UMass Magazine Online

Fall 2001

Departments

Extended Family

Features

Berkshire Nightingales

A New Road to Learning

Extended Family

OBITUARIES: 1920-45

SUSAN A. (SMITH) ANDERSEN ‘20, 101, of East St., who was active in several community organizations, died Thursday in Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington. A professional chemist, she worked in various labs, eventually becoming the head of a laboratory in New York. She was active in area civic affairs, including the Alford Library, where the children’s reading room is named after her.She was involved in the Claire Teague Senior Center in Great Barrington, and she was on the Alford Council of Aging and the representative from Alford for the Southern Berkshire Transportation Corp.After retirement, she also opened a bed-and-breakfast in Alford.
She was born and schooled in Alford and a graduate of the former Searles High School in Great Barrington. In 1920, she graduated from the former Massachusetts Agricultural College in Amherst now known as the University of Massachusetts. She had also lived in Medford. She was a member and past president of the Alford Garden Club and a longtime member and past regent of the mercy Warren Chapter DAR in Springfield. She was a member of the First Resistance Chapter DAR and the Thursday Morning Club. She was a longtime member of the Grange and of St. James Episcopal Church in Great Barrington. She was also a member of the UMass Alumni Association and the Chancellor’s Council.Her husband, Charles H. Andersen, died in 1964. She leaves two daughters, Marit W. Wilson of Orono, Maine, and Lorene Struzziero of Wilbraham; 10 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.

(Springfield Union- News, 1/21/01)

MARJORIE J. (PRATT) FLEMINGS ‘28, 93, a longtime Auburn resident, retired science teacher and accountant, died Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2000, at Clark Manor Healthcare Center, Worcester.Her husband of 62 years, Frederic J. Flemings, died in 1992. She leaves a son, Col. Frederic J. Flemings Jr. of McLean, Va.; a brother, Col. Dwight W. Pratt of Simsbury, Conn.; and three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; nephews and nieces. She was born in Dalton, and graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Mrs. Flemings taught science at Worcester Girls Trade High School. She later joined her husband in food retailing and had a second career as anaccountant for Iandoli’s Supermarket on Southbridge Street. She was an organizer of the PTA at Pakachoag School and served as its president. She was active in the Eastern Star and served as trustee for the Auburn Library. She and her husband were also very active in the Auburn Senior Swingers musical company for many years.

(Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 12/30/00)

LOUIS J. LAUTERBACH '24S

SHIRLEY UPTON DREW ‘31, passed away on Oct. 21, 2000.
Shirley was known as a "lady with a mission," dedicating her time to improving the communities in which she was a part.She worked as a nutritionist for the Red Cross during World War II, was the president of the Michigan Child Study, worked on the WPA board in Columbia, Mo., and was an accomplished business woman, horse woman, and a leader in many civic activities all her long life. Shirley and her husband, William Brooks Drew, retired to Tubac from Santa Barbara, Calif. In Tubac they led tours to Alamos, Mexico, and were involved in the Tubac Center for the Arts, the Westerners, and sponsored several young women from Japan, Thailand and Turkey.She was involved at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, where she was honored as Episcopal Woman of the Year.Survivors include: two daughters, Cynthia Drew Redman of Windsor, Conn., and Kitty Drew Greycloud of Ojai, Calif; seven grandchildren.

JOSEPH J. FASZCZEWSKI ‘32S, Brockton, died July 30, 2000.
(contributed by Nancy M. Wilson)

WALTER MCAVOY ‘32S, Saint Lucie, Florida, died February 10, 2000.

ESTER KANE GOODALL ‘33 died 1/9/00.

