Spring 2002

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Extended Family

Obituaries: 1914-1949

CARL ALLEN ’14, the University’s oldest alumnus, died December 8 in his sleep at a continuing care facility in Westborough. He was 108. Born, raised, and educated in Holyoke, he majored in Chemistry at the Massachusetts Agricultural College before taking a job in Vancouver with General Chemical Co., now a division of Honeywell. During World War I, he worked in a lab that disarmed unexploded bombs and tested German nerve gas variants in France. Two years ago he received France’s highest award, the Legion of Honor, in recognition of his wartime service. He retired for the first time in 1958 and proceeded to work as an economic development specialist for the Virginia Division of Industrial Development in Richmond until 1964. For the next eight years, he volunteered for the Service Corps of Retired Executives in Richmond, VA. He and his wife of 52 years, Ruth Allen, moved to Framingham in 1972, where he focused on his other two loves, golf and the Red Sox. After giving up golf in his 90s because he could no longer see his ball land, he continued to work out at a gym, and after age 100, he learned to use a computer and began actively corresponding by e-mail. He leaves a son, Carl of Basking Ridge, NJ; two daughters, Nancy Bond of Carrollton, Texas, and Judy Staver of Jacksonville, Fl; 15 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren. (Campus Chronicle) WARREN W. SHERWOOD ‘33S, 88, of Athol, formerly of Royalston, died Wednesday (2-6-02) at Quabbin Valley Healthcare. He was born in Royalston, March 19, 1913, the son of Myron W. and Louise (Pratt) Sherwood. He had lived in Royalston most of his life. He worked on the family farm while growing up, attended Royalston schools and graduated in 1931from Athol High School and in 1933 from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst’s Stockbridge School of Agriculture. Sherwood worked at the L.S. Starrett Co. for 36 years, retiring in 1976. He was a member of Starrett Memorial United Methodist Church, the Star-Athol Lodge of Masons and the Athol Singing Men. He was a former member of the Massachusetts State Guard and a joint commander for the Quabbin Valley Healthcare Veterans Club. He enjoyed gardening. His first wife, the former Doris Buckley, died in 1990. Survivors include his wife of 10 years, the former Althea M. Sibley; a son, Thomas of Jamestown, NC; two daughters, Lillian Fessenden of Preston, CT, and Edna Haven of Athol; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; a stepson, Gunnar W. Lambert of Warwich; a step-daughter, Judith Lambert of Flen, Sweden; four stepgrandchildren and a stepgreat-granddaughter. . . (The Recorder 2/7/02) DAVID E. COSGRIFF ’34, of Longmeadow and a longtime resident of Nantucket, died at the Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. Born in Stockbridge, MA, he was a graduate of Central High School in Springfield and the Mass State College in Amherst, currently known as UMass, in 1934. During WW II< he served our country as a pilot in the US Army Aircorps. All during his life, he was a tenor soloist in the churches and synagogues of the Springfield area. He had worked as a contract representative with the Springfield Veteran’s Administration Office and had been retired for 25 years. Mr. Cosgriff leaves his wife of 57 years, the former Helen-Anne Borlen; two daughters, Kaethe M. Pinnell of Yakima, Wa., Nancy E. Marchand of Longmeadow; a son, David H. "Buzz" Cosgriff of Nantucket; and four grandchildren, Stephanie and Jonathan Marchand of Longmeadow, and Jamie and Nancy Pinnell of Yakima, Wa. . . ( Union News1/12/02) ROGER K. PRATT ’37, of Springfield, died Friday at his home. He was born in Brockton, attended Brockton schools, graduating from Brockton High School in 1933. He then attended and graduated from Mass. State College in 1937. For 38 years he was employed at Mass. Mutual Life Insurance Co., in the accounting department. During WW II he served with the 5th Air Force in the Pacific Theater from 1942 to 1945. Mr. Pratt was an active member of Grace Baptist Church where he served in many capacities including treasurer. He also was a member of Civitan Club of Springfield. His wife, the former Elaine R. Cummings, died in 1998. He is survived by a brother-in-law, Milton Cummings of W. Dover, Vt.; a sister-in-law, Shirley C> Garrison of Edmond, OK; nieces, nephews and many friends including Thomas and Carol Dearborn. . . (Sunday Republican2/24/02) JOSEPH F. DUNN ’38, of Wellfleet, formerly of Wilbraham and Springfield, died December 24, 2001, at Cape Cod Hospital at the age of 86. He was the husband of Elizabeth (Hochreiter) Dunn for 56 years. Mr. Dunn was born in East Boston, MA. He graduated from Brighton High School and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1938. During WW II, Mr. Dunn served in the Army Air Force as Training Officer/Instructor. He worked for Monsanto Co. for 32 years in a variety of executive and personnel positions in Springfield, MA, St. Louis, Mo., and Texas City, Texas. He retired to Cape Cod in 1983 to his summer home in Wellfleet. Besides his wife, he is survived by his children, Joseph C. Dunn of Campbell, CA, Peter G. Dunn of Northampton, Patricia Meneghelli of Burnsville, MN, Marguerite Hankowski of Northampton, Elizabeth S. Dunn of Lutherville, MD, and Kathleen Jacobs of Northampton; a sister Grace Marino of West Newton; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two nieces; and a nephew. . . (Union News12/28/01) JOHN EADIE JR. ‘39S, 81, a lifelong resident of Dracut, where he owned an apple orchard for more than six decades and was past president of the Dracut Lions Club, died Friday, Feb. 15, at Holy Family Hospital in Methuen. He was the husband of Charlotte A. (Barrette) Eadie, who died in July 1980. He was born in Lowell on July 5, 1920, a son of the late John and Martha (Lenz) Eadie, Sr. He received his early education in the Dracut schools, and graduated from Dracut High School in1937. He then received a degree in agriculture from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1939. After graduation from college, up until the time of his death, he owned and operated Eadie Apple Orchard in Dracut. He had been actively involved in several apple grower and agricultural associations. Mr. Eadie was a member of Christ Church United in Dracut for many years. A member of Ancient York A.F. & A.M., he also belonged to the York Rite, the Aleppo Temple Shrine, and enjoyed membership in the Acacia Club. He was a member and past president of the Dracut Lions Club, and a life member of the Dracut Squadron of the Sons of the American Legion. His family enjoyed summer vacations at their cottage on Cliff Island, Maine. He was also an avid gardener. Mr. Eadie is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Joan E. and Arvin S. Quist, of Oak Ridge, Tenn., Roberta and Gerald A. Gamlin of Tewksbury, and Nancy P. Eadie and Tom Brooks, residing in Oklahoma; five grandchildren, Christoffer E. Poulsen, of Chicago, Deborah J. Harmon of Wake Forest, N.C., David S. Poulsen of Lenox, Jonathan G. Gamlin of Chugiak, Alaska, and Benjamin C. Gamlin of Tewksbury; two great-grandchildren, Danyelle and Neyland Harmon, residing in North Carolina; his sister, Martha D. Eadie of Dracut, and his brother, Charles J. Eadie, of Annandale, Va.; and his longtime close friends, Janina Boumil, and Norma Taplan and her family. . . FREDERICK PURNELL ’39, 84, of South Deerfield, died Tuesday (12-25-01) in Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston after a brief illness. He was born in Springfield, June 28, 1917, the son of Frank A. and Lena L. (Warner) Purnell. He graduated from Amherst High School in 1934 and graduated in 1939 from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He was class valedictorian. While pursuing graduate studies at the outbreak of World War II, he enlisted in the Massachusetts National Guard and was subsequently assigned to Officer’s Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga., and was commissioned as a second lieutenant, serving in Europe. He saw action in the Battle of the Bulge, the Huertgen Forest and the capture of the Remagen Bridge. He was awarded the Bronze Star for valor and at war’s end had attained the rank of major. From June 1945 to June 1946, he was the U.S. Military Government Officer in Bavaria, Germany. Upon his return to the United States, he worked with his brother, Richard, in Boston in the newly formed Purnell Co., which specialized in industrial publications serving the Northeast. He then worked as a stockbroker for many years and finally as a bank manager in Boston, retiring in 1979. After the death of his first wife Bernice E. Smith in 1970, he married Elizabeth Krahe from Bavaria in 171. In 1980, they moved to South Deerfield, where they lived until his death. A longtime member of the Deerfield Lion’s Club, he served as its secretary and treasurer. He was also a member of the board of directors and was the treasurer for the Mohawk Trail Concerts, Inc. He was a member of the First Church of Deerfield (Brick Church). He took a great interest in Indian artifacts and searched various sites in the Connecticut River Valley. A devoted fisherman, he knew the streams and ponds of the Connecticut River. He played violin and as a young