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A. Richard “Rick” Purchase, 75, of Calais, Vt., passed away on Wednesday, August 14, 2019, surrounded by his family at the University of Vermont Medical Center following a sudden and acute illness. Born in Washington, D.C., on February 29, 1944, to Albert Richard and Marian (Duke) Purchase, he was the eldest of two sons and grew up in Montpelier, Vt. He was a loving son, brother, husband, father, uncle, grandfather and loyal friend to many. A steadfast Vermonter, Rick graduated from Montpelier High School in 1962 and attended the University of Vermont, where he graduated with a bachelor of science degree in political science in 1966. Soon after graduation, he married, Nancy, his wife of nearly 53 years, and they moved to Maple Corner in Calais, Vt., to raise their family. They had five children: Kristen Purchase Werner and her husband, Michael, of Richmond, Vt.; Kimberly Purchase Luebbers and her husband, Robert, of Williston, Vt.; Bill Purchase of Braintree, Mass.; Lt. Col. Kathryn Purchase Sanborn and her husband, Lt. Col. Marc Sanborn, assigned to Fort Shafter, H.I.; and Neal Purchase and his wife, Anne, of Goffstown, N.H. He was also the proud grandfather of eight grandchildren: Kyle Werner, married to Shannin; Jack, Elle and Annabelle Werner; Samuel and Henry Purchase; and Theodore and Elliot Purchase. He is also survived by his brother David Purchase of Santa Fe, N.M., and lifelong family friends George and Jill Edson and family of Cornish, N.H. Many will remember Rick as an exceptional home builder, general contractor and owner of Capital Builders and, later, the owner of Johnson Artesian Well Drilling. He subsequently worked with Spafford & Sons Water Wells as a consultant. An active volunteer and community leader, he served as a lister for the Town of Calais for many years and also served as a selectman. He was a proud, longtime member of the Kiwanis Club of Montpelier, served on the board of directors for Westview Meadows and the Gary Residence, and was an active member of the Vermont Ground Water Association. From his years of hard, dedicated work for his employees and customers, as well as his active community involvement, Rick leaves behind a large circle of lifelong friends and colleagues. Rick will be remembered by many for his honesty, kindness and love of family, and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him. A dedicated family man and…
Henry H. Huston Sr., 88, of Burlington, Vt., died peacefully on July 21, 2019. Barbara, his wife of 58 years, passed away in 2010, and his thoughts were with her every day. He is survived by his daughter Ann and her son Joseph; by his son Henry Jr. and his son Lincoln; and by many extended family and dear friends. Henry was born in Chicago in 1931, the youngest of five, and he married Barbara in 1952. He served in the Korean War and later moved to New York, where he attended Cooper Union. Vermont became his home in 1968, and a year later he established his graphic and industrial design business, Huston Associates. He was an energetic collaborator on projects such as the Church Street Marketplace and the Burlington waterfront. His designs informed many of the unique businesses that made up Burlington and Vermont’s dynamic transformation. People gravitated to his boundless enthusiasm, playfulness and constant creativity. They, in turn, were touched by his sincere, curious and caring nature. Lake Champlain provided a theme of great joy throughout his life — from his many boats and a nautical antique store in Essex, N.Y., to volunteering at ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain to finding warm companionship in his late years at the St. John’s Club. At his request, no immediate service will be scheduled. Donations in his honor can be made to ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain: echovermont.org/join-support/make-a-gift.…
August 7, 2019, at Porter Medical Center, Laura (Mack) Rates and Bruno Rates welcomed a boy, Levi Mack Rates.…
Renee Jeanne Grenier Allen passed away at her home in South Burlington on August 1, 2019, after a lengthy illness. Renee was born in Toms River, N.J., on May 9, 1964. The youngest of five children, she was adored by her older siblings. Her loving parents, Norman and Theresa Grenier, predeceased her. The family moved to East Greenwich, R.I., where Renee attended local schools. She attended Castleton State College and graduated with a degree in communications from the University of Rhode Island. Renee was a longtime employee of the EDGE Sports & Fitness, where she was the manager. She taught swimming and water aerobics and especially enjoyed working with the senior members. Over the years, her energetic personality motivated many young children to become proficient swimmers. In recent years, Renee’s love of children led her to volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House in Burlington. Renee is survived by her beloved children, Connor Howard Allen and Casey Claire Allen, and by her former husband, Howard A. “Chip” Allen, all of Burlington. Renee is also survived by her brothers, Michael Grenier and his wife, Carol, of Port St. Lucie, Fla., and Stephen Grenier and his wife, Sharon, of North Kingstown, R.I.; her sisters, Norma Jean Juel and her husband, Craig, of Huntersville, N.C., and Claudia Cordisco and her husband, Michael, of Sparrowbush, N.Y.; and several nieces and nephews. Services will be held on Thursday, August 22, 2019, at 11 a.m. at St. John Vianney Church, 160 Hinesburg Road, South Burlington, VT, with a reception immediately following. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Renee’s name to Block Island Conservancy or the charity of your choice. The family is appreciative of all the care and concern from friends, neighbors and community members who have supported Renee these past few years.…
Robert Bernard Bessette Sr. was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and friend. He loved his family, friends, his home and Vermont. He died at home, surrounded by his family, on August 13, 2019. The son of Mildred (Clarke) and Theodore Bessette, he was born in Burlington on October 31, 1931, always making Halloween extra special for his family. Bob spent his early years in the South End of Burlington, often recounting fond memories of his many adventures growing up there. He graduated from Burlington High School, class of 1950. He was a Korean War-era Army veteran, enlisting in 1952 and serving in Okinawa, Japan. On August 16, 1952, he married the love of his life, Helen (Payea) Bessette. Whether traveling, dancing, seeing the races at Saratoga, visiting casinos or just picnicking on the waterfront, they truly enjoyed being together, especially when surrounded by family and friends. His love of nature, and particularly the natural beauty of Vermont, began at a young age, when he would hunt and fish with his father, brother and friends. He had a lifelong passion for hunting and fishing and the outdoors, and he passed this along to his children and many of his friends. He was hunting during the 2018 deer season (bow, rifle and muzzleloader), spending many hours in the woods the week before he became ill. Playing golf and following the Red Sox were also lifelong interests. Bob worked at General Electric in Burlington for many years before moving to a career in corrections with the State of Vermont. “Sparky” retired from CCCC in 1990 after 20 years of service. In addition to his loving wife, Helen, Bob is survived by his daughters, Julie Giguere and her husband, Alan, and Suellen Bessette, all of Burlington; and his sons, Timothy of Milton, Jay and Jon of Burlington, and Bradley and his wife, Shelley, of Barre. He is also survived by his seven grandchildren, Shelby Jors and her husband, Charlie, of Seattle, Wash.; and Darren Giguere, Justin Boucher, Abaigeal Lundy, Trevor and Kyle Bessette, and Brandon Ha Bessette; as well as his two great-grandchildren, Brolin and Josephine Jors. Dad, Grandpa and Great-Grandpa, Bob shared a special and unique relationship with each of us. Bob was predeceased by his parents; his three siblings, Ted, Katherine and Norma; his infant daughter Kathy Jean; and his beloved son Robert (Bobby) Jr. Our family would like…
On August 12, 2019, at Porter Medical Center, Elizabeth Ann Gerner and Charles Harris Gerner welcomed a boy, Charles Henry Gerner.…
A. Richard “Rick” Purchase, 75, of Calais, Vt., passed away on Wednesday, August 14, 2019, surrounded by his family at the University of Vermont Medical Center following a sudden and acute illness. Born in Washington, D.C., on February 29, 1944, to Albert Richard and Marian (Duke) Purchase, he was the eldest of two sons and grew up in Montpelier, Vt. He was a loving son, brother, husband, father, uncle, grandfather and loyal friend to many. A steadfast Vermonter, Rick graduated from Montpelier High School in 1962 and attended the University of Vermont, where he graduated with a bachelor of science degree in political science in 1966. Soon after graduation, he married, Nancy, his wife of nearly 53 years, and they moved to Maple Corner in Calais, Vt., to raise their family. They had five children: Kristen Purchase Werner and her husband, Michael, of Richmond, Vt.; Kimberly Purchase Luebbers and her husband, Robert, of Williston, Vt.; Bill Purchase of Braintree, Mass.; Lt. Col. Kathryn Purchase Sanborn and her husband, Lt. Col. Marc Sanborn, assigned to Fort Shafter, H.I.; and Neal Purchase and his wife, Anne, of Goffstown, N.H. He was also the proud grandfather of eight grandchildren: Kyle Werner, married to Shannin; Jack, Elle and Annabelle Werner; Samuel and Henry Purchase; and Theodore and Elliot Purchase. He is also survived by his brother David Purchase of Santa Fe, N.M., and lifelong family friends George and Jill Edson and family of Cornish, N.H. Many will remember Rick as an exceptional home builder, general contractor and owner of Capital Builders and, later, the owner of Johnson Artesian Well Drilling. He subsequently worked with Spafford & Sons Water Wells as a consultant. An active volunteer and community leader, he served as a lister for the Town of Calais for many years and also served as a selectman. He was a proud, longtime member of the Kiwanis Club of Montpelier, served on the board of directors for Westview Meadows and the Gary Residence, and was an active member of the Vermont Ground Water Association. From his years of hard, dedicated work for his employees and customers, as well as his active community involvement, Rick leaves behind a large circle of lifelong friends and colleagues. Rick will be remembered by many for his honesty, kindness and love of family, and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him. A dedicated family man and…
