Ruth Jeffers Wellington died peacefully in her sleep July 25, 2019 at her beloved “Yellow House” in Pike, NH. She was 96. Her winning smile, outgoing temperament, and boundless enthusiasm for life were obvious to all who met her.
Ruth was born at Cottage Hospital in Woodsville, NH, the daughter of Weston and Ethel Jeffers, and moved to Northampton, MA when very young. After schooling at the Northampton School for Girls she graduated from Smith College where she met her future husband, Stephen Wellington of Boston, MA. Shortly after their marriage in 1946 the couple settled in Newton, MA where they raised 5 children. But they made a summer home in Pike, NH at her family’s long-time homestead on Jeffers Hill Road where they ultimately retired in 1972.
She was a tireless volunteer and leader for women, education and the arts. She volunteered for many years for Smith College, rising to the role of Board Member and President of the Alumnae Association. She was a member of the first NH Commission on the Status of Women which led to the initial State-supported services for battered women. She was a founding member of the Women’s Fund of NH and a long-time Board member at the Circle Program–a mentoring and summer-camp program for at-risk girls. She was an early supporter of the Montshire Museum of Science; a Board Member at Canterbury Shaker Village; Board Chair at the Hopkins Center/Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College; and President of River City Arts, the precursor of Northern Stage and igniter of the creative renaissance of White River Jct, VT. Even into her 80s and 90s she continued her community involvement as a supporter of Haverhill Heritage, the Historical Society, and the Drug Court where she was a frequent attendee of graduation ceremonies.
Despite these many commitments, Ruth remained devoted to her life at the 1895 Yellow House in Pike. The house was originally part of her great-grandfather’s dairy farm, now owned by son Weston. For 25 years Ruth and Steve raised Hereford cattle and produced up to 90 gallons of maple syrup each spring.
A true matriarch, she was intimately involved in the lives of her five children, nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. She so enjoyed parties and nothing made her happier than a gathering of family and friends, large or small.
She adored New Orleans-style jazz and, in her later years, she traveled repeatedly to jazz festivals in Florida and New Orleans where she eagerly sought out prominent musicians for conversation and autographs. Closer to home, she frequented jazz performances in Massachusetts and NH, forming friendships with many of the performers.
For her family and friends she epitomized family and community values. To the very end, she kept making new friends of all ages, connecting to people from many different backgrounds. She shared with so many an uninhibited affection for life as it should be lived. Her infectious joy, compassion, and gratitude were an unfailing embrace that swept you up and made you want to come back again and again.
On the porch of her Yellow House this past June, celebrating her 96th birthday surrounded by 21 family members, she exhorted those present to revel in the joy that is all around us. “Take note”, she said, “of all the wonders!”
Tag Archives: Northampton School for Girls
Nancy Knight Bloomer ’44
Nancy Knight Bloomer passed away on September 23, 2019, aged 92 in Canandaigua, New York.
Born on August 7, 1927 in Newark, New York, to the late T. Spencer Knight and Mabel Anderson Knight, Nan attended Newark schools, Northampton School for Girls and proudly graduated from Wellesley College in 1948. Married to Charles Kemper Bloomer (deceased) in 1949, they had two children, Margaret Knight Bloomer Naus and Charles Kemper Bloomer, Jr. Nan gave her time to many organizations, serving on several library boards and hospital auxiliaries, as well as serving on the vestry and as warden at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Newark. She was a trustee at Hobart William Smith Colleges from 1978-1991. In 2003, she and Kemp moved to Ferris Hills in Canandaigua, where she worked with the Storybook Project at the Ontario County jail. She enjoyed gardening and studied Early American Decorative Arts for many years. She loved making cookies for folks incapacitated by illness and was often referred to as “the cookie lady”.
She is survived by her daughter Margo Naus and son Chip (Penny); grandsons, James L. (Gabrielle) Naus and Jesse B. (Taylor) Naus, Joseph Serrett and two great granddaughters, Charlotte and Vera. She was also predeceased by her brother Tom Knight.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, October 4, 2019 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 183 N. Main St. Canandaigua, New York. Burial will be in Newark Cemetery.
Memorials, in her name, may be made to the Storybook Project, c/o St. John’s Church, 183 North Main Street, Canandaigua, New York 14424.
Gale Sarner Moser ’65
Gale Anne Moser, age 70, of Kennett Square, PA, passed away Saturday, January 21, 2017 at Chester County Hospital in West Chester, PA. She is survived by Kem C. Moser, with whom she shared 45 years of marriage. She dedicated her life to caring for the people around her and fought to bring out the best in the family and communities she was a part of; she left an indelible mark on those she loved and her presence will continue to be felt in their lives and actions.
