Remembering members of the Williston Northampton community

Deborah Saybolt Merker ’55

April 17, 2015 jpilgrim 2 Comments

Deborah Saybolt Merker, “Debby” of Haverford, PA, age 78, died unexpectedly in an automobile accident in Cleveland, Tennessee on April 10th.

Beloved wife of 53 years of James J. Merker and loving Mother of Lisa and (John) Allen and Jenny and (Bart) Anthony. She is survived by grandchildren, Tyler Conway and Caroline Hayes Allen and is the sister of Peter M. Saybolt and Janet S. Bowers. Debby was the daughter of W.D. and Marion Saybolt of Haverford, PA.

Debby attended Baldwin School and graduated from Williston Northampton School; attended Brown University and was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.

Debby was a stewardess for Eastern Airlines in the 60s. She later joined her husband’s firm, Merker Associates, as a partner.

She was an active member of St. Christopher’s Church of Gladwyne and a long time dedicated member of the choir. One of Debby’s great passions was her love for animals, especially her dogs. She also loved art, design and music. She was an avid gardener. Her generosity and kindness were legendary.

Posted in: 1950s, Class of 1955

Margaret Ross ’82

April 17, 2015 jpilgrim 10 Comments

Margaret Ellen Ross, Esq. 50, of Somerville, CT died after a brief illness on April 9th, 2015.

Born in Princeton, NJ, she attended Woodstock Elementary School and The Rectory School in Pomfret, CT, and was a graduate of the Williston Northampton School, Union College, and the Suffolk University Law School.

She was a practicing attorney in Boston, MA, a dedicated family court advocate for youth and others in state custody and was well-respected by her peers. Passionate about human rights, Margaret was an active member of Massachusetts Citizens Against the Death Penalty. Earlier in her career, she was a Program Coordinator at the Harvard School of Public Health.

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Posted in: 1980s

Dr. Elizabeth Andrew ’68

April 17, 2015 jpilgrim 6 Comments

Dr. Elizabeth M. Andrew, 64, a Memphis pediatrician for 23 years, died at home on Monday, April 6th after a courageous battle with cancer.

In addition to being a strong advocate for children and adolescents and their health and wellbeing, Beth was an avid gardener, a long-time member of the Memphis Symphony Chorus and an accomplished photographer, knitter and runner. Beth competed in road races across the country, completing numerous half and full marathons, including the Boston Marathon in 2006.

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Posted in: 1960s

James Gillchrest, Jr ’45

April 17, 2015 jpilgrim Leave a comment

James A. Gillchrest, Jr., 88, died peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family, on Wednesday, April 1, 2015. Born in Thomaston on Nov. 28, 1926, he was the son of James, Sr. and Eva Demuth Gillchrest. He began his education in Thomaston, and later graduated from Williston Academy in Northampton, Mass.

Following high school, Jim enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving during World War II. After being honorably discharged, he attended University of Maine at Orono, earning a Bachelor of Science in 1949. While at UMO, Jim was a member of the Phi Eta Kappa Fraternity.

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Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1945

Robert Ceely ’48

March 23, 2015 jpilgrim Leave a comment

Robert Ceely was born in Torrington, Connecticut and grew up in Longmeadow and Williamstown in Massachusetts.

He attended the Pine Cobble School (?—1945), Williston Academy (Class of 1948), Hobart College (1948/49), the New England Conservatory (Class of 1954) where he studied with Francis Cooke. Further studies were with Darius Milhaud and Leon Kirchner at Mills College where he earned the degree of Master of Arts (1961), and with Roger Sessions. Edward Cone and Milton Babbitt at Princeton University (1958/59).

In 1963-64 he worked in the Electronic Music Studio in Milan as guest of The Italian Government. His compositions include solo, chamber, and orchestral music as well as music for tape alone and tape with instruments. His ballet “Beyond the Ghost Spectrum”, with choreography by James Waring commissioned by the Fromm Music Foundation, was performed at Tanglewood in August, 1969, with Michael Tilson Thomas conducting. His opera” Automobile Graveyard”, after a play by Fernando Arrabal, was presented at the New England Conservatory in 1995.

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Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1948

Christopher Farmer ’73

March 19, 2015 jpilgrim Leave a comment

Christopher Hurley Farmer passed away on April 17, 2010, in Honolulu, Hawaii, at the age of 56. Chris died of a heart attack while hiking with his girlfriend and her family.

