UMass Magazine Online

Winter 2002

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Extended Family

OBITUARIES: 1976-99

RICHARD LEAZOTT ’76, 48, of Milton, director of mail services at Boston University, died unexpectedly Thursday in Brockton. Mr. Leazott had lived in Milton for 20 years.
He was a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a degree in history and a master’s degree in labor relations. Mr. Leazott was also a graduate of Harvard University’s Trade Union Program.
He worked for the Service Employee’s International Union, Local 254, for five years after graduating from UMass.
Mr. Leazott was Boston University’s director of mail services for 16 years.
He was a member of the Columbine Cliffs Neighborhood Association.
Mr. Leazott is survived by his wife, Katie (Keegan) of Milton; his mother, Marie J. (Foley) of East Falmouth; a daughter, Caitlin M. of Milton; two sons, Michael K. and John R. of Milton; a sister, Donna M. Powers of Kingston; a brother, Robert A. of Hyannis; and several nieces and nephews. . .

(Boston Herald8/27/01)

HERBERT E. MILLER, JR. ’77, 53, of Northampton, died on August 20 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. Born, raised, and schooled in Boston, he graduated from schools in Brookline, and lived in Amherst before moving to this city in 1972. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with degrees in archeology and geology, studied the classics, and did graduate work there. He attended the Unitarian-Universalist Society, and belonged to the Starpoint Clubhouse. He leaves his mother, Doris (Buitta) Miller of Jamaica Plain; and two brothers, Arnold S. of Park Ridge, NJ and Donald A. of Jamaica Plain. . .

(Union News9/1/01)

MARGARET WENDT ‘77, 47, of Brewster, cofounder of the Women’s Art Alliance and a bereavement counselor, died Monday of Lung cancer in Hospice House in Barnstable.
Miss Wendt was born in Lynn and was a graduate of Lynnfield High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and received a master’s degree in art therapy from Lesley College.
She helped found the Women’s Art Alliance for the purpose of bringing Judy Chicago’s "Dinner Party"- a collection of sculpture, ceramics, china, painting, and needlework showing the history of women throughout Western civilization- to the Cyclorama in the South End.
Recently, she worked as bereavement counselor at Hospice and Palliative Care of Cape Cod.
She was a member of the American Art Therapy Association and the Massachusetts Health Counselors Association.
Miss Wendt enjoyed swimming, gardening, sewing, weaving, and sketching.
She leaves her partner, Deborah A. Meagher of Brewster; her parents Harry and Edith (Charlton) of Lynnfield; two brothers, H. Christian Jr. of Boxborough and Frederick of Tyngsborough; and several nieces and nephews. . .

(Boston Globe9/13/01)

WILLIAM BLUESTEIN ’78, of Lexington, president and chief operating officer of Forrester Research Inc., died Tuesday while vacationing with his family. He was 44.
Mr. Bluestein was a longtime resident of Lexington. He attended the University of Massachusetts in Amherst where he received his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctorate in economics.
Mr. Bluestein was president and chief operating officer of Forrester Research Inc., in Cambridge since 1990. He authored a seminal report in 1993, "Social Computing," which presaged many of the changes that the Internet would bring to the general economy. Mr. Bluestein was a widely quoted industry analyst, who worked with many Fortune 500 companies. Previously, he was a senior editor with Cahners Publishing and a market research analyst for Honeywell. . .
(Boston Herald9/8/01)

JOHN G. PETCEN ’79, 61, of Easthampton, died on Thursday, Nov. 8, at his residence after a battle with cancer. He was born in Northampton on April 21, 1940, and was the son of the late John and Grace V. (O’Leary) Petcen. He was educated at the former Immaculate Conception Parochial Elementary School, and a graduate from the former Saint Michael’s High School in Northampton in 1958. He later received his BA in business from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He retired from the Hampshire Sheriff’s Office in Northampton in 1994, where he was the former Assistant Deputy Superintendent having served under the late Sheriff John Boyle and present Sheriff Robert Garvey for 26 years. He also had worked for five years for the Easthampton Parks Department. He was married on March 17, 1972, at the Immaculate Conception Church in Easthampton to the former Joan C. (Biela) Petcen, and they celebrated 29 years of marriage together. He was a communicant at the Immaculate Conception Church and active in the Healing Heart of Jesus Ministry. He was the past president of the Mass. Deputy Sheriffs Association. He enjoyed golfing, fishing, and the out of doors and traveling. He leaves his wife of 29 years, Joan; a sister and brother-in-law, Mary E. and Kenneth Parzych of Coventry, CT; brothers and sister-in-laws, Erik and Joyce Straw of Florence, MA, and Harry and Kolburn Biela of Virginia Beach, Virginia; and many nieces and nephews. . .