JOHN F. APPEL ‘37, 85, of 19 Worthington Drive, a longtime area doctor, died Saturday [Nov. 26, 2000], at Holyoke soldiers Home.He worked at Holyoke Hospital for 35 years. While there, he lectured registered and student nurses. In 1951 he opened an internal medicine practice in Holyoke. He was president of Medical Staff and chief of medicine from 1971 to 1972 at Holyoke Hospital and elected chief of medicine of Providence Hospital. Appointments at Holyoke and Providence hospitals included blood bank utilization and infectious diseases. After graduating from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia in 1941, he served an internship at Philadelphia General Hospital, a two-ear residency in internal medicine at Maine General Hospital in Portland, Maine, and was a resident physician at the Soldier’s Home Hospital in Chelsea. He retired in 1985. Born in Holyoke, he was a 1933 graduate of Holyoke High School and was class salutatorian. He graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1937. He was a member of the Second Baptist Church, where he was a life Deacon and active on boards and committees. An Army veteran of World War II, he attained the rank of captain. He received the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal and the American Service Medal. He was a member of the Hampden District Medical Society, the Massachusetts Medical Society, the American Medical Society and the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce. He was a member and served on the board of directors of the Holyoke Lions Club for more than 20 years. He lived in South Hadley since 1993, moving from Holyoke. He leaves his wife, the former Irma Gale; four sons, Richard G. of Holyoke, Dr. Lawrence J. of Ellicott City, Md., Edward B. of Montague, NJ, and William J. of Auburn, Maine; a brother, Charles F. of Cheshire, Conn.; and six grandchildren.

(Springfield Union-News, 11/28/00)

ALFRED BASAMANIA ‘37, 85, of Chatham, formerly of Dover, died Friday, November 24, 2000 at Brewster Senior Care Center in Brewster. Born, raised and educated in Holyoke, Dr. Basamania was a graduate of Massachusetts State College in Amherst. He earned his medical degree at Tufts University Medical School. After serving as a flight surgeon in the Army Air Corps in the Pacific during World War II, he practiced medicine in the Boston area until his retirement at age 80. He was assistant chief of surgery at Boston State Hospital and a member of a private surgical practice at New England Baptist Hospital. He also taught surgical residents through the Harvard Medical School program at Beth Israel Hospital. He was on staff at the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center in Jamaica Plain when he retired in 1995. Dr. Basamania lived in Natick prior to settling in Dover, where he lived for 36 years. He moved to Chatham four years ago. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, skiing and gardening. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Betty (Wolfe) Basamania; a daughter, Pamela B. Marsh of Chatham; a sister, Olga Brown of Huntington, NY; two grandchildren, John and Julia Marsh; and five nieces and nephews. . .

(Needham Dover-Sherborn Press 11/30/00)

AUSTIN FISHER, ‘37, 85, a chemical engineer who was vice president of the Ludlow Corp. and taught at Northeastern University, died Tuesday in his home in Stoneham. Mr. Fisher was born in Newton. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1937 and earned a doctorate in chemical engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1941. He began his career during World War II at the Allied Chemical & Dye Corps in Philadelphia, where he oversaw the development of synthetic niacin. In 1946, he joined Arthur D. Little Co. in Cambridge, where, as manager of its process-engineering department, he directed a pilot project on the cultivation of algae as a source of food and fuel. He became manager of the consulting firms’ New England office and a senior member of its research and development division. In 1959, he joined Ludlow Corp. in Needham, where he was vice president of its paper and plastics division and vice president of research and development. In 1965, he became a tenured professor at Northeastern University, where he taught industrial engineering and coordinated its graduate program in engineering management. He was a former resident of Lexington, where he was a Town Meeting member and a member of the town’s school building and appropriations committees and a trustee of Car Memorial Library and the Lexington Savings Bank. After his retirement in 1979, he and his wife took up residence on their 31-foot sailboat, Endelig, and cruised from Florida to Maine. They eventually settled in St. Croix, where Mr. Fisher taught a labor relations course at the University of the Virgin Islands. In the wake of Hurricane Hugo in 1989, they returned to Massachusetts and settled in Stoneham, where he was vice commander of the Coast Guard Auxilliary and taught courses in navigation. He leaves his wife, Anne (Grant); three daughters, Susan of Providence, Ellen F. Smith of Palo Alto, CA; and Janet F. Aronson of Easton; a son, Anthony of Reading; six grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. . .

