“A workhorse, not a show horse” is what John W. Olver’s campaign called him, in a phrase that closely matched his unflashy but solidly productive political career. Olver, who served both chambers of the Massachusetts legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives for a total of 44 years, died on February 23, 2023, at age 86, at home in Amherst.

 

Much admired by his constituents and colleagues for his intellect, broad vision, hard work, and attention to detail, Olver devoted himself to progressive causes and to supporting progressive candidates. On the occasion of his retirement from the U.S. Congress in 2012, the Boston Globe wrote that Olver had a reputation for being “low key and media shy.” Yet he was not afraid to step up and speak out when the occasion demanded it. As his colleague U. S. Rep. Richard Neal put it, “He was happy to tell you he disagreed with you.” But, added Neal, Olver also exercised the much-needed give-and-take skills of a legislator.

 

Olver had the tall, elegant appearance reminiscent of a member of the British royal family, but his was a distinctly non-royal background. Born Sept. 3, 1936, and raised on a farm in Beach Lake, Pennsylvania, he tended cows with his father while his mother ran a boarding house. He graduated from high school at 15 and from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at 18, completing a master’s degree in chemistry at Tufts, with an MIT doctorate at age 24. He taught chemistry at UMass Amherst for eight years, resigning in 1969 to enter politics as a state representative. In 1972, he was elected to the state senate, and in 1991 he won a special election to succeed U.S. Representative Silvio O. Conte, who died in office. In both 1972 and 1991 elections he flipped the seat from red to blue, reflecting changing party preferences in western Massachusetts.

Olver’s commitments were firm, steady, and progressive. He believed in using diplomacy rather than military force in international disputes, consistently voting against increased funding and deployment for military operations. He co-sponsored a bill to introduce universal health insurance. On the question of abortion, he was solidly pro-choice. He supported efforts to reform immigration laws to allow entrance to qualified immigrants, convinced also that undocumented immigrants should be offered a pathway to citizenship. He was arrested twice in front of the Sudanese embassy in protests against the Darfur genocide. U. S. Rep. James McGovern, who in 2006 was arrested with Olver, called his colleague “a person of integrity who has shown that standing up for what you believe is not only the right thing to do, it’s good politics.”

On both the local and national scene, Olver worked to keep water clean and forest and agricultural land free from development. His first congressional district, covering most of Western Massachusetts, was primarily rural, although it also comprised the cities of Holyoke, Pittsfield, Fitchburg, Leominster, Gardner and North Adams, as well as the academic communities of the Pioneer Valley. There, he worked to help improve the economic conditions of his constituents. One result, the Northern Tier Project, brought new business initiatives, investments, collaborations, and training programs to communities along the Route 2 corridor, many of which have endured over the last 35 years. When Olver described his hopes for the project in 1984, staff member and longtime friend Michael Kane asked if there was a plan or strategy for the project. Olver replied, “I want you to figure it out.” Other colleagues and staffers describe similarly high expectations, with staffers expected to do the original work and bring it to Olver to help implement.

 

On the other hand, Olver did plenty of that shoe leather work himself. As Jon Klein, a former top staffer on Beacon Hill and Capitol Hill put it, “John always showed up. He was everywhere in that sprawling congressional district. Trying to find and solve that next problem.” Said Kathleen Merrigan, former Olver campaign manager and later U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, “John did not miss a parade, a spaghetti dinner at the Italian American Club, a local Democratic Town Committee event. He was just everywhere – not to give the big speech, but to listen, observe, and ultimately to serve.” Patricia Lee Lewis (Pat Sackrey), chair of the former Hampshire County Commission, Olver’s district director in his early years in Congress and his close friend to the end, said of him, “John had the highest degree of personal integrity of anyone I have ever known.”

Efforts to improve infrastructure, in particular transportation, were key parts of Olver’s political career. “There’s probably not a transportation project in the state that doesn’t have John Olver’s fingerprints on it,’’ said McGovern. Former state representative, the late Steven Kulik, has described the areas of Olver’s work that he most admired: the federal designation of the Westfield River as the state’s first Wild and Scenic River, the advancement of broadband to rural communities, community health centers and development corporations, strengthening the region’s agricultural economy, and supporting transportation projects of all kinds. “These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to John’s legacy of leadership,” Kulik said.

