Mr. Donald R. Tench, formerly of Hinsdale, MA passed away on Saturday, March 5, 2022, shortly after celebrating his 100th birthday. His wife of 60 years, Edna E. Tench (nee Snedeker) of Nyack, NY predeceased him in 2006. Born in Brooklyn, NY on January 21, 1922, the son of Warren R. Tench and Daphne Tench (nee Bellows). Don attended the world-renowned Saint Thomas Choir School in NY and was a top performer in the Saint Thomas Boys Choir. He went on to graduate high school from Williston Academy (now The Williston Northampton School) in Easthampton, MA before enrolling at Syracuse University. Like so many of his generation, his college career was cut short by the outbreak of World War II. Following basic training at the Mojave Desert Training Center, Don served in the Allied Expeditionary Force in Iran, where he was an Armed Forces Radio alert and message operator as well as disc jockey for the troops.

Although Don owned and operated a Purina supply store in Pittsfield, MA for many years, he retired as a well-known antiques dealer. His love of antiques was sparked by his even greater love for his wife, and their substantial antiques business began as a small corner in their supply store many decades ago. Don loved to golf and fish and was a member of the Hinsdale Congregational Church for many years.

Don is also predeceased by his brother, Bob, his nieces Judy, and Nancy and his great granddaughter, Molly O’Keefe Alden. His niece Robin Tench lives in Calif. Don and Edna are survived by their children, Kathleen J. Adams, and Newton Bollinger Tench, as well as their beloved grandchildren, Jessie R. Alden, Nathan D.T. Robinson-Alden, Philip D. Alden, Jay Tench and James Tench as well as eight other great grandchildren, Aaron, Aidenne ’18, Jameson, Julianna, Philip, Maevyn, Jacob, and Benjamin.

Don’s family would like to thank the entire staff at HospiceCare in the Berkshires for their outstanding kindness and care throughout this difficult time.

A small graveside service will be held at Clarksburg Cemetery at a later date. Donations can be made to 1st Congregational Church of Hinsdale in lieu of flowers.

William Grant, known to friends and family as Bill, passed away November 19, 2021 at the age of 93, following a brief illness. A Harvard-educated lawyer and historian, Bill served the United States as a Foreign Service Officer for over 25 years, providing political analysis from US consulates and embassies in Italy, Belgium, Vietnam, Jamaica, Malaysia and Singapore. When posted to Washington DC, Bill performed similar work for the State Department and National Defense University. Upon retirement in 1981 he maintained his interest in domestic and foreign policy as an adjunct professor of international law at the Vermont Law School; attended OSHER courses, and participated in various political committees and current event discussion groups. Other pursuits included various choral music ensembles, frequent domestic and international travel, tennis, golf, hiking, bridge, gardening and volunteering for the Lyme town library. He was also an active member of the Lyme Congregational Church and its choir.

The second son of Williams College professor Elliott Grant and Evelyn Nay Grant, Bill grew up in Williamstown, Massachusetts, but spent vacations and summers in Lyme after his parents purchased and modernized the 1770s-era Hews farmhouse in 1937. He worked at Loch Lyme Lodge and Camp Pinnacle for several summer seasons before entering Harvard University. While in law school he met his future wife, Joan Gulick (‘Jo’), who was attending Radcliffe College, and whom he married in 1954. Prior to his appointment to the Foreign Service in 1955, Bill briefly practiced law with a firm in Boston. Together they raised 4 children overseas but maintained Lyme as their legal residence throughout his career until he retired in 1981 and returned to live in the Hews farmhouse for 36 years. In 2017 Bill and Jo moved to The Greens in Hanover after making sure the Lyme farmhouse would remain in the family.

Bill is survived by his brother James (of West Lebanon); his four children, Jennifer (of Lyme and Tucson, Arizona); Jefferson (of Bowie, Maryland); Ellen (of Coral Gables, Florida); and Nicholas (of Reno, Nevada) and their respective spouses Jeffrey Prileson, Linda Murphy, Anthony Alfieri and Theresa Garcia; nieces Elizabeth, Raingard and Sigrid; nephews Stephen and Henning; grandchildren Jason, Katherine, Vanessa, Eric, Amelia, Adrian, Elliott, Alexander, Kaitlyn and Sarah; great-grandchildren Ella and Hazel; great-nieces and nephews Amalia, Charlotte, Aven, Mavie and Simon; and cousins Barbara and Liz.

