Category Archives: Class Decades

Pauline (Polly) Eskenasy McGilvra ’65

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.

Ilse Wilson Shumway ’74

Ilse Wilson Shumway, of Amherst, MA, born Jan. 3, 1956, passed away at Massachusetts General Hospital on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, after enduring her battle with cancer.

Ilse was the beloved wife of Philip E. Shumway (’42) and cherished mother to Philip, Spencer, Jennifer, Clarissa and the late Geoffrey Shumway. She also leaves behind grandson Jackson Shumway and dear siblings John, Peter, and Harold Wilson, Holly Jenne and the late Eric Wilson as well as many nieces, nephews and family members whom she cherished greatly.

For Ilse, family was everything. Throughout her life she continuously placed the needs and desires of others before her own; the ultimate example of this can be seen through the manner in which she loved and cared for her family. Ilse reached beyond the walls of her home as well to be of service and advocate for many she came in contact with. From a very early age, her genuine care for others shown through as a volunteer worker at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. Professionally, Ilse was an accomplished Certified Public Accountant who carried out her own practice and touched the lives of many of her clients.

 

Noel J. Belcourt, Jr. ’53

Noel John Belcourt, Jr., 83, of Sarasota, Florida passed away Wednesday morning June 28, 2018.
Born in Hartford, Ct., he was a son of the late Noel J. Belcourt and the late Frances Llewellyn Belcourt. In addition to his parents Noel was preceded in death by his son, David Belcourt.
Noel attended schools in Wethersfield, Ct. and graduated from Williston Academy in 1953. He then attended Boston University and graduated in 1957 and was a graduate of Stonier School of Banking at Rutgers University. Noel served his country in The United States Air Force from 1958 to 1961. He was a past President of the Manchester, Ct. Rotary Club. Noel retired after 32 years in banking with Connecticut Bank and Trust Company. He was a property a manager for several home owners associations. He also served on the board at Bent Tree and served as treasurer at Laurel Lakes. Noel volunteered at Habitat for Humanity for a number of years.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Lee Gowdy Belcourt; three sons, Kenneth Belcourt and his wife, Stephanie, Richard Belcourt and his wife, Joanne and Douglas Belcourt; his brother, Llewellyn N. Belcourt; granddaughter, Angelica Mack and daughter in law, Leibia Willis.

Anthony C. Berg ’52

Anthony (Tony) C. Berg, of Williamsburg, VA,  passed away at age 83 on June 24, 2018. He was predeceased by his wife, Camille and his parents, Renie and Marcus Berg. Tony was born in Halifax, England and grew up in Stuyvesant Falls, NY and Easthampton, MA. Tony graduated as Valedictorian from Williston Academy in Easthampton. He then attended and graduated from WPI. After graduating from WPI, Tony was hired by Raytheon. In 1958, he took a leave of absence from Raytheon to serve his country in the Army where he achieved the rank of First Lieutenant. Upon honorable discharge in 1960, he and Camille moved to Massachusetts where Tony resumed working for Raytheon until his retirement in 1997. After retirement in 1997, he and his wife moved to James City County. Having enjoyed golfing throughout New England, he and his wife joined Williamsburg Country Club. Shortly after moving to Ford’s Colony Tony began building and maintaining blue bird boxes. Through his effort Ford’s Colony became a bird sanctuary. Tony also enjoyed ten pin bowling and joined a bowling league in Williamsburg. Tony had a love of antique cars and would frequent local car shows. In recent years, he enjoyed studying the stock market and trying different investment strategies. Tony’s favorite pastime, however, was his Ham Radio. He enjoyed making contacts and friends all around the word. He was an active member of FOC and ARRL. Now W1OT will join the ranks of the “Silent Keys”. Left to remember Tony are daughters, Gretchen Queeney and Karen (Jack) Primiano; grandchildren, Sean and Mia Primiano, Nicole Floria and Kellen Queeney; cousin, Sandra Garner; and nieces, Georgia (Steve) Schumacher, Elizabeth (Cal Thomas) Stoehr, and Pamela (Winston) Cavin.

