After a happy and adventuresome life, Joan Pierson Shaw Propst, passed away on September 7, 2021. Joanie was a dedicated wife, mom, grandma, great grandma and horsewoman.

Joanie was born in 1929 to Kenneth and Margery (Field) Shaw and raised in Easthampton, Massachusetts. Joanie had a love of horses early on. She babysat, weeded tobacco and picked strawberries among other jobs, to earn money for a horse. One of her later horses was trained to pull a cart, so she drove her brother to summer camp in order to save gas due to gas rationing during World War ll. Joanie was determined to move “out west” for college and to marry a cowboy. Much to her mom’s worries, Joanie boarded the train for Colorado A&M (now CSU, Fort Collins) to graduate with a degree in Animal Science. She did meet her cowboy, Allen Douglas Propst. Together they helped to get a rodeo arena built and organize college rodeos and other events. Joanie was the rodeo’s “All Around Cowgirl” in 1949.

Married in 1950, Doug and Joanie worked on various ranches in Colorado and Montana, before accepting the opportunity to take over ranch management for the Santa Catalina Island Company. Interviewed in Chicago in the Wrigley building, the Propsts moved sight unseen to Santa Catalina Island. When they got off the boat, the prospects didn’t look too great as the island was horribly overgrazed, but they stuck it out to make the improvements. There is a whole lot more to this story, but suffice it to say, that it was really rewarding in many ways, challenging in others.

Joanie was well-known for raising Welsh show ponies, teaching riding lessons and establishing the Catalina Island Pony club of which she was the District Commissioner. She was also in the egg business, providing eggs to island residents. Joanie provided endless hours and effort in support of Doug’s efforts in improving Catalina’s interior, and later in getting the Catalina Conservancy up and running. Joanie made countless jeep tour lunches, and buffalo stews for range tour groups. After 44 years, Joanie and Doug retired to Modoc County to be closer to family and also to not have to ride any more cross channel boats or ocean going barges.

Joanie was predeceased by husband Doug, and granddaughter Jessica Younger Dickens. Left to celebrate a life well-lived are her brother Ken Shaw ’51, sister Margery Shaw ’58; daughters Susi Younger(Jay), Barbie Read(Dick), Robin Paine, (Ernie); grandchildren; Ruby Uhart(Domingo), Elizabeth Younger, Doug Paine(Kristin) and three great grandchildren; Marcus Uhart, Hadley Paine, and Walker Paine.

private family celebration will be held. Please remember Joanie in your own way. If you wish, donations in remembrance can be made to: Santa Catalina Island Pony Club, PO Box 395, Avalon, California 90704. This pony club is an affiliate of the United States Pony Club which encourages children to have a knowledge of horses as they become good riders. The Catalina Pony Club appreciates funds to help sponsor local kids who aren’t able to afford riding lessons.

Elinor Ann (Frey) Schaeffer was born on May 26, 1932 in Jackson Heights, New York to parents Herman Edgar Frey and Irmgard Afflerbach. She died at her home on November 5, 2021 in Plano, Texas. After graduating from Northampton School for Girls in Northampton, Massachusetts, Ellie attended Simmons University in Boston, Massachusetts where she met the love of her life, Lew Schaeffer, at a co-ed dance between Simmons University and MIT. They were married on May 31, 1952. Ellie and Lew spent 66 happy years raising three wonderful children. Like her parents, Ellie was the consummate entrepreneur. As a young child she had a paper route and creatively sold pictures she and her sisters painted. While raising her family as a loving mother and wife, she had successful ventures in Sales and Real Estate. Her perseverance and independent spirit has been an inspiration for her children and grandchildren. Ellie was an enthusiastic supporter of nature and wildlife causes. She enjoyed traveling the world, working in various National Parks around the US, playing bridge, and participating in many civics events. Ellie is survived by her son Jeff (Phuong), daughter Cindy (Helen), son Greg (Michele); grandchildren Andrew and Alyssa Schaeffer, Emma, Ellie, Eli and Abigail Schaeffer; and her sisters Sandy Miedema and Judy LaFavor. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Edgar Laurence, and her husband, Lew. A Memorial Service to celebrate her life will be held at 11:30am on Friday, November 19, 2021 at Allen Family Funeral Options. She will be laid to rest with her husband Lew at the Dallas/Ft. Worth National Cemetery. If desired, in lieu of flowers, please donate to the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, 1 Nature Place, McKinney, Texas 75069 heardmuseum.org