(Boston Globe 3/3/01)

FREDERICK O. FISCHER ‘37, 87, of Wareham, died Thursday, Oct. 12, 2000, at Cape Cod Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. He was the husband of Roxy L. (Chace) Fischer, and the son of the late Albert O. and Ethel (Luce) Fischer. Mr. Fischer was a member of Capeway Baptist Church in Cedarville. He was an Air Force veteran of World War II, and retired as a master sergeant after 30 years of service. He was born in Tisbury and graduated from Vineyard Haven High School. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a degree in agriculture. After retiring from the Air Force, he worked at Grazing Fields Farms; he retired in 1994. He lived on Cape Cod since 1970. Mr. Fischer enjoyed gardening, bee-keeping, and his family and friends. Survivors include his widow; two daughters, Ethel Anderson of Texas and Geanette Sharron of New Hampshire; two sons, Frederick Fischer Jr. of East Wareham and Stephen Fischer of Buzzards Bay; a stepson, George M. Fischer of Florida; a stepdaughter, Joyce Walinski of Georgia; a sister, Lois Potter of Martha’s Vineyard; a brother, Albert O. Fischer Jr. of Martha’s Vineyard; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Arnold M. Fischer. . .

(New Bedford The Standard Times 10/13/00)

EMIL J. MARCINIAK ‘37, 85, of Easthampton, died Saturday at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton. He retired in 1974 from J.P. Stevens Corp. and previously was employed for 32 years as a research and development chemist at Spaulding Sports Worldwide. Born in Easthampton, he graduated from Easthampton High School in 1933. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and a master’s degree in arts and sciences from the University of Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Easthampton Congregational Church. He was past master of Ionic Lodge of Masons, a member of Easthampton Council for the Aging, and a former member of the Society of Plastics Engineers. He leaves his wife, the dormer Frances Gostyla, a daughter, Jane Latka of South Orleans; a sister, Eleanor Weidhass of Stuart, Va., and two grandchildren. . .

(Union News 12/26/00)

LLOYD BARDWELL COPELAND ‘39, 84, of Suffern, NY, formerly of Upper Saddle River, NJ, died Wednesday, January 10, 2001 at the Good Samaritan Hospital. He was born in Greenfield, MA to Harvey Leland and Sarah Louis Copeland where he was raised and attended school. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Mr. Copeland was an Analytical Chemist employed by Lever Bros. Company for 15 years and by Avon Products, Inc. for 22 years. He served for many years on the Toilet Goods Association and the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Associations scientific committee. In 1975 he was honored with the CIBS Award, given for service and scientific contributions to the cosmetics industry. Lloyd was a retired Army Colonel, he served in the chemical corps during his service. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, and working on model railroads. He was a member of the American Chemical Society, The American Oil Chemists Society, Scientific Research Society of America, the Society of Cosmetics Chemists, Sigma Phi Epsilon National Fraternity and the American Legion of Suffern Post 0001. He is survived by his wife Eva, a sister Marjorie Allen of Albuquerque, NM, five children, William Copeland of Tiverton, RI, Diane Albonizio of Londonderry, VT, Joanne Barthman of Delmar, MD, Carol Dietrich of Chester, NY, and Kathy Sgroi of Baldwin Place, NY, 14 grandchildren and one great grandchild. He is predeceased by his first wife Louise Simon Copeland and a daughter, Eva Grocz.. .

(submitted by Rosa Conlon ‘40)

WILLIAM FITZPATRICK ‘39, a resident of Monument Beach, died December 22 at the JML Care Center in Falmouth. He was the husband of Marjorie Irwin Fitzpatrick. Born in Leicester, Mr. Fitzpatrick graduated from Leicester High School, where he starred as a baseball catcher. He graduated from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, then worked as a fish culturist in Massachusetts fish hatcheries. A World War II veteran, Mr. Fitzpatrick served in the Coast Guard as a soundman first class. Following his discharge, he continued his studies at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in wildlife management. Mr. Fitzpatrick began his professional career with research studies in West Virginia and Maine before returning to Massachusetts, where he participated in the striped bass study for Massachusetts Fish and Wildlife and Massachusetts Marine Fisheries. Upon his retirement, Mr. Fitzpatrick continued to enjoy his interest, with bird dogs, initially English setters then Brittany spaniels. He was an officer in the Brittany Club and 4H Advisory Committee, and traveled the East Coast, participating in judging field events for all bird dogs. HE was an enthusiastic flower and vegetable gardener. Surviving besides his wife are a son, Kevin Fitzpatrick of Burnt Hills, NY; two stepsons, Charles L. McLaughlin Jr. of New Braintree and Robert McLaughlin of Littleton; three grandsons; and several nieces and nephews.

