It is with great sadness that the family of Dong Kingman shares news of his passing on February 4, 2022.
Since early retirement from Marsh & McLennan, he enjoyed lawn bowling in Central Park, restorative yoga and swimming at the JCC, vacations in Bermuda, art museum openings, concerts at Lincoln Center, Broadway plays, and all that NYC has to offer. He thought of his friends often.
His wife, Elaine, and children, Melissa and Jonathan, plan to inter Dong alongside his father at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin on West 46th Street in Manhattan. A small service will be held in the summer when the family can gather.
If you wish to celebrate Dong’s memory, please consider sending a donation to Studio in a School (www.studioinaschool.org/support); the Central Park Conservancy (www.centralparknyc.org/donate); or any charity or organization of your choice.

Chester Dean “Chet” Andrews, 91, died unexpectedly Feb. 25, 2022. He was born June 5, 1930, to Stuart F. and Glenda M. Andrews of Stamford. Chet married Joan Wells Kellogg May 10, 1952. They raised four children and enjoyed a wonderful marriage. Joan preceded him in death.

Chet will be remembered for the countless lives he touched, through both his professional work and his extensive volunteer service. At Stone Ridge in Mystic, where he and Joan moved in 2013, Chet served on the Resident Council, Employee Appreciation Committee, and Welcome Committee. He sang in the Stone Ridge Choir and helped manage the Country Store. He passionately led efforts to secure scholarships for the young employees pursuing further education.

Chet spent his entire career in banking. In 1971, after 22 years at the State National Bank of Connecticut, he moved to Dorset, Vt., to become senior vice president of Factory Point National Bank in nearby Manchester. He became president in 1982, and was elected chair of the Board of Directors in 1992. He also served during this period as president of the Vermont Bankers Association and as vice president for Vermont of the American Bankers Association.

He retired in 1996, after 47 years in banking. He and Joan then relocated to Williamsburg, Va. During this period, they travelled extensively, with especially memorable trips to Scotland, Russia, Tanzania, Peru, and the Galapagos.

Chet was active as a volunteer in many community and civic activities, starting at age 14 as an elevator operator at the Stamford Hospital. Volunteer work was an important part of his life. In Vermont, this included service as chair of the Dorset School Board, president of the Dorset Field Club, president of the Dorset Prudential Committee, chair of the Weston Hadden Nursing Home and treasurer of the Dorset Nursing Association. After relocating to Virginia, he served as treasurer of the Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Auxiliary, board member and secretary of the Williamsburg Country Club, and a volunteer counselor with the VITA Income Tax Program sponsored by Colonial Williamsburg.

He served in the U.S. Army Reserves for eight years, obtaining the rank of sergeant first class.

Chet was educated at the Williston Northampton School, New York University School of Banking, and the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin.

Chet remained physically active until the day he died. He played golf through last summer, and never missed his morning walk. He loved games of all sorts. He had a competitive streak, but never took himself too seriously. When the family gathered for his birthday last June and engaged after lunch in a lively game of corn hole, Chet was determined to not let anyone get the better of him.

Chet spent part of almost every summer at a rustic island cottage that his grandfather had built on Lake Sunapee, N.H. There he instilled in his children and then grandchildren a deep love for the lake-and of swimming, boating and card games.

He is survived by his children, Jeff Andrews of Redding, Mark Andrews and wife Jenifer of Morrisville, Vt., Kim Andrews of Ledyard, and Susan Piotti and husband John of Belfast, Maine; grandchildren, Tucker, Conor, Tyler, Arlen, Chloe, Anna, John and Liam; and great-grandchildren, Vander, Walter, Letty, Iris and Eliza.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at Stone Ridge. A private graveside service will be held this summer in Dorset, Vt., where Chet will be laid to rest beside his beloved Joan. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Stone Ridge Scholarship Fund, mailed to 186 Jerry Brown Road, Mystic, CT, 06355.

