Tag Archives: Northampton School for Girls

Nancy DerGiragossian Craig ’55

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CraigNancy S. (DerGiragossian) Craig of Northampton, and a longtime resident of Amherst, died Monday, Feb. 6, 2017, after a short illness at CareOne of Northampton with her daughter by her side and Frank Sinatra playing in the background.

Born Jan. 27, 1937, in Northampton, she was the daughter of the late Archie and Christine (Bodourian) DerGiragossian.

Nancy was a 1954 graduate of Northampton High School and also attended Northampton School for Girls, Holyoke Junior College and the University of Massachusetts.

She was a 20 year employee of UMass, lastly with the Department of Environmental Health and Safety, retiring in 2007. Before that, she held a variety of administrative positions in and around Northampton, and had also worked in 1960s New York City for the Public Broadcasting System and the Young and Rubicam Advertising Agency.

Nancy was someone who drew people to her because of her empathetic nature and her keen desire to understand the human condition. Everywhere she went, whether it was her favorite Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods or just on Main Street, she kindled interesting conversations and friendships with long-lost and new friends. She was known amongst family and friends for her creativity. A lifelong artist, she painted and sketched cityscapes and landscapes of Northampton and Amherst, memorializing sites such as St. Mary’s Church, Main Street, Northampton, the apple orchards of Atkins Farms, and the waterfall at Paradise Pond. One of her pen and ink drawings of pine trees was used in 1980 by the then Simon’s Rock Early College of Great Barrington, as its official holiday card. Additionally, Nancy wrote a column that reviewed and promoted various local businesses, “Consumer Carousel,” for her family’s 1970s regional magazine, Hampshire County Illustrated. She also used her creativity and people skills to assist her former husband, Paul Craig, in his bid for Mayor of Northampton in 1973.

Aside from her love of art, Nancy was a free spirit who adored the beach. Annual childhood family summer vacations in Narragansett, Rhode Island, began this love, and in later years she was fortunate to spend many holidays in Jamaica. A jazz lover, she combined this with her love of an ocean setting by attending the Newport Jazz Festival when she could. In 2007, she explored the beaches of Sydney, Australia, visiting her daughter, son-in-law and grandsons, and snorkeled at the Great Barrier Reef.

She is survived by her daughter Jennifer Craig Fletcher and son-in-law Thomas Fletcher of Sydney, Australia; four grandsons, William, Benjamin, Thomas and Theodore, also of Sydney; her sister Dawn C. Baker of Northampton; her brother William V. Derian of Deerfield Beach, Florida; her niece Christine D. Baker, M.D., of Northampton; her great-nephew Jay C. Anderson of Northampton; her former husband Paul M. Craig of Northampton; and several adored nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews of Maryland, Virginia and Florida.

 

Posted in: 1950s, Class of 1955

Miriam Lind Shane ’51

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Miriam L. Shane, 84, of South Salem, NY, passed away on Tuesday, January 31, 2017. She was the loving wife of Mr. Arthur F. Shane.

Mrs. Shane was born on September 9, 1932 in Berlin, Germany; a daughter of the late William and Margery (Tyler) Lind.

A resident of South Salem, NY for the past 24 years since relocating from Pleasantville, NY, Mrs. Shane was previously a deacon at the South Salem Presbyterian Church. She was also a naturalist for the Teatown Lake Reservation of Ossining, NY. In her spare time, Mrs. Shane was an avid dancer and pianist and enjoyed exercise.

Mrs. Shane is survived by her husband of 60 years, Arthur and their children: Hugh Shane and his wife, Miriam; Benjamin Shane and Jennifer Shane Medina. She is also survived by eight grandchildren: Nadine, Rebecca, Vivian and Hazel Shane; Juliette and William Medina and Dustin and Collin Shane. In addition to her husband, children and grandchildren, Mrs. Shane is survived by a sister, Carol Dickey.