Natalie Brown Denton passed away on Friday, February 12, 2021. Nonnie was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1925, the daughter of Lois Hoffman Brown and Wayland Wickliffe Brown. She was a long-time resident of Elmira and was deeply engaged in numerous civic activities and Grace Episcopal Church, where she was a member. Nonnie was the widow of Richard Denton and is survived by numerous nieces and nephews. The family suggests that gestures of remembrance may be made to Grace Episcopal Church, 375 West Church Street, Elmira, NY 14901, or to Meals on Wheels of Chemung County, 409 William Street, Elmira, NY 14901.

Prudence Sandifer Scott, 84, died peacefully at home on Monday, July 26, 2021.

Prudence was the daughter of the late Agnes Cleveland Sandifer and William Smith Sandifer.

She is survived by her children, Garrett Sandifer Scott and his wife, Kim; Carleton Cleveland Scott and his wife, Sherlyng; Peter Gaillard Scott and his wife, Tracy; a son, Henry Gaillard Scott predeceased her. She is also survived by her sister, Jennifer Sandifer Haas; and her six beloved grandchildren.

The family would like to say a special thanks to all the nurses at Gibbs Cancer Center and Spartanburg Regional Hospice for all of their care.

There will be a celebration of her life at 1 Sandifer Place on Friday, July 30th from 3-5pm.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her name to Spartanburg Regional Hospice and Spartanburg Humane Society.

Susan “Susie” Warner passed away peacefully in her home on July 27, 2021 surrounded by loved ones. She is survived by her devoted husband of 49 years, Lawrence Warner of Marion, MA, her 2 loving children and 4 adoring grandchildren.

Per Susie’s request, there will not be a public service. To celebrate Susie’s life, please consider a donation to the Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library in Branford, CT.

Sylvia Mason Chisholm Evans died Wednesday, September 8, 2021. She was raised at Mass Audubon, Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary by her late parents Ed Mason, founding director and Mina Mason, founding mother. Along with her sister Patsy Mason, who died just 5 days earlier, here they formed the foundation for the rest of their lives. Sylvia was at all times at her best as a wife, mother, landscape architect, and a world traveler. She leaves behind her husband Dennis Evans, daughter COL. Lisa Chisholm US Army ret., son Chris Chisholm and his wife Kristin Chisholm, and grandchildren, Nick, Jason and Matt Chisholm. She was predeceased by her first husband Lee Chisholm, former town planner for Farmington. In lieu of flowers or gifts, hold on to somebody you love, they may not always be with you. Goodbye Sylvia, my love Dennis. Our thanks to all our new friends at Avon Health Center.

