Frederick W. Johnson, 83, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 7, 2024, surrounded by the love and blessings of his family. He was born in Southampton, MA to Rudolf Oscar H. and Alice E. Johnson.

Fred attended Williston Academy in Easthampton, MA and then graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a B.A. in Zoology. After graduating from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1967, he began his career at Edmund’s Veterinary Hospital in Northampton, MA and married his longtime friend Mary Burr. Together they started a family, and in 1973 moved to Dennis where Fred opened the Dennis Animal Hospital, one of the first veterinary hospitals on Cape Cod.

Being a veterinarian was a passion of Fred’s. He had a dedicated work ethic and spent 57 years of his life treating and caring for countless pets and developing genuine relationships with his clients. He was known for his knowledgeable and friendly disposition and was wholeheartedly devoted to the wellbeing of his patients. He spent his final years at Sturbridge Animal Hospital retiring in July at the age of 83. Throughout his career, he was an active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association as well as the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association of which he was past-president. While living in Dennis, Fred served on the Dennis-Yarmouth School Committee and was a member of the Harwich-Dennis Rotary Club. He also obtained his pilot’s license and enjoyed flying over areas of New England.

Fred was blessed with three loving children, Peter Johnson of Santa Rosa, CA, Kate Dodge of Manchester, MA, and Rebecca Pearson of Brewster, MA. His love for his family grew with the addition of his beloved grandchildren, Bode Dodge, Heidi Dodge, Calla Pearson and Eve Pearson, whom he was fondly referred to as Papa. He cherished time with his family, especially enjoying ice cream sundaes, watching sports games, and celebrating birthdays and special occasions. In addition, Fred loved his many pets over the course of a lifetime, always considering them a part of the family.

His memory remained keen for the entirety of his life. He loved to tell stories, often reminiscing about his childhood with incredible detail. He is survived by his sister, Elizabeth Bolton of Mill Valley, CA and brother, Mark Johnson of Southampton, MA. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his brother, Richard Johnson of Amherst, MA.

In honor of Fred’s memory, donations can be made to The Veterinary Scholarship Trust of New England (www.veterinaryscholarshiptrust.org) and/or to the McCarthy Care Center, 73 Service Rd, East Sandwich, MA 02537. Services will be private.

M. Edward Provost, 89, Rochester, Indiana, passed away at 8:54 A.M. Friday, June 28, 2024, at Wynnfield Crossing, Rochester.

He was born on November 5, 1934 in Springfield, Massachusetts, the son of Edward N. and May (Merrill) Provost. Ed was a veteran having served with the United States Air Force and had attended Purdue University. On September 30, 1998, in Granby, Connecticut, he married Harriet (Bonine) McAllister and she survives.

Ed had worked as a salesman for Burns Construction, Macy, Indiana for over forty years. He was a member of the American Legion, Elks Lodge, Moose Lodge, and attended Wesley Methodist Church in Culver, Indiana. He was a sports enthusiast, an avid golfer, and a big fan of Big Ten Sports, especially Purdue University.

Survivors include his wife, Harriet Provost, Rochester, Indiana, son Curtis Adams, Boynton Beach, Florida, daughter, Tamara Provost, Westfield, Indiana, step-daughter, Gwen (Fiance’ Adam Hoover) McAllister, Carmel, Indiana, five grandchildren, sister, Jacqueline Neumann, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Preceding him in death were his parents and step-son, James Brent McAllister.

Memorial services will be conducted at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, July 13, 2024 at Wynnfield Crossing in the Chapel, 1729 Wabash Avenue, Rochester, Indiana. Burial will be held at Riverside Cemetery, Woodstock, Vermont.

Almer M. “Bud” Huntley, Jr.  92, of Hagerman, Idaho, previously of western Massachusetts and Maine, passed away on Monday, February 19, 2024 at his home, with his loving wife, Sandra Huntley at his side.

