Remembering members of the Williston Northampton community

Alex MacFarlane III ’70

MacFarlaneAlexander “Alex” MacDougall MacFarlane III of Brentwood, Tennessee passed away peacefully on May 20, 2014.

Alex was born in Torrington, Connecticut on August 18, 1952. He grew up in Connecticut and spent his early adult life in Bermuda before returning to the United States.

During his life he was an avid reader, skilled guitar player, and patient gardener. Alex enjoyed a diverse range of literature and letters. He was a talented guitar player and spent hours picking at his Ibanez, Martin, and Gibson guitars. His love of nature and green thumb were expressed by growing roses and a large assortment of other flowers in his home garden.

Alex is survived by his wife Elizabeth; his son, Alexander and daughter, Kathryn; his stepmother Jean MacFarlane, his sisters, Jean MacFarlane and Alison MacFarlane-Barnes and husband Ed Barnes, his nephew, Stephen, and niece, Anna, and his brother, Carson Brown. His parents, Alexander MacFarlane Jr., and Kathryn Brown preceded him in death.

Sally Zurn Mead ’49

ZurnThe inimitable Sally Zurn Mead passed away suddenly and peacefully, on Saturday June 14, 2014, at her home in Albuquerque, N.M. She left the world on her own terms, just as she lived her life.

Sally was born in Erie on November 8, 1930, the daughter of the late Melvin and Marian Zurn. She enjoyed a childhood of sailing, sports and a wonderful circle of friends. She graduated from The Masters School, class of 1948, and attended Northampton School for Girls. Sally then attended Denison University, and left to be courted by her future husband, James M. Mead. Jim and Sally wed in August of 1953. They enjoyed fifty-one years together, until Jim’s death in 2005.

Sally made many beautiful homes for her family in Charlottesville, Va., Philadelphia, Pa., Princeton, N.J., Washington, D.C., and Albuquerque, N.M. Sally was an accomplished athlete, and particularly enjoyed tennis and golf, becoming tennis champion at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, and golf champion at Springdale Golf Course in Princeton. Sally spent many happy years in her manager position at the Junior League Shop of Washington, D.C.

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Charlotte Hall Hill ’42

Hall HillCharlotte (Hall) Hill, 89, passed away May 20, 2014 of Silver Lake, NH, formerly of Winchester, MA.

Charlotte was predeceased by her husband Percy H. Hill. Daughter of the late Kenneth and Pauline (Peirce) Hall of Winchester. Charlotte was the youngest of 4 and was predeceased by sisters Nancy Gifford, Katharine Fulton and Margaret Sydney. Dear mother of Mary Ann and her late husband Jonathan Head of Wellesley and of Lisa Teahan and her husband Kevin of Winchester. Sister-in-law of Jack M. Hill of Williamsburg, VA.

Survived by grandchildren Timothy Head and wife Stacey of Boston, Daniel Head and wife Katherine of Wayland, Stephen Head of Brooklyn, NY; Jeremy Holmes, Heather Teahan and Andrew Teahan, all of Winchester; Sara (Teahan) and husband Dan OConnell of Middleborough, MA. Also survived by the Head great grandchildren Meghan, Sadie, Gretchen and Natalie and the OConnell great grandchildren Ella and Mackenzie. Charlotte also has eleven nieces and nephews of whom she was very fond. The quality and length of Charlottes life was extended these last years by her friends and neighbors and most importantly her devoted caregiver Maureen Baptiste.

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 Henry Matthias ’41

MatthiasRobert H. Matthias passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 28th while looking out a window where he lived at Maris Grove.

Bob was born in Bridgeport, CT, to the late Virginia and Frederick William Matthias, Jr. and was raised with his two brothers, Bill and Donald, by his mother after his father passed away.

He graduated from the Williston Northampton School in 1941 and then went on to study at Amherst College. Postponing graduation with fellow classmates, Bob entered the US Navy where he served as a WWII pilot and flight instructor in Pensacola, Florida. He resumed his studies after the war and graduated with the class of 1945 from Amherst in 1947. He also attended Brown University and University of North Carolina before starting his career with DuPont in 1952.

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Rev. George Higgins ’45

The Reverend George B. Higgins died on April 25th, 2014 at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx, NY at the age of 87. Reverend Higgins He is survived by his loving family.

“The Rev” will be fondly remembered as a lively presence in the pulpit and throughout the communities where he lived during his many successful pastorates. With his tartan Tam O’Shanter, his Scottish mustache and walking stick (aka: his companion) he was always ready to engage anyone he crossed paths with – on just about any known subject.

George was born and raised in North Adams, MA and always maintained a healthy pride in all things New England, especially with regard to the Red Sox, The Berkshires, Cape Cod and his Pilgrim roots all the way back to the Mayflower. George also loved to honor his Scottish and Nova Scotian heritage.

After graduating from Williams College in 1949 he entered the US Navy. After an honorable discharge, he answered his call to the ministry earning a Master’s in Divinity from New York Theological Seminary.

