Category Archives: Uncategorized

Sterling J. Wiedemann ’10

Sterling Wiedemann ObituarySterling Joseph Wiedemann was born on April 22, 1991 in Dallas Texas. He died on July 27, 2016 in Dallas.

Sterling was the third born son of Harden and Cynthia Wiedemann and the youngest brother of Hardy and Neth Wiedemann and the grandson of Frederic and Dr. Flo Wiedemann and Jean Robinson Gulley. He was the nephew of adoring aunts, uncles and cousins to many

Sterling (known as Sterl) attended Meadowbrook pre-school, Highland Park Presbyterian Day School grades K-4 , Parish Episcopal 5-8, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing Arts 9,10, 12 grades and his junior year at boarding school Williston Northampton in Massachusetts. Sterl attended Texas Tech University for his Freshman Year and transferred to the University of San Francisco where he was a second semester Senior at the time of his death.

Sterling, at 25 years old, gave new dimensions to the word eclectic. His interests and passions were far ranging and multitudinous. They spanned the latest Japanese electronica music to neuropharmacology and everything in between. He was a champion of social justice and believed strongly reforming the criminal justice and prison systems. Sterling was a lover, too. He felt deeply and while struggling with depression and addiction, he was capable of being truly joyful over the smallest things – a day in the park, a Miyazawa movie, voraciously reading and learning about a new interest, spending time with family and friends. Since he was a very small boy Sterling was cut from a different bolt of cloth and it showed through in some delightful and unexpected ways. He loved words and was an exceptional writer. He avidly listened to and composed music producing pieces on the piano like “ice caves.” He had an impressive list of aliases including “King Lalula.”

Everyone agreed from an early age on he was wise way beyond his years and if you were lucky, you would catch him in a moment where he would open a window and let you see. It was staggering. People attributed it to his being smart or highly intelligent, but really, it was a deep love and ancient wisdom.

A Tribute to Members of the NSFG Class of 1952 Who have Passed

Eleanor Gamarsh ’52 sent a beautiful letter to the school, including some notes of appreciation and remembrance about the eight members of the Class of 1952 who have passed away. “Today I am writing to you for remembering our classmates who are gone from our family,” she wrote. “I have made a memorial list of the girls and included some of the notes about them from our yearbook. Maybe this will bring back a few of your memories long forgotten.” We are sharing this tribute here with her permission.

Elizabeth “Betsy” Baxter King, July 18, 2013
Green Team, Dance Pagent… “Pooh-isms” on Saturday mornings…half day-hop, half boarder…Gil Dodds of the soccer field… “and so forth and so on.”

Ingrid Solveig Hylbom Hetfield, October 20, 2001
White Team… Music Club… “H.M.S. Pinafore”…one finger typist…Cyrano in France “in Colorado Springs” … “Don’t painc!”

Ethel Valberg Johansen Owings, May 3, 2001
Green Team…Music Club…Knitting champ…never a dusty mailbox…Burl Ives of Hathaway… “Having trouble?”

Marilyn Ann Lyman Hendsey, July 14, 2004
White Team…Theater Chorus and Art…Always laughing…powerful soccer kick…the suit to dinner

Anne Keenan Mahoney Makin, November 4, 2010
White Team…Music Club and lots of Theater…Efficiency plus… N.S.F.G. cookbooks…food from home…watch out for the “Shrimp Boats”

Joan Ellen Oestreich Kend, April 11, 2016
Green Team…French Club… “Shubert Alley”…Lu-Lu…hilarious remarks… “and the eyes fell out”…singing in the bathroom…mad for Florida sun-Schine

Leila Phyllis Shapiro, May 27, 2015
Green Team…Art Club…Breezy, yet sincere…those theory classes…friendly laugh

Sally Ellen “Smitty” Smith LaPointe, May 7, 2007
Green Team…President of Athletic Association…Dance Pageant…Helps everyone with everything…third floor’s supervisor of ‘lights out’…practical jokes…”Thay now.”