(Hyannis Cape Cod Times 12/30/00)

MELVIN WINTMAN ‘39

CHARLES H. BARNEY ‘41, 82, of Lewisburg, PA, where he had lived with his daughter and son-in-law the past three months, formerly of Ocean Road, Portsmouth, died at 8:58 am Friday, Oct. 6, 2000. Born November 13, 1917, in Holyoke, MA, the second of five children, he was the son of Charles E. and Amy (Elwell) Barney. He met Ann O’Mara of Worcester, MA, whom he married in 1945. She preceded him in death in 1996 after 51 years of marriage. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a Bachelor of Science degree in education. A lieutenant junior grade in the Navy, he captained a PT boat in the South Pacific during World War II. He had previously served as a basic-training instructor in Newport, RI. A life-long educator, he earned a master’s degree in education and served as a teacher, coach and director of athletics for the Farmington High School in CT. He moved from teaching to a career in sales, becoming first a sales representative for the Curtis School Plan, and then regional manager for Quality School Plan, Inc., a division of Readers Digest Inc. He never lost his commitment to education, serving as a member of the board of education in Pascack Valley Regional School district, Bergen County, NJ. He retired in 1983 when he and his wife moved to Portsmouth. He was an Eagle Scout and athlete as a youth. He is lovingly remembered for his appreciation of sports, his skill at cribbage, his knowledge of the back roads of New England, his fondness for lobster, his remarkable perseverance and his boundless commitment to his family. A family man in the truest sense, he is survived by three children, one son and daughter-in-law, Jack R. and Bobbie J. of Edgewater, NJ; two daughters and sons-in-law, Carole A. and Frank A. Swenson of West Bath, ME, and Susan B. and John H. Mathias of Lewisburg; six grandchildren, and was predeceased by two brothers and two sisters. . .

(Portsmouth, NH Portsmouth Herald 10/8/00)

STEPHEN GOOCH ‘41

UMBERTO MONTRONI ‘41, 82, of Hingham, a landscape architect, died Saturday at home. He moved from Italy to the United States in 1925. His name is inscribed on the wall at Ellis Island. He graduated from Boston College High School and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Mr. Montroni was an Army veteran of WW II, He received the Legion of Merit Award. In Weymouth, Mr. Montroni was the founder of Old Colony Landscape, where he worked for more than 30 years. At the White House in 1974, first lady Pat Nixon presented him with the National Landscape Beautification Award. Mr. Montroni was a longtime member of the Board of Investment at South Shore Bank. He was also active in the Weymouth Rotary and a volunteer for the South Shore YMCA. Husband of the late Helen R. (Travers), Mr. Montroni is survived by three daughters, Ellen M. Dewey of Hanover, Joanne of Hopkins, Texas, and Kathleen A. Tarella of Hopedale; a brother, James of California; and seven grandchildren. . .

(Boston Herald 5/7/01)

I. MELVIN ABRAHAMSON ‘42, 80, of Sun City, AZ, formerly of Greenfield, MA, died March 20, 2001 at the Boswell Memorial Hospital in Sun City. He was born Oct. 28, 1920, in New Britain, CT, and was raised in Greenfield. He graduated from Greenfield High School class of 1938. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1942 from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and a Master of Arts degree in 1969 also from UMass. He was owner and operator of Greenfield Auto Wrecking Co., a family-owned business from 1942 to 1965. He entered the educational field in 1965, becoming a science teacher at Crittenden Junior High School then transferring to Mohawk Trail Regional School in 1967 as a science teacher and chairman of the Science Department. In 1971, he was appointed vice principal of Mohawk Trail and in 1972 was appointed principal. He retired in 1982 to care for his first wife, Sylvia Abrahamson. He was a member of Phi Delta Kappa, the Massachusetts Teachers Association and the Massachusetts Secondary School Principals Association. He was also a member of the TEM Fraternity, the Masonic Order (32nd degree), Temple Israel Synagogue in Greenfield and past president of Beth Shalom Synagogue in Sun City. In addition to his wife, Elizabeth Abrahamson, he is survived by his daughter, Betsy Solomon, son Steven Abrahamson, and three grandchildren. . .