(Union News11/10/01)

THOMAS M. HOONTIS ’80, 44, of Springfield, died Friday at his residence. Mr. Hoontis was a permanent substitute teacher during the early 1990’s in both the Springfield and Northampton school systems. Born in Springfield, he was the son of Muriel A. (Cormier) Hoontis of Springfield and the late Peter W. Hoontis who died in 1976. Mr. Hoontis was educated in the Springfield school system and was a 1975 graduate of Classical High School. He earned his degree in elementary education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He was an active member and volunteer at the Lighthouse of Springfield. Besides his mother, he leaves two brothers, William E. of Springfield and Peter P. of New York, NY; two nieces, Kelsey L. and Camden K.; and a nephew, Neal E., all of Springfield. . .

(Sunday Republican9/16/01)

ROBYN M. ZIMMERMAN ‘80, 44, died yesterday, at her home. Born on October 10, 1956, in Bethpage, NY, she was the daughter of the late Arlene (Walter) Mager and Daniel and Claire Mager of Toms River, NJ. Ms. Zimmerman was a lawyer practicing in Northampton. She was a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1980 and in 1987 graduated from Western New England School of Law. She was a member of the Congregation B’nai Israel in Northampton, where she was active in religious education. She was also a member of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, serving as a distribution member, Hampshire County Bar Association and the Massachusetts Bar Association and Volunteers in Northampton Schools (VIN’s). Besides her father, she leaves her husband, George Zimmerman; a son, Aaron Zimmerman, and three daughters, Hannah Zimmerman, Samantha Zimmerman, and Eliana Zimmerman, all of Northampton; a brother, Neil Mager of Westford; a sister, Stephanie Medoff of Cherry Hill, NJ; and a stepsister, Andrea Lerner of Marlboro, VT. . .

(Union News9/14/01)

DANIEL J. HALPIN JR. ’81, 66, a former Northampton schoolteacher, died July 1 at his home.
Born in Worcester November 4, 1934, he was the son of Irene (Rugg) Halpin of Worcester and the late Daniel J. Halpin Sr.
Educated in Worcester schools, he was a 1954 graduate of Worcester Boys Trade High School. He earned a teaching certificate from Westfield State College in 1974 and received a bachelor’s degree in vocational education in 1981 through the University Without Walls program at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. In 1992 he became a Ph.D. candidate and in 1995 was awarded a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in secondary teacher education, both from UMass.
From 1974 to 1999 he taught at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School in Northampton.
He was a master plumber, working throughout Massachusetts for more than 25 years.
Mr. Halpin served with the Massachusetts Army National Guard from 1953 to 1961.
He was a member of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Rockland, Maine, the Knights of Columbus, the Association for Career and Technical Education, the Massachusetts Teachers Association and the National Rifle Association.
He enjoyed sailing, music, photography, marksmanship, and volunteering at his church.
Besides his mother, he leaves two sons, Timothy P. Halpin, of Martinsville, Va., and Jeffrey D. Halpin of Brooklyn, NY; two daughters, Patricia A. Halpin of Sunapee, NH, and Mary B. Halpin of West Roxbury; and eight grandchildren. . .

(Daily Hampshire Gazette7/1//01)

JOAN "JAKKI" TRAPP WIESE ‘82G, 74died October 17, 2001, at her home in York Harbor.
She was born and raised in Laconia, NH, attended local schools and received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Simmons College in Boston in 1948. She was secretary to the president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, then traveled to Norway to visit friends. She worked for the American Embassy in Oslo, where she met her husband, Clause Wiese, whom she married in 1950. They returned to the United States in 1951, settling in the Boston area. She worked there as an assistant to the cartoonist Al Capp, who drew "Lil’ Abner." Later, she and her husband moved to Poland Spring, where she was known as Joan Knight, the late-night weather forecaster for WMTW-TV.
She enjoyed skiing at Sunday River. In 1961, she and her family moved to Bethel, where they owned and operated the Norseman Inn for 25 years.
In her early 50s, Mrs. Wiese returned to school at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, received a master’s degree and began working on her doctorate in behavioral science. She practiced counseling in the Bethel area. IN later years, she moved to coastal Maine and New Hampshire to be closer to her family, and was an active volunteer until she was forced to retire because of her health.
Surviving are two daughters, Kristin Wiese-Adelman of Rollinsford, NH, and Pipp Wiese of Lancaster, NH; a son, Peter Wiese of Colorado Springs, Colo.; two sisters, Virginia Rice of Boylston, MA, and Constance MacCrate of Plandome, NY; and seven grandchildren. . .

