In Memoriam
Remembering members of the Williston Northampton community

Raymond Montgomery ’54

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RA MontgomeryAuthor R.A. Montgomery, co-founder of the company that first published the popular Choose Your Own Adventure interactive book series in the 1970s, died at his home in Warren, Vt., on November 9 following a brief illness. He was 78.

Montgomery was born in Connecticut in 1936. Growing up in New England, he attended Williston Academy before matriculating at Williams College, from which he graduated in 1958. Throughout his early life and education he developed a passion for finding and developing innovative teaching methods that inspired children to learn. Among his achievements in this area were his role as assistant dean of faculty at Columbia University from 1963–65 and the 1966 founding of the Waitsfield Summer School in Vermont, which featured an experiential curriculum and used gaming to teach math. Montgomery went on to develop role-playing games for the Edison Electric Institute and for training programs used in the Peace Corps.

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Posted in: 1950s

William Yahn ’54

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Will YahnWilliam “Bill” Yahn passed away on December 14, 2014.

Bill was the son of Earl Edwin and Martha Blodgett Yahn of Fairfield, CT and Santa Barbara, CA. Bill is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Nancy; sister Meredith Grenier of Palos Verdes, CA; devoted daughter and son-in-law Betsy and Chris Gillon; and 4 adoring grandchildren.

Bill was born in Detroit, MI on March 20, 1937. After graduating Trinity College (CT) in 1959, he served in the U.S. Navy as Lieutenant (J.G.), then earning an M.B.A. at the Wharton School of Business. His early life was spent in Fairfield, CT, but he and his family moved to Maryland, Mississippi and then Austin in 1981. He was a partner at Harrison-Pearson and Associates from 1991 until his retirement in January 2014.

Bill was a member of the Austin Rotary Club throughout his professional life, and a member of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, singing in its choir for many years. He was a passionate fisherman and enjoyed training his two dogs, Bart (deceased) and Sam.

Posted in: 1950s

Donald Cook ’33

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Donald CookDonald Bowker Cook, 97, of Spring Run, PA, formerly of Hockessin, DE, passed away July 16, 2014 at home, surrounded by his loving family.

Born January 14, 1917 in Easthampton, MA, he was the son of Melvin Jesse and May Bowker Cook. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 52 years, Elizabeth Conant Cook on March 18, 1996 and by a son, Peter Bennett Cook, on August 19, 1986.

He was a member of the Menallen Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Biglerville, PA, and the Wilmington (DE) Monthly Meeting. He attended Baltimore Friends School, graduating from the Williston Academy, now the Williston Northampton School in Easthampton, MA. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in Physics from Princeton University (1938), going on to earn an M.A. from Columbia University (1939). From 1939 to 1942 he held a three year fellowship in Langmuir Film Research from the Texas Company. From 1942 – 1946 he a was a research physicist employed by the Columbia University Division of Government Aided Research in development work for the Manhattan Project. During that time he headed a research group in charge of a pilot plant for the isotope separation plant at Oak Ridge, TN. From 1946 – 1950 he researched Niobium superconductivity for a PhD in Physics at Columbia University in 1950. That year he accepted a position as a research physicist for the DuPont Company in Wilmington, DE, specializing in nylon product development (hosiery and carpet fibers). In 1986, he retired to Spring Run, PA.

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Posted in: 1930s

Charles Alling ’42

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AllingCharles T. Alling, 91, who resided at Beatrice Hover Assisted Living in Longmont, died November 22, 2014 at Balfour Skilled Nursing in Louisville. Charles was born on August 29, 1923 in New Haven, CT to Truman and Mildred (Kohler) Alling.

Charles graduated from Williston Academy in Easthampton, MA in 1942 and later attended Paul Smith’s College in Paul Smiths, NY from 1949-1950. Charles served with the United States Navy.

Charles married Louise Holmsten in 1950 in Paul Smiths, NY. Charles moved to Boulder in October of 1991 from Paul Smiths, NY.

Charles was a draftsman and project manager in non-residential construction, retiring in 1986.

Charles was a volunteer for Boulder County Parks and Open Spaces and was a volunteer ambassador at Denver International Airport.

Charles is preceded in death by his parents, wife Louise and son David Alling.

Charles is survived by his son Steven Alling of Ridgewood, NJ, daughters Susan Alling of Longmont, CO, Karen Waters of Boulder, CO and Maria LeMaire of West Hampton Beach, NY and daughter-in-law Cindy Alling of Longmont, CO along with his grandchildren.

Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1942

Alice Williamson Sweeney ’44

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WilliamsonAlice Williamson Sweeney, 87, a resident of Annapolis since 1970, died at home on November 25 after suffering a stroke.

An Army brat, she was born in Washington, DC, and was an alumna of the Northampton School for Girls and Smith College.

She was the widow of retired Army Colonel Robert L. Sweeney, Jr., to whom she was married for 54 years prior to his death in 2005.