Gale was born in Methuen, MA to the late Ronald and Anne (Eastwood) Sarner. She attended Skidmore College, where she graduated in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. As a Research Biologist, Gale worked for many organizations including Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia, and University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine both in Philadelphia and at New Bolton Center in Kennett Square.
Gale was active in her children’s PTO, where she was a founding member of both the Kennett High School Ice Hockey Team and the Kennett After Prom program. She was involved with the Fairville Friends preschool and the Kennett Run, both in their early beginnings, and was a member of the Kennett Historical Society.
Her real passion was her family and friends. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt whose boundless love and unwavering support served as an example and inspiration for her family. Strong, intelligent, impassioned, compassionate, loyal, silly, fiercely kind, insightful, magical, bold, and a true believer in everyone she loved; all who knew and loved her are better for it.
Gale is further survived by her sons, Ryan J. Moser (Rae Talerico) of Jersey City, NJ and Seth A. Moser of Manhattan, NY; her daughter, Rachel M. Carroll (Anthony Jr) of Downingtown, PA; her brother, James Sarner (Deborah) of Saratoga Springs, NY; her sisters, Karin McNair (Timothy) of Erie, PA and Anne Quinn (Raymond) of Utica, NY; her four grandchildren, Aiden Carroll, Gabriel Carroll, Chloe Carroll and Theo Moser; her sisters-in-law, Rochelle Freedman of Allentown, PA and Cathy Sarner of Hartford, NY; Barbara Berkman, with whom she shared 55 years of friendship; and Shaina Robbins, her close friend and caretaker. She was predeceased by her brother, Ronald, and brother-in-law, Brian.
Joan (Taylor) Wilson Turner ’55
Joan Wilson Turner, of Modesto, CA, was born on June 27, 1937, in Brooklyn, NY, to Charlotte Taylor and Dr. St. Elmo Taylor. A graduate of the Northampton School for Girls, Smith College and Boston University, Joan was trained as a teacher of the deaf and blind and later went on to work in the public school system in Washington, DC. Embarking upon a second career as an entrepreneur in the 1970s, Joan owned clothing stores in Brooklyn, NY and Fort Lauderdale and Miami, FL. She also sold many health and wellness products in her later years and most recently was a representative for ViSalus. Joan passed away on August 31, 2019. He
r memory will be cherished by her husband Lewis Turner, daughter Jan Abernathy, son-in-law Jerome Abernathy, stepchildren Louis Turner and Lorraine Little, grandchildren Alyce and Sam Abernathy, niece Lee Nelms, nephew Michael Taylor, and many friends throughout the world. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Eugene Taylor. She was a faithful member of the Wellspring Anglican Church in Modesto. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Community Hospice Foundation in Modesto.
Lois Schubach Meyers ’53
Lois Meyers, 82, passed away Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019 at Avalon Heath Care Center at StoneRidge in Mystic, Connecticut.
She was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, Theodore Meyers, in 2012. Lois is survived by her daughter, Toby Flanagan and her husband, Kevin Flanagan; three grandchildren, Patrick Flanagan and his wife, Kerri Flanagan, of Waterford, Timothy Flanagan of Key West Fla., and Katelyn Livingston and her husband, Grant Livingston of Waterford. She also leaves two great-grandchildren, Thomas and Trey Flanagan of Waterford.
Born in Northampton, Mass. Nov. 11, 1936, Lois was the daughter of the late Julia and George Schubach of Easthampton, Mass. Lois graduated from Northampton School for Girls, Westfield State College, and then went on to earn a master’s degree from Springfield College. She taught music in Agawam, Northampton, and Boylston, Mass. She then relocated to Connecticut, where she taught in Waterford and Ledyard, and was named Teacher of the Year in 1989. Her full-time teaching career spanned 37 years. Lois was also an adjunct professor at Sacred Heart University where she developed a Multicultural and Human Diversity curriculum.
After retiring to Key West, Fla., she continued to teach music at Mary Immaculate Star of the Sea and at Wesley House Early Childhood Center. Lois was also the choir director of 
Metropolitan Community Church and was an active member of Literacy Volunteers of America in Monroe County, Fla. where she served as board president for many years.
Since moving back to Conn. in 2016, Lois continued with her love for music and teaching and started a Chimes Choir in which many residents of StoneRidge participated.
Throughout her life, Lois enjoyed entertaining friends and family, was an avid traveler, and a lifelong learner.
The family wishes to thank the entire StoneRidge Community and staff, including Top Sail and Avalon Health Care Center for their support and kindness over the past few years.
A Celebration of Life for family and friends will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14 in the Chart Room at StoneRidge at 186 Jerry Browne Rd, Mystic, CT.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lois’ memory to the StoneRidge Scholarship Fund, 186 Jerry Browne Rd. Mystic, CT 06355.
