfer, the owner of the Jolly Bull and the founder of Bub’s Bar B Que both in MA. He was an avid fisherman and a loyal fan of the Boston Red Sox.
Mr. Tiley was predeceased by his wife, Norinne (Jacobus) Tiley and is survived by his children; daughter, Patricia McAnaugh (John), son, Deac Tiley (Elaine), daughter, Mary Jo Lundquist (Michael), daughter, Susan Flynn (James) and daughter, Carolyn Tiley. He is also survived by his four grandchildren; Tara, Kristen, Ashley and Miles, seven great-grandchildren and one great, great-grandson.
A Graveside Service was held April 12, 2019 at Daytona Memorial Park, Daytona Beach, FL.
A memorial service for Mr. Tiley will be conducted in Massachusetts at a later date. Online memories and condolences may be made at lohmanfuneralhomes.com

Memorial Contributions may be made in memory of Howard H. Tiley, to the Halifax Health Hospice, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, FL 23129

Barbara Santaniello Brown ’64

Barbara Jean (Sanders) Brown, age 72, went to be with the Lord on June 25, 2019 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. She was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on July 28, 1946. She was a graduate of Williston Northampton School and Elmira College. After college, she married the love of her life, James H. Brown with whom she lived a blessed and glorious life for 50 years. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Knoxville Christian Women’s Connection, Knoxville Symphony League, and a lifetime member of Presbyterian Women. She was involved in many organizations in Knoxville as well as in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Barbara is preceded in death by her parents, Jean Atkinson and Donald Santaniello.

She is survived by her husband, James H. Brown, her sister Carol Kelley ’66, both of Knoxville, her brother, Joseph Santaniello and wife Angela of Massachusetts, nephew, Jim Lepine and wife Jennifer of Cummings, GA, niece, Jackie Delorm and husband Rob of East Berne, New York, sister-in-law, Jeanie Belhobek and husband George of Pepper Pike, OH, 2 great nephews and 1 great niece, Goddaughter Shelby Brooks and husband Tracy, special friend and caregiver, Alisa Jones and husband Chris, all of Knoxville. She will be greatly missed by many.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 29 at 2:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church at 620 State St., Knoxville, TN 37902. Barbara’s family will receive friends following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Barbara’s name may be made to First Presbyterian Church.

Paul F. Cox ’78


Paul F. Cox, age 58, of Decatur, Georgia, passed away March 12, 2019.  A Celebration of Life service was held  March 22, 2019 at West Hunter Street Baptist Church in Atlanta with interment at Fairview Memorial Gardens in Stockbridge. Memories of Mr. Cox will be cherished by his loving family and friends. In lieu of flowers, please donate to West Hunter Street Childrens ministries. Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home.

Walter Burrichter ’60


Walter Burrichter, 76, of Homestead, Florida, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, May 19, 2019. The son of August and Osa Burrichter, he was born August 28, 1942. Except for the years he spent away at school, Walter was a lifelong resident of Florida. He graduated high school from Williston Academy, Easthampton, Massachusetts, and went on to Purdue University where he graduated with a degree in plant sciences. Walter is survived by his twin sister, Metta Price; older sister, Minna Cornelisse; and younger brother, August ’62. Walter started farming with his father in 1964 and continued through the mid 1980’s. He was currently employed by the Florida Department of Agriculture as a fruit and vegetable inspector. Walter’s true love was fishing and snorkeling in the Florida Keys. In addition, he fished the Big Island of Hawaii, the Bay of Islands in New Zealand, Panama and the Yucatan Peninsula. Walter’s dedication to his profession and his love of life and all it’s challenges were the foundation of his character. May he rest in peace. A celebration of life will be held at a later date for family and close friends.