Posted in: 1950s

Nancy Brown Cox ’43

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Nancy Elwood Brown Cox, 91, formerly of Waterloo, N.Y., died peacefully in her sleep January 25, 2017 while in Hospice Care in Savannah, Georgia.
Nancy was born on Feb. 11,1925 at home in Deposit, N.Y. to Charles Kimball, II and Ella Baird Brown. Nancy attended the Deposit Central High School, graduated in 1942, and then attended the Northampton School for Girls in Massachusetts. Nancy graduated from Northampton in 1943, continuing her love for theater and singing throughout her life, often as a soloist, especially enjoying variety show productions.
Nancy attended The Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester, N.Y. where she became a voice major, graduating with a Bachelor of Music Degree in 1947. While at Eastman, Nancy met Ronald A. Cox, of Rochester, N.Y., also an Eastman student. They were married Dec. 20, 1947 and joyfully celebrated nearly 69 years of marriage.
Nancy worked summers in her father’s pharmacy. She also was a Lifeguard and Swimming Instructor at New York Herald Tribune Fresh Air Fund Camps in Bear Mountain Park. Upon college graduation, Nancy worked as a librarian in the Clifford Avenue Branch of the Rochester Library, and also worked as a “Gal Friday” for the Hayden Interior Decorating Company of Rochester, until her husband Ron graduated from Eastman.
Nancy taught elementary general music for the Waterloo Public School system for 25 years, retiring in 1986. She furthered her education by taking summer courses for several years at Ithaca College, earning her permanent teaching certification. Nancy was an active member of the Waterloo Education Association. In 1981, Nancy received the Teacher of the Year Award from that Association.
Nancy had a large studio of private piano and voice students over several decades and coached and prepared students to compete in NYSSMA Solo Festivals. She and Ron continued their private music studios for over 15 years after their retirement from public teaching. Both Nancy and Ron were instrumental in the development of the Bristol Hills Music Camp in Canandaigua, N.Y. serving as conductors, teachers, and advisors.
Nancy sang in church choirs her entire life and was often a soloist in the region for worship services, funerals, and weddings. Nancy served as Junior Choir Director for several years, in both St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and the Waterloo Presbyterian Church. She also served as a Sunday School Music leader, and often the substitute church organist and even was the interim Senior Choir Director for a time. Following retirement, she served on the
Board of Elders of the Waterloo Presbyterian Church, chairing the Christian Education Committee, and was the first woman Chairman of the Property Committee. Nancy and Ron later became members of the Geneva Presbyterian Church.
Community was important to Nancy, her activities included being a member of and holding offices in The Waterloo Research Club, and in Chapter Alpha Beta Psi of the National Cancer Sorority Phi Beta Psi. Nancy enjoyed volunteering for the Geneva Community Lunch Program, the Seneca County House of Concern in Seneca Falls, for which she served as a board member for several years. She and husband Ron co-founded the Red Jacket Chorale in 1985, continuing their love for music and sharing with the community. Nancy also often served as a rehearsal accompanist and as a soloist.
Nancy enjoyed traveling with her husband Ron, and thanks to visits to her far flung children, she and her husband traveled up and down the Eastern Seaboard, vacationing in Georgia every February. Her European travels included trips to Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, and Austria. They enjoyed many family vacations on Fourth Lake in the Adirondack Mountains and annual reunions in Wiscasset, Maine with her three siblings and their spouses. One of their most enjoyable trips was to England and Scotland with Ron’s sister, Dorothy and brother-in-law, Richard Janicke to meet the English relatives of Ron and Dorothy.
Their continued involvement with “Co. C”, Ron’s Army Unit, included travel for the reunions of the WWII Veterans of that unit. Nancy served as Secretary for the “Signal Aircraft Warning Company C” for several years and she and Ron organized and hosted a reunion in Seneca County, showing off the community they loved.
Nancy is survived by her children Thomas (Kim) Cox of Conesus, N.Y., Margaret Chalker of Massena, N.Y., Robert (Kathy) Cox of Savannah, Ga., and Nancy (MSgt. (Ret.) Shawn) Fogg of Augusta, Ga..; grandchildren Christopher (Melissa) Cox, Colleen (Scott) Moquin, Colby (Melanie) Cox, Merrell (Loren) Fountaine and Colby (Melanie) Cox, Nora Cox, Sara Cox, Kelly Cox, Robert Fogg, and Abbey (Roger) Barnard and Matt Saxby; great-grandchildren Kendall and Owen Cox, Baileigh and Brendon Moquin, Mekayla and Alyssa Fountaine and Kadyn and Kamryn Cox; as well as her sister-in-law, Dorothy Cox Janicke; she was Aunt to many beloved nieces and nephews.
Nancy was predeceased by her husband, Ronald A. Cox, (Aug. 18, 2016), her three older siblings and their spouses – Emily and Yerby Holman, Charles and Ellen Brown, Janet and Paul Seehausen and her brother-in-law, Richard Janicke.

Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1943

Charlotte Heavens Bruins ’47

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Charlotte Heavens Bruins, of Port Saint Lucie, FL, passed away November 9, 2016. Charlotte served on the Board of Trustees from 1980 to 1985 and was a member of the Alumni Council. She was a tireless advocate for keeping the legacy of Northampton School for Girls alive within Williston Northampton culture. Her daughters, Amy Bruins and Faith Bruins ’81, and her son John Bruins ’80, and their families, as well as her brother R. Bardwell Heavens ’51, survive her.

Posted in: 1940s

Helen Haase Tompkins ’58

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Helen Elizabeth Tompkins, 75, of Ellenton, FL passed away on April 23, 2015. She was the widow of Thomas H. Tompkins and is survived by her sons; Thomas H. and Ronald L. (Sherry) of Florida. Also surviving are grandsons; Christopher (Abby) and Dylan as well as her precious great-granddaughter, Arya Lynn Tompkins, all of Coldwater, Michigan. Additionally, Helen leaves her sister, Mary (David) of Tampa and her brother, Bill (Nancy) of Pennsylvania as well as four nieces and nephews and their families.

Posted in: 1950s

Jo Milton Williams ’52

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williamsJo Milton Williams, 83, of Shelburne Falls, MA and Pinehurst, NC, passed away unexpectedly November 28, 2016 at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Springfield, MA. She was the daughter of George Thurlow Milton and Grace Kelley Milton of Boston, MA and was graduated from Northampton School for Girls. After attending Connecticut College and later receiving a degree from N C State University, she was employed as a counselor for Alcoholism Treatment Center, Raleigh, NC. Surviving kin are three daughters: Susan Perkins Stark of Shelburne Falls, MA, Karen Kelley Perkins of Pacific Palisades, CA, Elizabeth Perkins Macat of Shelburne Falls, MA and Sherman Oaks, CA, and husband Carl Rush Williams, Pinehurst, NC, and eight grandchildren. Jo was a devoted and effective counselor in North Carolina. Once retired she love summering in New England where she vacationed as a youngster and traveling, particularly motoring across the states and to Canada and Alaska. Preeminent also in her retirement was the nurture and happiness of her grandchildren. They adored her.

Posted in: 1950s

Mary Louise Hogan Holmes ’55

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holmesMary Louise “Mary Lou” Hogan Holmes, 79, of Tinton Falls, N.J., died peacefully at home with her loving family at her bedside on Dec. 21, after a lengthy illness.

The daughter of Harold Hogan and Louise Callahan Hogan, Marylou was born in Northampton, Mass. She was raised in Florence, and lived in Manalapan and Farmingdale, N.J., for many years before moving to Seabrook Village in Tinton Falls in 2013.

She was a registered nurse practitioner by profession, and worked for the State of New Jersey Division of Mental Health Services for 30 years, primarily as assistant director of nursing at the former Marlboro State Hospital and later at Ann Klein Forensic Center in Ewing, N.J., before retiring in 2000. She also was a clinical instructor of nursing for Ocean County College for many years.

A graduate of the Williston Northampton School and the Providence Hospital School of Nursing in Holyoke, Mary Lou earned her bachelor’s degree from Trenton State College (now the College of New Jersey), and her master’s degree in psychiatric nursing from the University of Pennsylvania.

Mary Lou was a passionate volunteer as well. In addition to prominent positions on many committees for the New Jersey State Nurses Association, she also served as a peer counselor at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold Township, coming to the aid of nursing colleagues who struggled with substance abuse issues. She was also a member of many professional nursing associations, including the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. She also served as a volunteer catechism instructor at St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church in Farmingdale, where she was a longtime communicant.

Surpassing her deep feelings for her work, faith and personal interests was the love she felt for her family. Surviving are her husband of 57 years, Joel F. Holmes Jr.; her daughter and son-in- law, Theresa Holmes-Stenson and Eric Stenson of Farmingdale, N.J.; her son and daughter-in- law, Joel F. Holmes III and Beth Cannon Holmes of London, United Kingdom; her brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Peggy Hogan of Easthampton, Mass.; and grandchildren Shane and Arianna Stenson, Cooper and Cole Holmes.

