Dona Drumm Motts, an environmental and civic advocate, passed away peacefully in Amherst September 2nd, aged 95. She fought to create and protect local conservation areas and staunchly defended the democratic process.

Born to postal worker Ernest H. Drumm and Swedish immigrant Olga “Marie” Hendrickson in Pipestone, MN, Dona delivered war telegrams and worked as a telephone operator while attending Pipestone High School. After graduating salutatorian in 1945, she departed for the University of Minnesota (UMN) – the first person in her family to graduate from college. At UMN Dona also met her future husband, Ward Motts. They married in 1951 after Ward completed his MS in geology and Dona her BA in sociology.

The next ten years were a whirlwind of moves and new starts. In Chico, CA Dona earned her teaching certificate from Chico State College, taught English, and coached basketball at the local high school. At Champaign-Urbana IL their first child, Paul, was born (in 1955) and Ward earned his Ph.D in geology. In Roswell, NM, Dona’s focus shifted from underprivileged children in Minneapolis to the plight of migrant children along the US-Mexico border. She completed her MSW from UMN in 1957 while caring for Paul and working with migrant families in New Mexico. Daughter Greta was born in Albuquerque in 1960. The beauty of the Southwest and concern for clean water (Ward’s life-work) ignited a passion for conservation and environmental activism.

Following a brief stint at the University of Oklahoma the family moved to Amherst in the fall of 1961, with Ward joining UMass as associate professor of geology. Dona quickly became involved in Amherst affairs through Toastmasters, Great Books, AAUW and LWV. She and Ward fell in love with the beauty of the Pioneer Valley and resolved to protect its wetlands and natural areas. Employed by Children’s Aid and Family Service in Northampton, she helped resettle Cuban families fleeing oppression. Dona considered this one of the most rewarding times of her life and was immensely proud when one of her charges later became a district judge.

As chair of the Amherst Conservation Commission Dona helped create new conservation areas, facing down the threat of rampant development and even a million-dollar lawsuit from developers. Both she and Ward worked to protect the watershed area of Lawrence Swamp. In 1970 Dona became a founding member of the Kestrel Trust, conserving farmland and sensitive wetland habitat in the Pioneer Valley. As LWV president she hosted constituent meet-and-greets for local legislators. She served Amherst Town Meeting as an elected member. The call to higher education led her to an M.Ed in secondary school counseling from UMass in 1979. She also joined the Hampshire Choral Society from 1975 until 1995, participating in tours to Romania and England.

In the 1980’s Dona was hired as Secretary to the Watershed Citizen’s Advisory Committee (WSCAC) and worked for ten years to protect the Quabbin watershed. Continuing to serve during retirement, Dona was a chair exercise instructor at the Amherst Senior Center until age 92. She spent her last years at Rockridge Retirement Community in Northampton.

Ward and Dona traveled extensively throughout their lives, exposing their children to the wonders of the National Parks as well as art and music. They took a variety of classes through Five College Learning in Retirement into their 80’s. Exposure to the arts and natural beauty guided their two children to careers in the National Park Service and in the arts.

Dona exemplified the values of Greatest Generation. She believed in putting the social good before everything else, even when it called for sacrifice. Thanks to Dona, Amherst is graced with beautiful conservation areas, strong civic ties, and clean water.

Dona leaves son Paul and his wife Gretchen; daughter Greta and her husband Dana Birkby, with their children Alicia and Michael and great-grandson Jeffrey. Also nephew David Drumm, niece Mary Drumm Sikora, plus great-nieces and nephews. Her husband Ward, brother Ernest Drumm Jr., and nephew Douglas Drumm preceded her in death.

A private burial was held at Wildwood Cemetery on September 10th. A memorial service for both Dona and Ward is planned at South Congregational Church in South Amherst, November 5th, 2022 at 2:00 PM, reception to follow.  Remembrances may be made to the Kestrel Trust. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

 

It is with great sadness that we report the death of Betty Steele Romer, Amherst College’s former Director of Academic Computing. She died peacefully at her home in Amherst at age 92 on August 18, 2022. Betty was born in New York City to Natalie and Jack Sternberg on June 26, 1930. She graduated from the Brooklyn Technical High School and then enrolled at Rutgers University (Douglass College at the time). She completed her undergraduate studies at Wayne State University (Michigan), earning a BA in Mathematics and English Literature. Her career began at the dawn of the computer age with positions at Chrysler, and Bendix Aviation, and then Bell Labs. In 1968 Betty joined Amherst College as a part-time employee to oversee the newly acquired IBM 1130 computer. From this humble start, over the next 28 years she built Amherst’s academic computing program, guiding it through the evolution of computer technology as it progressed from mainframes to personal computers. Through her inclusive, driving, and visionary leadership she served generations of students and faculty, ultimately influencing the lives and careers of many. See https://www.amherst.edu/library/archives/holdings/friends-of-the-library-oral-histories/betty-romer.

