Category Archives: 1960s

Mark G. Weidhaas ’69

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July 10, 1951 – Dec. 12, 2018

Mark George Weidhaas was born in Northampton, MA on July 10, 1951 to George B. Weidhaas and Eleanor Lucy Marciniak Weidhaas. Mark attended Williston Academy in Easthampton, MA. Throughout high school, Mark showcased his musical talent, inherited from his dad, in a band that performed throughout the area. Mark passed on that musical gift to his grandchildren.

After high school, Mark went on to The University of Massachusetts Amherst and architecture schools at Montana State University, The University of Idaho and Boston Architectural Center. He completed his apprenticeship in Portsmouth, NH. His education led him to a career in insurance, real estate, home design and building. In his 48 years in business, Mark designed and built hundreds of homes in Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island and Montana. With a smile, he would say, “I made a lot of people happy.”

Mark’s love of woodworking began as a young boy working with his dad in his shop. Throughout his life he continued to hone his woodworking skills becoming a true artisan. His dad also instilled in Mark a love of the outdoors. Mark was an avid and accomplished sportsman. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and shared his interest with others. A proficient freshwater fly fisherman since childhood, Mark snow-birded to Florida for eight years in order to expand his love of fishing to saltwater. In 2011 Mark moved from Bozeman, MT to Southwest Florida to further pursue his fishing passion.

Mark’s tenets of life were, “Try to treat others as you would like to be treated”, “If you do something, do it right” and “Persevere, never give up”. Diagnosed with cancer in 2015, Mark returned to Montana to be closer to family.

He is survived by his daughter, Sara (Tim) Gram; grandchildren, Will and Georgia Gram of Bozeman, MT; his son, Karl (Jennifer) Weidhaas; granddaughter, Elizabeth Weidhaas of Salt Lake City, UT; his brother, Allen (Caroline) Weidhaas, nephew, Clinton Weidhaas, of Stuart VA; childhood friend, Gail Fisher of Canaan, VT, who supported Mark throughout the final months of his journey; and a wealth of extended family and friends in New England, Florida and Montana. He will be missed by all those privileged to know him.

No services are planned at this time. Arrangements are in the care of Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service.

Posted in: 1960s

Gary Higginbottom ’67

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Gary Higginbottom, of Bend, Oregon, formally of Portland and Hallowell, Maine passed away of complications from pneumonia, on May 17th, 2018 after four courageous years fighting multiple myeloma cancer. Gary was born on June 18th, 1949 to Marguerite (Striebel) and James Higginbottom in Worcester, MA. He graduated from Williston Acadamy, Middlebury College and earned his Masters Degree from the University of Victoria.

Gary’s passion for the environment, geography and mapping was reflected in his work for the Maine State Planning office, Kork Industries and most recently in his advocacy for alternative energy. Gary was in his element when outdoors where he was often found biking for miles or kayaking rivers, lakes and bays. Always ready for an adventure, Gary traveled many places for work and vacation including Japan, several countries in Europe, Egypt, the Virgin Islands, Abu Dhabi and all across the US and Canada. Gary prided himself on his talent for bringing people of similar interests together to build something larger. He worked tirelessly, most often freely volunteering his time, across political circles and technology landscapes to drive the changes he felt would better the world we live in.

Gary is sorely missed by his son, Jacob Higginbottom of Boston MA, his daughter Rebecca Higginbottom and granddaughter Morgan Dahlman of Painted Post, NY, his sister Christie Higginbottom of Rochdale, MA and by countless nieces, nephews, friends and relatives.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to two wonderful organizations that helped Gary fight his illness: the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation on line at themmrf.org or the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society at www.LLS.org. Checks can also be sent to LLS, 70 Walnut St. Suite 301, Wellesley, MA 02481.

Posted in: 1960s

Susan Reeves Whalen ’60

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Susan Reeves Whalen passed away Monday, August 13, 2018 at her home in Arlington, MA after a long illness. Daughter of Helen Manley Reeves and Dr. Edgar Earl Reeves, she was born May 14, 1942 at the House of Mercy in Pittsfield.

She was a graduate of the Northampton School for Girls and majored in social work at Simmons College in Boston. She nurtured a lifelong passion for caring for the disadvantaged, serving as an outspoken advocate, both professionally and personally, for the rights of children with special needs. Among the many causes and accomplishments of her life, Susan founded and directed the Conway, NH School for People with Special Needs as well as the Conway Regional Day Camp, and she was appointed to the first Board of Directors for Hospice of Berkshire County. She contributed as an editor to the Compassionate Friends Newsletter, a nonprofit organization for the bereaved, and was a recipient of the “Foster Parent of the Year” by Specialized Home Care. She volunteered at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Baystate Medical Center, where she learned to care for medically compromised infants. In the course of her work and in raising the family that meant so much to her, Susan’s life touched many people, and her deep commitment to be ever mindful of the needs of others will endure as a legacy to those who knew and loved her.

