Tag Archives: Williston Academy

Claude Miquelle ’42

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MiqeulleEarly in the morning of August fifth Claude Miquelle passed away at Tobey Hospital in Wareham, MA. On July fourth Claude had just celebrated his ninety first birthday surrounded by family and friends at home in Rochester, MA. Claude succumbed to the complications from having lived a long rich life.

Claude was born on July 4, 1925 to mother Renee Longy and father Georges Miquelle in Boston, MA. Both parents were successful professional classical musicians. When he was about eighteen months old Claude went to live with his maternal grandparents in Mareuil-Colbert in northern France. It was there on a country road just outside of town that Claude, when walking with his grandfather, witnessed his grandfather’s fatal heart attack. In 1930 at the age of five Claude returned to the states to live with his mother and entered school not knowing a word of English. Claude was enrolled in Williston Academy for fifth grade and graduated high school from that private boarding school in 1942.

In 1943 the winds of war took Claude into the Navy where he completed ROTC at Tufts and went on to officer training school. In 1945 Claude skippered a one hundred and forty five foot converted Tuna Clipper, now a supply ship, across the Pacific.

Discharged in 1946 Claude quickly married, had three children, built a new home for his new family, and embarked on what would become a long and outstanding career as a residential architect. Beginning his career with Royal Barry Wills Claude quickly parlayed his experience into his own design firm where he could delve into the work he loved above all else, creative design. His career was marked by many award winning projects, his sense of design one step ahead and sophisticated by his spatial genius.

Claude married Sarah Brown in 1989 and they lived happily together in their lovely home in Rochester that they designed and built together. In that home, surrounded by the beauty of his own design, Claude spent his last days.

Claude is survived by his wife Sarah Miquelle, daughter Debra Prudden and husband Peter Prudden (’66) of Andover MA., son Dale Miquelle (’72) and wife Marina Miquelle of Tierney Russia, son Dana Miquelle (’69) of Bozeman, MT, step-daughter Sandy Panek and husband Jeff Panek of Wickford, RI, step-son Chris Brown of Goshen, NY, twelve grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Posted in: 1940s

Daniel T. Griffin III, ’62

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griffin On July 31, 2016, Daniel Thomas Griffin III died peacefully and of natural causes. He was born on October 26, 1943, the son of Daniel T. and Eileen Griffin of Holyoke. He was raised on Morgan Street and went to St. Jerome School. At Williston Academy in Easthampton, MA, he played football, hockey and lacrosse. After graduating, he attended Boston University and played hockey and then transferred to American International College. After college, he joined the U.S. Army and served two tours of duty in Vietnam, attaining the rank of Sergeant. He worked in the family business, Central Package Store on Dwight St. in Holyoke and then at Commercial Distributing in Westfield, MA. He married Margaret Ballard and lived in South Hadley. For many years, he owned and operated Pink Swan Antiques on Cherry St. in Holyoke. After recovering from a serious illness in 2004, he moved to Cape Cod; and then in 2010 to Jay, OK to be close to his daughter and grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sister, Mary Maginnis. He is survived by his daughter, Lee Griffin of Aston, OK; grandchildren Ellen, Ethan, and Elise; his former wife Margaret; his brother Robert, and his nephew and niece, Frank and Eileen Maginnis.

Posted in: 1960s

Edward Spence Wilcox ’62

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Spence Wilcox, 70Edward Spence Wilcox of Griggstown died on September 15, 2015 at University Medical Center of Princeton after a four-year battle with prostate cancer. Born in Passaic in 1944, Spence was raised in Rutherford and spent summers in Sparta, NJ. A graduate of Newark Academy ’63 and Middlebury College ’67 (English), he took classes at Boston Architectural Center in 1973 while heading a contracting business in Boston and Cambridge. In the 1980s he studied computer science and became a technical writer, first at Bell Labs, then at UNIX System Labs and HP. In retirement he was a relentless gardener & nurseryman, a passionate music lover (Bill Evans, James Booker, Alfred Brendel, Aretha, Townes Van Zandt, Eva Cassidy, Altan, Youssou N’Dour, Buena Vista Social Club), a grinning contradancer, a world-class hunter-gatherer (craigslist), a thoughtful poker player, and an enthusiastic member of the Princeton Country Dancers governing committee. He is survived by his wife, Kathy Wilcox; son, Matthew Wilcox Tenny (Manon Tenny) of Milton, VT; daughter, Emma Wilcox (Evonne Davis) of Newark; brother, Donald Wilcox of Denville; and grandsons, Addison and Damion Tenny, of Milton, VT.