Married for 55 years to Rose Richardson Olver, a professor of psychology and the first tenured female professor at Amherst College, John was a devoted family man, spending time with his daughter Martha, a librarian in the Holyoke Public Library, whenever he could. He was an outdoorsman, enjoying hiking, rock-climbing, gardening, and tennis. His retirement coincided with redistricting that eliminated his congressional district, but also with his wife’s diagnosis of ovarian cancer. She died in 2014.

 

After retiring from politics, Olver continued to work for causes he cared about. He worked with local land trusts, the Kestrel Trust and the Mount Grace Land Trust, to preserve critical land for conservation. UMass gave him an honorary degree in public service in 2014. He had advocated for a high-rise building on the university’s Amherst campus to be built of wood rather than steel. That building, the largest academic contemporary wood structure in the country, was named the John W. Olver Design Building in 2017.  

 

Olver is survived by his daughter, Martha Jane Olver, of Amherst, his daughter, Cary Plumer Frye of Virginia, his son, Douglas Plumer of New York City, his grandson, Marshall Plumer of New York City, and several nieces and nephews.

 

Special thanks are due to John’s devoted caregivers from Comprehensive Home Care, VNA Hospice of Cooley Dickinson Hospital, and Barbara Perman and her staff at Moving Mentor of Amherst.

 

A memorial service will be held at the John W. Olver Design Building on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus, Sunday afternoon, April 16, 2023. Douglass Funeral Service is in charge of ­­­­­­­­­­­­arrangements. To leave your name in the guest book or forward this obituary to others, please go to www.douglassfuneral.com. Burial will be private at Wildwood Cemetery in Amherst.

 

Contributions in John’s memory in lieu of flowers may be made to:  Amherst Survival Center, Food Bank of Western MA, Greenfield Community College Foundation, Holyoke Public Library, Hitchcock Center, Kestrel Land Trust, Manna Community Kitchen of Northampton, Mt. Grace Land Trust, Safe Passage, Tapestry, Miss Hall’s School in Pittsfield, Rose Olver Student Research Fund at Amherst College, or the organization of your choice.

 

                                                                        -30-

 

Note: This obituary was written and contributed by Marietta Pritchard of Amherst.

Flipping open the morning paper to the obits section, “Who died?” Lou would say in a Russian accent, bearing a wry grin, channeling the spirit of his grandfather, Zadie.

 

Louis M. Wigdor, 72, of Amherst, died peacefully on February 16, 2023. His wife, Helena Donovan, and son, Ariel Wigdor, were at his side. Sole proprietor of the Wig & Pen blog (https://wigpen.blogspot.com), Lou spent 40 years at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst working as a business writer, editor, and comedic fixture at the Isenberg School of Management. 

 

In his spare time, Lou frequented local coffee shops, bookstores, and record stores in the Amherst and Northampton areas. He lingered at Amherst Coffee or Woodstar Café reading and chatting. Lou was a regular at the former site of Rao’s Coffee and Share Amherst. There, he would gather with friends to dish out stories and doses of his trademark eccentricity, a hot coffee and fresh pastry nearby. He stopped by Mystery Train Records and Turn It Up! to chat and flip through CDs. Lou often dropped by to see the Gladus at Ren’s Mobile and to check in on longtime friend Henry at The Old Book Store.

 

Born July 31, 1950, Lou grew up in Worcester, MA, with his mother, Beatrice Wigdor, whom he loved immensely, and his father, Dr. Leo Wigdor, with whom he shared a warm and playful relationship. His father owned a dental practice. His early interests included boxing, baseball cards, stamp collecting, and humor – from Laurel and Hardy to MAD Magazine. In his late teens, Lou spent summers in Washington, D.C. with his aunt Sylvia and uncle Bill, who inspired his interest in literature and the arts. Lou became an avid reader, esthete, and unorthodox scholar.