Cornelia (Nina) Porter Ford of Stamford, CT, beloved wife of the late Thomas R. Ford, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at her home in Stamford. She was born in Tucson, AZ, to Rutger and Bernice (Walkley) Porter, who operated a nursery and landscaping business on land that is now the Tucson Botanical Gardens. Thus began Nina’s lifelong passion for horticulture, botany, and conservationism. After her graduation from Vassar College in 1957, she and Tom settled in West Hartford, CT, where they raised four children over many happy decades. There, Nina cultivated verdant gardens filled with diverse flowers, herbs, vegetables, and shrubs. The family spent every summer in Center Sandwich, NH, in a setting little changed by modern times. She had a love of music and encouraged it in her children. At the piano she led sing-alongs with family and guests, especially at Christmastime. In the 1970s she played banjo and sang in a folk group. Later she played electric piano in a cover band of popular music. In 1976 she bought Herbs and Whey, a natural-foods store in Avon, CT, of which she was the proprietor for four years. In 1983, She joined the Connecticut Unit of the Herb Society of America, serving as Vice-Chairman in 1989. In 1987, she graduated from Central Connecticut State College with a master’s degree in biology. In 1990, Bat Conservation International received Nina’s permission to publish her teaching unit “A Year in the Life of the Little Brown Bat” in an Educators Activity Book. Nina was a quiet feminist and a life-long spiritual seeker. During 1996-97, she was a student in the inaugural class of the Women’s Leadership Institute at the Hartford Seminary. After the passing of her husband, Nina moved to southern Connecticut to be closer to those children and grandchildren living on the East Coast. Throughout her life, Nina sought personal connection with everyone she encountered, always asking their name and taking genuine interest in their lives. Strangers were simply friends she hadn’t met yet. Nina is survived by her loving family; her children, Becky and Nick Lai of Stamford, CT, Dan and Mary Ford of Ridgefield, CT, Ted Ford and Anne Fitzgerald of Seattle, WA, and Andrew and Molly Ford of Seattle, WA; grandchildren, Sarah Ford, Roxanne and Sophie Lai, and Audrey and George Ford; brother-in-law, Richard Hill of Tucson, AZ; sister- and brother-in-law, Mimi and Christopher Stahler of Wenatchee, WA; sister-in-law, Eli Ford of Cape Cod, MA; and several nieces, nephews, cousins as well as an abundance of loving friends. Contributions in Cornelia’s memory may be made to the Tucson Botanical Gardens, Bat Conservation International, or The Miriam Therese Winter Chair in Transformative Leadership and Spirituality at The Hartford Seminary.

Susan Barbara Martula, 80, retired principal clarinetist with the Albany Symphony, died on June 28, 2021 at her home in Troy, New York.

Susan, the daughter of the late John and Helen Martula, grew up in Hadley, Massachusetts. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Smith College in 1962, and afterwards studied at the Paris Conservatory and worked for Nadia Boulanger. Upon her return to the States, she studied clarinet with Leon Russianoff at Manhattan School of Music, receiving a Master of Fine Arts in 1964. As a professional clarinetist Susan continued to study throughout her career and was a student of Larry Combs and, in later years, Steve Hartman. In addition to her work with the Albany Symphony she was principal clarinetist of the Berkshire Symphony. She also played with the American Symphony Orchestra under Leopold Stokowski, the Colorado Philharmonic, Lake George Opera, and others. She has recorded with Albany Records, New World, and Nonesuch.

Susan served on the faculties of Skidmore College and Williams College, where she was artist associate, led the Williams Clarinet Choir and performed with the Williams College Chamber Players. She was adjunct instructor in music at Emma Willard School and was the founding conductor of the orchestra.

Throughout her distinguished career, Susan taught and nurtured scores of young musicians. Her home was fondly referred to as “Camp Martula” by artists who traveled to the Capital Region to perform with the Albany Symphony. She took great delight in hosting her visiting colleagues, and regaled them with legendary dinners precisely timed to get the group to the concert hall on schedule.

Susan was fun to be around. She was charming, gracious, and had a keen wit. People enjoyed her elegant sense of fashion and great smile. She displayed these same qualities during her recent years of treatment for her illness and the pandemic. She stayed as active as possible, even swimming long distances in the ocean which was a lifelong passion, and continuing her Pilates, another passion. Most importantly, she planned and did joyful things like getting ice cream with those she loved. Susan knew how to enjoy every moment that was given to her.

She was predeceased by her husband of 29 years, David A. Perry, M.D. She is survived by brothers Dick (Ann) Martula and David (Tanyss) Martula, nephew Stefan and niece Rose (David), grandniece Brooke, stepdaughter Noelle and stepson Nathan (Amy), goddaughter Deslyn (Alex), and eight grandchildren: Kage, Kevin, Cameron, Mia, MacKenzie, Isabelle, Penda and Charlotte.