Eugene M. Pfeifer ’58

Eugene “Gene” Michael Pfeifer, Esq. died June 10, 2018 of pancreatic cancer at his home in Alexandria, VA in the company of his loving family. Born on May 17, 1940, Gene was predeceased by his second wife of 31 years Jill Bothwell Pfeifer, stepson Thomas Bothwell, sisters Anne and Teresa. He is survived by his children Chris Pfeifer (Daniela Spigai) and Laura Pfeifer (Edgar Fields), stepdaughter Maria Bothwell (Jeffery Kline), daughter-in-law Laurie Bothwell (Keith Burgess) and grandchildren Marc Blanch-Baldwin, Amelia Bothwell, Max Kline, Lily and Zane Pfeifer, Jackie Tilley, and a host of grieving family and friends. Gene was a graduate of Williston Academy 1958, Brown University 1962, and then moved to Alexandria, VA to attend Georgetown University Law Center, graduating in 1967. He enlisted in the National Guard while at law school and served 1962-64. While at Georgetown, he clerked for the first African American judge in DC and was an ardent civil rights activist, attending many marches and demonstrations in DC in the 1960’s. His children are inspired by his sense of civic duty. Gene was well and widely read. He always had a book in hand. His penetrating intellect made him a formidable conversationalist enhanced by a dry sense of humor. A marvelous raconteur and bon vivant, Gene enjoyed travel; when his children were young, Gene and his first wife Debbie Baldwin pulled their kids out of school for a year-long road trip across The United States and Mexico in a van he had converted. Gene’s children, Chris and Laura, forever grateful, remember this as their most profound education and a life changing experience. He was quite the adventurer. His love of sailing started as a child growing up in New England. Summers on the water at a young age seeded his passion for sailing that lives on in his grandson Max. On land, he loved to bike. He rode 100 miles in 2014 and 2015 for Bike to the Beach for Autism. Sports were a big part of his life. He was a gymnast, played hockey for Brown, and skied every winter. Gene loved his family and in his last year, he did not shy away from telling his children how proud he was of them and his grandchildren. He left comforted by knowing he had passed on his values, morals, and integrity to his children and grandchildren. Generous of spirit, Gene was a wonderful grandfather and could often be found undertaking projects with the grandchildren including building a playhouse and tubing behind the Grady White in Easton. Gene had a remarkable legal career rooted first at the Food and Drug Administration. He was a law partner at King & Spalding in Washington DC and prior to that was a law partner at Burditt, Bowles & Radzius. Among his many accomplishments, Gene was a major participant in the development of the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984. He provided regulatory advice and representation on a wide variety of FDA, FTC, and DEA regulated activities, including product approval and compliance issues. Prior to his law firm work, Gene served for a year in the General Counsel’s office of the Federal Trade Commission, where he represented the FTC in Federal Court to enjoin violations of the Federal Trade Commission Act. He had served ten years in the Chief Counsel’s Office at the FDA as Associate Chief Counsel for Enforcement, Associate Chief Counsel for Drugs, and Deputy Chief Counsel for Regulations and Hearings. During his tenure at the FDA, he was the FDA’s lead litigator and Appellate Court advocate, and he briefed six major FDA cases before the Supreme Court. He was an active volunteer professionally and personally, serving on the board of Elite Pharmaceuticals, and as volunteer at Habitat for Humanity in Easton, MD.

Alan Kennedy ’43

Alan Kennedy, 91, died April 11, 2018 at Swedish Medical Center in Edmonds, WA of complications from esophageal cancer.

Al was born June 7, 1926 in Worcester, MA to Madelene (Bell) and Owen W. Kennedy Sr. He had an older brother Owen W. “Bill” Kennedy Jr. (’41) who he loved and admired.

He served in the Navy and was a Lt. Commander in the reserves until his death. In 1946 he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Case School of Applied Science in Cleveland, OH.

Al moved to Seattle finding work with The Boeing Company where he helped design the landing gear for the Boeing 707. Al later transferred into the Marine Systems Division working on Hydrofoils mainly on the military side. He remained with MSD for the rest of his 36-year career.

Al married Mary Patricia “Pat” Nollan. They adopted two children and raised their family in Bellevue, Washington. Al is survived by son Thomas Alan Kennedy and his wife Margaret Kennedy and their two children. He was preceded in death by son Keith Henry Kennedy and survived by Keith’s wife Jill Kennedy and their two sons.

He later married Janice “Jan” Cleveland  and continued to live in Bellevue, WA. Al and Jan were married 36 years. On retirement, they moved to Whidbey Island where they spent 20 years living in Green Bank on Honeymoon bay. Al and Jan later relocated to Panorama City in Lacey, WA. They remained there till Jan passed away.

Al is survived by Jan’s two sons Robert Scott Cleveland, wife Pamela Cleveland and their daughter and Frederick Earl Cleveland, wife Kathy Cleveland and his children.

Recently, Al moved to Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, WA to be closer to family.

Al loved nature, mountains to sea. As a longtime cabin owner at Crystal Mountain, he was an avid skier, active with the ski resort, and an early Ski Patrol volunteer. He enjoyed camping, fishing and exploring Mount Rainier National Park. The Sunrise area was special to him. You could often find him eating his lunch admiring a last look at Mount Rainier before heading home.

On Whidbey he enjoyed clamming, crabbing, building oyster beds and eating a ton of mussels. He was an enthusiastic volunteer at the local Lighthouse working at the visitor center.

He was very generous with his time and support of causes close to his heart including his passion for education.

The family would like to thank everyone at Chateau Pacific for their kindness and friendship and Swedish Medical Oncology in Lynnwood for the care and medical treatment Al received.

John K. Haines ’67

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.

Brian F. Kernaghan ’63

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.

Martha Peck Burgess ’48

Martha (Mardy) Burgess, age 86, of Annapolis, MD, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, May 10, 2018, surrounded by family and loved ones.

Mardy was born May 24,1931 to George Francis Peck and Edith Gertrude Peck in Scranton, PA. She married Newton A. Burgess in 1952, and from that union she was blessed with her beloved children Cynthia and Kenneth.

Dr. Burgess received her PhD and Masters degrees in Education from the Union Institute in 1993 and BA from Middlebury College in 1952.

In 1976 she met Albert Brown, the love of her life. Initially, they resided in Bethesda, MD, and then moved to Baywoods of Annapolis. They shared many interests and traveled extensively throughout their lives together.

She used her interests in the environment, conflict resolution, science, and spirituality to make the world a better place. She was a dynamic member of Annapolis Friends Meeting and an active member of her Baywoods community.

Mardy is survived by her devoted life partner Albert Brown, her daughter Cynthia Cosbey (Steve); son Kenneth Burgess, stepsons Geoffrey Brown (Patria) and Michael Brown, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

C. Lawrence Reece ’53

 

Christopher Lawrence “Larry” Reece III 81, of Sun City Center, FL, passed away April 28, 2017 in South Bay Hospital. He is survived by his wife, Mary; his two children, Alison and Jennifer; grandchildren, Nicole, Echo, and Delta. Larry and his wife Mary were longtime residents of Longmeadow, MA. Once retired, they moved to Sun City Center where Larry was an active association member.