man had his own musical group, The Kitchen Ranges, which provided entertainment for movie theaters and other occasions. Besides his wife, he leaves two sons from his first marriage, Frederick Jr. of Darien, CT, and Jon of Washington, Va.; a grandson, four granddaughters and several nieces and nephews. . . (Sunday Recorder12/27/01) ROBERT RODRIGUEZ ’41, 81, formerly of Whately, died Dec. 13 at Mariner Health Care in Port Orange, FL. Born in Springfield on Feb. 2, 1920, he was the son of the late Joseph and Helen (Ames) Rodriguez. He graduated from Massachusetts State College, now the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, in 1941. He was a longtime resident of Whately, living there from 1946 to 1979, when he moved to Port Orange. He worked for the former Monarch Life Insurance Co. in Springfield for 36 years until his retirement. In his early years he was active in the Boy Scouts of America in Northampton. He was an Eagle Scout and received awards from then first lady Grace Coolidge. He later served on the Boy Scout Council for Western Massachusetts. He was an avid collector and restorer of Model A Fords and was a member and director of the Connecticut Valley Region of the Veteran Motor Car Club of America and the Antique Automobile Club of America. He served as the director of Glidden Tour in 1968 in Manchester, Vt., and won several awards for restorations of Model A Fords. He leaves his wife of 60 years, Constance (Vanasse) Rodriguez of Port Orange, Fla., a daughter, Cici Brown of Ormond Beach, Fla.; a son, Rod Rodriguez of Maui, Hawaii; three grandsons; and a great-grandson. Two sons, Mark Rodriguez and Jeffrey Rodriguez, died earlier. . . (Weekend Gazette12/15-16/01) RICHARD N. SMITH ’41, 83, husband of Christina Gibb Smith of Ashlar Village, passed away December 4, 2001. He was born in Springfield, Ma. on May 20, 1918, the son of the late Daniel and Elizabeth Drake Smith. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a brother-in-law, Frank L. Oakes, of Toledo, OH, a niece, a nephew, and two grandnieces. He was predeceased by two sisters, Ruth E. Smith and Helen F. Smith Oakes. Mr. Smith received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Delaware. He was employed as a research chemist at the General Chemical Co., the American Machine & Foundry Co., and alter retired from the Southern Research Co. of Alabama in 1982. He was a member of the St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church of Wallingford, the Old Well #108 A.F. & A.M. of Norwalk, a Past Patron of Ophir Chap. O.E.S. of Norwalk, a 50-year member of the American Chemical Society and served as past flotilla commander of the Coast Guard Auxillary of Guntersville, AL. . . (Sunday Republican12/9/01) FREDERICK SHACKLEY II ’42, born Feb. 10, 1920, in Cambridge, MA, died Monday, Dec. 31, 2001, at Northwest Community Healthcare in Arlington Heights. A meteorologist, Mr. Shackley had retired from United Airlines after 33 years of service. He had served as a captain in the Army Air Forces during World War II and was a navigator with the 452nd Bomber Group, flying bombing missions over Germany. He received a number of medals for his service, including the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart. Mr. Shackley was also a 1942 graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he was a member of Phi Sigmas Kappa fraternity. In addition he was a member of the local chapter of the Vintage Chevrolet Car Club and a longtime member of the Evangelical Free Church. Survivors include his wife, Kathrine Shackley (nee Robbins); daughter, Carol S. (Francis) Watson; and sister, Virginia (the late Vance) Eckersley. . . (Chicago Daily Herald1/20/02) RALPH G. GILMAN JR. ’48, died Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2002 at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston. His wife and four children were with him when he died. He celebrated his 80th birthday and 50th wedding anniversary with his family on Thanksgiving Day, 2001. "Bud" Gilman was born on November 22, 1921 in Taunton and raised in Greenfield, the son of Ralph G. Gilman Sr. and Linda (Goff) Gilman. He was president of Greenfield High School, Class of 1939, and chaired the reunion committees of his high school. He interrupted his college career to serve as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army Air force from 1942 to 1946. He graduated in 1948 from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and in 1952, from the Baltimore School of Dental Surgery at the University of Maryland Dental School, and was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity and Xi Psi Phi dental fraternity. He returned to Greenfield