During that time, he married Marie Stovel of Devonshire Bermuda and accepted his first pastorate at the Congregational church in Vernon CT where they also began their family. Thereafter, he went on to serve multi-year stints at churches in Milford NH, Dover DE, Stony Stratford UK, Dalton MA, Briarcliff Manor NY and Hawthorne NY.

Known as an excellent builder of congregations as well as a thorough and entertaining preacher, many will fondly remember his different pulpit traditions – most especially his Christmas Eve rendering of the birth of Christ in the Braid Scotts translation.

George enjoyed a life-long affiliation with Camp Beckett where he spent his childhood summers and Williams College returning each year for alumni reunions. He also enjoyed his many civic involvements including terms serving as Town Moderator in Eastham MA, Dalton MA and Milford NH, Chairman of the Cape Cod Conservation Committee, active membership in local Rotary Clubs and his time as Chaplain and ambulance driver at the BMFD.

George invested 65 years of his life in Christian ministry and was actively preaching until one month before his passing. He touched many lives with his booming voice and outgoing personality – and will not soon be forgotten.

Christopher Maher ’76

Chris MaherChris Maher, 55 years, passed suddenly Sunday of respiratory failure at home.

He was born in Holyoke, MA and attended schools on the east coast. He graduated from Williston-Northampton School in Easthampton, MA. He also attended Amherst College in Amherst, MA. He graduated from Yale University in New Haven, CT. It was then he made his home in California. He gained his Masters Degree from Mills College in Oakland, CA.

A lifelong learner, Chris had many talents in languages, music, and the arts. After his post graduate experiences, he worked for a hotel as a translator in San Francisco for a number of years. He relocated to Los Angeles and has made him home there for the last 20 plus years. He has been active in the arts.

Chris was predeceased by his mother, Mary T. Maher in 1997. His father, Richard J,. Maher died in 2004. He leaves his sisters, Maureen Cotter (Mike), Eileen Maher (Mark LaFrancis), and brother, Richard F. Maher (Liza). He also leaves five nieces: Laura O’Brien, Elizabeth Barsalou, Carolyn Cotter, Grace Maher, and Mary LaFrancis) and three nephews (Christopher Cotter, Dylan Maher, and Mark LaFrancis), and two grandnieces Abby and Caitlin O’Brien), whom he loved very much, to remember him. He has two dear friends in Los Angeles, David Douglas and Stephen Rau who have cared for him. Chris also leaves Nick Jordan who remembers him respectfully.

Margaret Bunker Curtis Gowans ’36

BunkerMargaret “Bunkie” Curtis Gowans, 94, formerly of Marblehead, MA, died peacefully on January 15, 2014 in her home at Evergreen Woods, North Branford, CT.

Bunkie was born in Detroit, Michigan on April 30, 1919, the daughter of John W. M. Bunker and Helen Crawshaw Bunker.

After attending Northampton School for Girls and Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, she graduated from the Nursery Training School of Boston (now Eliot-Pearson) and taught at the Perkins School for the Blind.

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John Joseph Bergen III ’69

John BergenJohn Joseph Bergen III passed away March 26, 2014.

A man of generosity, integrity, precision. Dedicating his mathematical and scientific aptitude to a career in Aerospace Engineering, earning three honorary Phd’s. No brag here, nor for his creative and artistic brilliance, developing graphics software and interactive entertainment before its time. Well done, John.

But his steaks, keep ’em rare, artichokes tender. Foodie, palate pleaser, environmentalist at heart, east coast to west, rock climbing to riflery, wingtips or white tennies, his character always true. Another round, drinks and ammo, another drag, cigarette and Boss 302.

We will watch Cosmos.XO Rhonda, John IV, Jacqueline, Wendy, Mimi, and friends.

Dr. William David Michael, Jr. ’39

Williams David MichelDr. William David Michael Jr. passed away Saturday, May 3, in Weymouth. He was 95 years old.

Dave was born in Quincy, in 1919, to William David Michael Sr. and Mary (Alexander) Michael. He graduated from Thayer and Williston Academies and received his Doctor of Optometric Degree from Pennsylvania State College of Optometry.

After serving in the Navy during World War II, he joined his father’s Optometric practice in Quincy.

He married Marion Ross Scudder, his childhood sweetheart, in 1942. They settled in Weymouth and later moved to Hingham. Dave continued his Optometric practice in Quincy until retirement, when he and Marion moved to Hilton Head, S.C., in 1978. In retirement, they pursued their love of travel and Daves dream of golfing year round.

Dr. Michael was predeceased by his wife of 65 years Marion, his parents, a daughter, Marion Leslie Michael, and a grandson, David Monroe. He is survived by his three daughters, Joan Monroe of Weymouth, Wendy Mauch of Lochmere, N.H., and Meredith Schubach of Tucson, Ariz. Dave is also survived by six grandchildren and three great-grandsons.

Remembering members of the Williston Northampton community