Elizabeth Richardson Rogers

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Mary Louise (Mary Lou) Thorn Howson passed away on October 13, 2019, age 73, at her home in Southbury, Connecticut. She is survived by her husband, James Howson; her brother Ken Thorn; her sister-in-law Dawn Thorn; her sister-in-law Jane Weaver; her son James Howson III; her daughter-in-law Rebecca Howson; grandchildren Isaac Howson, Elijah Howson and Ava Howson; and her nephew Ben Thorn.

After graduation from Mount Holyoke, Mary Louise went to Yale Divinity School, where she earned a Master of Divinity degree (M.Div.); Wesleyan University, where she earned a Master of Arts in Teaching degree (MAT); and Columbia Theological Seminary, where she earned a Doctor of Ministry degree (DMN).

Her obituary in the Newtown (CT) Bee noted that she preached throughout Connecticut at numerous Congregational Churches; and held positions in Ridgefield and Danbury churches of that denomination, as well as a chaplaincy at Western Connecticut State University.

A loving wife, mother and grandmother, Mary Lou loved to travel the world, read, sew and play the piano.

Services for Mary Lou were held on October 18 at St. David's Episcopal Church in Wayne, Pennsylvania.

Her obituary noted that in lieu of flowers, the family requested that donations be made to one of Mary Lou's favorite charities, including the ASPCA, the American Stroke Society and Mount Holyoke College

Patricia Eilene Hall-Jones, loving mother, stepmother, grandmother and lifelong child advocate died Oct. 24, 2018 in her home in Molalla, Ore.

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Attorney Kathleen Carol Wresien, 72, died Oct. 8th at Baystate Medical Center. She was the daughter of the late William and Monica (Markoski) Wrzesien, who operated the Fruit Fair supermarket in Chicopee. Salutatorian of Holyoke High School's Class of 1964, she graduated from Mt. Holyoke College with a B.A. in English, and received her J.D. from Columbia Law School. She began her career with the Legal Aid Society in the Bronx.

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Obituary from the Publication: Legacy.com and The Boston Globe

Date: 3/28/18

Text: BRADFORD, Martha Jane Painter and Digital Artist Martha Jane Bradford, 71, of Pumpkin Cove Road in New Harbor, Maine, died Wednesday, March 21 after a long illness and complications from a fatal infection. Her husband was at her side at the Central Maine Medical Center. Friends and colleagues in both the real art world and in the cyber art scene of virtual reality would know that Martha would never accept the customary biographical chronicle by way of memorial. As she often remarked, "if you want facts about me, use Google or my website (www.marthavista.com). Her preference was always a retelling of the principles reflected in her drawings, paintings, fine art prints and virtual immersive art. These are her words, collated from exhibition catalogs, gallery talks and notes to her collectors: "I love the ocean. And finally I live in Maine on the edge of Muscongus Bay, a place I have loved since I first came at age 2. Good kayaking put-ins abound, but even more importantly I am now living year round in the scenery that has inspired most of my art." "I started drawing and painting watercolors before I started school. My parents didn't think art was a good career choice, so I was an English major in college. After college, I went into the editorial side of publishing. Living briefly in New York, I stumbled across art galleries on weekends and had the revelation of my life. All artists weren't dead!" "By 1980 I had a studio at the Boston Center for the Arts. During Artweek that year, Meredyth Moses of Clark Gallery stopped by. She held up a 22 x 30" black-and-white landscape and said if I would do five large-scale drawings like it, she would give me a show and would sell every piece. I did, and she did. I was with Clark Gallery for the next 30 years. In 1985 I won a Massachusetts Artist Fellowship. We placed work in museum, corporate, and private collections all over the country." "What characterizes me as an artist? First of all, I would have to say that I love exploring media. I have done, chronologically, graphite, watercolor, acrylic, ink, linoleum cut, silkscreen, lithography, charcoal, oil, acrylic again, pastel, both rubbed and impasto, and etching, both zinc and solarplate. The look of the land, the sea, and the sky have always been my consistent interest. The subjects of my landscapes are ordinary scenes transformed by light in a way that suggests a spiritual narrative. My photorealistic style aims to recreate the details of my experiences of this numinous quality of the phenomenal world in order to share the experiences as completely as possible with the viewer. Maine has always been a major source of subject matter, but I also have found material in the Boston area's waterways and when traveling, especially in California and Arizona." "In 1992 I found the medium of my life. My husband bought a program called Fractal Design Painter. At first I used it just to prototype ideas for paintings, but after I got a Wacom tablet and stylus, I began to really draw with it. It took me till 1998 to gain enough command to produce my first signed and editioned digital drawing, and this has been my main medium ever since." "Without the digital image-making capacity, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed the last 12 years of also being a relatively well-known virtual artist, Alizarin Goldflake. First in Second Life and now also on another virtual platform called InWorldz, I make immersive art installations, kinetic art, and virtual copies of my real-life 2-D art. A sister avatar, Pixels Sideways, characterized these as an easily recognizable, unique style that often used a monochromatic color scheme, animated textures and whimsical integrated animations to create ethereal immersive installations." "Talk about a long, strange trip." Martha's parents, Mary Jane (Claflin) Bradford and Robert W. Bradford of North Whitefield, Maine, predeceased her. She is survived by her husband, Alfred M. Ajami of New Harbor, Maine; two brothers, R. Verne Bradford and his wife Martha P. Bradford of Winchester, Massachusetts, and John W. Bradford and his partner Laurette A. Crane of Warwick, Massachusetts; two Cairn terriers, Winston and Churchill; and her avatar, Alizarin Goldflake, who now resides in the electrosphere. A commemorative celebration is planned for later this summer, when the gardens seen from her studio are in full bloom. Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main Street, Damariscotta, ME 04543. Condolences, and messages for Martha's family, may be expressed by visiting: https://www.stronghancock.com/