     Bud was a kind and intelligent man, tolerant of opposing ideas but unwavering in his opinions and convictions. He was born on December 5, 1931 to Almer M Huntley, Sr. and Mildred (Brakey) Huntley in Easthampton, Ma.  He was a lively and much-loved child, and had two younger brothers, Richard P Huntley (deceased) and David B. Huntley, who survives him.  He was an Eagle Scout, a tradition that has extended into two more generations in the family.

     He attended Easthampton MA public school system, Williston Academy and UMASS Amherst majoring in Forestry. In 1955 he founded Almer Huntley, Jr. and Associates, a civil engineering and land surveying firm, which he operated until his retirement.  He also lived in Jonesport, ME and continued the same line of work there. He was licensed as a land surveyor in Idaho. 

     Bud is the much-loved father of five children and three stepchildren – Deborah H. Allen (David Meath, David T. Huntley (Susan), Edward S. Huntley (deceased) (Breda), Kathryn H. Whitney (Scott), and Elizabeth Huntley Field (Bruce), Dan Stasz, Mark Stasz (Jennifer), and Shari Zafft (Richard). He also leaves his grandchildren – Jillian (Huntley) Malo, Halina Allen Lyons, Todd Whitney, Christopher Whitney, Jameson Huntley, Graeme Huntley, Conor Stasz, Mackenzie Stasz, Jayven Mavencamp Stasz, Abigail Mavencamp, Cayden Mavencamp, Maximo Zafft, Tatiana Zafft; and seven great grandchildren.

     Bud was always very involved in civic activities wherever he lived. He believed strongly in citizen engagement and responsibility.  Bud was very active in the Hagerman community. He was on the Highway Commission and Chairman of the Planning & Zoning Commission retiring from those roles last Monday.

     Bud says he arrived to this world with no big hurrah so he requests to leave this world in the same manner. To honor Bud’s wishes there will not be any services.

     Please join us at the Wilson’s Club in Hagerman on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 4:00 PM to raise a toast to Bud.

David B. Kreidler of Rumson, NJ and Vero Beach, FL, passed away on November 26th, 2024. He leaves behind his wife, Donna Clare Vroman. Three children: Anne Katherine V. Donohue (Michael,) David C. Kreidler (Sarah,) and Daven Bell Foulk (Anthony,) and seven grandchildren: Lindsey, Kendall, Finn, Megan, Bennett, Lilly and Mia.

A training program with MetLife Group Division set the stage for his 35 year career in association management where he was privileged to work with many talented and gifted entrepreneurs, executives and professionals. Active in the American Society of Association Executives he chaired four committees, served on its Board of Directors and achieved the designation of Certified Association Executive (CAE.) He was similarly active in three of ASAE’s affiliates. He retired as President and CEO of Eastern Building Material Dealers Association in 1999.

The only child of Homer and Sally (Bell) Kreidler, his youth was spent on the North Jersey coast. Born March 31st, 1937 (missing April Fools Day by hours) he graduated Wanamassa Grammar School, Williston Academy, Duke University, The American College of Life Underwriters and OCS followed by Armored Officer Orientation School.

He served in several appointed municipal positions and several Boards of Directors. At one time or another he was a member of: Monmouth County Young Republicans, Allenhurst Beach Club, Trinity of Swarthmore, Spring Haven Country Club, Seabright Beach Club, Rumson Country Club, Sea Bright Lawn Tennis and Cricket Club, Sea Oaks Beach and Tennis Club, Rose Valley Folk, Fraternal Order of Hoo Hoo, St. Georges-by-the-River, Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, Swarthmore Rotary, St. Andrews Society of Philadelphia, The Varsity D Club and American Contract Bridge League. These entities helped to shape his life and career.

He and his wife Donna met at the singles table at a wedding (it was love at first sight) and they married 11 months later. They have now been married for 61 years. David always felt it special that in 1963 their wedding guests were treated to a partial eclipse of the sun.

On Nov. 6, 2024, Dr. Edward M. Peters Jr., 88, a longtime resident of Guilford, Connecticut, passed away at his home.