Phyllis Seybolt, Former Faculty
Phyllis Seybolt of Boynton Beach, Florida and Gouldsboro, Maine passed away on Saturday, July 13, 2019.
Born on December 7, 1923 in Holyoke, Massachusetts to Willard and Helen Allen, Phyllis graduated from Holyoke High School and entered Penn State. Her college career was put on hold during WWII due to the need for women in the war industries. She worked on airplane production during the war years and then focused on raising her five children. Her husband, James L Beekman II, a career officer in the U.S. Air Force, was stationed in post war Europe where they resided in Chateau-Roux, France. James premature illness and death left her as sole support of her children, a challenge she surmounted by returning to college at University of Massachusetts, Amherst where she earned a Master’s degree in mathematics and initiated a long career in teaching high school algebra and calculus. She initially taught at the Northampton School for Girls and acted as director of admissions. Later she accepted a position at the Williston Academy in Easthampton, MA where she met her husband and life partner, Dr. Stephen Seybolt. Steve’s degree in English literature and Phyllis’ passion for math enriched the lives of generations of high school students.
Phyllis is survived by: her sister Marjorie Yount of North Carolina, her husband Stephen of Boynton Beach, FL, as well as all children: Candace and her husband William Matthew of Hopkington, MA, Dr. Robert Beekman and his wife Ellen of Ellsworth, ME, James Beekman of Portland, OR, Allen Beekman and his wife Sandy of Bend, OR, Laurie and her husband Dana Parker of Plymouth, MA. She is survived by grandchildren: Aria Baker, Brian, Benjamin and Samuel Beekman all of Bend, OR, Julie Matthew of East Greenwich, RI, Allison Miseph of Indianapolis, IN, Michael Miseph of Holyoke, MA, Kimberly Kleinpeter of Gorham, ME, and Andrew Beekman of Boone, NC. She is also survived by 7 great grandchildren: Kiley Shea, Jaya Belle, Jackson Tye, Natalie Kate, Robert Reynolds, Hickson Rudder and George Porter.
Phyllis overcame many challenges in her life, but none so great as her final battle with Alzheimer’s disease. A woman proud of her intellectual gifts, she bore progressive losses with grace and dignity. She taught us all to appreciate the smaller pleasures in life and took great joy in the love and companionship of family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to consider a gift in her memory to the Parkside Inn (Memory Care Center), 1613 SW 3rd St, Boynton Beach, FL. 33435.
Corinne Rogers Honkalehto ’46
Corinne Rogers Honkalehto, of Hamilton, NY – beloved mother and friend, dedicated swimmer, reader, gardener, and crossword aficionado – died peacefully in her sleep on March 29, 2018, at her daughter’s home in Boise, Idaho, after several months battling heart failure and vascular disease. She was 89.
Corinne was born to Virginia Thompson Rogers and Reginald B. Rogers on March 9, 1929, in Manhasset, NY, and grew up in the Long Island town of Huntington. She and her sister Judy attended Adelphi Academy in Brooklyn, NY, while their mother attended library school at Pratt Institute. Later the family moved to Northampton, MA, when her mother became Head of Circulation for Nielson Library at Smith College. Corinne graduated from Smith in 1950 with an A.B. in Sociology and later earned a Masters in Library Science from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn.
Corinne’s professional librarian positions included school, business and academic settings. While working as a reserves librarian at MIT in Cambridge, MA, she met a handsome Finn from Quincy, MA, Oswald Honkalehto, who was pursuing a Ph.D. in Economics. They married in 1953 and lived in Brookline, MA, and also in Princeton, NJ, while Ozzie worked at Princeton University. In 1957, they moved to Pittsburgh, PA, (Carnegie Mellon) where their daughter, Taina, was born, and next to East Lansing, MI, (Michigan State) where their 2nd daughter, Liisa, 
was born.
In 1962, Ozzie was recruited to teach Economics at Colgate University in Hamilton, NY, where they settled as part of a cohort of young faculty who arrived in the 1960s – most of whom raised families and stayed in Hamilton for many years. Corinne worked as full-time mom, then on and off in the Colgate Language Lab, as a substitute librarian at Hamilton Central School, and as librarian at the American Management Association. She also served on the board of the Hamilton Public Library.
The family enjoyed playing tennis, spending summers at Colgate Camp, Old Forge, and Speculator, NY, with close family friends, and visits with relatives and friends on Cape Cod. Corinne and their daughters also accompanied Ozzie to England over several fall semesters with the Colgate London Economics study group. Later, after he retired the two of them enjoyed many trips to New York City, to Europe and elsewhere with the MIT Alumni Association, and on South American and south Pacific voyages aboard the Queen Mary II.
