Tag Archives: Class of 1943

Nancy Atwood Gordon Brewster ’43

Nancy Atwood Gordon Brewster, 96, died peacefully on May 11, 2022 with her family nearby.
She is survived by her daughter The Rev. Elizabeth (Gordon) Meade of Ballwin, Missouri, son Geoff Gordon of Norwell and daughter Carol (Gordon) Stone of Duxbury, six loving grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and five nieces and nephews. Her beloved husband, Bill Brewster, passed away in February. She loved this country and loved all the birds and all the flowers that grow between its Atlantic and Pacific Northwest shores.
Nancy was born in the summer of 1925, raised in Litchfield and Madison, Connecticut. She graduated from Northampton School for Girls and Smith College, a longtime active alumna of both. She taught grade school at Derby Academy and in Marshfield.
She married Andrew Gordon in 1950 and moved to Norwell to raise their three children. The family spent time in Freedom, New Hampshire where they enjoyed skiing, hiking, swimming and socializing with friends. She and Andy then pivoted to Marsh Harbour, Abaco, Bahamas for many winters into springs, enjoying the flora, boating, swimming and friends.
Nancy was an active member of the Norwell community, including the North River Gardeners, the Community Club, the VNA Rummage Sale and other Norwell community magnets. Nancy was among the original group that conceived a Congregational Church in Norwell, signing as an esteemed Charter member of the United Church of Christ, Norwell.
Nancy moved to Seattle in 1991 and immediately became involved in the Washington Beaches cleanup campaign. She continued to play a lot of tennis with friends near their home in Innis Arden, not giving up the game until age 88.
After her husband Andy died in 2005, Nancy reconnected with her childhood friend William Brewster, also of Litchfield, Connecticut. Nancy and Bill married on July 2, 2021, and lived in Duxbury tackling crossword and sudoku puzzles together daily, and enjoyed watching tennis, golf, Jeopardy and football.
Nancy loved travel, gardening, bird watching, her family and friends, and all kinds of music, especially the Hallelujah Chorus. She loved collecting things, including shells from Abaco, and clearing debris from Washington coast beaches, and found joy on the community tennis courts.
Friends and family will miss her, but she knows not that she is gone: “Do not weep for me, child of my womb. Do not weep for my life gone by; my agony, my pain. For I am with you.”
Special remembrances to the caring and compassionate team at Newfield House, to Cranberry Hospice and to Always Safe at Home, most notably Laura, Maxine, Chrissy and Guerline, for their tender care.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances in Nancy’s name may be made to the Massachusetts Audubon at massaudubon.org.

Phoebe Taylor Lansdale ’43

Phoebe Lansdale, 95, of Woodbridge, CT, beloved wife of the late Richard Hyatt Lansdale, passed away peacefully on April 17, 2022. Born on November 12, 1926, in Springfield, MA, she was the daughter of the late William S. Taylor and Phoebe L. Smith.

Phoebe was infinitely generous, gregarious, idealistic, literary, spunky, and ever the optimist. She attended Smith College and received a graduate degree from Columbia University. She worked for many years in foreign aid, including at the U.S. Department of State, the Organization of American States and at the Pan American Foundation; her work at PADF led to the planting of one million trees in Haiti.

Her love of life and appreciation for words, art and music has influenced her children, who survive her: Elizabeth Hyatt Lansdale (partner James Modula), Katherine Taylor Lansdale (husband Peter Alexander), and Steven Ballard Lansdale; and her grandchildren, Zoë Elizabeth Lansdale-Alexander, and Jasmine Olivia Lansdale-Alexander. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her sister Dr. Cicely Taylor Buckley ’46.

All services will be private at this time.

Charles L. Robitaille, Sr. ’43

Charles Laurier Robitaille, Sr. of Shelburne, VT, closed his final flight plan on July 8, 2021. He passed away at McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, VT.