Obituary from the Publication: Star-Ledger

Date: 10/22/17

Text: Joan Carroll Stevens Consultant on education and social service policy, former N.J. assistant treasurer, 71 Joan Carroll Stevens, 71, passed away suddenly at her home in Ringoes, N.J. on Oct. 2, 2017, of an apparent heart attack. Joanie was much loved and will be greatly missed by her family and her wealth of friends. She grew up in Millburn, N.J., and graduated from Millburn High School. She earned a B.A. degree from Mount Holyoke College and received master's degrees in education from Syracuse University (urban education) and Stanford University (curriculum). In the 1970s, she worked for the City of Newark in programs to improve the quality of public education and then, in Trenton, as special assistant to the Commissioner of the NJ Department of Education. She subsequently moved to the NJ Department of Treasury and was appointed assistant treasurer in 1982. Since 1986, she had worked as an independent consultant, specializing in education, social services and other public policy issues. Most recently, she had been working with the Children's Home Society of New Jersey in Trenton. Beyond her professional commitment to helping others, she will be remembered for her great generosity of spirit, her fierce loyalty to her friends and her winning, often zany, sense of humor. She was well known for her love of books, film, music and all things Broadway and theatrical. She was predeceased by her parents, Harry J. Stevens Jr. and Virginia Stanley Stevens, and by her brother, William S. Stevens. She is survived by her brother, Jay Stevens of San Francisco, Calif., and her sister, Susan S. Sullivan and husband Dennis Sullivan of Brooklyn, N.Y. She also leaves her beloved niece and nephews, Tara Jones Condon and husband, Matthew Condon, David McGraw Sullivan and wife, Rebecca Harris Sullivan, and Steven Andrew Sullivan. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017 at St. Rose of Lima Church, 50 Short Hills Ave., in Short Hills, N.J. at 11:15 am. Donations in Joanie's memory may be made to the Children's Home Society of New Jersey, the Greater Newark Holiday Fund, or a charity of one's choice.

Publication: Asheville Citizen-Times

Date: 09/12/17

Text: Hendersonville - Nancy Padbury Fish, 70, died September 9, 2017 in Hendersonville. She was born in Greenwich, CT and lived in CT before retiring to Hendersonville in 2007. She was a graduate of Mount Holyoke College and held a Master of Science in Chemistry from Drexel University, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Connecticut.

