Charles W. DeRose, 84, of Florence, Massachusetts, passed away on July 1, 2025 after a long illness.

Born in Northampton on April 8, 1941 to Charles N. and Cora F. DeRose, Charlie—known for his adventurous spirit and boundless curiosity—lived a life full of energy, generosity, and deep community ties.

Charlie was a standout athlete at Northampton High School, excelling in football, basketball, and track. He continued his athletic and academic pursuits at The Williston Northampton School, earning All-American Honors as a tackle for their football team, and later attending Cornell University and the University of Vermont, graduating in 1966. During his time at Cornell, Charlie met his beloved wife, Leila Kelly. After graduation, Charlie began his career in newspaper publishing at the Burlington Free Press. In 1968, he returned to Northampton at his father’s urging to join the family business at the Daily Hampshire Gazette, selling ads for the paper. After his father’s passing in 1970, Charlie and his brother, Peter, became co-owners of WHMP AM and FM, which they managed until its sale in the 1980s, as well as co-publishers of the Gazette.

“Newspaper ink gets in your blood,” Charlie liked to say. That ink had been in the family since 1929, when his grandmother, Harriet DeRose, purchased the Gazette. Charlie’s first job there, cleaning space bands in the Linotype machines for Jimmy Hogan, sparked a lifelong dedication to local journalism. Under his and Peter’s leadership, the paper became known for its sense of community. It expanded with a move to Conz Street and saw steady growth through the 1990s. He was profoundly thankful for the people he got to meet in all walks of life, to the “Gazette Gang”, and the readers who made it all possible.

In 1995, Charlie stepped back from active management of the paper and embarked on a new venture, purchasing Meriden Precision Plastics. He successfully ran the company for five years until its sale, when he fully retired. Charlie’s adventurous spirit extended well beyond business. An accomplished pilot, he famously traded his new wife’s car for his first airplane. His spontaneous flights—often with friends or kids aboard—became legendary. One particularly memorable flight involved launching a hot air balloon from his own modest backyard, with at least one child aboard, and landing gently in a Hatfield potato field—where a kind farmer offered his phone to call home.

His love for the water was equally enduring. Inspired by childhood summers in Rhode Island and his father’s passion for boating, Charlie owned a long line of vessels that became floating hubs of joy for family and friends all along the East Coast. Community service was a core value for Charlie, instilled by his parents and lived out through decades of involvement. He served in various volunteer leadership roles at the March of Dimes walkathons, the Northampton Teen Center, the YMCA, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, the Academy of Music, the Hampshire Community United Way, Northampton National Bank, SCORE small business mentoring, and Northampton Neighbors. He also served on the Parking Commission and helped guide downtown parking lot development in the 1980s. In recognition of their civic contributions, Charlie and his brother Peter were named Northampton Citizens of the Year in 1988.

Charlie is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Peter L. DeRose. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Leila (Kelly) DeRose; his sister-in-law, Florence L. DeRose, his brothers-in-law Sherman (Judy Abrams) Kelly, Hugh (Caroline Thomas) Kelly, and James Jenkins; his children, Elizabeth DeRose (Ron Pickett) and their children Jake, Tyler, Samantha and Leila, and 7 grandchildren; Anne (John) Westlund ’90 and their children, Emma and Samuel, and Nathan DeRose ’95.

Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 from 4 to 6 pm at Czelusniak Funeral Home at 173 North St, Northampton, MA 01060. Family and friends are warmly invited to attend and share memories of Charlie.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in his name to: Cooley Dickinson Hospital Development Office P.O. Box 329, Northampton, MA 01061 or to Northampton Neighbors P.O. Box 23, Northampton, MA 01061.

Dr. Andrew Dixon McKee, 89, of New Gloucester, Maine, passed away peacefully at home on June 15, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Cortland, N.Y. on July 8, 1935, Andrew moved with his family to Amherst, Mass. as a child. He attended Williston Academy in Easthampton, Mass. (1951-1954), and went on to earn his undergraduate degree from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. in 1958. He received his medical degree at the University of Brussels in Belgium, graduating in 1965.