Corinne was active in the women’s Hamilton Fortnightly Club, and she loved swimming almost anywhere, especially in the ocean or with friends at the Colgate pool. In addition to tennis and swimming, she played guitar and sang, and later took up the piano. She enjoyed dancing, reading books, traveling, and became a master at Sunday New York Times crossword puzzles.
Corinne was thoughtful, kind, and patient, and delighted in experiencing both the quiet outdoor beauty around her in Hamilton and the culture of world cities. She maintained strong friendships with long-time friends, and welcomed new friends from her travels with ease. Her last years were spent enjoying reading, movies and art in Hamilton, Manhattan, Boise and Seattle with her daughters and their friends. She had a knack for remembering little jokes and rhymes, and she shared them with family, friends and caregivers into her last days.
Corinne was preceded in death by her husband, Oswald, in 2013, and sister, Judith Rogers Atwood ’45, of Kingston, RI, in 2001. She is survived by her daughters, Taina Honkalehto (Ed Melvin), of Seattle, WA, and Liisa Rogers, of Boise, ID, and two nieces.
The family wishes to thank Treasure Valley Hospice of Nampa, ID, for their expert care and services during her last weeks.
A remembrance gathering for Corinne will be held in Hamilton in late spring or early summer 2018.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Colgate University Lineberry Natatorium, Colgate University Gift Records, 13 Oak Drive, Hamilton, NY 13346.
Barbara Santaniello Brown ’64
Barbara Jean (Sanders) Brown, age 72, went to be with the Lord on June 25, 2019 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. She was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on July 28, 1946. She was a graduate of Williston Northampton School and Elmira College. After college, she married the love of her life, James H. Brown with whom she lived a blessed and glorious life for 50 years. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Knoxville Christian Women’s Connection, Knoxville Symphony League, and a lifetime member of Presbyterian Women. She was involved in many organizations in Knoxville as well as in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Barbara is preceded in death by her parents, Jean Atkinson and Donald Santaniello.
She is survived by her husband, James H. Brown, her sister Carol Kelley ’66, both of Knoxville, her brother, Joseph Santaniello and wife Angela of Massachusetts, nephew, Jim Lepine and wife Jennifer of Cummings, GA, niece, Jackie Delorm and husband Rob of East Berne, New York, sister-in-law, Jeanie Belhobek and husband George of Pepper Pike, OH, 2 great nephews and 1 great niece, Goddaughter Shelby Brooks and husband Tracy, special friend and caregiver, Alisa Jones and husband Chris, all of Knoxville. She will be greatly missed by many.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 29 at 2:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church at 620 State St., Knoxville, TN 37902. Barbara’s family will receive friends following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Barbara’s name may be made to First Presbyterian Church.
Barbara Seabury Engel ’48
Barbara “Bobi” Seabury Engel, age 89, passed away April 12, 2019 in Naples, Florida. Bobi was born on February 9, 1930 in Springfield, MA. She was the daughter of Raymond M. Seabury of Longmeadow, MA and Laura Barker of Newport, RI. Bobi was predeceased by her sister Margaret (Seabury) Lyman, her brother Raymond Seabury, Jr., her daughter Cynthia Engel and her grandson, Joshua Sasen. Bobi is survived by her husband, Dr. N. Eugene “Gene” Engel. She is also survived by her sons Phillip Johnson of Salem, MA, David Engel of Easley, South Carolina, Donald Engel and his wife Donna of Naples, FL; her daughters Laura Lovell and her husband Ross of East Haddam, CT, Christine Sasen of Springfield, Carolyn Brennan and her husband Thomas of Wilbraham and Zandra Engel of Agawam, MA; ten grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren. Bobi grew up in Longmeadow. She was a resident of Wilbraham and Brewster before moving to Naples, FL in 1995. Bobi attended the Northampton School for Girls and the House in the Pines Junior College majoring in Art History. Bobi was a former member of the Junior League of Springfield, the Dennis Yacht Club of E. Dennis and the League Club of Naples. Bobi served as the Director of Youth Programs for both the Wilbraham United Church and the Dennis Yacht Club. Bobi was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was an avid bridge player, loved to dance, athlete, painter, craft lady, dramatist and had her most fun as a puppeteer. Bobi and her husband Gene were blessed to travel throughout the world after retirement. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on June 20th at Bethlehem Church, 123 Allen St., Hampden, MA. There will be a private burial service. Memorial donations in Bobi’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601 or at www.alz.org
Margaret Moore Eckman ’45
Margaret Moore Eckman, 91, died on January 18, 2018 at her home in Bremen, Maine. She was born in Chester, Connecticut on January 1, 1927, the last of five children to Ernst D. and Elsie (Warner) Moore. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Roland Eckman; two sons, Andrew and John; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. There will be no service, and burial will be private.