 

Lou’s gig with higher education began in the late 1960s at Worcester State University. He created a discography for the university’s library and helped organize movie nights by renting art films for the Y-Not Coffee House, a local folk venue. Music, from jazz, to classical, to international, was a cornerstone of Lou’s persona. He experienced Woodstock in 1969. Lou later attended Greenfield Community College before completing a bachelor’s degree in anthropology at UMass Amherst. He spent a year at Rutgers University as a doctoral student in anthropology.

 

Unenthused with academe, Lou returned to Amherst where he met Helena. They married in 1985. At the University of Massachusetts, Lou worked on research for the business school and was hired full time in 1980. There he made a profound impact as the school’s communications director and institutional historian. Lou single-handedly wrote and edited the Commonwealth, a quarterly alumni magazine published for several decades. He described encounters with brilliant minds such as Steve Wozniak, Nassim Taleb, Richard Thaler, and many others. Remarkably humble, he cared deeply for the people around him.

 

After four decades at the Isenberg School of Management, in 2021, Lou retired. He spent time with family and friends, enjoying books and entertainment, going on excursions in nature, and making the occasional trek to Montréal, a favorite city. 

 

He leaves his wife, Helena Donovan, his son, Ari Wigdor, both of Amherst, as well as cousins and many friends.

 

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Feb. 24, at Westview Cemetery, 520 Bedford St., Lexington, MA. Shiva services will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 26 through March 2 with visitation from 2 to 4 p.m. For location, contact the Jewish Community of Amherst. Details for a memorial celebration in the spring will be forthcoming. A scholarship in Lou’s name is being set up at the Isenberg School of Management.

Suzanne Messing Sznajderman, an immigrant, outspoken feminist, journalist, and beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend, died on January 18, 2023 in her home in Amherst, Massachusetts. She was just a few weeks shy of her 91^st birthday.

Born in Warsaw, Poland in 1932, Suzanne spent her early childhood in Paris where she and her parents, Eva and Benjamin Messing, migrated in search of greater economic opportunity. Many of Suzanne’s relatives, including all of her mother’s closest family, perished in Poland during the Holocaust. 

In 1941 Suzanne, Eva and Benjamin, along with Benjamin’s two brothers and their families, escaped Nazi-controlled France for New York. Suzanne graduated from Erasmus Hall High School and attended Brooklyn College before transferring to the University of Michigan where she completed degrees in history and journalism. 

After graduating she returned to New York, where she began her journalism career. There she was introduced to Marius Sznajderman, an aspiring artist who would become her husband. Marius had also escaped France with his parents and settled with them in Venezuela before immigrating to New York to attend Columbia University. The couple was introduced by Marius’s aunt Collette, who was his future mother-in-law’s dentist in Europe before the war and later again in New York. Suzanne and Marius were married for 61 years until his death in 2018.

The couple settled in Hackensack, New Jersey, where Suzanne had a position as a reporter at the Bergen Record. When she became pregnant with her first child, Michael, she followed convention and resigned from the Record. She also chose to forgo a graduate degree in journalism at Columbia University, where she had been accepted. Two more children, Tobi and Marc, soon followed.

Her frustration about the limitations placed on married women fueled her interest in feminism. She joined the northern New Jersey chapter of the National Organization for Women and eventually became its president while also pursuing free-lance writing projects focused on women’s issues. She later became a writer and editor at New Directions for Women, an important, nationally distributed feminist newspaper. The relationships Suzanne nurtured in the women’s movement remained strong and important to her throughout her life. 

Suzanne continued to pursue her love of journalism until her final days, posting her reflections and commentaries about contemporary issues on her blog, Roaming Through Life. 

Despite frustrations with traditional gender roles, Suzanne was a loving and caring mother and grandmother, a role that also brought her much joy. She maintained close relationships with all her children and their spouses: Michael (Elaine Witt), Tobi (Joel Harris) and Marc (Jeannette Sznajderman) and her seven grandchildren: Evan, Jesse, Lily, Lina, Noah, Aimee and Rachel. And she stayed connected with dear friends and the extended Sznajderman and Messing families, despite their being spread across the globe. From Israel to France, Germany and Argentina, England and Venezuela, and across the United States, family and friends grieved her passing.