(Portland Press Herald11/1/01)

NICHOLAS P DINAS ’83, 48, of Springfield, died Saturday in the Veterans Administration Hospital in West Haven, CT. He was a self-employed court researcher. Born in Springfield, he was a lifelong resident and a 1970 graduate of the former Springfield Technical High School. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He was an Air Force veteran. He leaves his mother, Dorothy (Romansky) Dinas of Springfield; and three brothers, Gary M., Chris J. and Joseph G., and a sister, Mary Ann Dinas, all of Springfield. . .

(Union News8/6/01)

PETER P. HASHEM ’83, 40, devoted father, husband and member of the community, perished when American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center on Tuesday morning.
Hashem is survived by his wife, Rita; two children: Christopher, 11, and Patrick, 9; his mother and seven siblings. Hashem and his family moved to the Lawrence area from Lebanon in 1970. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and the Greater Lawrence Regional Technical School in Andover, MA. A senior software engineering manager at Teradyne, Inc. in Boston, MA, Peter Hashem was a devoted Maronite Catholic parishioner of St. Anthony’s Church and an active member of his community.
"Peter wasn’t even supposed to be on Flight 11," says Saba Hashem, cousin of Peter Hashem. "He was schedule to take an earlier flight but had delayed his departure to attend his son’s soccer game. Peter was a wonderful father and husband- completely devoted to his family and community. Like the others aboard, he was an innocent victim of a terrible crime against the United States of America." . . .

(Submitted by Saba Hashem)

LOUIS "RICK" DELESDERNIER ’84, 40, of Greenfield, died Thursday (11/1/01) at home.
Born in South Weymouth, October 25, 1961, he was the son of Theodore P. and Elizabeth (Guild) DeLesdernier. He moved to Shutesbury in 1966. He graduated from Amherst Regional High School in 1979 and in 1984 from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he majored in mechanical engineering. He moved to Greenfield in 1998.
DeLesdernier was a quality insurance coordinator planner for Franklin County Home Care Corp. in Montague City for 15 years. He volunteered as a deputy emergency management director for the Greenfield area for several years and also taught cardiopulmonary resuscitation at the Franklin Medical Center.
He was a member of the American Radio Relay League, National Rifle Association, Amnesty International, Shutesbury Firefighters Association, Bahamas National Trust Corp. and the USS Mass Memorial Committee Inc.
He enjoyed ham operating, reading, kayaking, karate and old movies.
Besides his mother of Greenfield, he leaves a brother, Daniel T. of Greenfield; a sister, Suzanne E. of Lowell; a niece and a nephew.
He was engaged to Regina Miranda of Greenfield. . .

(Recorder11/3/01)

GEOFFREY W. CLOUD ’87, 36, a native of Sudbury, was on the 105th floor of the World Trade Center in New York City when it was hit by a hijacked plane on September 11. He was a partner in the brokerage firm of Cantor Fitzgerald.
Mr. Cloud graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and the University of Pennsylvania Law school.
He leaves his wife, Mio; two children, Geoffrey and Jaclyn, both of Stamford; his parents, Peter and Bette of Sudbury; a brother, Michael; and a sister, Janet. . .

(Boston Globe, 9/29/01)

P. JEFFREY FIGGIE ’88, 43, died Friday, November 9, 2001 at home. He was the Director of Pharmaceutical Research at Scirex Corporation in Hartford, CT. Born in Washington, D.C., Jeffrey resided in Longmeadow most of his life and was a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Longmeadow High School in 1977. He was awarded the degrees of BS, MS, and MBA from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He was active in sports and recreational activities all of his life, having been nominated in both high school and college as an All-American Lacrosse player. He leaves behind his fiancée, Kimberly Robbins and a son, Samuel Jeffrey Figgie, both of Longmeadow; his father, Dr. Peter M. Figgie III and his wife Sandra of Longmeadow; his mother, Geneva (Currivan) Figgie of Centerville, MA: his brothers, Greg Figgie of Aspen, CO, David C. Figgie of Longmeadow and Peter M. Figgie IV of West Hartford, CT; his sisters, Jennifer Login and Marybeth Figgie, both of Longmeadow; his step-brothers, Scott D. Shain of Plymouth and Kevin J. Shain of Rockland; and four nephews and four nieces. . .