Husband of the late Patricia (Knapp) Peters, Dr. Peters was born in New Haven in May, 1936, son of Mr. Edward M. Peters, Sr. and Mrs. Marjorie (Corcoran) Peters. Loving father and father-in-law to Greg and Nicole Kane of Fairfield, Moira and Dave Pakulniewicz of Berlin, Maryland, and Clare and Edward M. Peters, III of Austin, Texas. He is survived by his five grandchildren, Caroline, Charles, Timothy, Mary Elizabeth, and Peter; his beloved sisters, Teri Ciaburro of East Haven and MaryEllen DelVecchio of Woodbridge; and his sister-in-law, Ann Peters of Guilford, widow of his younger brother, John.

Dr. Peters was a graduate of Hill House High School, New Haven, The Williston Northampton School in Easthampton, Massachusetts, and of Yale University, from which he held a B.A., an M.A., and was the first Ph.D awarded in medieval studies. After a brief stint teaching at the University of California at San Diego, Peters settled in at the University of Pennsylvania as the Henry Charles Lea Professor of History and the curator of the Henry Charles Lea Library, where he remained for 41 years. His studies spanned many wide-ranging topics, including the Crusades, the Inquisition, witchcraft in Europe, and niche topics such as curiosity and torture. Peters has been called “One of the greatest medievalists of his generation.”

Even after retirement from teaching, Dr. Peters continued to research, write, and edit scholarly work. He was an avid reader of thrillers and loved nothing more than having a cocktail on the deck overlooking the beautiful salt marsh in Guilford, followed by a well-cooked meal.

Friends are invited to attend a 2:30 p.m. burial on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at West Side Cemetery, 55 Three Mile Course, Guilford, and to share a memory with the family from 4 to 6 p.m. at Café Allegre, 725 Post Road, Madison, following the burial.

Allen Vaughan Shaw passed away suddenly, October 16, 2024, in Rockville, Maryland. He was born May 19, 1940 at Hale Hospital in Haverhill, Massachusetts, the eldest child of Eugene Kenneth Shaw and Evelyn Frances (Vaughan). He grew up at the family homestead, Number 12 King Street in Groveland and as a teenager worked on a local dairy farm, which he reminisced about frequently. An animal lover from an early age, he raised a Holstein cow named Bobolink, after which his adventures in dairy farming came to a close.

Allen was educated at Williston Northampton School, where he was known as Al Shaw, graduating in 1959. He played varsity football and was a member of the varsity track team, boasting a 4 minute mile and excelled in the 440. Allen also participated in the school glee club, student council, and was sports editor of The Willistonian school paper.

Allen went on to study geology at Tufts University and received his Master’s Degree from Michigan State. He continued his formal education at the University of Arizona, University of Oklahoma, and University of Texas at Dallas.

His career began in oil exploration, working for Conoco in the Western United States. He lived in the Rocky Mountain region for many years before moving to Arizona and then to Texas to work for Sun Exploration. In the early 90s, he moved back to the East Coast and transitioned to environmental geology, working for URS Corporation and Bechtel. Allen stayed active in his field and served as past editor of AEG News, the newsletter for the Association of Engineering Geologists.

During his time in Wyoming, he met Dorsey Winchester and they were married in 1970, becoming an instant family with Dorsey’s children Lynne, Shannon, Casey, and Marty before adding two more daughters, Ryan and Morgan.

At the time of his death, he was living with his companion of 19 years Christine (Tina) Chisena and their kitties, Frank and Lola, in Maryland.

He lived a life of service and spent countless hours volunteering for many organizations, big and small. Allen regularly donated blood earning his 25-gallon pin and beyond. He also donated over 2500 hours of service to The Heard Natural Science Museum in McKinney, Texas, clearing hiking trails and hosting education workshops. More recently, he continued to live out his love of nature by volunteering at Brookside Gardens in Montgomery County, Maryland. Faith was important to Allen and he was dedicated in his service to Grace St Paul’s church in Tucson, Arizona as well as Holy Nativity Church in Plano, Texas. He served as lay reader, vestry member, event organizer, helped build the church playground in Plano, and served on the education board of the Montessori school at Holy Nativity.