On August 14, 2019, at Porter Medical Center, Jennifer Cavanaugh Higgins and William Cavanaugh welcomed a boy, Ewan William Higgins Cavanaugh.…
On August 15, 2019, at Porter Medical Center, Samantha Walsh and Travis Walsh welcomed a girl, Abigail Penelope Walsh.…
The life celebration for Gladys Agell will be held on Sunday, September 8, 2019, at 11 a.m. at the Vermont College of Fine Arts in the College Hall Chapel, in Montpelier, Vt. The Hooker and Whitcomb Funeral Home, 7 Academy Street in Barre, assisted the Agell family with the arrangements.…
On August 10, 2019, Karin Ann Caldwell passed after living with lung cancer for a year and a half. She had beautiful strong strides, positive therapies and months that came to a quiet standstill. Every day she braved this extremely difficult territory with faith and courage. Karin was born in Indiana, Pa., on November 30, 1952, to Helen Pike and Drexell Caldwell. She attended high school in Indiana and studied health and physical education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. In the early ’70s, she moved to Vermont and became part of the Touchstone community in Starksboro. Days were spent trout fishing, mothering tomcats and growing food. The 20-plus cooperative members built homes, co-raised kids and shared wisdom over decades. Karin had built her first house there with her partner by age 26. In the ’80s, her free spirit led her to Negril, Jamaica, where she met her former husband, Joseph Allen. The two relocated to Starksboro and had two daughters, Mattie and Lilli Allen. Karin became a hardworking single mother, always able to create something from nothing with poise and grace. Karin loved supporting her community, refurbishing antiques and gardening. In her last 20 years, she ran her own business, Roots North Landscaping, designing beautiful gardens throughout Vermont and cultivating lasting friendships. While working, she talked politics and recipes and sang long-past tunes over big blooms with her close friend, Kathleen (Cooter) Bushey. Karin often put her life on hold to preserve and empower the freedoms of others. She rallied behind people’s rights: women’s, LGBQT and civil rights; immigration issues; and Planned Parenthood. She served on the board for the John Graham Shelter in Vergennes, volunteered at food shelves and helped with community events at Saint Peters Catholic Church. Karin had a generosity of spirit and love for family. She was mischievous and fun to be with, while still hardworking, independent and proud. Karin showed us how to love endlessly, knowing that cancer affects only our physical lives, while the love she gave extends way beyond its bounds. She is survived by her daughters, Lillian Rose and Mattie Star Allen; her brothers, Mark and Greg Caldwell, and their families; and many close friends. The family invites everyone to join on September 6 at 11 a.m. for a mass celebrating her life at Saint Peters Catholic Church, 85 S. Maple St., Vergennes, VT 05491. A reception will follow. Karin donated…
Our Kari was born on February 11, 1967, in Bryn Mawr, Pa., to Bonnie and Arthur Stolpestad (of Brunswick, Maine, and Lynn, Mass., respectively). Standing together in love and courage were her beloved husband, Bruce, and son, Gunnar “My Boy” Bierbaum (Burlington, Vt); mother, Bonnie Stolpestad (the late Arthur Stolpestad), now of Crossroad’s Village, Portage, Mich.; brother Lars Stolpestad (Kari) and their children, Annika and Bjorn (Kalamazoo, Mich.); sister Rev. Kerrie Harthan (Gloria Korsman) of Cambridge, Mass.; aunt Candy Dorscheid and her Donofrio family (Madison, Conn.); godmother Gunta Hirsch (the late Bruno Hirsch) of Canton, Mass.; and cousins Ginny Drew and Earl and Bonnie MacKenzie of Islesboro, Maine. Hailing from Brunswick, Maine, Kari graduated from Brunswick High School in 1985. She met Bruce at the University of Maine, Orono, graduating in 1989. They set up home in Burlington, Vt. Kari loved working in the University of Vermont’s Research Protection Office and coming home to tend to Gunnar and his friends, as well as her vibrant garden. She was an athletic outdoorswoman and certified as a diving instructor and master gardener, perfectly reflecting her spiritual connection to nature. She was happiest when camping on Warren Island, swimming and kayaking off Leadbetter Island (both in Penobscot Bay), snowshoeing and skiing in Stowe, hiking the Green Mountains, and sailing on Lake Champlain with family, friends and Ebb, her chocolate lab, who still looks for her. Kari was an engaging