Susan was the beloved wife of the late Kearons J. Whalen, III, whom she married in Pittsfield in 1973. They lovingly raised twelve children on Snow Goose Farm in Lanesborough, where she instilled in her family a love and respect for nature and the care of animals. Later in life, she was rarely seen without the companionship of her pets, especially her devoted dog Maggie. An avid reader and writer, she contributed articles to the Berkshire Eagle Sampler and was the author of a novel, Murder on Houseboat Row, inspired by her second home of Key West, where she was active in the arts and marine conservation.

She is survived by eleven children – Geoffrey (Hilary) of Wayne, PA; Eliza (Marco) and Richard, both of Holyoke, MA; Joshua (Leann) of Ballston Lake, NY; Rachel of Oakland, CA; Oliver (Ellen) of Houston, TX; Kearons (Barrie) of Arlington, MA; Reeves (Jenni) of Castle Rock, CO; Jessie of Pittsfield, MA; Ben, and Prudence, both of Arlington, MA. She was predeceased by a son, Joseph, and her sister Marsha Reeves Snyder of Pittsfield, MA. She leaves two sisters, Sally Reeves Edmonds of Cambridge, MA and Robin Reeves Colt (’57) (Sam) of Walnut Creek, CA, as well as fourteen grandchildren.

Posted in: 1960s, Class of 1960

Pamela Arnold Meadows ’63

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Pamela Meadows of Amherst, MA, passed away on July 28, 2018, at the age of 72, surrounded by her loving family, after a brave battle with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
She was truly loving to all: daughter of the former Dr. Gordon Arnold and registered nurse Florence Arnold; the passionate and devoted wife to Craig Meadows; the nurturing and attentive mother of Sarah Morton of Amherst, Willow Love of Long Beach, California, Gordon Meadows of Northampton and Lily Meadows of Amherst; grammie to Nikki Love, Casey Morton, Cole Morton, Jaxon Love, Jack Driscoll and Finn Driscoll; sister of Bruce Arnold (deceased), Mark Arnold of Worthington, Marcia Arnold of Orting, Washington, and Bonnie Arnold Vossbrink of Killingworth, Connecticut; as well as mother-in-law to Alan Love and Jay Driscoll; and dear friend to many more.
Pam was a master gardener who loved her flowers, crocheting, baking with her kids and grandkids, the ocean, and the sunshine. Though she has now passed on, she will live forever in our hearts and in those she touched, in the beautiful flowers and sweet smells of summer, the soft whisper and gentle touch of the ocean breeze and the loving embrace of the sun’s joyful warmth.
She was born on Feb. 10, 1946, in New York City, and grew up in Northampton, where she attended Bridge Street School, the Northampton Junior High School and Northampton School for Girls. She earned a Bachelor of Science in health education and a Master of Education with a concentration in counseling from the University of Massachusetts. Pam devoted her life to helping others as a teacher and a counselor. She worked at UMass in the Peer Sexuality Program, Planned Parenthood and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, where she helped women and their children to develop self-confidence and find safety from abusive relationships. Most recently, she worked as a teaching assistant at Crocker Farm preschool, where her work will live on in the lives of the children whom she loved so dearly.

Posted in: 1960s

Thornton M. Henry ’62

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Thornton Montagu Henry, 75, of West Palm Beach, Florida went to be with his Loving Father, on Saturday, July 7, 2018. He was surrounded by his family and supported by the prayers of his community. “Tim” was born in Bermuda to Otis and Barbara Henry. He attended Washington and Lee University for his A.B and J.D. as well as Georgetown University for his LL.M. He worked at Jones, Foster, Johnston and Stubbs as a trust and estate attorney. He also was a published author and participated in over 30 mission trips. He was actively involved in numerous philanthropic endeavors, The Order of St. John, A Place of Hope and Urban Youth Impact were just some of the ones that he held dear. He adored travel, gardening and most of all spending time with family. He is survived by his wife of 46, Ann, his daughter Ruth Keyes, his sons, Brad and John Henry as well as their spouses, Chris, Ashley and Monica, 12 grandchildren and his brother Gordon Henry ’66.

Posted in: 1960s

Pauline (Polly) Eskenasy McGilvra ’65

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Pauline (Polly) Eskenasy McGilvra, 70, died June 21, 2018.

Born in Holyoke, MA, Polly was a proud graduate of the Northampton School for Girls and Harvard University. She earned her Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages and Culture from Harvard and was a dedicated scholar, educator, and life coach. She taught at Blue Ridge Community College in Hendersonville, NC, for many years, and became a pastoral counselor in Hendersonville and in Atlanta.

Polly’s productive life was interrupted by early onset Alzheimer’s Disease. She retained her sweet personality, good humor, and love of family and chocolate throughout her debilitating illness.

She leaves her son Jonathan McGilvra and his wife Heather, granddaughter Alaina of Apex, NC, her mother Edith Eskenasy, sister, Diane, and her husband, Tim Aldrich, all of Hendersonville, NC, and many loving cousins and friends.

