Tag Archives: Williston Academy

Frank Lemanski ’52

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Frank S. Lemanski, 82, formerly of Paradise Drive, Easthampton, passed away peacefully Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2104, at Genesis Health Care Center in Westfield.

Frank was born Dec. 2, 1931, in Northampton, son of the late Walter E. and Stella (Boltz) Lemanski. He was educated at the former Sacred Heart of Jesus School, a graduate of Williston Academy both in Easthampton, and had attended Springfield Technical College.

Frank was a U.S. veteran of the Korean War.

He was employed for many years at the Douglas Galleries in Deerfield. Frank was a communicant of the former Sacred Heart of Jesus Church for most of his life, and now a communicant of Our lady of the Valley Parish in Easthampton. He was a member of the American Legion Dalton LaVallee Post 224 and had been a Little League coach in Easthampton for several years.

Frank leaves his caring brother Chester Lemanski of Colorado Springs, Colorado; his loving four nieces and nephew, Stella McVicker, Vera Broyles, Carol Breen, Kathleen Bachand and Walter Lemanski; his adored grandniece and nephew Catherine Breen and her friend Matt Thomas and Donald Breen, his wife Christina and their daughter Ella. Frank was predeceased by his beloved siblings Celia Torrey, Stanley Lemanski and Walter E. Lemanski.

Posted in: 1950s

James Petrosky ’68

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petroskyJames J. Petrosky, 64, of Windsor, passed away at his home on Monday, August 25, 2014.

He was the loving husband of Theresa (Wydra) Petrosky for 30 years.

Born on February 13, 1950 in New Britain CT, to Bernice (Mahoney) Petrosky and the late Joseph Petrosky, he grew up in Burlington and has been a Windsor resident since 1994.

James proudly served his country in the U.S. Air National Guard for over 6 years. He enjoyed woodworking and fishing. He retired after many years of working as a mechanical engineer.

In addition to his wife Theresa and his mother Bernice Petrosky of Ft. Meyers, FL; he is survived by his daughter Carly Fortin and her husband Alan of Southington; two grandchildren, Emerson and Alexis; his two sisters, Arlene Franchini and her husband Phil of Ft. Meyers, FL and Joan Clifford of Westfield, MA and many nieces and nephews.

Posted in: 1960s

John Paul Rutherford Falconer ’43

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John FaulconerJohn Paul Rutherford (Rudd) Falconer died peacefully at his Big Rock Road oasis on July 21, 2014, in his 89th year.

Rudd was born in Seneca Falls, New York on Aug. 24, 1925. He was the eldest child of Navy Captain Jonathan Paul and Eloise (Brown) Falconer and the grandson of one of the first woman doctors in New York State, Dr. C. Anna Brown. He grew up in the Finger Lakes area of upstate New York. Cayuga Lake was his stomping grounds and perhaps the reason he was most happy living by large bodies of water. Fresh or salty, it didn’t matter, as long as he could sail on it or catch fish from it.

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Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1943

Winslow Spofford ’52

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Winslow SpoffordWinslow M. Spofford, 80, passed away on Tuesday, November 4, 2014 at UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester.

He was born May 26, 1934 in Holden and was a life-long resident. He attended Holden High School and graduated from Williston Academy in Easthampton. He earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. While at WPI, he was an enthusiastic member of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. He regularly attended high school and college reunions and greatly enjoyed reconnecting with his friends during these times.

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Posted in: 1950s

David Ming-Li Lowe ’54

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David LoweDavid Ming-Li Lowe ’54, passed away on September 24, 2013, in Los Angeles, California.

Born in Shanghai to a father who was a foreign-service officer for the Chinese Nationalist Party, the Kuomingtang, and a graduate of the University of Chicago, David was educated in Calcutta, India, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the U.S., and was, in his early years, “a mirror of the political, social, and economic make-up of my diplomat parents.”

At the encouragement of his older brother, David enrolled at Reed. “My two years at Reed were years of change and discovery. For someone as naive as I, secluded from society by gated prep schools, the freedom of action, the newly made acquaintance of the other sex, and the involvement of weightier issues all helped to form the person I am today.”

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Posted in: 1950s

John Loeb ’37

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John LoebJohn Eric Loeb, 95, of Branford, passed away on October 28, 2014.