Robert Salisbury Birch, 83, died peacefully in Lake Wales, FL on February 7, 2022. He was born in Boonton, NJ on March 13, 1938 to Elizabeth and Foster F. Birch III. He grew up in Boonton and spent his summers in Cape Cod, MA where he was a wicked backyard croquet player and a crafty tennis competitor. He had a lifelong love for the stock market, even though his first investment, at age nine, was in a worthless penny stock sold by a slicker over the phone. His father made him follow through on the purchase because he had given his word, and he gained an enduring lesson. He started as a runner on Wall Street as a teenager, became an intern in his college years, and an analyst and broker before rising to Managing Director at Oppenheimer and Company in a career there that spanned 55 years. He attended Brown University, where as president of his fraternity, Sigma Chi, he is remembered for his ability to run it with a profit without cutting out the fun. After graduating with a degree in Political Science, he pursued an MBA from Cornell University and then moved to his first job at A.G. Becker in New York City. There, he learned the business, having the pioneering Jane Brett, one of the first female stock analysts in a world of men, and the legendary Bob Wilson, as mentors. Over the years, his colleagues laughed at his many pithy sayings (“The advice is free, but it could be very costly,” “Patience can be rewarded as long as you’re not sitting on stone eggs,” or “Buy straw hats in the winter”) which they enjoyed so much they eventually compiled and circulated in a little red booklet entitled, “The Sayings of Chairman Birch.” All the while, they celebrated his shrewd market wisdom and admired his daring and unconventional investment style. He loved his many friends and dogs, especially Berry, a gift one Christmas. And his friends loved him for his jovial nature, loyalty, and generous spirit. He was thoughtful, remembering birthdays, sending flowers for all occasions (but candies on sale to his wife on February 15th), delighting in Christmas caroling, and applauding others’ accomplishments far and wide. He was a tremendous father and grandfather, always present, loving, and patient. He enjoyed giving advice, loved bargains and auctions, and delighted in a good joke with a merry twinkle in his eye. He had a grand tradition of presenting house guests with hats, bags, or shirts – all adorned with his made-up family motto, “Melius suspendi est ut lupum quam ovem.” (Better be hung for a wolf than a sheep.) He was a generous and engaged member in the communities where he lived in New York and Cape Cod, serving on the boards of The Bridge Fund of New York, Dancing Classrooms NYC and the Bourne Conservation Trust. He was an Elder, Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, a Trustee, Brick Church, both in New York City and served on his coop board for years. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Eugenie L. Birch, his children and their spouses: Foster (Aileen Kim), Rebecca (Mark Pankoff), and Victoria (Yves Vandeplas), and his seven grandchildren: Robert, Lawrence, and Elizabeth Birch; Hugo, Augusta, Phebe, and Fredericka Pankoff. A memorial will be held in the spring. Those wishing to celebrate his memory, please send donations to the Bourne Conservation Trust: (https://www.bourne conservationtrust.org/) or The Bridge Fund Inc of New York for Preventing Homelessness https://thebridgefund.org/

Arthur Bailey Locke of West Granby, CT, passed away on Sunday, January 30, 2022, at home surrounded by his family. He was the son of Alice Bailey and William S. Locke. Born in Hartford in 1936, Art moved to West Hartford a few years later where he lived until moving to Bloomfield in 1961. A graduate of Williston Northampton School, Hobart College, and Harvard Law School, Art joined the law firm Murtha, Cullina (then Shephard, Murtha, and Merritt) in Hartford where he practiced law until his retirement in 1992. An outdoorsman at heart, Art enjoyed gardening, splitting wood, building stone walls, and making maple syrup. He liked walking around in the woods, especially after moving to West Granby in 1994 where he could walk in “his” woods.
Art is survived by his wife of 56 years, Aurelle Smoot Locke; three daughters, Alison Perchuk (Andrew) of Santa Monica, CA, Amanda Locke (Jonathan Chesler) of New Milford, CT, and Katharine Locke (Julian Wiggins) of Orono, ME; and his granddaughter, Hazel Bailey Wiggins.
Calling hours will be Sunday, February 6, 1:00 pm at Hayes-Huling & Carmon Funeral Home, 364 Salmon Brook Street, Granby CT. A celebration of his life will follow at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Center for Northern Woodlands Education, PO Box 270, Lyme, NH 03768, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Paul W. Brown, Jr., 89, of Westborough, MA, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on January 27, 2022.