To better facilitate the attendance of community members, friends and family, a service will be held in summer of 2022 to celebrate both his life and that of his wife Jo, who passed away in July of 2020 at a time when the pandemic prevented more public participation and travel. In lieu of flowers, those who wish to honor Bill’s passing may do so through a donation to Doctors Without Borders (doctorswithoutborders.org) or to the Southern Poverty Law Center (splcenter.org), two of many organizations he supported.

John Emery (“Jack”) MacElwee passed away on Sunday, February 20, 2022 at the age of 93. He was a resident of Essex Meadows in Essex, Connecticut.
Jack was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather who continued to share his love of sailing and fine art with family and friends after his retirement to Essex. He previously lived in Norwalk and commuted to New York City during a successful 40-year career in commercial art. Prior to that, he served in the U.S. Army as a tank commander on Korea’s front lines.
Born and raised in Babylon, New York, Jack went on to attend the Williston Academy in Easthampton, Massachusetts, and the New England School of Art in Boston. After his service in the
U.S. Army, he started his career in New York City at the Biow Company. When the company closed due to a tax scandal, Jack made a decision that would change the course of his life. He decided to explore the West Coast, moved to San Francisco, and met Carol, his wife of 64 years. They married at Grace Cathedral two years after they met. Because New York City offered more career opportunities in advertising, Jack and Carol moved east after four years and settled in Norwalk, Connecticut. Commuting to New York, Jack specialized in point-of-sale design. Among his displays were the Uniroyal Tiger Paws, the Fleetwood Mac “Rumors” album, the Florida Lottery, Chiquita Banana, Almaden Wines, and Schaefer Beer. In the mid-1970s, he moved to the other side of the business, selecting displays for Revlon.
Jack’s life was filled with activity. He hiked, biked, camped, and sailed. At the age of 50, and before running had skyrocketed in popularity, Jack began doing laps at the local track in his
work boots before moving on to running sneakers and joining the local Lightfoot running club. He went on to complete 17 marathons, which included running the famed New York City Marathon ten times. Living in Norwalk at the time, he served the community by sitting on Norwalk’s Planning & Zoning Commission for five years, and serving as Chair his last year.
When Jack retired in 1994, he and Carol moved to Essex, prompting the purchase of a Pierson 28’ sailboat, which they cruised for 15 years. They sailed as members of the Essex Corinthian Yacht Club, the Baldwin Yacht Club, and the Pettipaug Yacht Club. Jack became a steward of the Essex Land Trust, and he pursued his natural talent in painting and drawing. He attended classes at the Lyme Art Academy and the Lyme Art Association, and exhibited frequently as a member of the Essex Art Association.
In addition to his wife, Carol, Jack is survived by his son, John Alexander MacElwee, his daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth and Bill Jones, and his grandson, Banning Jones. He also leaves his brother, Thomas Hart MacElwee, who celebrated his 100th birthday in January, as well as many nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his younger son, Douglas Stewart MacElwee, in 2000.
All friends are invited to a celebration of his life on Saturday March 5th at the Essex Yacht Club, 13 Novelty Lane, Essex, CT at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his memory to the Essex Land Trust, the Ivoryton Playhouse, or the Essex Historical Society.

Chester Dean “Chet” Andrews, 91, died unexpectedly Feb. 25, 2022. He was born June 5, 1930, to Stuart F. and Glenda M. Andrews of Stamford. Chet married Joan Wells Kellogg May 10, 1952. They raised four children and enjoyed a wonderful marriage. Joan preceded him in death.

Chet will be remembered for the countless lives he touched, through both his professional work and his extensive volunteer service. At Stone Ridge in Mystic, where he and Joan moved in 2013, Chet served on the Resident Council, Employee Appreciation Committee, and Welcome Committee. He sang in the Stone Ridge Choir and helped manage the Country Store. He passionately led efforts to secure scholarships for the young employees pursuing further education.

Chet spent his entire career in banking. In 1971, after 22 years at the State National Bank of Connecticut, he moved to Dorset, Vt., to become senior vice president of Factory Point National Bank in nearby Manchester. He became president in 1982, and was elected chair of the Board of Directors in 1992. He also served during this period as president of the Vermont Bankers Association and as vice president for Vermont of the American Bankers Association.