Chris was born in Troy, New York and lived in New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts before settling in Olympia.

Chris is survived by his mother Jeanne Farmer of Newburyport, Massachusetts; brothers Malachy Farmer of Charlotte, North Carolina; and Michael Farmer of Amesbury, Massachusetts; sisters Kate Pallotta of Dublin, New Hampshire; Dodie Farmer of Lake George, New York; Debbie Farmer of Newburyport, Massachusetts; and Candy Farmer of New York City; and by his girlfriend Sophie Stimson of Olympia, Washington.

Posted in: 1970s

H. Tucker Machette ’51

March 16, 2015 jpilgrim Leave a comment

H. Tucker Machette died at home surrounded by his family on March 7, 2015 at 7:43 pm.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife of 58 years, Terry Wingate Machette; his children Marc and Liz Machette, Piper and James Sleight, Jill Wooldridge and seven grandchildren Morgan, Deven, Sawyer, Wyatt, Penn, Tucker and Gabby.

Tucker was born on June 6, 1932 in White Plains, NY. He attended Williston Academy before graduating from Pleasantville H.S. and went on to play football at Lehigh University where he earned a B.S. in 1959.

He worked as a National Sales Manager at ITT Rayonier until retirement.

Tucker was a man of broad interests and many of his passions live on in his family. An accomplished skier, he was a member of the National Ski Patrol; every summer weekend he could be found on his beloved sailboats. He loved camping in Maine with family, dining out for a fine meal, baking elaborate desserts, EVERY one of his dogs and cats, renovating his 1884 house, UConn Women’s basketball, and telling irreverent stories.

Posted in: 1950s, Class of 1951

Jahmal Nelson ’89

March 16, 2015 jpilgrim 2 Comments

Jahmal N. Nelson, 41, of Pelham Hill Road, passed away Dec. 26, 2012, of complications due to a long term illness.

Born Oct. 10, 1971, in Garberville, Calif., Jahmal was the son of Donald and Suzanne (Breen) Nelson. He was educated in local schools and lived most of his life in the Amherst area.

Jahmal worked in the maintenance department at the University of Massachusetts for many years. He was also a house painter in the Amherst area. Jahmal enjoyed cooking and the arts.

He will be remembered by many for his smile and hugs.

Besides his parents, Donald and Suzanne of Cambria, Calif., Jahmal is survived by his brothers, Paul Nelson and T.J. Nelson of Cambria, Calif.; his sister, Alanna Nelson of Baltimore, Md. and several cousins.

The family requests that donations in Jahmal’s memory be in the form of any act of kindness to others.

Posted in: 1980s, Class of 1989

Patrick Archbald, Former Faculty

March 9, 2015 jpilgrim 21 Comments

Patrick Wodrow Archbald passed away Friday, March 6, 2015, at the age of 80.

He was born in Pottsville, PA, on March 17, 1934, to parents Wodrow and Jane (Suender) Archbald. Pat attended local schools and The Gunnery in Connecticut before graduating Cum Laude from Yale University in 1956 with a BS in Civil Engineering. While at Yale, he was a member of the Crew Team. He married Ellen Morrison of Pottsville in that year, and began work as a civil engineer for Bechtel Corporation in California.

After several years, and two relocations, Pat and his growing family moved back east where he began a 30-year career at Williston Academy in Easthampton, MA. While at Williston, Pat taught chemistry and physics, and over the years held positions as head of the science department, varsity lacrosse coach of both the men’s and women’s teams, and supervisor of Williston’s summer school, among other duties. Pat retired in 1991, and moved to Damariscotta, ME. He spent the last three and a half years of his life happily at Loomis House in Holyoke, MA.

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Posted in: Former Faculty

Gus (Pietraskiewicz) Peters ’70

March 5, 2015 jpilgrim Leave a comment

Gus Peters, 62, of Strong Road, Southampton, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, died suddenly Sunday, March 1, 2015, at the Holyoke Medical Center.

Gus was born June 16, 1952, in Northampton, and was the son of the late Stanley Pietraskiewicz and Frances (Swiatek) Pietraskiewicz. He was educated at the former Sacred Heart of Jesus School and was a graduate of Williston Academy in 1970, continuing his education at Franklin and Marshall College, Greenfield Community College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst receiving his bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a minor in business in 1978.

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Posted in: 1970s