Paul was born in Northampton on September 15, 1932 and was raised in Hadley where he attended Hopkins Academy. He graduated from Williston Academy in 1951 and from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1955 and then joined the Army where he was stationed in Germany. Paul was a civil engineer who started his own construction company, P. W. Brown, Inc. in Westborough. He took great pride in the construction projects that his company completed. He was a devoted husband, loving father, and adored grandfather. He got the most joy out of spending time with his family and friends. Paul will be remembered for his generosity and kindness to all.

Paul is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Betty Brown, and their four children: Paul W. Brown III, Douglas Brown and his wife Robin, Susan Swirbalus and her husband Robert, Kristin Nyren and her husband Jeffrey. Paul leaves four grandchildren: Jessica Whittier and her husband Christopher, Justin Brown, Paige and Brooke Nyren. He leaves his brother, Raymond ’55 and wife Cathleen; sisters-in-law Grayce Jones and Betty Jane Carlson; nephew Steven Jones; and nieces Karen Golding ‘81 and Amy Brown ‘84. He was predeceased by his parents, Paul and Ruth Brown; sisters-in-law Logie Brown and Evelyn Carlson; brothers-in-law Robert Carlson, Calvin Jones, and John Carlson; and nephew Bradley Jones.

Family and friends are invited to gather for calling hours on Thursday, February 3, 2022 from 4 PM to 7 PM at Pickering & Son Westborough Funeral Home, 62 West Main St., Westborough. Paul’s Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, February 4, 2022 at 10 AM at the First United Methodist Church, 120 West Main St., Westborough. Burial will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery in Westborough. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Paul’s honor to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Duncan Roy McMartin, in his 71st year, loving husband of Gwen Rich-McMartin of Harrington Sound Road, Bermuda. Duncan is also survived by his sister Marcia McMartin; sister-in-law Katherine Rich; cousins Charlie McMartin, Duncan Cameron McMartin and Bruce McMartin; godson Michael Midgett; goddaughters Alexandra McMartin and Jacquelyn Midgett. Duncan was predeceased by his father Duncan McMartin and mother Hilda (Ferguson) McMartin. A graveside service will be held Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. at the family plot at St. John’s Church, Pembroke. In accordance with Covid-19 restrictions attendees are required to wear masks and adhere to social distancing. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to PALS www.pals.bm or Bermuda SPCA www.spca.bm.