Please see this post for more remembrances from Eleanor Gamarsh ’52 about life at the Northampton School for Girls.

Eugene Berman ’46

BermanNoted bankruptcy lawyer and civic leader Eugene B. Berman of Enfield and Woodmont, CT died peacefully at home on September 14 after a long and productive life.

He was born in Holyoke, MA on June 1, 1928, the son of Gustave and Lillian Berman.

Berman was a graduate of Williston Academy, the University of Nebraska and Boston University School of Law, and a member of the Hampden County, MA and American Bar Associations, the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and several U.S. District Courts.

He authored the 1972 book “How to Collect a Debt” and served as President of the Commercial Law League of America in 1980. In 2009 the Massachusetts Bar Association and Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly honored him for his work for the victims of the foreclosure crisis and to bring judicial foreclosure to Massachusetts.

Berman is survived by his loving partner Patricia Kozaczka and her granddaughter Taylor, by his son, E. Bruce Berman, Jr. and his wife Patricia, by his daughter Caren Berman Nemtzow, her husband Andy and their sons Zachary and Alexander, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Eugene Berman left the world a better place for his having lived, achieving immortality in the hearts and minds of those who survive him, especially the many descendants of Chonan and Khasia Berman.

Marion Montague, former staff

montagueMarion W. Montague, 88, of Westhampton, died Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015, at her home.

She was born Oct. 18, 1926, in Williamsburg, the daughter of George V. and Hazel M. (Damon) Warner. She was educated in local schools and graduated from Helen E. James (Williamsburg) High School in 1944. Mrs. Montague was a member of Westhampton Congregational Church for more than 50 years.

Mrs. Montague worked for William Fiske at Outlook Farm and later worked in the Dean’s Office at Williston Academy, Easthampton, for many years. Following her time at Williston Mrs. Montague worked in the admissions office at Smith College before retiring in 1992. Mrs. Montague also served on the Westhampton School Board and as secretary to the selectmen and to the board of assessors.

After her retirement she took great pleasure in creating many lovely and lasting hand-knitted sweaters, afghans, socks and other knitted wear for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She made intricate and fine baskets and braided many rugs for her home and family.

Mrs. Montague is predeceased by her husband of 53 years, Frank B. Montague, an infant daughter Faye-Ann, a sister Jean Norris of Westhampton, and a brother George Warner of Pelham. She leaves a son, Peter Montague of Westhampton, and three daughters, Sandra Sluman of Lake Worth, Florida, Deborah Montague of Gilford, New Hampshire, and Sylvia Montague of Westhampton; a daughter-in-law Mary Montague of Westhampton; and a son-in-law D. Randolph Lawton of Gilford, New Hampshire; two brothers, Marshall Warner of Southampton, and Russell Warner of Williamsburg; a sister Evelyn Arnold of Goshen; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Anne Phelps Dodge Herbert ’48

HerbertAnne Phelps Dodge Herbert was born on March 28, 1931 in Colorado Springs, CO and died on July 16, 2015 in Mobile, AL after a long illness.

She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Phelps Dodge of Colorado Springs, CO. She was preceded in death by her parents, her two brothers Stuart and Peter and her first husband John Wesley Geary, Jr. She is survived by her second husband Donald Edmonds Herbert, Jr. to whom she was happily married for nearly fifty years and her daughters Hillary Herbert and Emily (nee′ Wason Geary) and her husband Victor Maskey of Mobile, AL a son John Wesley Geary, III and his wife Stacy (nee′ Hill) of Atlanta, GA and two grandsons Jack and Riley also of Atlanta.

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Nancy Morse Willeson ’45

Nancy MorseNancy Lee (Morse) Willeson, A.K.A. Nancy Maxwell-Willeson, aged 87 went to be with her Lord April 18.

Nancy was living in Palm Harbor, FL. She was born January 20, 1928 in Wellesley Hills, MA, to Roger Earle & Gladys Carr Morse. She spent summers as a child at the family farm in Francestown, N.H., and also at the family cottage in Chatham, Cape Cod, MA. She graduated from Northampton School For Girls, in Northampton, MA, and she also graduated from Principia College in Elsah, IL.

