Remembering members of the Williston Northampton community

Alan Hall, Former Faculty

September 3, 2015 jpilgrim Leave a comment

Alan Neidlinger Hall, of Bath, Maine, formerly of Hopkinton, N.H., for many years a teacher and administrator at St. Paul’s School, died peacefully on Saturday, August 22 at the age of 89.

He was born on June 10, 1926, in Orange, N.J., the son of Helen Isabel Neidlinger Hall and Edwin Martin Hall. His early education was in the East Orange, N.J, public schools and later at Willington School in Putney, England, where he lived from 1936 to 1939. He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School, Washington, D.C., in 1942, where he was Class Poet, and from Deerfield (Mass.) Academy in 1943. He matriculated at Dartmouth College in June 1943 with the Class of 1947; during the accelerated war-year 1943-1944 he co-managed the varsity soccer team, sang in the Glee Club, played varsity lacrosse, worked at the Baker Library reserve desk and as a Cohen Scholar of the Dartmouth Dining Association, and was elected to Cabin and Trail of the Dartmouth Outing Club.

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Posted in: Former Faculty

Marion Montague, former staff

September 3, 2015 jpilgrim Leave a comment

Marion 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.

Posted in: Uncategorized

Joyce Stedfast Taylor ’47

August 19, 2015 jpilgrim Leave a comment

Joyce Stedfast Taylor, 86 of LaConner, passed away Monday July 27, 2015 at Island Hospital with her loving husband, Ted at her side.

She was born in Winthrop, Massachusetts to Albert M. and Marion T. (Tabor) Stedfast.

Joyce grew up in the Boston area, attended Northampton School for Girls and then went on to Mt Holyoke College, graduating in 1951 with a B.A. in Economics.

A desire for new horizons took her to Southern California, where she worked for Douglas Aircraft and the Rand Corporation.

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Posted in: 1940s

Paul Bechard ’44

August 10, 2015 jpilgrim Leave a comment

Paul Bechard, CDR, USN, C.F.P., joined his beloved, Polly in heaven, July 11, 2015.

Born September 8, 1926 in Holyoke, Ma. to Joseph and Zelda Bechard, and survived by his three daughters; Paula (David) Hirst, Pamela (Cole) Hanner and Marie-Anne (Ted) Layne, grandchildren Avery (Joel) Solomon, Adam (Dorothy) Willis, Townshend Hirst, Phillip (Rebecca) Hanner, Ginnie (Greg) Stawicki, Whitney (Nate) Heatwole, Paul and Renee Layne, 7 great grandchildren and many family members and friends.

After graduating from Williston Academy (44), Ma. Maritime Academy (47), he served as a Merchant Service Officer for a year before being called to active duty in 1949 on USS Midway until 1951.

He met his wife Polly in Norfolk and married her in 1951. She predeceased him two years ago after 62 years of marriage.

Paul lived in Plymouth, Ma., after his marriage, completing his MS from Babson (53) and running the family insurance agency. While living in Norfolk (1954 to 1969) he ran Brown, Bechard Insurance agency, was active in Kiwanis, and had an unsuccessful run for House of Delegates. The family moved to Birdneck Point in 1969 where 40 years of making wonderful memories and having fun were spent. His career included serving on many financial boards as well as starting a Mutual Fund Company, owning an insurance agency, serving in the Navy reserves as an intelligence officer. He was a scrabble and chess aficionado and very difficult to beat, a wonderful husband, father, grandpa, uncle and friend. He leaves a legacy of life lessons.

Paul was lovingly cared for by Hazel, Maribel, and Mila during his extended illness.

Posted in: 1940s

Charles Ryan ’35

August 10, 2015 jpilgrim Leave a comment

Charles Francis Ryan, of Framingham, 100, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Friday, August 7, 2015.

He was the born in the family residence on December 10, 1914 in Williamstown the son of the late Anne (Fleming) Ryan and Francis A. Ryan.