Andrew began his medical career with a rotating internship at the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Hospital in Brighton, Mass. where he met Joanne, who was also serving with the USPHS. From 1966 to 1968, he served as a Lieutenant Commander in the USPHS, working aboard the USC&GSS Discoverer, the country’s first ocean survey ship, and at the USPHS clinic in San Pedro, Calif. While in San Pedro, he was once lowered by helicopter onto a ship’s deck to render emergency aid to an injured officer.

He completed his residency at the U.S. Veterans Administration Hospital in Jamaica Plain, Mass. and a fellowship in Hematology at Tufts Medical School’s Carney Hospital in Boston, Mass. Andrew served as a Clinical Instructor in Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine (1969-1971) and Tufts University School of Medicine (1971-1973).

In 1973, the McKee family moved to New Gloucester. Four years later, they relocated their house to an 80-acre property nearby, where they started a small sheep farm. Andrew practiced Internal Medicine and Hematology at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston until 1980, when he joined the Department of Veterans Affairs at Togus, Maine. There, he served as Assistant Chief of Medicine and Chief of Hematology until his retirement in 1995.

Retirement did not mark the end of Andrew’s service. In 1996, he earned a graduate degree in Tropical Medicine from Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand. He then volunteered with Catholic Charities in Honduras (1996-2000), providing vital care to underserved communities.

From 2002 to 2006, Andrew worked with the Indian Health Service, staffing outpatient clinics on reservations in South Dakota, Montana, Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. He served at the Eagle Butte Indian Clinic (South Dakota), Fort Belknap Indian Clinic (Montana), the Mescalero Indian Hospital (New Mexico), and the Havasupai Clinic at the bottom of the Grand Canyon (Arizona), among others.

From 2007 until his final retirement in 2015, he continued to care for patients as a locum tenens physician with Mature Care at New England University Health Service.

Beyond medicine, Andrew was an avid woodworker who crafted many beautiful pieces that are now treasured family heirlooms. He and Joanne shared a love for travel, journeying together to Italy, France, China, Greece, Ireland, and across the United States in their RV. Andrew was also deeply proud of his daughters and the lives they built.

His patients valued his attentiveness and warmth, and his family will forever cherish his generous, gentle and sensitive spirit, his wry sense of humor, and his intense love of all animals, -especially the many dogs he and Joanne lovingly cared for over the years.

He is survived by his devoted wife of over 58 years, Joanne Lea McKee; his three daughters, Emily McKee (John Kosiorek), Alison McKee (Gabriel Alexander), and Linda McKee; three grandchildren, Aidra Kosiorek (Austin Rodriguez), Eden Kosiorek, and Zavier Kosiorek; one great-granddaughter, Rylee; his sister, Harriet Voss; nephews Stephan Voss, Peter Voss, and Ward McKee; and his best friend, Stephen Sokol.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to your local animal shelter.

Howard R.W. Shea, of Natick, MA, passed away peacefully on May 18th, 2025. Howard was born on April 4, 1937, in Holyoke, MA to the late Howard Shea and the late Gertrude Delaney and was brother to Rosalie Hobert (Shea) and the late Maureen Degaraff (Shea). Howard is survived by his wife June, son Michael and his partner Rachel Shearer, step-son Matthew Lacob and his wife Charissa, and granddaughter Ellowyn Joy, along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A high school graduate of Williston Academy (now the Williston Northampton School), Howard attended Amherst College, where he was a proud member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, graduating with his bachelor’s degree in 1959. After college, Howard served in the Army National Guard, starting with a two-year full-time stint, followed by multiple years as a reserve. After serving, Howard took a job at Liberty Mutual in Boston, where he spent his entire 40-year working career as an insurance underwriter for major national accounts.

Howard was a lover of nature and wildlife. He enjoyed fishing, scuba diving and hiking. He was always quick to point out a soaring hawk or osprey, or even the occasional deer bounding through the backyard. He loved spending time at his Cape house in Chatham, getting up early for walks along the ocean at his favorite spot, Forest Beach or making his way over to Skaket Beach in Orleans to catch an amazing sunset.