She was a lifelong volunteer to military, medical, and scouting causes. Her other interests included bridge, puzzles, and shopping.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her sisters Marianne Cleary and Louise Bassett. She is survived by children Anne Sweeney, Robert (Cindy) Sweeney III, Barbara Sweeney, and Susan Sweeney, all of Annapolis; Mary (John) Koger of Dedham, MA; and Laura (Geoff) Stricker of Falls Church, VA; 10 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1944

Peter Clapp ’56

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ClappPeter Dudley Clapp died at his home on Monday, November 10, 2014, at the age of 78.

Peter was born in Framingham, MA. He graduated from Williston Academy in Easthampton, MA, attended Dennison University in Ohio, Clark University in Worcester, MA and served in the United States Army.

He was President and CEO of Stafford Iron Works in Worcester, MA.

After retiring in 1996, he and his wife, Brenda moved to Marco Island. Peter loved music and had been involved with many choral groups, both in New England and the Marco Island area. He was a former vice-president of the Marco’s Men’s Club, a member of the Marco Island Historical Society, and past member and instructor of the Marco Island Sail and Power Squadron. He was an active member of the Wesley United Methodist Church where he served as a choir member, soloist, and hymn leader.

Peter is survived by his wife, Brenda ( Booth) Clapp; their daughter, Hilary (Derek) Kreitenstein; three grandchildren, Jonathan, Alexandra, and Samantha, as well as his brother Gerald; and sister, Janet (Clapp) Mortenson.

He was preceded in death by his son, Jonathan Welles Clapp.

Posted in: 1950s, Class of 1956

Frank Lemanski ’52

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Frank S. Lemanski, 82, formerly of Paradise Drive, Easthampton, passed away peacefully Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2104, at Genesis Health Care Center in Westfield.

Frank was born Dec. 2, 1931, in Northampton, son of the late Walter E. and Stella (Boltz) Lemanski. He was educated at the former Sacred Heart of Jesus School, a graduate of Williston Academy both in Easthampton, and had attended Springfield Technical College.

Frank was a U.S. veteran of the Korean War.

He was employed for many years at the Douglas Galleries in Deerfield. Frank was a communicant of the former Sacred Heart of Jesus Church for most of his life, and now a communicant of Our lady of the Valley Parish in Easthampton. He was a member of the American Legion Dalton LaVallee Post 224 and had been a Little League coach in Easthampton for several years.

Frank leaves his caring brother Chester Lemanski of Colorado Springs, Colorado; his loving four nieces and nephew, Stella McVicker, Vera Broyles, Carol Breen, Kathleen Bachand and Walter Lemanski; his adored grandniece and nephew Catherine Breen and her friend Matt Thomas and Donald Breen, his wife Christina and their daughter Ella. Frank was predeceased by his beloved siblings Celia Torrey, Stanley Lemanski and Walter E. Lemanski.

Posted in: 1950s

James Petrosky ’68

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petroskyJames J. Petrosky, 64, of Windsor, passed away at his home on Monday, August 25, 2014.

He was the loving husband of Theresa (Wydra) Petrosky for 30 years.

Born on February 13, 1950 in New Britain CT, to Bernice (Mahoney) Petrosky and the late Joseph Petrosky, he grew up in Burlington and has been a Windsor resident since 1994.

James proudly served his country in the U.S. Air National Guard for over 6 years. He enjoyed woodworking and fishing. He retired after many years of working as a mechanical engineer.

In addition to his wife Theresa and his mother Bernice Petrosky of Ft. Meyers, FL; he is survived by his daughter Carly Fortin and her husband Alan of Southington; two grandchildren, Emerson and Alexis; his two sisters, Arlene Franchini and her husband Phil of Ft. Meyers, FL and Joan Clifford of Westfield, MA and many nieces and nephews.

Posted in: 1960s

John Paul Rutherford Falconer ’43

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John FaulconerJohn Paul Rutherford (Rudd) Falconer died peacefully at his Big Rock Road oasis on July 21, 2014, in his 89th year.

Rudd was born in Seneca Falls, New York on Aug. 24, 1925. He was the eldest child of Navy Captain Jonathan Paul and Eloise (Brown) Falconer and the grandson of one of the first woman doctors in New York State, Dr. C. Anna Brown. He grew up in the Finger Lakes area of upstate New York. Cayuga Lake was his stomping grounds and perhaps the reason he was most happy living by large bodies of water. Fresh or salty, it didn’t matter, as long as he could sail on it or catch fish from it.

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Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1943

Jacqueline Bemis Burns ’61

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Jacqueline BemisJacqueline Bemis Burns of Falls Church, Virginia died on Monday, September 29, 2014.

“Jackie” was born on August 23, 1943 and grew up in Manhasset, New York before settling in the Washington, DC area in the 1960’s.

She was passionate about natural health and her work with essential oils. A lifelong animal lover, she was devoted to her pets, and showed her Basenji dogs to championships. Music, dancing, laughter and sharing great meals filled her joyful spirit.

She is the loving mother of Laura Wilson Burns Macone (husband Gian) and James Andrew Bemis Burns; sister of Harold Nyall Bemis; and grandmother of David Tanner Burns and Audrey Mary Wilson Macone.

Posted in: 1960s

Remembering members of the Williston Northampton community