He graduated from Williamstown High School and Williston Academy in 1935 and from Bentley College in 1937.

He served his country proudly as a Technician | 4th Grade with the United States Army during World War II in the European Theater of Operation from Dec. 1942 to Jan. 1946.

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Posted in: 1930s

Donna Robertson Clark Godfrey ’62

August 10, 2015 jpilgrim 1 Comment

Donna Clark Godfrey, 71, of Yarmouth and formerly of Raymond,MA passed away on May 3, 2015, at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough, from a nine-week battle with cancer.

Donna was the mother of two loving children, Donald and Deborah Perkins, both of Maine.

Born in New York state on April 21, 1944, Donna was the daughter of the late Donald Clark Godfrey and Ellen Pegues Godfrey. Donna never knew her biological father who died on a training flight as a navigator-bombardier in the U.S. Army Air Corps. The 22-year-old airman left behind a newly-pregnant wife. He and Donna’s mother were married only five months.

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Posted in: 1960s, Class of 1962

Anne Phelps Dodge Herbert ’48

July 27, 2015 jpilgrim Leave a comment

Anne 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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Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1948, Uncategorized

Bruce Yarber ’48

July 20, 2015 jpilgrim Leave a comment

Bruce A. Yarber passed away on July 9, 2015 at the Holyoke Soldiers Home.

The beloved husband of Suzanne (Patterson) Yarber, he was 85 years of age. Born and raised in Holyoke, Bruce was the youngest of three children born to the late Clifford Yarber and Ida May (MacMonegle) Yarber.

Bruce attended Holyoke schools until the eighth grade, when he went to the Williston School for Boys in Easthampton. He graduated from Williston in 1948. Following Williston Bruce attended Brown University, graduating in 1952. Upon graduation he enlisted in the United States Army serving during the Korean War.

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Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1948

Robert LaPrade ’48

July 20, 2015 jpilgrim Leave a comment

Robert M. “Bob” Laprade passed away on June 17, 2015 in Leeds, MA surrounded by friends.

He was born in Easthampton, MA on June 22, 1924 to Peter Ovide and Aurore (Michaud) Laprade.

He was educated in Easthampton schools, graduating from Easthampton High School and after service in the U.S. Army in WWII, he graduated from the Williston Academy. Robert graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business with a degree in accounting and received a Doctorate in Jurisprudence from Boston College.

Robert lived for over 40 years in Washington, DC practicing law for the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Central Intelligence Agency and the U.S. Federal Court System. In 2009 he returned home to Easthampton.

He is survived by his niece, Catherine (Kitty) Maxey and her husband Dee of Dallas, TX and many friends across the country.

Robert was predeceased by his parents; sisters Georgette L. O’Connor and Pauline C. Jurkowski; brother-in-law Jerry O’Connor; and nieces Maggi O’Connor and Joni A. Jurkowski.

Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1948

Terry Light ’53

July 20, 2015 jpilgrim Leave a comment

Terry Barnum Light, of Vienna, VA, died on Monday, January 28, 2013 at Tall Oaks Assisted Living in Reston, VA.

Beloved husband of 49 years to Emily Pierce Light; loving father of Brig Joyner (Kagan), Thomas Barnum and George Allen (Sandra) Light and cherished grandfather of Kathryn Ann, Emily Jordan, Terry Travis, Mary Caroline, Halley Eliza, Ella Pierce and Tillery Evelynn Light. He is also survived by the greatest caregiver God could have sent, Teresa “Joy” Descalzota and a special daughter Kimberly Rodgers.

Terry was a graduate of Yale University class of 1958, served in the US Marine Corp 1958 to 1974. He left the military with the rank of Major. Terry was a graduate of Marshall Wythe School of Law (William & Mary 1970) and an Attorney from 1970 to 2006. He was an avid trumpet player and member of the Jazz Masters.

Most importantly, Terry will be remembered as a great family man. He reached his goal of leaving his family better then he found it.

Posted in: 1950s