In Connecticut, Nancy worked as an office manager, a financial advisor and a High School chemistry and physics teacher. She also volunteered as a tutor and ESL teacher. She loved hiking, traveling, playing tennis and being outdoors. She was an accomplished road runner and marathoner.

Nancy's life was marked with several milestones, each of which represented important turning points: marriage to Robert H Fish in 1968, the birth of three daughters in 1972, '74 and '79, sobriety in 1995, and divorce in 1999. Nancy married Bruce Dana Melvin in 2007 and they moved to Hendersonville. She was diagnosed with advanced stage ovarian cancer in 2008.

In Hendersonville Nancy continued to maintain her interest in playing tennis, enjoying many social and USTA matches. She also took up quilting, enjoying the beauty of fabrics, colors and patterns. She won several prizes for her work. She also joined ovarian cancer support groups, locally and online, and actively helped others with the disease. Nancy is survived by her husband, Bruce Melvin, who stayed by her side throughout her cancer treatments.

She is also survived by three daughters: Jennifer Ancona (Keith) of East Setauket, NY, Karen Fish of Chicago and Stephanie Fish of Hendersonville. She had five grandchildren: Tyler, Chris and Kate Ancona and Coral and Hunter Malters. She also had two beloved pets.

Nancy had a passion for life, nature and beauty. She tried to live each day to the fullest, finding joy in both large and small moments. Memorial donations may be made to Casting for Hope or Carolina Memorial Sanctuary, as well as Center for End of Life Transitions.

Condolences can be made to the family at www.ashevilleareaalternative.com

Obituary from the Publication: pressherald.com

Date: July 29, 2017

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April 5, 1946 ~ June 24, 2017

Carolyn (Lynn) was born in Larchmont, NY to Roy M. Flowers and Esther Fischle Flowers. She passed away at age 71. She was the beloved wife and best friend of Dana E. Wilson, M.D. Lynn graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 1968; M.Ed., College of Notre Dame; M.L.S. from Brigham Young University. Lynn had 3 sequential careers: research chemist, Montessori teacher, and medical librarian. She was Director of the Medical Library at Primary Children's Medical Center, 1984-2008. Lynn loved every living creature and all growing things. She was an ardent Democrat, feminist and supporter of President Barack Obama. She is survived by 3 brothers: William E. "Woody" (Mary Kay), Kenneth, and Donald (Maria); by a niece (Jennifer) and nephews (Michael and Matthew). Three stepchildren: Catherine Prior (Chris), Dana Wilson Jr. (Jaimi Haig), and Stephen Wilson (Gretchen) and four grandchildren: Anna and Kenneth Prior, and Stella and Margo Wilson. Predeceased by her parents, a brother Richard, and sister-in-law, Glory Jones Flowers. Lynn regretted that there wasn't time for her to say goodbye to each and every one of her dear friends. We are deeply grateful to Mimi Wilson for her devotion to our family and her forgiving and generous spirit. We also thank our physicians, Anne Pendo and Nitin Chandramouli, and the staff at Utah Cancer Specialists and Intermountain Medical Center. A celebration of Lynn's life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary or to a charity of your choice.

The Class of 1968 Mourns the Passing of our Class of 1968 Honorary, Mr. Tadanori Yamashita

Beloved professor Tadanori Yamashita passed away Wednesday, April 5, 2017, at the age of 87 in Hopkinton, following a battle with cancer. He was a Class of 1968 Honorary. He will be greatly missed. Classmate Cynthia White Morrell represented our class at his memorial service on Wednesday, April 12, at Center Church in South Hadley.

Dr. Yamashita was born to Shinae and Shigeru Yamashita December 23, 1929, in Tokyo, Japan. He was the second youngest of four siblings: Eiko, Seiko, and Tadataka. Though a troublemaker in his youth, Tadanori always displayed intellectual curiosity and showed great academic promise, later gaining admission to Japan's prestigious Tokyo University. Following graduation, Tadanori moved to the United States to pursue his Bachelor of Divinity at Yale University, eventually earning his PhD in Near Eastern Languages and Civilization in 1963.