He was born August 11, 1919 in New Haven, son of Adeline Klein Loeb and Morton Loeb.

He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Rhoda Leshine Loeb and his son Michael (Riva) of Toronto and sister Prudence of Walpole, MA.

John attended Hopkins and Williston Academy. He graduated from Franklin and Marshall College.

He was a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force during WWII, stationed in Guam. John was an Editor of the Branford Review and President of The Branford Printing Company. He was a member of the Branford Rotary Club and the New Haven and Branford Historical Societies. He was one of the foremost collectors of antique candle snuffers. In his retirement years his primary focus was the development and administration of the Annual Blackstone Library Book Drive. John lived a long, healthy life and shared his intelligence, wit, charm, and good humor with family and friends.

He will be missed.

Posted in: 1930s

Kendall Lewis ’39

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Kendall LewisKendall Lewis died peacefully, after a brief illness, on Thursday, October 30, at Piper Shores in Scarborough, ME.

Mr. Lewis was born in Abington, PA, the son of James McKeen Lewis and Alice Kendall Lewis. He first met his wife of nearly 66 years, Betsey Converse Lewis, when they were both teenagers living in Stony Creek, CT.

Mr. Lewis graduated from Williston Academy in 1939, and went on to Yale College, but left to serve in the Navy during World War II. His service was mostly in the Pacific aboard the light cruiser, the USS Denver. After the war he returned to Yale and completed his degree in Industrial Engineering, graduating as a member of the class of 1943. During the war Mr. Lewis re-encountered Betsey Converse and asked for her hand. They were married on December 4, 1948 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in New Haven, CT.

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Posted in: 1930s, Class of 1939

John F. Murphy, Jr. ’47

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MurphyJohn F. Murphy, Jr., 87, of Milton, formerly of Northampton, died Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014, at the Colonial Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Weymouth.

Born March 16, 1927, in Northampton, he was the son of the late John Francis Murphy and Margaret Mary (Hayes) Murphy. He graduated from Northampton High School in 1945 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy the same year. He was honorably discharged as a Seaman First Class and received the World War II Victory, American Area and Asiatic Pacific Area medals. He attended Williston Academy and St. Michael’s College from 1947 to 1949. He graduated from Boston College Law School in 1952.

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Posted in: 1940s

John Costello ’41

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Picture1John Joseph Costello, Jr., 93, formerly of Northford, beloved husband of the late Nancy Gere Costello, loving father, grandfather, great grandfather, and dear friend, died peacefully, Sunday, October 19, 2014 at Talmadge Park in East Haven.

John was born October 5, 1921 in Springfield, Mass, a son of the late John J. and Loretta Bradley Costello. He was a graduate of Williston Academy, Easthampton, MA and Syracuse University.

John was a Manufacturer’s Representative working most of his life with scopes, tools, and gun manufacturers.

A life-long member of the NRA, he was an avid sportsman and gun enthusiast. He was an active North Branford Rotarian and for many years an usher at St. Monica Church.

He is survived by a son, John J. Costello, III and his wife Patricia, of Garland, ME; a daughter, Elizabeth C. Buonocore and her husband Gary, of Guilford; five grandchildren, Janette (Todd) Schiavi, Sarah Buonocore, Jason (Dominica) Costello, Sean LeTarte, and Thea (Alan) Douglass, and ten cherished great grandchildren. He also leaves his very special friend and long-time companion, Amellia Zaehringer, of Northford; a brother-in-law, George LeRoy, of Cape Cod, and several nieces and nephews. John was predeceased by a brother, Robert Costello, and a sister, Barbara LeRoy.

Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1941

Donald Cutting ’53

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CuttingDonald W. Cutting, 79, of Honolulu, an architect and a Connecticut National Guard veteran, died in Honolulu.   The family had known for months because he had a terminal illness. He was active up to two days before he died, though certainly progressively less active.

He was born in Massachusetts and graduated from Williston Academy in 1953.  Don loved his Williston experience and the friendships he made. Over the years, he “dragged” his wife to several reunions and some of his Williston friends became her’s as well.

He is survived by wife Merrill W., daughters Sarah Cutting Mills and Colby E. Van Alen, and five grandchildren.

Posted in: 1950s