After more than 50 years in their quirky Victorian house in Hackensack, which became a gathering place for writers, artists, feminists and neighborhood kids, Suzanne and Marius moved in 2015 to Applewood, an independent living facility in Amherst, to be closer to Tobi and Joel. At Applewood they enjoyed making new friends and pursuing their artistic and professional interests. Suzanne quickly became active in the community, including helping lead a yearlong commemoration in 2020 of the 100^th anniversary of the passage of the 19^th Amendment granting women nationwide the right to vote. The celebration culminated in a pandemic-appropriate, socially-distant parade that drew local and regional media attention.    

Both Suzanne and Marius were blessed with vital, sharp minds until the end. And like Marius, Suzanne was surrounded by family and wonderful caregivers when she passed.

A service celebrating Suzanne’s life and legacy will take place on Sunday, April 30, at 11 a.m. at the Jewish Community of Amherst, 742 Main Street. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Doctors Without Borders, Planned Parenthood or the Yiddish Book Center in Suzanne’s memory.                    

1. Margaret (Warriner) Wright, 85, of Amherst passed away after a short illness on February 10, 2023 at the Fisher House in Amherst.

 

There will be a viewing on Wednesday February 22, 2023 at 10:00 am, followed  by the funeral service at 11:00 am at The Salvation Army 170 Pearl Street Springfield, MA.

 

Margaret was born in Calcutta, India to Joseph and Ada Woods on November 23, 1937. She attended school in Greenfield Mass and graduated Amherst Regional High School Class of 1969. She graduated from Greenfield Community College in 1971 as a Social Worker.  Margaret married Robert Warriner, her high school sweetheart. After Robert’s early death, she married Leonard Rainville and later in life James Wright who she loved dearly. She spent her career as a social worker employed by a variety of businesses including The Salvation Army, Northampton State Hospital and retiring from Highland Valley Elder Services.  She was the daughter of Salvation Army Missionaries in Calcutta and arrived in the United States in 1942.  She spent her life serving the Lord with the Salvation Army as a member of the Springfield Corps since 1958, serving in many roles including as a bandsman and adult Sunday school teacher.  She was also a member of the Disabled American Veterans Women’s Axillary post 92 for many years.  

 

Margaret is preceded in death by Joseph and Ada Woods, Robert Warriner, Leonard Rainville and James Wright. She is survived by sisters Alice Garey of Greenfield, MA, Dorothy Woods of Norwich CT; children Elizabeth Warriner and husband John Hopkins of Floyd Virgina, Mary and husband Louis Raboin of Shutesbury MA, Roberta and husband Donald Piercey of Bradford MA, John and wife Catherine Warriner of Leverett, MA; Grandchildren Kimberly Raboin, Donnie Piercey, Eric Raboin, Christopher Piercey, Andrew Piercey, Keisha Warriner and 9 great grandchildren.  She is also survived by stepchildren – Richard and Betty Wright, Theresa Wright, Steve Meister, step-grandchildren, and step great grandchildren who she loved and treated as her own.

 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Salvation Army 170 Pearl Street, Springfield, MA.  

 

There will be a private burial at Wildwood Cemetery in Amherst on Thursday February 23.

 

Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

 

Margaret T. Klesch died February 9, 2023 in Hadley, MA.

 

Margaret was born May 16, 1932, a daughter of John and Helen (Chalupka) Siska, in Johnstown, PA. She shared the same birthday with her father. Margaret was predeceased by her parents, her husband of almost 53 years, Robert C. Klesch, her sisters Catherine Pollock, Anna Albacete and Helen Bond; her brothers Steve, Joseph, Baby brother John, Andrew, Edward and Albert, and daughter-in-law, Janine Klesch.

 

She is survived by her son, David; her son Michael and wife Heather; her Daughter, Theresa and husband Paul Smith; Grandchildren Jonathan and Stephanie Smith, Grandson Robert Klesch, and Granddaughter Alexis Klesch, also numerous nieces and nephews.