In 1963, Tadanori joined the faculty of Mount Holyoke College in the department of Religion, where he conducted research on Judaic Law and Zen Buddhism in addition to teaching. Tadanori was very active in the college community, where he helped establish the Asian Studies Program, and co-founded Wa-Shin-An, a traditional Japanese tea house and meditation garden, with his wife, Master of Tea, Nobue Socho Yamashita. Tadanori and Nobue also co-founded a Japanese language school in South Hadley, where they dedicated their time to teaching Japanese language and culture to their community. On May 10, 2000, Tadanori was honored with the Order of the Sacred Treasure by Emperor Akihito of Japan for these accomplishments.

He is survived by his wife Nobue and his two children, Miki Yamashita, Takeshi Yamashita, and his daughter-in-law Elyssa Barrick.

A memorial service was held in his honor Wednesday, April 12, at Center Church, 1 Church Street, South Hadley at 2 p.m.

SOURCE: Daily Hampshire Gazette, April 11, 2017.

You can sign the Guest Book for Tadanori Yamashita at legacy.com

Classmates who would like to write to Mrs. Nobue Yamashita may send notes to her in care of her son:Mr. Tak Yamashita 8 Vernon St., Unit 3 Waltham, MA 02453

Download the program from his memorial service:

https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/e23ed8f8-2c93-4f75-af76-dd1aa0e24936/downloads/TYservice.pdf?ver=1589847149163

Publication: From Her Cousin, Michael Goldberger

Date: 11/02/16

Text: Susan Erda, Mt. Holyoke Class of 1968, passed away at her home in Greenwich Village, New York, on October 16, 2016. A passionate Anglophile and amateur Dickens scholar, Susan was a trust and estates lawyer in New York City for more than thirty years. She always fondly remembered her years at Holyoke. She left a large family of loving cousins and friends who remember her wry sense of humor and passion for good food and politics. Anyone who has memories of Susan that they wish to share can write to Susan's cousin, Michael Goldberger, at MGoldberger@verizon.net.

A Remembrance from Leslie Luxemburg

Susan Marguerite Erda '68 passed away on October 16, 2016 in New York City after a protracted illness.

She was an attorney in private practice who specialized in wills and estates. Susan's life was filled with a devotion to friends and family, literature, the arts and travel. Charles Dickens and Jane Austin were two particular favorite authors and her familiarity with their works was encyclopedic. Susan will long be remembered for her sharp mind and wonderful dry sense of humor. She was born in New York City on May 29, 1947 and remained a life long New Yorker, living for many years in her beloved West Village. She graduated from both Hunter College Elementary School and High School, as well as being an honors graduate of Mount Holyoke College. She received her law degree from New York Law School. She was predeceased by her parents Lollo and Rudolph and leaves behind a large circle of cousins and close friends. She was my oldest and dearest friend and will be missed always.

This obituary comes from Legacy.com Kindly also see below details of the Celebration of Life planned for her on November 5. Your own remembrances of Sally are welcome. Please send them to Eloise Prescott Killeffer ehpk1@att.net for posting on this Class website. We grieve her loss. Sally was a remarkable person who did so much for our Class. In her role as long serving Executive Director of the Alumnae Association, she had a major impact on our alumnae involvement with the College. She was a Renaissance Woman with talent in music, especially piano, and with drawing and painting. She served for several years in a volunteer capacity as President of the Board of the Arcadia Players in Amherst, which kept alive Baroque music. As recently as our 45th Reunion, she was Program Co-Director. We remember her warm smile.

Download the program from Sally Lemaire's Memorial Service. November 5, 2016

Sally J. Lemaire (1946 - 2016)

GREENFIELD - Sally J. Lemaire, 70, formerly of South Hadley, and Amherst, passed away Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, at Charlene Manor, of advanced cancer.