He retired in 1996, after 47 years in banking. He and Joan then relocated to Williamsburg, Va. During this period, they travelled extensively, with especially memorable trips to Scotland, Russia, Tanzania, Peru, and the Galapagos.

Chet was active as a volunteer in many community and civic activities, starting at age 14 as an elevator operator at the Stamford Hospital. Volunteer work was an important part of his life. In Vermont, this included service as chair of the Dorset School Board, president of the Dorset Field Club, president of the Dorset Prudential Committee, chair of the Weston Hadden Nursing Home and treasurer of the Dorset Nursing Association. After relocating to Virginia, he served as treasurer of the Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Auxiliary, board member and secretary of the Williamsburg Country Club, and a volunteer counselor with the VITA Income Tax Program sponsored by Colonial Williamsburg.

He served in the U.S. Army Reserves for eight years, obtaining the rank of sergeant first class.

Chet was educated at the Williston Northampton School, New York University School of Banking, and the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin.

Chet remained physically active until the day he died. He played golf through last summer, and never missed his morning walk. He loved games of all sorts. He had a competitive streak, but never took himself too seriously. When the family gathered for his birthday last June and engaged after lunch in a lively game of corn hole, Chet was determined to not let anyone get the better of him.

Chet spent part of almost every summer at a rustic island cottage that his grandfather had built on Lake Sunapee, N.H. There he instilled in his children and then grandchildren a deep love for the lake-and of swimming, boating and card games.

He is survived by his children, Jeff Andrews of Redding, Mark Andrews and wife Jenifer of Morrisville, Vt., Kim Andrews of Ledyard, and Susan Piotti and husband John of Belfast, Maine; grandchildren, Tucker, Conor, Tyler, Arlen, Chloe, Anna, John and Liam; and great-grandchildren, Vander, Walter, Letty, Iris and Eliza.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at Stone Ridge. A private graveside service will be held this summer in Dorset, Vt., where Chet will be laid to rest beside his beloved Joan. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Stone Ridge Scholarship Fund, mailed to 186 Jerry Brown Road, Mystic, CT, 06355.

James Ross died Sept. 19, 2021, peacefully at home in Middlebury with his loving wife Ann by his side.

James “Jim” D. Ross was born April 9, 1929, in Proctor, Vt., and raised in Rutland, Vt., son of Stewart and Lauren (McAdam) Ross. He graduated from Middlebury College in 1951 and received his Master’s degree from the Syracuse School of Business Administration in 1952. He attended Officer Candidate School and served in the Navy during the Korean Conflict.

Jim served as a Middlebury College Financial Officer and Business Manager from 1956 to 1991. He married Ann (McGinley) Ross and the couple had three children: Peter, Lauren, and Patty.

Throughout his entire life Jim’s greatest passions were his family and his community. He served as a volunteer on many community organizations, including 26 years on the Porter Hospital Board and 25 years on the Addison County Chamber of Commerce. He was a fierce advocate for education at all levels, serving on the Addison Central Supervisory Union School Board, and playing a lead role in conceiving, raising the funds for, constructing, and operating the new Anna Stowell Sunderland Bingham Memorial School in Cornwall in the early sixties. Jim ran the Mid-Vermont Skiing Council, guiding countless young skiers into ski racing. The last decade of his life he volunteered for the Vermont Center for Independent Living, installing wheelchair ramps across the state. He received the Governor’s award for distinguished service from the Vermont Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities for that work.

Many adults from around Middlebury remember Jim as the person who drove them to ski races throughout central Vermont every winter weekend as they were growing up in the sixties. And the person who made them laugh no matter how well they raced, and made them feel safe and loved as they trekked across the state to compete. Hundreds of other former MUHS field hockey players remember Jim as the person cheering them on at every home game long after Jim’s two daughters had graduated from high school and stopped playing the sport. He loved supporting young kids having fun.

Jim is survived by his wife and three children, six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. He was predeceased by his brother, Gordon Ross ’47.

There will be a celebration of Jim’s life on Saturday, Dec. 4, at the Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society in Middlebury at 10 a.m. The church has asked that everyone wear a mask if attending the celebration.