Category Archives: 1970s

Christopher Maher ’76

Chris MaherChris Maher, 55 years, passed suddenly Sunday of respiratory failure at home.

He was born in Holyoke, MA and attended schools on the east coast. He graduated from Williston-Northampton School in Easthampton, MA. He also attended Amherst College in Amherst, MA. He graduated from Yale University in New Haven, CT. It was then he made his home in California. He gained his Masters Degree from Mills College in Oakland, CA.

A lifelong learner, Chris had many talents in languages, music, and the arts. After his post graduate experiences, he worked for a hotel as a translator in San Francisco for a number of years. He relocated to Los Angeles and has made him home there for the last 20 plus years. He has been active in the arts.

Chris was predeceased by his mother, Mary T. Maher in 1997. His father, Richard J,. Maher died in 2004. He leaves his sisters, Maureen Cotter (Mike), Eileen Maher (Mark LaFrancis), and brother, Richard F. Maher (Liza). He also leaves five nieces: Laura O’Brien, Elizabeth Barsalou, Carolyn Cotter, Grace Maher, and Mary LaFrancis) and three nephews (Christopher Cotter, Dylan Maher, and Mark LaFrancis), and two grandnieces Abby and Caitlin O’Brien), whom he loved very much, to remember him. He has two dear friends in Los Angeles, David Douglas and Stephen Rau who have cared for him. Chris also leaves Nick Jordan who remembers him respectfully.

Michelle Goldfrank-Cariot ’78

Goldfrank Michelle B. Goldfrank died December 26, 2013 at her Cornwall-on-Hudson home in the company of friends and family after battling lung cancer. Michelle is survived by James Cariot, her husband for 25 years, sons Ben (34) and Adam(24) and daughter Sarah (19). A loving spouse, mother and aunt to many nieces and nephews she built a warm and welcoming home for all who entered.

Michelle was active for many years with the Cornwall-on-Hudson School’s Kids Club and Drama Programs. She was also a familiar sight in town while working on a ladder at her painting business. We would like to thank friends and family for the love and support she received while battling her illness and the outpouring of friendship from the Cornwall community she was proud to call home for twenty years. Her fearless personality and calming guidance will be missed by all.

Daniel Lucier ’77

0134Daniel deForest Lucier, 55, passed away peacefully at home on October 3, 2013 surrounded by his wife, children, brother, and much-loved chocolate lab, Sophie, after a valiant 5-year battle with cancer.

He was born on October 2, 1958 in Hartford, CT to Joseph and Priscilla Lucier. Dan was raised in Foxboro, MA. He loved tennis, skiing at Okemo, VT, and yearly treks to Chatham, MA for summer vacations, where he developed a deep love of the ocean. He graduated from Foxboro High School, and did a post-graduate year at the Williston Northampton School. Dan received a degree in Business Administration from the University of Vermont in 1981.

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Joni A. Jurkowski ’76

Joni A. Jurkowski passed away on July 4, 2013, at Baystate Medical Center after a brief illness. She was born in Northampton on June 15, 1958.

Joni is survived by her uncle, Robert M. Laprade of Easthampton, with whom she lived. She is also survived by her cousin, Kitty Maxey, and husband, Dee of Dallas, Texas. In addition, she is survived by her feline companions, Mittens and Midnight. Joni was predeceased by her mother, Pauline, in 2013; her aunt, Georgette L. O’Connor, in 2000; her uncle, Jerry O’Connor, in 2001; and her cousin, Maggi O’Connor, in 2007.

Joni was a graduate of Williston Northampton School and Roger Williams University. She was employed for many years by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue in Springfield.

The family would like to thank Kimberly Soutra and Dr. Andrew Hall for their continued kindness and support. In addition, the family extends special thanks to Dr. Bogdan Tiru and the ICU staff at Baystate Medical Center for their professionalism and compassion in their treatment of Joni.
In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to the Easthampton Ambulance Fund, Attn.: Fire Chief, 32 Payson Ave., Easthampton, MA 01027 or a charity of one’s choice .

Michael P. Farmer ’74

Michael Patrick Farmer, 58, longtime resident of Amesbury, died Sunday afternoon June 23, 2013 at home with his loving family at his side after a courageous battle with cancer.

He was an amazing husband to his wife of 32 years, Gail Slosar-Farmer, and a devoted father to his children, Sean and Sheena. Born in Albany, N.Y., on March 12, 1955, he was one of seven children of Dorothea J. (Peterson) Farmer of Newburyport and the late Raymond B. Farmer. He was a graduate of Central Catholic High School in Troy, N.Y., Williston Academy of Easthampton, Mass., and attended the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

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Alexander D. Rosenzweig ’71

Alexander D. Rosenzweig, 59, of West Hartford, loving husband and father, passed away on Friday, (December 7, 2012). Born in Hartford on March 12, 1953, to Israel and Blanche Rosenzweig of New Britain, Alex was an attorney practicing in Connecticut who received his law degree in 1980 from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan. He enjoyed outdoor activities, swimming, running, lifting weights, and his family. He cared about the environment and enjoyed going for walks. He had a great sense of humor and created nicknames for himself, “Hap Appleton” (because he said he felt happy) and his wife, “Sweetie Appleton.” He loved vacationing with his family in Cape Cod, Atlantic City and the Poconos.

Alex is survived by his wife and soul mate Laney, their sons Zachary and Joshua; his sister Betsy (Isaac) Kyne; their children Eric and Kimberly; his nieces Erica and Suzie; his nephew Jacob.

The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012 at United Synagogues of Greater Hartford, 205 Mohawk Drive, West Hartford. Burial will follow at Hartford Mutual Society Cemetery in East Granby. Arrangements are being handled by Weinstein Mortuary in Hartford.

Deborah Homer O’Leary ’71

Deborah Homer-O’Leary, of Greenland, died on Friday, Sept. 14, 2012 after a valiant 16-month battle with breast cancer. Beloved wife, mother and friend to many, Debby enriched the world with her dance, art, sculpture and creative and joyous spirit. Debby was born in North Adams, Mass., and lived in Wilton during much of her childhood.

Debby earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Emerson College and a master’s in dance from Mills College in Oakland, Calif. She taught dance at the University of Connecticut, as well as at studios in the Seacoast area. After an injury took her away from her dance career, she became a sculptor, creating figurative works that she described as symbols not only of positive energy, but also the devotion and discipline born out of love. Debby exhibited her work locally and every summer at the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen Annual Fair, where she won the Best in Show for bronze sculpture in 2011.

Debby is survived by her husband Michael and sons Aidan and Danny of Greenland, and sister Diana Breed of Needham, Mass. She is also survived by siblings-in-law Patricia Cepeda of Washington, D.C., James and Vicky O’Leary of South Windham, Maine, Richard O’Leary of Limington, Maine, Kevin and Tiki O’Leary of Portland, Maine, and Dr. James and Peggy Powers, of Falmouth, Maine. Debby leaves many nieces, nephews and cousins, as well as many new and old friends who have been touched by her generosity of spirit, humor, energy and love of life. Debby was predeceased by her brother, Bob Homer of Laconia, and her brother-in-law, John J. O’Leary of Washington, D.C.

The family wishes to thank the Hospice Services of Rockingham County and the local community of artists and friends who supported Debby over the past year. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Seacoast Family Food Pantry, 7 Junkins Ave, Portsmouth, NH 03801. SERVICES: A celebration of Debby’s life will be held in October at Sanctuary Arts in Eliot, Maine.