to open his dental practice in September 1952 and maintained a family practice in general dentistry in Greenfield until 1987. He joined the Air Force Reserves in 1952 and served in the Dental Corps, retiring in 1965 as a Major. He was a life member of the American Dental Association, Massachusetts Dental Society, Valley District Dental Society and Franklin County Dental Society, and was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of General Dentistry in 1983. He was formerly on the dental staff of the Franklin Medical Center and Farren Memorial Hospital and was a member of the Board of Overseers of the Franklin Medical Center. He was an avid musician and played the saxophone in many local musical ensembles over the years, including the Let’s Dance Band, Shea Swing Orchestra, King Phillip Dixieland Band, Little Big Band, Greenfield Military Band, Montague Community Band and, in the 1940s, the Harmonaires, a Greenfield-area swing band. He was a member of the board of the Shea Community Theater and from 1953 to 1995 was a member of the Greenfield Rotary Club, serving as president in 1969. In 1980, he became one of the first participants in the Cardiac Health Enhancement Program, a joint program of the Franklin Medical Center and Greenfield YMCA, and remained an enthusiastic participant until last year. Other interest included skiing and golf, and he was a member of the Greenfield Country Club and the Amputee Golf Association. He married Mary Teresa (Riley) of New Bedford, MA on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 1951. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Lee Beth Gilman Scott of Augusta, Maine; three sons, Stephen R. of Boston, MA, Scott M. of Los Angeles, CA, and Barry J. of New York, NY; a grandson, Christopher Gilman Scott of Augusta Maine; a sister, Phyllis Gilman Buck of Greenfield; and a niece and nephew. He is also survived by many cherished friends from his numerous civic, professional and musical activities. . . E. RICHARD WILLIAMS ‘49S , 74, of North Swanzey, NH, a University of Massachusetts alumnus, die January 26 at home. Born June 11, 1927, in Springfield, he was the son of the late Russell and Mable (Severance) Williams. He attended school in Springfield and was a graduate of Classical High School there. Mr. Williams attended Nichols Junior College and graduated from Stockbridge School at UMass with a degree in food management. He served in the US Navy from 1950 to 1964, when he moved to New Hampshire. Mr. Williams worked for 13 years at Libby’s, a North Swanzey restaurant, retiring in 1993. He had worked as a cook for six years at Jimmy’s Family Restaurant and as a manager of MacKenzies Sandwich and Ice Cream Parlor, both in North Swanzey, Earlier, he was assistant manager at the Northfield (Mass.) Inn. Mr. Williams was an entertainer who had his own band. He appeared in local shows in New Hampshire, working as an "end man" and calling for square dances. He was a member of First Congregational Church in Swanzey. A past member of the Keene, NH, Kiwanis Club, he was also a member of Gordon Bissell Post 4 American Legion, the Grass Roots Cribbage Club and the Old Homestead Garden Club, all in Keene. Known as "the Pepper King," Mr. Williams was an award winning gardener. He enjoyed fishing and held the New Hampshire record for the second-largest bowfin. He had recently returned from a long-awaited trip to Europe with his companion, June Fuerderer. Mr. Williams was proud of his family history- his father was an educator and religious leader in Springfield and his grandfather was an inventor who worked with Thomas Edison and was consulted by Mark Twain on construction of a book press. His wife of 31 years, Maryan (Hyde) Williams, died in 1992. He leaves two sons, Kenneth Williams of Ludlow and Laurence Williams of Hampden; a daughter, Wendy Williams of Southampton; two stepsons, Roger Taylor of Illinois and Douglas Taylor of South Carolina; a stepdaughter, Mimi Taylor Cotton of Virginia; a brother, Roy Williams of New York; six grandchildren; 10 step-grandchildren; and eight step great-grandchildren. A stepson, Kenyon Taylor, died earlier. . . (Gazette1/30/02)

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UMASS GATHERINGS:Rallying the troops

SOUVENIR: library memories

PROFILE: The Lyons Family

PROFILE: Jim and Susan Tourtillotte ’85

PROFILE:Jeff Donovan ’91 and Kate Wilson ’89

NO-DOZE DAYS - HOW YOU STUDIED

IN MEMORIAM

Obituaries: 1914-1949

Obituaries: 1950 - 1969

Obituaries: 1970 - 1989

Obituaries: Faculty

RALLYING: Larger image

SOUVENIR: Larger Image

LYONS FAMILY: Larger image

DINER CHIC: Larger image

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