She married Ronald (Max) Maxwell-Willeson Sept. 6, 1952, and brought up her four children in Wayland, MA and later in Chatham, MA.

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Dr. Marilyn Mailman Segal ’44

Marilyn Mailman Segal '44DR. MARILYN (MICKEY) MAILMAN SEGAL, professor of human development and renowned specialist in infant and toddler development passed away on November 19, 2014.

To her children Betty Bardige (Art), Wendy Masi (Nick), Richard Segal (Monica), Patti Lieberman (Bruce), and Debbie Segal, she was a continual source of inspiration, the guiding light of the A.L. Mailman Family Foundation. To her 13 grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild, she was a loving and playful presence.

She founded the first Head Start in Broward County and the first inclusion preschool. As one of the first PhD recipients at Nova Southeastern University, she went on to establish several NSU programs including an online doctorate in Early Childhood Education, the University School (Pre-K-12) and the Family Center, today referred to as the Mailman Segal Center for Human Development. She was a Trustee of University of Miami and served on the Board of Zero to Three.

Author of 17 books and countless articles, Mickey was a tireless and visionary advocate for children. She was beloved by many as a teacher, mentor, colleague and friend.

Stephen Cook ’50

Stephen Cook '50Stephen B. Cook, 80, of New Bedford died June 27, 2013 at St. Luke’s Hospital after a brief illness.
He was the husband of Gertrude S. (Shea) Cook.

Born in Springfield, MA, the son of the late Lauren W. and Marion M. (Moran) Cook, he was raised in New York City, attended Williston Academy, and lived in Provincetown, MA before moving to New Bedford 35 years ago.

Steve was a commercial artist, commercial fisherman, and realtor who enjoyed painting boats and seascapes. He displayed his art in many local galleries and at the Maritime Museum in Mystic, CT. He was a member of Gallery X, the Bierstadt Society, and the Beachcombers Club in Provincetown.

Steve had a good sense of humor and enjoyed the company of his family, friends, cats and dogs.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Lauren Cook and his companion Pam Zimmerman of Philadelphia, PA; a daughter, Stephanie Barrett and her husband Michael of Dartmouth; 3 grandchildren, Patrick Barrett, Timothy Barrett and Samuel Cook; and 2 great-grandchildren, Gage and Andreia.

David Coleman ’72

David Edward Coleman, formerly of Larchmont, passed away April 7, 2014. He was 60.

Born April 28, 1953 to Cecilia Maguire & Arthur Leo Coleman, David worked as financial analyst and relocated to Virginia in the 80’s.

He is survived by his wife, Daryl Dorsey Coleman. David is the loving father of David Edward, Joseph Dorsey and Colleen Cecilia. Cherished grandfather of Sophia, Joseph, Boris, and Ashley and dear brother of Arthur, Edward, Mary Cecilia, Peter, Paul, Gerard, and Eugene. He is loved and will be missed by all.

Robert W. Hill, Jr

HillRobert Webber Hill Jr., father of Williston Northampton head of school Robert W. Hill III and the Henry Norman Hudson Professor Emeritus of English at Middlebury College, died at his Weybridge home Tuesday evening, Jan. 28, 2014, one week after his 80th birthday.

Born in Wilmington, Del., he attended the Tower Hill School through the seventh grade, distinguishing himself as an eager math and science student, a relentless classroom questioner, and a fearless competitor in any sport or game he chose to play, all qualities he continued to display throughout his life. In the fall of 1947, he entered the second form (8th grade) of Westminster School, Simsbury, Conn., the boarding school from which he graduated magna cum laude, despite the reputation of being “the most slovenly student” the school had ever seen. He entered Harvard in the fall of 1952 and began to consider English as a major while maintaining his interest in the physical sciences. Bob weathered an almost disastrous sophomore slump at Harvard, righted himself with a characteristic surge of determination in his final two years, and emerged again magna cum laude.

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