He was born on July 25, 1925 in Holyoke, MA. He was a veteran of the Army and served tours in the Pacific Theater during WWII. He married Freola Katherine Files in 1946. He is survived by his children, Gary Robitaille of North Carolina, and Susan Wolff of Florida, as well as his 10 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren and his companion Sally Luedeke. He was predeceased by his wife, Freola (Kitty) and his son, Charles Jr.

“Chuck” had a deep love for flying, especially giving airplane rides to many enthusiastic children of the Young Eagles. He enjoyed the friendship of many like-minded pilots who met weekly at the “Coffee Klatch.” He loved his family and friends deeply and will be missed by all.

The family would like to thank the McClure Miller Respite House for their love and compassionate care during the final days of his illness. There will be a private service for family at his interment ceremony. In lieu of flowers, any donations may be made to the McClure Miller Respite House, 3113 Roosevelt Hwy, Colchester, VT 05446.

Janice R. Brown ’43


Janice Rae Brown, 92, died on May 13, 2019, at Day Brook Village in Holyoke, Massachusetts.

Janice was born in Northampton on May 31, 1926, to the late Lorimer Hamilton and Pearle (Farnham) Brown. She was the sister of Roger Hamilton Brown, U.S.N. Lt. Com., and Frances Joy Brown, R.N., both deceased.

Janice Brown graduated from the former Northampton School for Girls, and later from Smith College earning both a B.A. and later with an M.Ed.

Her teaching years included positions in West Hartford, CT, and Northampton. She was a member of the former First Baptist Church.

All services will be private with burial in the Farnham family lot at Lakeview Cemetery in Shoreham, VT.

Priscilla Parsons Finck ’43

 

Priscilla Parsons Finck, 92, died September 22, 2018 at Linda Manor Assisted Living in Leeds, MA. She was the daughter of the late Earle M. Parsons and Marguerite (Proctor) Parsons.

Born in 1926 in Northampton she was the 10th generational descendant of Cornett Joseph Parsons founder of Northampton. She attended local schools and graduated from Northampton School for Girls and Mt. Holyoke College.
Priscilla was a teacher at Leeds School after her children grew up. She is the wife of Richard W. Finck formerly of Florence. They had celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this past June.

Survived by her husband Richard; sons Douglas and his wife Cherry, Roger and his wife JoAnne; daughter Marjorie and her husband John; four grandchildren and three great grandchildren. There will be no calling hours. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. Czelusniak Funeral Home is in charge.

Hubert H. Cadle ’43

Hubert Haskell Cadle, 93, passed away on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 at the SECU Jim & Betsy Bryan Hospice Home of UNC Health Care in Pittsboro, NC. He was born on April 8, 1925 in Westfield, MA to Hubert Attwater Cadle And Hazel Rust Cadle. He was a U.S. Army veteran and retired as a mechanical engineer from the Naval Training Device Center in Orlando, FL. Hubert was a previous member of Heidelberg United Church of Christ in Thomasville and a present member of United Church of Chapel Hill. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Virginia Trott Royce Cadle on February 13, 2017. Surviving is his son, Robert and his daughters, Barbara and Patricia, two grandsons, and four great-grandchildren.

Alan Kennedy ’43

Alan Kennedy, 91, died April 11, 2018 at Swedish Medical Center in Edmonds, WA of complications from esophageal cancer.

Al was born June 7, 1926 in Worcester, MA to Madelene (Bell) and Owen W. Kennedy Sr. He had an older brother Owen W. “Bill” Kennedy Jr. (’41) who he loved and admired.

He served in the Navy and was a Lt. Commander in the reserves until his death. In 1946 he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Case School of Applied Science in Cleveland, OH.

Al moved to Seattle finding work with The Boeing Company where he helped design the landing gear for the Boeing 707. Al later transferred into the Marine Systems Division working on Hydrofoils mainly on the military side. He remained with MSD for the rest of his 36-year career.

Al married Mary Patricia “Pat” Nollan. They adopted two children and raised their family in Bellevue, Washington. Al is survived by son Thomas Alan Kennedy and his wife Margaret Kennedy and their two children. He was preceded in death by son Keith Henry Kennedy and survived by Keith’s wife Jill Kennedy and their two sons.