Posted in: 1960s

John D. Anthony, Jr. ’45

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john anthonyCDR. John David Anthony, Jr. USNRET. died on April 17, 2016. John is survived by his loving wife, Susie, their 5 children, 13 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Born in Detroit, MI in 1927, he grew up on Cape Cod during the Great Depression. Enlisting in the Navy during the Korean conflict in 1948, he became a fighter pilot, served honorably for 25 years and retired in 1971 to Jacksonville, FL. That year John began his lifelong entrepreneurial pursuits, which culminated in his and Susie’s final business, the Bayard Country Store antique mall, the first in Jacksonville. They joyfully retired to St. Augustine, FL in 2001, and John played golf, his passion, to the very end.

Posted in: 1940s

Jacob H. Deutschmann ’48

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deutschJacob Hersch Deutschmann, of Sierra Vista, known to family and friends as Jack, passed away on Aug. 8, 2013. He was born on May 9, 1930, in Newton, Mass., the son of Arnold and Beatrice Deutschmann. As a young man, he attended Tufts University in Medford, Mass., where he earned a B.A., with a major in history. He joined the Marines during the Korean War, then returned to Massachusetts where he attended Harvard University and earned his MBA. He later lived in New York City, Essex, Conn., and Placitas, N.M. He began his career as a stock market analyst in Boston, then later worked as a stock broker on Wall Street and in Hartford, Conn. He retired at the age of 65 from Fahnstock & Co. in Hartford, Conn. His greatest passion was sailing, and he owned a variety of sail boats over the years following the winds along the East Coast, from Annapolis to Camden, Maine. He was also a Civil War buff, and enjoyed reading about and touring Civil War battlefields.He leaves two step-daughters, Renata Wilke of Sierra Vista and Michelle Truly of Crested Butte, Colo.; son, James of South Africa; three grandchildren, Amanda Tarbescu of Sierra Vista, Michaela Wilke of Sierra Vista, and Jacob Deutschmann of Wilmington, N.C.; great-granddaughter, A’lexus Perry of Sierra Vista; as well as numerous friends and relatives in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. He is also survived by his ex-wife, Edith Tarbescu-Deutschmann, of Albuquerque, N.M., who was his partner for nearly 25 years. Donations may be made in the name of Jacob Deutschmann to dementia research to help find a cure for this devastating disease. His family and friends all over the country hope he’s sailing on the great lake in the sky.

Posted in: 1940s

Edward B. Kerin ’57

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kerinEdward Berchman Kerin died peacefully, surrounded by family, on June 2, 2016 at the age of 77. Edward is survived by his wife, Theresa Downes Kerin, their children, Katherine Kerin, Elizabeth & Kirk Carver, Timothy Whitesell, Patrick & Renee Whitesell, and grandchildren, Grace Nechanicky, Aurora Whitesell, Nell Stevens, Sophia Whitesell, & Rowan Whitesell. The son of Edward John & Josephine Karlsen Kerin, Edward was born on October 6, 1938 in Hartford, CT. He is survived by siblings, William & Louise Kerin, Lynn & Charles Cormier, Leah & John Giblo, and Robert & Randi Kerin, as well as many adored nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister and brother-in-law, Miriam & William Keith. Key experiences shaped Edward’s path.

Struggling to read, his father taught him to love words and literature. He won a scholarship to Williston Academy, which opened his mind further still. He attended Colgate and then joined the U.S. Army, serving for six years and reaching the rank of Lieutenant, reinforcing his belief in loyalty, honor, hard work. He later received his Executive MBA from Columbia University. Having two daughters, and later, two stepsons and many grandchildren, was a great source of joy for Edward, which he shared with Theresa, his wife of 20 years and dearest friend. A 50-year resident of Poughkeepsie, NY, Edward worked for and eventually co-owned Chemprene, in Beacon, NY. He served on many boards, including Vulcan International Corp., Dutchess Golf Club (President), Vassar Warner Home, Greater Southern Dutchess Chamber of Commerce (Chair), & Workforce Development Institute (Chair). With the voice of a lion and the soul of a poet, Edward championed anyone who worked hard, no matter what they achieved. He also championed a life well lived. To help those who deserve a chance at that life, his family asks that contributions in Edward’s memory be given to the Williston Northampton School or the Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie. There are no services.