Howard was an avid collector and was especially fond of coins and glass. He could often be found metal detecting all over Natick or by the bandstand in Downtown Chatham. He was a huge Boston sports fan and could usually be heard “coaching” the Patriots and Red Sox. An ice cream connoisseur, Howard would regularly remind us that there was always room for some ice cream after a good meal since it just “fills in all the nooks and crannies.” He was also a proud friend of Bill Wilson for an amazing 49 years.

His positive outlook, words of wisdom and thunderous laugh will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy can be made as memorial contributions to the Dana Faber Cancer Institute or the Amherst College Fund.

Wentworth Lawrence Durgin died April 23, 2025 in his sleep. He was born on August 26,1948 the son of Eunice King Durgin and the Reverend Lawrence Lazelle Durgin. Father to Larry (deceased) and Sarah. He is survived by his sister Katherine “Kit” Durgin.

Worthy spent his childhood in Providence, Rhode Island. At 12 his family moved to New York City. In 1968 Worthy graduated from Williston Academy. He received his BA from the University of North Carolina, and later his MDiv from Yale Divinity School.

During Worthy’s career he held senior positions in fundraising with a variety of non-profits. Upon retirement from nonprofit work in Greensboro, North Carolina, Worthy moved to Raleigh in 2005 to care for Eunice, his mother. It was in Raleigh that Worthy found Anita Deters, the love of his life, who helped him get back on his feet and supported him in all his creative endeavors. Worthy enjoyed writing poetry and was most proud of his published book of poems, “Steps and Missteps”. Worthy was active in men’s work such as The Mankind Project.

Worthy’s positiveness, his sense of humor and his deep desire to help others who struggle will be missed. Worthy’s presence left the world a bit better than it was.

Dr. John T. Curtiss, 84, of Groton Long Point, C.T., passed away peacefully April 10, 2025. He was the beloved husband of Sue Ellen (Jones) Curtiss and father to Matthew ’90 and Andrew. John was born in Ithaca, N.Y., May 19, 1940, the son of William Marshall and Evelyn (Turner) Curtiss. He married his college sweetheart, Sue Ellen, Aug. 21, 1964, and they spent the last 61 years of their lives together.

John attended Williston Academy, Bates College, and University of Pennsylvania Dental School. After graduating from dental school, John and Sue settled in San Diego, while John served his tour in Vietnam as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy – a role he was stoically proud of and of which he shared many memories, especially in recent years. Upon his return from Vietnam, John and Sue started their family by welcoming their first-born, Matthew. After his discharge from the Navy, John and Sue found their forever hometown in Mystic, close to where John opened his dental practice in Groton, and where they also welcomed their second son, Andrew.

John was a long-time member of Ram Island Yacht Club, Black Hall Club and Stonington Country Club. John enjoyed boating with friends in the summers in Mystic, spending winter weekends in Vermont skiing at Haystack and Mount Snow, followed by spontaneous gatherings with close friends, and sometimes strangers, at their wonderful Vermont farmhouse. Most of all, John loved the game of golf. If he wasn’t tooling around in his garage with one of his prized antique cars or building epic bonfires in the fields of Vermont, you could always find him on the golf course. One of John’s proudest moments was his hole-in-one that he (finally) made at the age of 77. It could be said John chose to leave us when he did, so he could have one of the best views of The Masters.

John touched many people in his full life. He was charming, thoughtful, genuinely kind and had an amazing sense of humor. He made you feel as if you’d been friends for years, even if you just met him; His door and his arms were always open.

John is survived by the love of his life, Sue Ellen; his sons, Matthew (CC) of Groton, and Andrew (Mary Kay) of Simsbury; his grandchildren, Evin, Lily and Jane, whom he adored and loved to watch play sports and perform in theater; his sister Carolyn Peele; and several nieces and nephews. John is predeceased by his parents, William and Evelyn; and his sister Cornelia McDade.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at Ram Island Yacht Club. The Dinoto Funeral Home is assisting the family.