Posted in: 1950s

Nancy White Jencks ’41

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jencksNancy White Jencks, 94, of Barrington, passed away Wednesday, November 9, 2016, at Silver Creek Manor, Bristol, after a long illness. Born in Providence, March 3, 1922, she was a life-long Rhode Islander.
After graduating from Smith College, Nancy started a family and worked in the family foundry business as a draftsperson. She drew numerous pictures a day for many years, including the Veteran’s cemetery flag holders for Korean War vets. Having exceptional financial acumen and foresight, Nancy and her good friend, Rita Beaver, were inspired to start the Barrington Citizens’ Scholarship Fund in 1959. It is now known as the Community Scholarship Fund of Barrington. Finding herself a single parent in the mid 1960s, Nancy became one of the first women stockbrokers in Rhode Island. She was an active member of the Barrington District Nurse Association and a member of the Barrington Congregational Church, where she also served on the finance committee. Nancy was an avid and talented sailor. She competed in the “Tuesday Night ‘Tired Fathers’ Series,” at Barrington Yacht Club, and won often.  Another of her great pleasures was the cabin in the woods of Maine that her teenage sons built in the early 70’s.
Nancy was predeceased by her son, Ross Jencks. She is survived by her children, Randy Jencks (Nancy) of Bristol, Peter (Mary Ann) of Newport, Andrew of Barrington, fifth “son,” John Palmer of Marblehead, MA, grandchildren, Rosey Jencks of Albany, CA, Marey Jencks of New York, NY, Peter Leopold of Oakland, CA, Molly Jencks of Newport, Ben Jencks of New Orleans, LA, and great grandchildren, Miyah and Isaiah, and Sally and Walt. The five other teenagers who lived under her wing in her house will also miss her. For a very good reason, Nancy was affectionately known by many as, “Ma Jencks.”
Nancy’s family offers special thanks to the staff at Silver Creek Manor for their many years of care.
Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1941

Ethel Ham Palmer ’33

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palmerEthel Ham “Peggy” Palmer died peacefully at home on September 21, 2016 at the age of 100. Born to Charles and Ethel Ham in Flatbush, Brooklyn, she had two brothers, Charles and Ralph, who both predeceased her. Her husband, Dwight O. Palmer, Jr., predeceased her in 1987. She is survived by her nieces, Susan and Carolyn. Peggy graduated from Jamaica High School in 1933. A 1937 graduate of Smith College with a degree in Sociology, Peggy then attended the Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School. As a legal secretary at Western Union, she met her late husband, a public relations executive, and married in 1951. They first resided in Ridgewood, NJ, and then moved to Wyckoff, NJ, in 1954. Peggy was a member of the West Side Presbyterian Church, the Wyckoff Women’s Club, the Valley Hospital Auxiliary and volunteered for The Seeing Eye, training eight puppies. Peggy loved playing bridge with her friends and UpWords with her nieces.

Posted in: 1930s

Kay Allenberg Cohen ’53

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Kay Allenberg Cohen passed away peacefully on October 14, 2016. Kay was born in Memphis on March 8, 1935. She was the daughter of Selma and Milton Allenberg. Mr. Allenberg founded Allenberg Cotton Company and sadly passed away in April, 1936. Kay was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence Louis Cohen, M.D. in 2012 after 57 years of marriage.

She attended St. Mary’s Episcopal School, East High and graduated from the Williston Northampton School in Massachusetts. She attended the University of Indiana and the University of Memphis.

Kay married the love of her life in 1955. She and Lawrence immediately moved to Tucson, Az. where he was a flight surgeon in the Strategic Air Command. He had served in the Army in WWII.

Upon their return to Memphis, Kay became a Grey Lady at Kennedy Veterans Hospital. She also taught sailing to the Mariner Scout Troop, was a Red Cross Water Safety Instructor for 25 years at three city pools, Handicap, Inc., Merry Acres Day Camp and at summer camps in East Tennessee and Maine. Kay loved and played tennis for many years.

Kay was the first president of the Laurelwood Garden Club. During her lifetime she belonged to the Perennial Garden Club, the Duration Club, the Memphis and Shelby County Medical Auxiliary, the University of Tennessee Faculty Wives Club, the Memphis Symphony League, the Salvation Army, the English Speaking Union, and The Dixon Gardens.

She was a member of Calvary Episcopal Church where she served on the Alter Guild, Opus (old people up to something), the E.C.W., Daughters of the King, the Cursillo Community and was an associate of the Community of St. Mary at Sewanee, Tennessee. She loved her final years living at Trezevant Episcopal Home.

Kay leaves two daughters: Kathryn Austin (Chip) and their two sons, Selby and Webster, and Louise Carruthers (Cage) and their two children Cage Jr. and Mary Lawrence Childs(Matt). Kay’s third child is her precious dog Prince William. She also leaves a number of nieces and nephews and greats.

Kay would like to thank Elizabeth McKenzie for her love and care for the past thirty plus years and more recently her sitters Juanita Sewell, Estella Carter, Beverly Smith Blair, and the great team from Elect Home Care: Laura Johnson, Vearnell Murphy, and Mary Harris.

Posted in: 1950s