Posted in: 1950s

Gilbert Knier ’59

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Knier, Gil '59Gil Knier, 75, of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, died on Monday, May 2, 2016.

Gil was a member of First Presbyterian Church and was involved with many other churches and Ministries, especially the Men’s Ministry Network. He served his country in the United States Air Force from 1963-1984 including service in the Viet Nam War.

Gil was preceded in death by his wife, Norma Knier.

Gil is survived by his daughters, Stephanie (Earl, Jr.) Smith of Enid, Ok., Melanie Knier of Gatlinburg, and Katrina (Francis, Jr.) Maughan of Enid, Ok.; son, Steven (Kathryn) Johnson, of Lancaster, Pa.; two step-sons, Thad ( Janice) Narramore of Soddy Daisy, and Phillip (Christy) Narramore, of Signal Mountain; one sister, Melinda Wallis, of Kirkland, Wa., and one brother, Frederick (Paula) Knier, of Vero Beach, Fl.; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many Wallis cousins.

Interment will be at a later date in Chattanooga National Cemetery.

Posted in: 1950s

John Murray ’53

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John MurrayJohn Piper Murray, 81, of Fort Collins, Colorado died in hospice care on Friday, April 29, 2016. John was born in Sioux Lookout, Alberta, Canada to Alexander Keith and Mildred Isabella (Wilson) Murray. He moved to New York, then became a United States citizen at the age of 20. He is a graduate of Williston Academy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and The George Washington University.

He is survived by his wife, Dorcas (Morgan) Murray whom he married September 5, 1959 in Fort Collins, daughters, Laura Murray of Colorado Springs and Carol Cochran and her husband, Tim of Fort Collins; grandchildren, Tatum Cochran of Fort Collins, William Laycock of Colorado Springs, Catriona Cochran of Denver, and Shane Laycock of Colorado Springs. He is also survived by his sister, Suzanne Murray of Canmore, Alberta and brother, Peter Murray (Mary Swanson) of Emigrant, Montana as well as several nieces and nephews.

Posted in: 1950s, Class of 1953

Robert Treat ’45

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Robert TreatRobert Fuller Treat was born on March 6, 1927, in Hartford, Conn. He was the son of Merritt W. and Frances K. Treat.
Bob attended school in West Hartford, Conn., and graduated from the Williston Academy in 1945. After graduating, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he received numerous medals. After the Navy, he graduated from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. He was associated with the family business of Clapp & Treat Hardware in Hartford, Conn., while further pursuits included working for a tour company in Europe, where he did extensive traveling. After returning to the U.S., he worked for Western Publishing in New York City.

In 1961, Bob married Sigrid Johnson, daughter of Carl and Thelma Johnson of Baltimore. Former residents of West Hartford, Conn., and Ridgewood, N.J., the Treats moved in 1971 to Oxford, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where he and Sigrid raised two children. He continued to put his entrepreneurial skills to work in his Easton retail business, Chelsea Cupboard, until retirement.

While in retirement, Bob was a volunteer to the Easton Water fowl Festival for many years. He also had a keen interest in gardening and could be found throughout Oxford helping residents keep their gardens beautiful. He loved all Oxford had to offer. He was a member of the Tred Avon Yacht Club and the Easton Lions Club. On any given day, he would ride his bicycle through town to catch up with friends along the way.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Sigrid Treat of Oxford; two children, Carl Treat and his wife Michael of Easton, and Alison Dalley and her husband Richard of Lambertville, N.J.; and a granddaughter, Kristin Treat.

At Bob’s request, his body was donated for the advancement of science.

Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1945

Richard O’Brien ’56

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Richard O'brienRichard J. O’Brien, 77, of Northampton, devoted son and uncle, passed peacefully Thursday, April 7, 2016, at the Palmer House, Palmer, with his niece Tara (his god-daughter) and close family and friends by his side.

Son of the late Cornelius and Kathryn (Croke) O’Brien, Richard graduated from Chicopee High School in 1955, then attended Williston Academy for a postgraduate year. He was proudly a College of the Holy Cross Crusader, class of 1960.

A natural educator, he taught social studies in the Chicopee school system upon his graduation. Both his identical twin, William, and Richard were very gifted athletes, as highlighted recently with their induction into the Chicopee High School Hall of Fame. No small feat, Richard was also the starting quarterback as an underclassman for the heyday of College of the Holy Cross Football until a game injury left him permanently on the sidelines.

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Posted in: 1950s, Class of 1956