 

Before she moved to Hadley, MA, Margaret was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Johnstown; where she served as an altar server, an extraordinary minister of the Holy Eucharist, a lector, church sacristan, and received the Prince Gallitzen Cross award in 2012. At 81 years of age, Margaret, at the coaxing of her son Michael and his family, moved to Hadley, MA to live with them. She was a member of Most Holy Redeemer Church in Hadley.

 

Margaret will be taken back to Johnstown, PA for burial beside her love in life, her husband Bob.

 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Margaret’s name to the Gabriel Project of St. Francis of Assisi Church at 120 Barron Ave., Johnstown PA 15906. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

Peter John Rowell, born June 3, 1940, passed away peacefully on February 5, 2023 at the age of 82. A lifelong resident of Amherst, MA, Peter attended Amherst Regional High School and a graduate of Smith Vocational High School (class of 58). After serving as a member of United States Marine Corps, Peter joined the Amherst Fire Department up until his retirement in 1993. Always itching to stay busy, Peter had many additional odd jobs including work at Douglass Funeral Home and as a private chauffeur. Peter grew up with two siblings: Regina Hurrell, currently residing in Florida, and Robert Rowell, who passed away in 2007. For the past decade, Peter and his wife Jean have split their time between Amherst and Easton, MA, and enjoyed watching their three grandchildren grow up right under their noses. Peter is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jean Kzcowski Rowell, his son and daughter-in-law Matthew and Susan Rowell, and three grandchildren: Charlotte, Lucy and Hank. They will miss their Papi dearly.

Calling hours will be held at the Douglass Funeral Home on Monday, February 13 from 5pm – 7pm

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, February 14, 10am at St. Brigid’s Church. Burial will follow in St. Brigid’s Cemetery, Hadley.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Amherst Fire Department staff or St. Bridges Parish. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

Mary Ann Osborne (Cleveland) of Amherst (69) gracefully passed away at home Thursday Feb. 2, 2023. She was a friend to so many and family to even more. Mary would have wanted to be known for how big her heart was and how kind her soul was. She lived locally her entire life making an impact on so many in the community. She was an extremely talented baker and loved everything that involved cooking. She solidified a spot in many Dogs hearts. She was a giving lady that didn’t want anyone to go without a piece of her in some way, shape or form.

She is survived by Husband Phillip Osborne of Amherst, son Matthew Cleveland of Ithaca NY., daughter in law Brittney Snyder and Granddaughter Grace Marie Cleveland.

Stepchildren: Kimberly Osborne, Loren Osborne and Ross Osborne.

Sisters: Cheryl Tidlund, Lynn Raskevitz and Julie Carantit.

Brothers : Bruce Cleveland, Joe Cleveland and Mark Cleveland, as well as many others.

Mary would want you to spread joy and love instead of worrying. Let’s all honor that by smiling, telling stories of her life and planting daisies and sunflowers to keep her legacy with us even longer. Calling hours will be Wednesday, Feb. 15 from 4 – 6 PM at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

John (Jack) R. Dalton of Amherst, beloved husband, father, Poppy, friend and educator, entered eternal rest in the loving embrace of his family at home on January 31, 2023 at 93 years of age.

 

Born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, John was predeceased by parents, Theresa and William Dalton and siblings Jane Brothers of Worcester and William Dalton of Woonsocket, Rhode Island.  

 

Jack was a family man, always having the best interests of his wife, children and grandchildren in mind.  He is survived by his four children, nine grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and sister in-law:  John Dalton of Sydney, Australia (Kelsey Dalton and Ian: Thea; Reed Dalton) David Dalton and wife Lynn of Golden, Colorado (Hilary Freeman and Patrick: Charlie and Margaret; Matt Dalton and Alexis): Patricia Kozlowski and husband Paul of Lunenburg, MA (Emily Kozlowski; Jacob Kozlowski and Amanda) and Ann Mackay and husband Rob of Berlin, MA (Ryan MacKay and Rachel: Tyler; Alex MacKay and Kathryn; Cory MacKay and Alekxis); Joanne Connell of East Providence, RI. 