(Recorder 4/16/01)

RICHARD W. DANCKERT ‘43, 78, of Kennebunkport, died Monday at the Kennebunk Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was born in Pittsfield, MA, on January 11, 1922, a son of Robert Peter and Mabel Carrigan Danckert, and was a graduate of St. Joseph’s High School and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst’s Stockbridge School. He married Joan Merritt on January 7, 1946. They recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary. An Army veteran of WW II, Mr. Danckert served in the 107th Evacuation Hospital Unit as part of the invasion forces. He was part of the unit that liberated the Buchenwald concentration camp, and as a witness to the Holocaust was consulted by the National Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. He was employed as a sales representative with Byron Weston and Eastern Fine Papers. The Danckerts had lived in Kennebunkport for the last 26 years. HE was a member of the Cape Arundel Golf Club, American Legion Post 159 and the Knights of Columbus Council 12033 of Kennebunk. He was also the town’s shellfish warden and served on the Planning Board. He was active in the political life of Pittsfield, was a communicant of St. Mark’s Church and was a tenor soloist for many years. Surviving are his wife of 55 years; a son, Peter of Calabasas, CA; two daughters, Gail of Ambler, PA and Mary Jo Maichack of Holyoke, MA: and four grandchildren.

(Biddeford, ME 1/10/01)

H. M. DOBRUSIN ‘43, 79, of Brighton died Friday at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton. Mr. Dobrusin was a native of Lynn who graduated from the city’s high school in 1939. He attended Massachusetts State College at Amherst, graduating in 1943. He received a master’s degree from Boston University in 1946. An educator, Mr. Dobrusin began his career as a high school teacher in 1943. In 1946, he taught at Northeastern University in 1948 and 1949. From 1951 to 1953 he was executive director of the Leominster-Gardner Taxpayers’ Association. He entered the investment business in 1956 and was vice president of the National Financial Advertising Agency from 1965 to 1969. In 1969, he was named sales promotion manager of Cornerstone Financial Services and stayed with the company until 1978. Mr. Dobrusin and his wife, Gertrude (Goldman), opened Charlbert Associates, a public relations firm, in 1978. He served as executive director of the New England Association of Independent Tire Dealers from 1982 until his retirement in 1991, and was executive director of the Massachusetts Glass Dealers’ Association from 1978 to 1995. In 1981, Mr. Dobrusin was named director of publicity for the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs, and in 1992 became managing editor of the organization’s publication, Torchlight. He wrote many articles on publicity and public relations for tire and glass associations’ magazines. Mr. Dobrusin was master of Mount Sinai Lodge, A.F. & A. M. in Lynn. He was president of the Congregation Kehillath Israel Brotherhood in Brookline and regional president for the New England Region, Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs. In 1995, he was named life trustee of Kehillath Israel and was named Man of the Year by the Kehillath Israel Brotherhood. Along with his wife, he leaves two sons, Rabbi Charles E. Dobrusin of Highland Park, Ill., and Rabbi Robert M. Dobrusin of Ann Arbor, Mich.; a brother, Bernard H. Dobrusin of New York; and five grandchildren. . .

(Boston Globe 3/18/01)

[top of page]

UMass gatherings: UMassists

UMASSISTS: larger image

ONE-OF-A-KIND REUNION: 1977-78 class reconvenes before women's conference

ONE-OF-A-KIND: larger image

YOUR VOICES: Alumnae at the Women's Conference

SOUVENIR: THE WAY GOLF WAS

GOLF PROFILE: Geoffrey Cornish '50G

GOLF PROFILE: Dave Twohig '75

GOLF PROFILE: Carol Barr '91G, '94G

60 YEARS OF NIGHTSPOTS: your memories of nightlife in Amherst

ALUMNI WEEKEND 2001 - Class of '51 attendees