Sally was born March 19, 1946, in Worcester, to Willard W. Lemaire and Dorothy (Allison) Lemaire. Her parents and a brother Allison predeceased her. She leaves behind her brother Willard "Bill" Lemaire and his wife Millie of Westborough, niece Lisa Berman and her husband Jay of Hampton, New Hampshire, and nephew David Lemaire and his wife Monica of Manchester, New Hampshire. In addition, she leaves great-nieces and nephews Allison Berman of New York City, Lauren and Ben of Hampton, New Hampshire, Taylor Dunton of Jaffrey, New Hampshire, and Abbey Stone of Amherst, New Hampshire.

Sally is a graduate of Wachusett Regional High School in Holden, class of 1964; and Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, class of 1968. She received a master's degree from Clark University and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

She had a long career in major corporations including Cummins and GE and the nonprofit sector including the White Plains YMCA and was last employed for 12 years as executive director of the Alumnae Association of Mount Holyoke College until Parkinson's Disease caused her to retire early.

Sally lived a remarkable and inspiring life as an artist, writer, music lover, church goer, devoted aunt and great aunt, and steadfast friend to so many her extended "family" of lifelong friends from grade school, high school, college, places of work, church and community.

A celebration of life service for Sally will be held Nov. 5, 10 a.m. at Abbey Chapel, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, with the Reverend Dr. Andrea Avayzian and the Reverend Vicki Kemper officiating. Interment will be private, at the request of her family.

In lieu of flowers, it was Sally's wish that memorial contributions be made to the Haydenville Congregational Church, P.O. Box 257, Haydenville, MA 01039; First Congregational Church, 165 Main St., Amherst, MA 01002; and "Tina's Children Educational Fund" at Florence Bank, 85 N. Main St., Florence, MA 01062. The fund was established for the children of her friend who died shortly before Sally became terminally ill.

To sign a Guest Book, express condolences, share memories and read other obituaries, go to http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/gazettenet/

A Celebration of Life will be held for Sally at Abbey Chapel, Mount Holyoke College on Saturday, November 5.

The Celebration of Life Service for Sally will take place at 10:00 AM onSaturday, November 5th at Abbey Chapel, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA. The service will be officiated by the Reverend Dr. Andrea Avayzian and the Reverend Vicki Kemper. The service will last approximately 90 minutes and will be followed by a reception in the ground floor Morrison Room of the Willits-Hallowell Conference Center on the Mount Holyoke campus. It is within walking distance or a short drive from Abbey Chapel to Willits-Hallowell.

Interment will be private at the request of Sally's family.

From Our Class Scribe Eloise Prescott Killeffer:

On May 11, 2016, I received from Harrison (Harry) Houston, husband of Lynn Ely Houston, news that Lynn had died after a dreadful swimming accident in the waters of her beloved Turks and Caicos Islands. Lynn sent me reports (often with photos) of her life at sea and it was clear that she was thriving both in her boat and in the water. Harry's narrative follows. We send heartfelt condolences to Harry and daughters Noel (our 'class baby' and MHC Class of '90) and Ashley and their families.

Eloise: I was looking though the most recent Holyoke Alumni Quarterly, and saw the entry about Lynn in the class notes section. It is with the profoundest regret that I must tell you that Lynn died on February 18 as the outcome of a tragic swimming accident in the Turks and Caicos. She was in fact on another of the many cruises on the catamaran of which she was part owner. I was supposed to have been on this trip also, but an eye problem prevented my going at the last minute. One day she was snorkling with the group at West Caicos island, and she decided to swim some distance back to the boat. She said she was caught up in an asthma attack, and must have gotten water in her lungs after struggling in the water. Two days later, she was hospitalized and put on a respirator due to increasing fluid in her lungs, and then medivaced back to Florida. Doctors here said she was under the condition known as ARDS-Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. She was in the hospital for two weeks on the respirator, during which time the condition of her lungs deteriorated. The doctor's concerted thought was that she would would most likely never make it off the respirator, and even if she did, her lungs would be permanently comprised, to the point of her being effectively a pulmonary cripple. Knowing her feelings about quality of life, my daughters and I decided with great anguish to remove the life support. So I am here now with all the fondest memories of this wonderful woman, Holyoke woman. She is also survived by my daughter Noel Houston Dwyer, Holyoke '90, her sister Ashley Mason and their five children.