He later married Janice “Jan” Cleveland  and continued to live in Bellevue, WA. Al and Jan were married 36 years. On retirement, they moved to Whidbey Island where they spent 20 years living in Green Bank on Honeymoon bay. Al and Jan later relocated to Panorama City in Lacey, WA. They remained there till Jan passed away.

Al is survived by Jan’s two sons Robert Scott Cleveland, wife Pamela Cleveland and their daughter and Frederick Earl Cleveland, wife Kathy Cleveland and his children.

Recently, Al moved to Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, WA to be closer to family.

Al loved nature, mountains to sea. As a longtime cabin owner at Crystal Mountain, he was an avid skier, active with the ski resort, and an early Ski Patrol volunteer. He enjoyed camping, fishing and exploring Mount Rainier National Park. The Sunrise area was special to him. You could often find him eating his lunch admiring a last look at Mount Rainier before heading home.

On Whidbey he enjoyed clamming, crabbing, building oyster beds and eating a ton of mussels. He was an enthusiastic volunteer at the local Lighthouse working at the visitor center.

He was very generous with his time and support of causes close to his heart including his passion for education.

The family would like to thank everyone at Chateau Pacific for their kindness and friendship and Swedish Medical Oncology in Lynnwood for the care and medical treatment Al received.

Martin C. Goldman ’43

Martin C. Goldman (“Bozie”), of Swampscott, MA, passed away January 17, 2018 at age 91. Married for 66 memory-filled years to Maxine (Rosenbaum). Loving and proud father to Nancy and Steve Walter of Swampscott, Betsy and Dan Rooks of Marblehead, Bob and Jose Goldman of Lynn, and Jeff and Judi Goldman of Swampscott. Grandfather and cookie thief to Joshua and Rebecca Rooks, Sam and Asher Goldman and Camila Paiva and Godric Laird, Danielle, Alexa and Jake Goldman, Melissa (and Mark) Richards and Michael (and Cindy) Walter. Father-in-law to Barbara Goldman. Son of the late Charles and Marion (Leavitt) Goldman, brother to the late Bob Goldman and Harris Goldman, brother-in-law of June Goldman and Carolyn Goldman, uncle of James Goldman, Joan Finn and Charles Goldman. Esteemed North Shore lawyer, lifelong resident of Swampscott and efficient Moderator of Town Meeting for 21 years. Past board member and president of both Temple Emanu-El and the Jewish Community Center of the North Shore. Booster of all things Swampscott, especially the schools and sports programs.

W. Alan Dayton ’43

William Alan Dayton, age 92, of Palm Beach, FL passed away on September 26, 2017 surrounded by his loving family. Born May 22, 1925 in New York, NY to Kenneth and Sylvia Dayton (nee Patten), Mr. Dayton was educated at the Williston Northampton School and graduated from Cornell University after serving in the US Navy for 2 years in the Pacific during World War II. After school he began work at Alcoa and then lived in West Berlin to aid in post-war reconstruction efforts. Mr. Dayton was fluent in German and French and enjoyed traveling with his friends and family throughout his life. Mr. Dayton was a real estate developer and investor. Starting with land development in the Bahamas in the 1960’s he then became involved with many apartment and hotel projects in Orlando from the early 1970’s through the 2000’s. Mr. Dayton loved golf, bridge, shooting, and entertaining. He was a member of many local clubs, including Seminole Golf Club, the Everglades Club and the Bath and Tennis Club. Dividing his time between Palm Beach and London for many years he was also a member of Sunningdale Golf Club, Portland Club, Mark’s and White’s. Mr. Dayton was passionate about education and served on the board of the Williston Northampton School for 10 years. In 1973, he married his wife of 38 years, Joanne Munzert Dayton, who pre-deceased him in 2011. He is remembered with love by their daughter Millie Dayton, step-children Karyn Kettles Winnington and Richard Hubbs Kettles, his first wife Suzanne McKee Dayton and their daughter Leslie Hart Dayton. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.