Education is Jack’s legacy.  It was something that changed his life. He and Kathy made sure that each of their children and grandchildren had the opportunity to go to college.  Always believing that the best investment you could make was in yourself. 

Jack graduated from La Salle Academy Class of 1947.  He then served on the USS Kearsarge in the United States Navy stationed out of Quonset Point, Rhode Island and was honorably discharged in 1949.  He attended Providence College and graduated in 1953.

 

Jack started his career in education teaching at St. Paul’s School in Covington, Louisiana where he taught English and coached basketball and tennis.  He returned to Rhode Island the following year to marry the love of his life, Kathleen Connell with whom he shared 67 years of marriage until her death last year. Jack’s teaching career brought them to Lowville and then Syracuse, New York where he earned his master’s degree in education.  After teaching in Glens Falls, they settled in Amherst to raise their four children where he taught sixth grade before he became the beloved Principal of Fort River School. 

 

Mr. Dalton, as he was called at Fort River, was known to many as “the wind beneath their wings.”  He was an incredible leader and mentor to his Fort River family.  A man who was respected, admired and loved.  There are many who feel their entire life trajectory would have been different without his stewardship.  The Fort River playground was dedicated to him upon his retirement.

 

He was a recipient of the Dakin Community Service Award and was a founding member of the Long Plain Nature Center Planning Board.

 

Jack had a quick wit coupled with a genuine interest for others that made people enjoy being with him.  He was a fun and loyal friend.

As an avid lover of the outdoors, Jack enjoyed fly-fishing, cross-country skiing and was a Legends member at Amherst Golf Club and the Hampshire Fitness Club. 

 

Jack and Kathy moved to Greenleaves in Amherst, an independent retirement community, in 2010 after selling their home of 45 years in Orchard Valley.  Jack and Kathy were blessed to live at home together for all of their days. Greenleaves was a wonderful place for them with many kind and caring friends and neighbors.  They were supported by an amazing care team that allowed them to experience the best quality of life and find joy in each day.  We extend our deepest gratitude to the care team of Mary Jane Scott, Nangsel Tenzin, Layannie Haydon-Mayer, Sara Rider, Esther Bedford and Rosio Soledad Younga Lazo who provided loving and exceptional care.

 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Newman Center on Monday, February 20th at 10:30 am.  Burial will be private.  In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Cooley Dickinson Hospice in recognition of the outstanding and compassionate care provided by Charlene Vinton and Karen Hill. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

John (Jack) R. Dalton of Amherst, beloved husband, father, Poppy, friend and educator, entered eternal rest in the loving embrace of his family at home on January 31, 2023 at 93 years of age.

 

Born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, John was predeceased by parents, Theresa and William Dalton and siblings Jane Brothers of Worcester and William Dalton of Woonsocket, Rhode Island.  

 

Jack was a family man, always having the best interests of his wife, children and grandchildren in mind.  He is survived by his four children, nine grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and sister in-law:  John Dalton of Sydney, Australia (Kelsey Dalton and Ian: Thea; Reed Dalton) David Dalton and wife Lynn of Golden, Colorado (Hilary Freeman and Patrick: Charlie and Margaret; Matt Dalton and Alexis): Patricia Kozlowski and husband Paul of Lunenburg, MA (Emily Kozlowski; Jacob Kozlowski and Amanda) and Ann Mackay and husband Rob of Berlin, MA (Ryan MacKay and Rachel: Tyler; Alex MacKay and Kathryn; Cory MacKay and Alekxis); Joanne Connell of East Providence, RI. 

Education is Jack’s legacy.  It was something that changed his life. He and Kathy made sure that each of their children and grandchildren had the opportunity to go to college.  Always believing that the best investment you could make was in yourself. 

Jack graduated from La Salle Academy Class of 1947.  He then served on the USS Kearsarge in the United States Navy stationed out of Quonset Point, Rhode Island and was honorably discharged in 1949.  He attended Providence College and graduated in 1953.

