Mr. Kenneth R. Rankin Sr. of West Orange, NJ passed away suddenly at the age of 50 on Saturday, June 3, 2023. There will be a funeral service celebrated at the Biondi Funeral Home of Nutley on Monday, June 12 at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to time of service. The interment will be at Rosedale Cemetery, 408 Orange Road, Orange, NJ.

Kenneth was born in Orange, NJ to Robert and Carol (née Bomar) Rankin on April 29th, 1973. As a young child he was given the nickname of Kenny that continued through his life. Kenny was a graduate of St. Benedict’s Prep Class of ‘92 and during his education he was also a basketball standout. After having a gap-year he made the noble decision to follow in his father’s footsteps by joining the Newark Police Department. Leading to a long and eventful career with a legacy continued by his two sons. Kenny retired from the Newark Police Department in 2018 with the hopes of spending more time with his family and traveling the world.

Not only did Kenny excel at basketball, but he had a love for the sport of golf and was a diehard Dallas Cowboys fan. From a young age Kenny was a self-proclaimed aviation geek and enjoyed building model airplanes. He could also tell which type of aircraft was flying overhead by simply listening to the passing engines. Kenny was a dog person and had a passion for raising and training his multiple dogs throughout his life. He also had an illustrious social and travel life leading to an abundance of friends from all walks of life. Kenny loved traveling to different places. We are sure he will not rest in peace but continue his travels even more so now.

He is survived by his four loving children, Prince Rankin, Tiana Rankin, Kenneth Rankin Jr. and Maya Rankin, his two cherished grand-daughters, both of his devoted parents, his two dear brothers Richard and Thomas Zellars and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and his dog.

Morgan J. Hoye, 47, of Pawtucket, RI, passed away on January 12, 2024 following a long struggle with a chronic illness.

Born on April 23, 1976, in Wellesley, MA, Morgan graduated from the Fessenden School in 1992 where he captained the varsity football and basketball teams and received the Keppleman Cup for outstanding leadership. Morgan later attended the Williston Northampton School in Easthampton, MA where he played varsity football. After graduating from Newton North High School in 1996, Morgan worked in the hospitality industry in Cambridge and Boston for fifteen years. Music, however, was always Morgan’s passion. He loved singing, writing song lyrics and performing as a karaoke DJ in Boston and Providence for over two decades.

Growing up in Massachusetts, Morgan loved candlepin bowling, the Bruins, the Patriots, collecting baseball cards, going to Canobie Lake Park in New Hampshire on the weekends with his Nana, Priscilla Barnard, and riding his BMX bike all over town and having epic snowball fights with his brother Alex. Morgan shared a love of animals and pets with his mother, Jackie, enjoyed fishing with his father, Bob, in Maine and New Hampshire, and traveling in love and joy with his former wife Carlotta.

Morgan is survived by his former wife, Carlotta Carzaniga of Boston; his father, Robert Hoye (Michele) of Dover MA; his mother, Jacqueline Jacquiot of Boston; his brother, Alex Hoye (Helen) of Oakland CA, and a niece, Eva Hoye, and nephew, Julian Hoye.

The family will have a private burial.

Donations may be made in memory of Morgan J. Hoye, to the Fessenden School, 250 Waltham Street, West Newton MA 02465.

The world has lost a shining light with the sudden passing of Michela Elizabeth Woodbridge-LaMar on Friday, January 13 , 2023 at the age of 44. Michela was born in January of 1978 in Bennington, Vermont to Dudley and MaryEllen Woodbridge.

Michela began her successful journey in academic and athletic achievement at Pine Cobble School. A natural athlete with a charismatic-yet-humble leadership style, Michela was elected team captain of the Williston Northampton School’s varsity ice hockey, lacrosse, and field hockey teams. Michela continued her academic and athletic achievements at Emory University playing varsity lacrosse and graduating with honors. Wanting to make a difference, she proceeded to get her Master’s Degree in Public Health from UCLA. Her fast-burning career culminated at Molina Healthcare as the Associate Vice President for Strategy and Transformation.

Michela’s bright, friendly eyes, sharp wit, and infectious, heartfelt laugh could quickly melt the hardest of hearts. You couldn’t be around her without smiling. She met her husband Blake in 2011, and they shared the greatest of life’s gifts: a marriage bound by mutual admiration, adoration, and deep loving respect. They shared a passion for skiing and snowboarding, including heliskiing in British Columbia, yet always called Mammoth Mountain their happy place. A testament to her effortless leadership and thoughtfulness, at Mammoth Michela could lead a group of six people whose skills ranged from beginner to expert across the mountain to runs that matched each of their abilities, yet also had natural rendezvous points, so it seemed the group was always “together.”

The birth of Blake and Michela’s daughter, Ava, in July 2015, was a culmination of their joy. Michela was a loving and devoted mom who poured herself into helping Ava grow into a kind and resourceful person. Michela approached motherhood like all her other endeavors – with a gentle, fun spirit and steady gaze. She committed herself endlessly to sharing with Ava the wonders of the world. And, just like leading groups at Mammoth, Michela used her natural gifts to gently guide and help all family members navigate through the figurative ski runs of their lives, always coming together at the end of each day to rendezvous and share their experiences in the warmth of her presence.

Michela is survived by her husband, Blake LaMar, her daughter Ava, her mother, MaryEllen, her father, Dudley, her stepson Jackson LaMar, her stepdaughter, Tahna Sheek, Tahna’s husband Kyle, their children, Peyton and Parker, her father-in-law Blake LaMar, Sr., her sisters-in-law, Michelle and Yvette LaMar and the entire Woodbridge clan in Vermont.
Michela’s Celebration of Life will be at 2 PM on January 28, 2023 at Green Hills Memorial Park, 27501 S. Western Ave, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275. Viewing: From 1 to 5 PM on Friday, January 27th, 2023; Semi-private Celebration of Life: 2 to 3 PM on Saturday, January 28th, 2023, at the Historic Chapel; Committal: 3:30 to 4:30 PM, on Saturday, January 28th, 2023, at the graveside. An Afterparty will be held at the LaMar residence at 5 PM. All are welcome. Please wear blue, Michela’s favorite color, instead of black.

John Joseph Swierzewski, D.P.M., died suddenly at the age of 49 in Beaufort, South Carolina. Born at Providence Hospital in Holyoke, Massachusetts, to Maureen and Stanley Swierzewski, M.D., John graduated from the Williston Northampton School, in Easthampton, received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine, in Philadelphia. John specialized in podiatry and podiatric surgery in Holyoke, Massachusetts, at Comprehensive Foot Care Inc. and was affiliated with Baystate Medical Center, Baystate Noble Hospital, and Holyoke Medical Center. John invented an alkaloid-based foot- and skin-care treatment called All Natural pHeet Wipes to treat his life-long eczema condition, and was the founder and chief executive of pHeet Wipes seller PH Select. He was an avid golfer. John is predeceased by his mother, Maureen, and is survived by his four sons, Cian, Davin, Tagh, and Luke, his father, Stanley, his brothers Stanley ’76, Mark ’78, Paul, James and David, his sister Ann Corcoran, and numerous nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00am on Monday, September 26, 2022, at Blessed Sacrament Church, 1945 Northampton Street, Holyoke, Massachusetts, with a private service to follow.