(Union News11/13/01)

KATHLEEN O’DOWD ’88, 54of West Hatfield, died September 15 at home.
Born August 12, 1947, in Buffalo, NY, she was the daughter of Mona (Briarly) Carvajal of Boca Raton, FL, and the late Fernando Carvajal.
She graduated from Colegio San Antonia in Guayama, Puerto Rico and from the School of Management at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
She worked as assistant controller for state funds at UMass.
Besides her mother, she leaves her husband, Charlie O’Dowd; a son, Chip O’Dowd, a student at UMass in Boston; a daughter, Mona O’Dowd, a student at UMass at Amherst; and two sisters, Nancy Lang of Burlington, VT, and Juliet Carvajal of West Hatfield.
She was a member of the Unitarian Church.
She was proud of her heritage and her family and looked for goodness in others. . .

(Gazette9/19/01)

THOMAS N. PECOROELLI ’92, 30, of Topanga, CA, formerly of Newburyport and Leominster, died Tuesday, September 11, in New York City aboard American Airlines Flight 11 bound for Los Angeles.
He leaves his wife of two years, Kia (Pavloff) Pecorelli; his father and stepmother, Natale and M. Carole (Matthews) Pecorelli of Sterling; his mother and stepfather, Elaine (Miglionico) and Raymond Dyer of Corona, CA; four sisters, Natalcc Moore of Sacramento, CA, Marie-elena Gray of Leominster, Angela Veltos of East Kingston, NH, and Lisa-Jo Brightman of Naples, FL; his paternal grandmother, Josephine (Ferraro) Pecorelli of Worcester; and 12 nieces and nephews. He was born in Worcester, and lived in Leominster, Newburyport, Arizona and Florida before moving to California in 1998. He graduated from Newburyport High School in 1988, and earned a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1992.
Mr. Pecorelli was a cameraman for FOX Sports the past three years. He also took part in productions such as E! Entertainment Television and various awards shows, including the Emmys and the Academy Awards. Previously, he worked for ABC-TV in Fort Myers, FL, and in Arizona. He was an accomplished singer and performer. . .

(Worcester Telegram & Gazette9/16/01)

WENDY LYNN BEAL ’93, 33, of Lincoln died Thursday after a four-month battle with a rare form of cancer.
Beal had surgery May 2 in Lincoln for the removal of a malignant tumor at the base of her spine, but the cancer had spread to the spinal fluid. She spent several weeks at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., before her family had her flown to her father’s home in Huntsville, Ala.
"She was here one day before she died," said her father, Terry Beal.
Wendy Beal was an artist and worked as graphic supervisor for Nebraska Education Telecommunications.
"She was a creative person, and it just flowed out of her through her art," said her boyfriend, Dan Burger of Lincoln.
"She had an incredible presence," said Burger, who had dated Beal for a year and a half. "Total strangers would smile when they saw her. She had an inner light that people noticed."
Beal had sought medical treatment for back pain for about a year before the surgery, Burger said. When the pain grew worse, more tests were performed, and the tumor was found.
The four months since the diagnosis "just went by so fast," he said.
Beal was born in Indianapolis and graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Survivors include her mother and father, Judy and Roger Dooley of Winchester, Tenn.; her stepmother, Rita Beal of Huntsville; a brother Scott Beal of Winchester; and stepsisters Keira Dooley of Long Beach, CA, Cindy Buck of San Mateo, CA, and Kim Bozeman of Jacksonville, FL.

(Omaha World-Herald7/23/01)

KAREN L. DELOSH ’99, 53, of Easthampton, died Thursday at home. She was a former comptroller at the Hotel Northampton. Born in Holyoke, she was a graduate of the former Precious Blood High School in Holyoke, and a 1999 graduate from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She was a communicant of Immaculate Conception Church. She leaves her husband William Delosh; three daughters, Nancy Delosh and Julia Delosh, both of Easthampton, and Beth Luczynski of Easthampton; her parents, Gerald and Rita (Pronovost) Moreau of Chicopee; and a brother, Gerald Moreau of Easthampton. . .

(Union News6/2/01)

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