woman whose sidesplitting antics grew out of compassion, mischief and wry humor. Whether flamboyantly dancing to ABBA on a schooner bowsprit or pouring red wine on your white kitchen floor and tossing all your clothes around your house as her way of saying "Thanks for your hospitality," she endeared herself to you. You knew that she cared. Blessed with empathy and appreciation for the shenanigans of youth, she relished opening her home to her cherished neighborhood family, especially the young people now in college. She wanted you to feel at home, understood, content. Kari was kind. If desired, a tribute to Kari can be made to the Vermont Suicide Prevention Center. She struggled with depression and anxiety, intensely, these last two years. Our family is committed to bringing heartfelt awareness, research and effective public health policy to bear on this widespread, treatable disease. We thank the St. Lawrence University football team, staff and faculty for their superb, loving support of Gunnar. We thank…
Eugene (Gene) H. Shaver, our beloved husband, father and grandfather, left for his heavenly home on Thursday, August 1, 2019. An intelligent, humble, dog-loving gentleman and friend to all has left us. He leaves his one and only love of 59 years, Mary (Jackson) Shaver; his son, Eric, and his wife, Gail Gaetani; his daughter, Sonja Fuller, and her husband, Andy; his sisters, Gale Shaver and Elaine Brooks; four grandchildren: Sophia and Sedona Shaver and Amy and Adam Fuller; and many other relatives and close friends. He was predeceased by his brother Allen. He was born on August 2, 1936, in Andes, N.Y., to Allen J. Shaver and Lillian Misner. He started a lifelong passion for sports, particularly baseball, at an early age that carried throughout his lifetime. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army with his best friend, Fred Wilson, and was assigned to the signal corp. He became an instructor in cathode ray tube theory at Fort Monmouth, N.J. After his discharge, he returned home and became reacquainted with a now-grown-up girl he used to tease as a child, Mary Jackson. Mary and Gene were married in July 1960. He started the family in San Jose, Calif., with Sonja and Eric and moved the family of four to Burlington, Vt., in 1967. Burlington has been home since and the starting place for so much of what he was proud to provide for his family. His time on the Burlington City Council was a source of pride for him, knowing he could give back and help the community he loved. He loved to spend time on the lake and attend or coach absolutely any sport he could, and he taught himself to ski. He became a hockey player at 40. You could find him skiing, skating, playing basketball, softball, baseball, tennis, water-skiing … you name it. Later in life, he took joy in his grandchildren and taking every opportunity to teach, coach, play and tease another generation of Shavers. He enjoyed getting to know his step-grandchildren and considered them family, as well. He had a reputation for being a constant joker and loved to tease you. His hope was always that you would tease right back. Gene loved talking to friends and strangers alike and could find fun in everyone he met and everywhere he went. He found these friends in IBM, at the church, at…
On September 3, 2019, at Porter Medical Center, Miranda Snyder Cary and Clinton Snyder welcomed a child, Knox Clarence Scott Snyder.…
On September 4, 2019, at Porter Medical Center, Morgan (Lacillade) Curtis and Dana Curtis welcomed a girl, Lydia Anne Curtis.…
A Quaker Meeting for Worship to memorialize Glenn Ravdin will be held in the manner of Friends at the Burlington Friends Meeting house, 173 N. Prospect Street, Burlington on Saturday, September 21, 2019, at 11 a.m. Family, friends and work associates of the Ravdin family are warmly welcomed.…
Please join us for a celebration of Ken's life. Sunday, September 22, 2019, at 3 p.m. UVM Alumni House, 61 Summit Street, Burlington. Reception to follow.…
Perry Nunn, a beloved husband, brother, cousin, uncle, teacher, friend and musician, died surrounded by love at home on August 29, 2019, of pulmonary fibrosis. The disease became very aggressive in Perry's final months, progressing faster and faster up to his death. No one expected him to decline so quickly. Perry had made his home in Burlington for nearly 30 years. He was well known in many circles and had established a large, close community of friends. For six years in the late 1990s into the early 2000s, he had a regular happy-hour gig every Friday at Ruben James, where his soaring voice and killer rhythm on guitar and harmonica made him a favorite with students from the University of Vermont. He was hired to play many a college party, and a returning alum once told Perry: "You were the soundtrack to my college career!" About 10 years later, Perry again had a regular gig for nearly two years, playing Fridays or Saturdays at Red Square. He produced an eponymous album in 1990 and a second one, Between Two Points, in 2012. Perry was born in Utica, N.Y., on March 6, 1962, but grew up in Plattsburgh. He