Clayton Thomas Hardon of Fox Chapel, PA, died peacefully surrounded by his family on January 11th, 2022, at the age of 91. He is survived by his wife, Sally Flannery Hardon and son, Clay Jr. ’78 (Claire ’79), daughter, Meg, daughter, Kelly O’Leary (Frank), son, Chris ’81, son, Tony (Michele) and daughter, Sara Aros (Steve), plus his eight grandchildren, including Tommy (Donna), Michael (Ida), Kelley, William, Margot, Jack, Callie, and Addie. He was raised in Longmeadow, Massachusetts by his mother, Elizabeth Coulter Hardon, an immigrant from Scotland. He attended Williston Academy in Easthampton, MA, and graduated from Duke University with a degree in mechanical engineering. He served as a navigator bombardier in the Strategic Air Command of the United States Air Force. Following his service in the Air Force, he came to Pittsburgh to start his career at Westinghouse Electric as an engineer in their nuclear division. It was in Pittsburgh that he met his beloved wife, Sally, and where they raised their six children. His entrepreneurial ventures started with a steel fabrication business that served the steel and electronics industries, followed by a commercial signage business. He was an active member of his many communities including Judge of Elections in Fox Chapel, Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, Foxwall Emergency Medical Services, Fox Chapel Hackers golf group, and the Pittsburgh Field Club. As a lifelong athlete and competitor, Clay played ice hockey, football, squash, paddle tennis and had a lifetime enjoyment of golf. He passed his love of paddle and golf on to his kids and grandkids who enjoyed competing with him on the course and the court. Cover-to-cover reader of The New Yorker, faithful completer of the New York Times Sunday crossword puzzle and jazz aficionado, he appreciated creativity, philosophy, and the arts. Clay approached life with an easy-going and unpretentious warmth. He will be remembered with love and fondness by his family and friends for his natty dress, dry wit, and grateful spirit. Friends will be received on Thursday, January 20, 2022, from 1:00 to 1:45 p.m. in the Atrium of Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church followed by a Funeral Service at 2 p.m. in the Main Sanctuary. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made in memory of Clayton Hardon to Foxwall Emergency Medical Services, 749 Hemlock Hollow Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238.

We lost a kind, sensitive, wonderful friend when John K. Koerner passed away on August 20, 2021. He was born in Flint, Michigan, on April 24, 1945, into an incredibly loving family. His father, Carl, worked for General Motor, and climbed the executive ladder in the foundry division. The family was moved throughout the Midwest, ultimately landing in the corporate headquarters in Saginaw, Michigan. John also had an incredible mother, Madelon, and leaves behind brother Jim and sister Martha. Oldest son John grew up mostly in Saginaw and attended Arthur Hill High School where he swam competitively and had a wonderful group of friends. He played the guitar, had a wonderful voice, and sang with a bunch of his buddies. And they had fun.

John was aspiring to attend medical school, and thinking prep school might improve his options, he spent his last two years of high school at Williston. He attended Colgate University where he majored in English and then entered the VISTA program. They had him providing counselling for the underserved in Portland, Oregon. He explored being an electrician and then achieved a degree in programming; but, along the way, he was developing a deepening attraction to serving people, especially in a spiritual way.

John moved to Los Angeles and took a job at the University of Southern California as a Benefits Manager, assisting employees. While in Los Angeles John became increasingly more involved in spirituality and multiple religions; he traveled and spent time in the Middle East and Egypt.

When he returned home, he moved into an apartment in Marina Del Rey, retiring and focusing on spirituality. He made a life of going to the beach, visiting the Whole Earth café, being with friends and meditating. We miss his incredible smile and how easy it was to “catch up” with John and laugh all the way through it. John revered his family and friends, and let it be known that he loved us all and hoped that we would always know that. We do.

It is with great sadness that we share the loss of Alan R. Epstein, who passed away in his sleep on the afternoon of December 15, 2021. He was born to Ethel Baume Epstein and Sidney Epstein. He graduated from Williston Academy and attended Columbia University.

At the age of 13, Alan decided he wanted to become a photographer. And, as he would say, he lived photography every day for decades. He opened his first studio, called The Studio, in 1970 on Maple Street in Holyoke. He operated there for ten years. He then opened Epstein Photography with his wife Laura (Angie) Roy-Epstein. It was a gathering place for artists and creatives, who still speak of him fondly.

Alan was an award-winning visual collaborator and photographic artist who created powerful images. In his studio, Alan recreated the morning light and made cut flowers look like they were dancing in the wind.

Alan will be deeply missed for his inappropriate sense of humor, his cooking, his wild intelligence, and his capacity for long and inspiring conversation. And he will continue to be loved for all these things and so many more.

There is simply no one else like him.

He is survived by his partner Carole Guthrie; his four children, David Epstein, Audra Epstein, Mischa Epstein, and Max Epstein; and grandchildren Isabella Epstein, Gabriel Epstein, and Alexa Wilson.