She was predeceased by her father Isaac Eskenasy, maternal grandparents, Jacob and Adeline Barowsky, and paternal grandparents Max and Pauline Eskenasy.

A memorial service will be held at Agudas Israel Congregation in Hendersonville, NC at 2 p.m. on October 12, 2018.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36104 (splcenter.org), to MANNA FoodBank, 627 Swannanoa River Road, Asheville, NC 28805 (mannafoodbank.org) or to a charity of your choice.

A note from Polly’s sister, Diane Eskenasy Aldrich ’70

Polly loved NSFG and WNS and would have participated in every event and reunion had she been able. She loved her classmates and teachers, and spoke of them often throughout the years (especially Mrs. Cantarella). We cheerily sang the first part of the NSFG alma mater together many, many times as that was so important and deeply ingrained in her memory. Her obituary suggests memorial contributions to other organizations, but the family would,  of course, be thrilled and honored if anyone wished to make a donation to Williston Northampton School in her memory.

Posted in: 1960s

John K. Haines ’67

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John “Nick” Haines, 68, of Alexanders Lake, Dayville, CT, died peacefully Tuesday, April 10th, 2018. Nick was born in Niagara Falls, NY on May 15th, 1949. He was the son of the late Ellis K. Haines and Natalie (Nana) Dean Haines. He is survived by his wife Judy, daughter Tracy and her husband Vincent DiProspero, and son Rusty and his wife Jamie; grandchildren Meadow, Summer, and Logan, his sister Linda Beck, and several cousins, nephews, and extended family. Nick owned and operated Friendly Spirits in Danielson for 45 years. He greatly enjoyed interacting with customers and working with his son each day. He was a dedicated member of the community serving as past president of both the Killingly-Brooklyn Rotary and the Northeastern Chamber of Commerce, among a variety of other community organizations. He loved days on the lake with his family since he was boy and even more so with his grandchildren.

Posted in: 1960s

Brian F. Kernaghan ’63

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Brian Kernaghan, most recently of Clemson, SC, previously of Mt. Pleasant and Pawleys island, SC passed away suddenly at home on May 27, 2018. He was 73 years old. Brian was born in Bronxville, NY on September 17, 1944 to Mary and Charles Kernaghan. Brian grew up in Upstate, NY and Pittsburgh, PA enjoying summers on Lake George, NY with his friends and family. He attended both St. Edmonds Academy and Williston Northampton School, where he excelled in baseball and basketball but also told many stories of stealing grapes to ferment wine in his room. Brian finished his senior year of High School in Schenectady, NY (Linton High) where he was elbowed in the face blocking out Pat Riley for a loose basketball. He was always willing to show the scar on his eyebrow to prove his brush with greatness.
Brian moved on to Siena College in Loudonville, NY where he finished in 1968. As a graduation gift, Brian received a free trip to basic training from the US Navy. He spent 4 years in the Navy as a writer and photographer but his greatest moment was meeting his future bride and love of his life Jane Huey in Maryland while stationed there. They married in 1971 in Rock Hill, SC.
After finishing up his stint for Uncle Sam, Brian moved on to Law School at the University of South Carolina where he excelled in the classroom. After graduation and still having a year of free tuition left from his GI Bill, Brian was accepted to NYU Law School where he earned his LLM in Tax.
Brian enjoyed a distinguished career in law that lasted over 40 years and included an 8 year stint as president and general council of Wild Dunes and Dunes West. Brian worked the last 24 years as a partner for Nexsen Pruet representing clients all over the United States.
Brian wasn’t just a great lawyer, he also enjoyed photography and playing guitar at church. Brian was a very active member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Mt. Pleasant, Church of the Resurrection in Surfside, SC and most recently Christ The Redeemer in Pendleton, SC.
Brian is survived by his wife Jane of 46 years, his sister Sheila Germain of Williamsburg, VA and her three daughters, Elizabeth, Cindy and Katie and their families. His son and daughter in law Charlie and Stephanie Kernaghan of Clemson, and his two favorite grandchildren, Eli and Blair.

Posted in: 1960s

Paul R. Smith ’62

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Paul R. Smith of Lakeville, MN, (age 73), an avid runner for many years, jogged through heaven’s gates on April 3, 2018 to meet his beloved Jesus. His family, celebrating his wholeness after an 11 ½ year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease, includes his loving wife of 50 years, Sally Kilander Smith, and their children Heather Dawson (Brian), Holly Speratos (Jason), Hilary Moorlach (Brian), and Luke Smith (Katy), and his thirteen grandchildren: Torrey, Jake, Leah, Zach, Anna, Max, Ben, Matt, Adam, Luke, Charlie, Nathan, and Isaac, and his sister, Emily Fitz Randolph. He is preceded in death by his parents, Charles Randolph Fitz Smith and Jeane LaGrone Smith, and his sister Kay Delle Koch.

Posted in: 1960s