came from a large family in a neighborhood on Cumberland Head with many more kids on all sides. His earliest musical collaborations were with his next-door cousin and partner in crime, Matt Mousseau. As elementary-aged children, the two of them used the garage as their sound studio, where they wrote songs and performed together on improvised instruments from the garage and kitchen, dreaming of forming a band one day. As teenagers, they did exactly that, and well into their twenties their bands continued to play around New York and Vermont. Perry earned his bachelor's degree in music from SUNY Plattsburgh. His cousin and best friend, Michael Mousseau, inspired him to study a semester abroad in London, which only piqued his interest in traveling even further. Fascinated with everything about life and the world we live in, Perry later spent two years traveling with his first wife around the world together with Michael Mousseau and his wife. Perry's large spirit and enthusiastic interest in the people and places he encountered — paired with his impressive chops when busking throughout Europe and in the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia — won him friends and fans wherever he went. After earning his…
It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Casey. After a short but hard-fought illness, Casey surrendered peacefully Tuesday evening, September 10. He was surrounded by his immediate, extended and chosen families, friends and loved ones. Casey grew up in Lake Placid, N.Y. As a child, he loved to do crafts and cook. He had a flair for fashion and all things beautiful. This translated well to his many years in the jewelry business bringing light and joy to countless people, clients, customers, coworkers, friends and family. His fearlessness and fabulous heart were unmatched. He was always the caretaker and nurturer, master chef, lover of animals, and all things sparkling and radiant. Casey will be forever missed by the many lives he touched. Casey was predeceased by his father, Charles “Charlie” Draper. He is survived by his mother, Margaret “Peg” Draper, and three brothers: Brian and his partner, Kim; Cory and his wife, Tammy; and Charles (“Chip”) and his wife, Leah. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews, whom he cherished deeply. Per Casey’s request, there will be no services but a private celebration of life at a later date. Condolences and memories may be shared with M.B. Clark funeral home of Lake Placid. In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Cancer Society are welcome.…
On September 19, 2019, Paul Alan Bruhn of South Burlington died of having too much fun. It was his heart that finally couldn’t keep up with him. He was born March 27, 1947, in Burlington, the son of Marion and Elmer Bruhn. His father died when Paul was just 5 months old, and his mother was left to run the family business, Bruhn Office Equipment on Church Street in downtown Burlington, as well as raise three young children. The first two were probably easier than the last one. Paul is survived by his very special friend Colleen O’Neill of Cornish, N.H.; his former partner Christine Graham of Burlington and North Bennington and her two sons, Finnegan Calabro and his wife, Clare Beams, and their daughters Tess and Joanna of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Max Calabro of Portland, Ore.; his sisters Janet Lum of Orcas, Wash., and Beverly Major and her husband, Randolph, of Westminster West, Vt.; his former wife Kathleen Stankevich of Springfield; numerous nieces and nephews; his "brother" Pat Robins and Lisa Schamberg, who didn't know she was getting a package deal; his colleagues and board members at the Preservation Trust of Vermont; and lots of special friends. The high point of his academic career was at the Tom Thumb Nursery School. He later graduated (barely) from Burlington High School in 1965, where playing basketball was his biggest interest, and he briefly attended the University of Vermont. In spite of an uninspiring academic record, he was lucky enough to have three very special careers. In 1966, Proctor and Ruth Page took him under their wings and provided him with an education in journalism and the newspaper business. Later they supported his effort to edit and publish a monthly magazine for Chittenden County. Chittenden Magazine operated for four years, ending publication in 1973. Paul often said those years working for Proc and Ruth were his "college" education. After a brief stint in the Chittenden County State’s Attorney's Office, he ran Patrick Leahy's first campaign for the U.S. Senate in 1974. He then served as Sen. Leahy's chief of staff in Washington, D.C., until returning to Vermont in 1978. (That was his second college education.) He operated a consulting business for several years and became the first executive director of the Preservation Trust of Vermont in 1980, a position he held until his death. He had great passion for his work…
Hazel, September 28 would have been your 35th birthday. You may be gone from this life, but you will live forever in my heart. Love, Uncle Lee…