 

Jack started his career in education teaching at St. Paul’s School in Covington, Louisiana where he taught English and coached basketball and tennis.  He returned to Rhode Island the following year to marry the love of his life, Kathleen Connell with whom he shared 67 years of marriage until her death last year. Jack’s teaching career brought them to Lowville and then Syracuse, New York where he earned his master’s degree in education.  After teaching in Glens Falls, they settled in Amherst to raise their four children where he taught sixth grade before he became the beloved Principal of Fort River School. 

 

Mr. Dalton, as he was called at Fort River, was known to many as “the wind beneath their wings.”  He was an incredible leader and mentor to his Fort River family.  A man who was respected, admired and loved.  There are many who feel their entire life trajectory would have been different without his stewardship.  The Fort River playground was dedicated to him upon his retirement.

 

He was a recipient of the Dakin Community Service Award and was a founding member of the Long Plain Nature Center Planning Board.

 

Jack had a quick wit coupled with a genuine interest for others that made people enjoy being with him.  He was a fun and loyal friend.

As an avid lover of the outdoors, Jack enjoyed fly-fishing, cross-country skiing and was a Legends member at Amherst Golf Club and the Hampshire Fitness Club. 

 

Jack and Kathy moved to Greenleaves in Amherst, an independent retirement community, in 2010 after selling their home of 45 years in Orchard Valley.  Jack and Kathy were blessed to live at home together for all of their days. Greenleaves was a wonderful place for them with many kind and caring friends and neighbors.  They were supported by an amazing care team that allowed them to experience the best quality of life and find joy in each day.  We extend our deepest gratitude to the care team of Mary Jane Scott, Nangsel Tenzin, Layannie Haydon-Mayer, Sara Rider, Esther Bedford and Rosio Soledad Younga Lazo who provided loving and exceptional care.

 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Newman Center on Monday, February 20th at 10:30 am.  Burial will be private.  In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Cooley Dickinson Hospice in recognition of the outstanding and compassionate care provided by Charlene Vinton and Karen Hill. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

Elinor P. Thornton   (77) Amherst-On Wednesday February 1, 2023 everyone’s mother Ellie Pierce Thornton went on to join her own mother who she has missed for so many years. The daughter of Charles and Rosalie (Mielke) Pierce of Amherst, Ellie married Frank Thornton of Pelham in 1968. Two short years later Ellie left her job with the Amherst school system to begin raising her children-the job she was born to do. Along with her own two, Ellie was an honorary mom to decades of kids in the Amherst area, many of whom still stop her and Frank in the grocery store to say hi and show her pictures of their own children, (yes-she knows ALL their names!)  Ellie was passionate about charity and giving to those in need. She spent countless hours knitting preemie sets for hospitals and every year her family was tasked with loading the car absolutely full of the items she purchased at Christmas and back to school time for donation. Ellie fought (and won) a cancer battle for 22 years despite an original diagnosis of “incurable”.  Ellie enjoyed going to bluegrass shows with her husband and made many new friends among the chairs and the strings.

    Ellie is survived by her husband of nearly 55 years Frank of Amherst, her son Matthew (Tammy) of Sunderland, daughter Jan (William Dubuque) of Granby, sister Sandra Pierce (David Mamulski) of Northampton, sister in law Vannie of VT, niece April of VT, grandchildren Nicole, Adianna and Billy, great grandson Andre and by her best friend since grade school Marguerite Searle of Pelham. Ellie was predeceased by her brother Charles of VT and Ronald of Leverett.

    Ellie did not play the lottery. This past Christmas Marguerite gave her a scratch ticket-Frank had to show her how to play it. She won a bit of money. In true Ellie fashion, her last request was for her family to turn her winnings into gift cards and give them to an Amherst family going through a rough patch.

    If you would like to honor Ellie, her family asks that you please continue her tradition of charity by giving to someone in need through a church, school or survival center. Or make a donation to Norwottuck Fish and Game Association to send a child to the Massachusetts Junior Conservation Camp.

    Per Ellie’s request there will be no services. Instead, her family will plant a flowering shrub in her honor in the spring. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com