Thank you to the Community Hospice of Rensselaer County and all the health care workers, especially Bibi, Jennifer, Dee, and Wendy, who assisted Susan during her illness. Special thanks also to Susan’s circle of deeply devoted friends, especially Ellen, Victor, and Mitsuko.

Burial will be private and a memorial service is planned for later this year.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Susan B. Martula to the Albany Symphony Orchestra Inc., 19 Clinton Avenue, Albany, NY 12207, or to the Berkshire Symphony, Bernhard Music Center, 54 Chapin Hall Drive, Williamstown, MA 01267.

Christine Anne Pratt, 71, a thirty-year resident of Belchertown in Western MA, passed away on March 27, 2021 in Northampton, surrounded by close friends. Christine’s life was devoted to the service of mankind through work for social justice and racial amity and her lifetime commitment to spiritual development. Most of all, Christine wanted to touch people’s hearts, to inspire, and transform. She touched many hearts.

Christine was the daughter of Lyndon E. and Ann (neé Gray) Pratt and grew up in Norwell, MA. She graduated from Northampton School for Girls (now Williston Northampton School) and New England College, 1972, majoring in Education.

Throughout her school years, Christine was active in athletics, theater and the creative and literary arts. She acted in stage plays in Massachusetts and Connecticut. For over twenty years, Christine worked as a teacher and administrator in early childhood education. Both of her parents instilled in Christine a deep love and appreciation of literature. For the last two decades of her life, Christine developed her craft in writing and was lauded as a gifted poet. Her poems are published in many literary journals and anthologies.

Christine joined the Baha’i Faith after college. She served on Baha’i Institutions in many capacities and positions. Behind all of Christine’s pursuits was the ideal of a unified and diverse world standing on the pillars of justice and love. She brought a spiritual perspective to community building. Her commitment to social and racial justice was reflected in her membership in the NAACP and long-standing involvement in Citizens for Racial Amity Now in Amherst, MA. Christine was also an avid student of native indigenous teaching.

Quabbin Reservoir in Belchertown, with its wildness and expanses of water, was a place of spiritual connection for Christine. As a child and as an adult, she found inspiration and peace through her long walks in the woods. Nature was her companion and teacher.

The spirit of Christine lives on in her poetry and in her dedicated life of service. Christine leaves four brothers, three nieces, and six great nieces and nephews as well as many close friends.

Judith Berg died on December 10, 2020 at the age of 82. Judy was born in Fall River, MA, daughter of the late Joseph Schwartz and the late Lillian (Baskin) Schwartz, both of Fall River; and sister of the late E. Robert Schwartz. She leaves behind her daughter, Paula Berg and granddaughter, Lila Berg, of Wayland, MA, and her son and daughter-in-law, Steven Berg and Cynthia Scuderi, of Portsmouth, NH. As a child, Judy loved singing, art and social events. She received her teaching degree from Bridgewater State College when her youngest child was four, beginning a thirty -two year career as an elementary special education teacher in the Fall River Public Schools. She was beloved by her many students and will be remembered as a patient, dedicated and stable presence. Judy volunteered for many years for the Samaritans, where she worked the suicide prevention hotline. She was a loving and present daughter, mother and grandmother. After she raised her children, Judy enjoyed sharing many great years as a foster mother to one of her former students. Judy was fun-loving, carefree and loved to travel. She was a caring friend and trusted confidante to many, enjoying many deep and lifelong friendships. Judy lived in the moment and embraced every day. Judy was most happy with the time she spent with her granddaughter, Lila, whom she loved with her whole heart and soul. A Graveside Service will be held at 12noon in Temple Beth El Cemetery, 4620 N. Main Street, Fall River, on December 11, 2020, all are welcome. A celebration of Judy’s life will be held when it is safe to gather in person.