Allen generously supported many organizations with monetary donations when he was unable to support them with his time and personal service. He was a faithful friend of the geology department at Tufts, his beloved alma mater, and made it a priority to support the department with a gift each year.

When he wasn’t out and about enjoying this beautiful world and its flora and fauna, many other hobbies and passions occupied his time. Allen was an accomplished baker (his focaccia bread had an informal fan club), chef extraordinaire (his butternut squash soup is a holiday favorite), and singer, his rich baritone voice was a joy to hear (just like his dad’s.) He was also an amateur photographer and an avid birdwatcher, often combining the two activities.

Allen was known to be competitive, an attribute often seen at the bridge table. He was an active member of the American Contract Bridge League, playing in local, district, and national tournaments throughout his life, from Casper, Wyoming, to Tucson, Dallas, and Washington, DC. He achieved the rank of Gold Life Master in the ACBL and won the Open Pairs at the National Capital 4th of July Tournament in 2023 with bridge partner and friend Jerold.

His talents as “Opa” boasted superb baby rocking skills, excellent bedtime story reader (he did all the voices, 10/10), nature walks, and teaching grandchildren how to bake the best treats ever.

Allen is survived by his companion, Tina, his children Marty Shaw (his wife Sandy, children Chris and Holly and their families), Ryan Shaw, Dr. Morgan (Shaw) McCormick (her husband Tim, children Keira and Maeryn), his brother David Shaw ’61 (his wife Janet, children Mark, Todd, Brett and their families), his former wife Dorsey, Lynne Livingston (children Todd and Cody and family), Shannon Smith Gray (husband Ken, children Kyle, Keefe, Kip and families ), Casey Digaetano (children Autumn, Beckon, Cameon, Jadon and families), and many friends that will cherish his memory. His sense of humor, wit, and the mischievous twinkle in his eyes will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in honor of Allen to Tufts University or to The Heard Museum of Natural History in Texas. Allen’s final gift was to be an organ and tissue donor. Please consider donating blood or becoming an organ donor.

Robert “Bob” Mattson, 92, of New Castle, DE passed away on June 29,2023. He was born April 21, 1931 in Philadelphia, PA, but spent most of his childhood in Worcester, MA, where he began swimming at the Worcester Boys and Girls club. He then went to prep school and was offered a scholarship to swim at North Carolina State University. At NC State, he continued to excel at swimming and became an NCAA champion and received All American honors. He held both world and American records in the breaststroke and 400 IM events. Bob graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and accepted a job at Joseph Bancroft Co in Wilmington, DE. It was at this time Bob began his swim coaching career. In 1967, he decided to quit his job as a chemist and pursue his passion for swimming, beginning his lifelong legacy of coaching. He built Wilmington Aquatic Club (WAC) in New Castle, DE which would become a powerhouse for Delaware swimmers. Bob has coached several state, regional, national, and Olympic swimmers. He was well known for his “Out of the Box” thinking both in and out of the pool and for developing and guiding many elite swimmers. Bob was inducted into North Carolina State University swimming hall of fame, the Delaware Sports hall of fame, and the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) hall of fame.

Bob married Nancy Haubein in 1960 and had two children Eric and Jennifer. He also has a son, Steve, from a previous marriage. He is survived by his wife Nancy, his children and their spouses: Eric (Shelly), Jennifer (Eric), Steve (Doris- deceased). He has seven grandchildren Brady, Kate, Elizabeth, Tori, John, Becky, and Brandy.

A celebration of life will be held at the Talleyville Fire hall in Wilmington, DE on August 26th 1-4 pm. Memorial donations can be made in lieu of flowers to the Worcester, MA Boys and girls club https://app.donorview.com/PbXEO or to WAC Wilmington Aquatic Club https://www.gomotionapp.com/team/mawac/page/tumoney