In 1996 she retired from Amherst to pursue her lifelong interest in art by enrolling in the docent program at Hartford’s Wadsworth Atheneum. She became a leading docent at area art museums including the Springfield Museums, where she served for over 15 years. Betty is recalled by her colleagues as an extraordinary docent who was incredibly engaged, curious, and studious and a true educator — an exceptional ambassador for the Museums. In addition to giving tours, she was part of an outreach program whose objective was to take art presentations “on the road”. At the time of her death, she had just delivered presentations on Barnes and Piranesi.

Betty will be remembered as a truly gifted person, an innovator who was ahead of her time, and someone who cared deeply about making a difference and helping others. She was an inspiration to her friends and family, and will be greatly missed. She is survived by her loving husband of 28 years, Robert Romer, her son Neil Goodzeit and his wife Frances of Devon, PA, her grandson Elliot of Annapolis MD, her brother Joseph Sternberg of Southbury, CT, and her three stepsons, Evan, David, and Theodore Romer. She was preceded in death by her daughter Alison Goodzeit Aller. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

Angelina (Angie) Halpin Wilkes, 84, of Sunapee, NH, passed away peacefully at The Seasons at   in Newport, NH on August 17, 2022.

 

Born in Manhattan, New York City on May 22, 1938, to Michael Ferranti and Lucy (Portosa) Ferranti. Angie grew up in Worcester MA and it was there she met her first husband, Daniel J. Halpin, Jr.. They married in Worcester on June 6, 1959. The family relocated to Amherst MA in 1968, where she raised four children and spent most of her life.

 

The couple separated in 1977, and she remarried in 1983, to Bernard F. “Bud” Wilkes Jr., who was a loving husband and partner in many adventures until his death in 2016.

 

She spent thirty years working at the University of Massachusetts in several administrative and public service positions. Upon her retirement from the University of Massachusetts in 1999, Angie and Bud relocated to their retirement home in Sunapee, New Hampshire.

 

The home that she kept on Burkehaven Hill Road, with Bud’s devoted assistance, was a place of great warmth and joy for all. Angie loved skiing, swimming, golf, fishing, water aerobics and walking, whether it be walking the loop around Lake Sunapee or on a beach or trail during one of her many trips. On her walks she always came back with a story of someone she met or something she had seen. A favorite family story was when walking the loop a limousine stopped, the windows went down and musician Steven Tyler and Oprah engaged her in a lovely chat.

 

She loved to travel visiting many of the US states, Canada, Europe and South America. She especially loved to visit her brother-in-law Martin Wilkes, his wife Ann and their family in Melbourne Australia. When she was not traveling, she was always reading about her next trip which she referred to as armchair traveling.

 

Angie was an avid gardener, maintaining her own gardens and volunteering with the Sunapee Gardeners. She proudly marched with the Gardeners as a part of the annual Sunapee 4th of July Parade. She enjoyed exploring area waterways with her kayak group the Yakkers and being an active member of the Sunapee Seniors.

 

In addition to her outdoor pursuits, Angie was an excellent seamstress, creating anything from the latest clothing to Halloween costumes using her trusty Singer sewing machine. She was also an avid knitter and loved to bake. She was well known for the many diverse types of cookies she made and shared during the holiday season.

 

A woman of faith, she was a member of St. Joachim’s Catholic Church in Sunapee and was an active and loyal member of the St. Joachim’s weekly Rosary group.

 

She is survived by her children, Timothy Halpin, Martinsville, VA; Patricia Halpin and her husband Tim Fleury, Sunapee, NH; Mary Halpin and her husband Brendan Price, West Roxbury, MA; Jeffrey Halpin and his wife Caitrin, West Islip, NY; Bud Wilkes III and his wife, Kellie, Belchertown, MA; Marcus Wilkes and his wife Debbie, Falls Church, VA; Daniel Wilkes and his wife Mel, Orlando, FL; fourteen grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents, Michael Ferranti and Lucy (Portosa) Ferranti, her sisters Lucretia, Nancy and brother Maurice. Her first husband, Daniel J. Halpin Jr., died in 2001.

 

The family would like to thank the staff and caregivers at The Seasons at Summercrest, in Newport, NH, who took such excellent care of her for the past six years. They befriended Angie, enjoyed her sense of humor and made her new home a happy place. The family is grateful to them for their love, care and devotion.

 

Calling Hours will be held on August 26, 2022, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Douglass Funeral Home in Amherst, MA followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Brigid’s Church at 11 am, with burial at the Holy Rosary Cemetery in Hadley, MA. For the protection of all in attendance, the family requests masks be worn during the indoor services.

 

Condolences to the family may be expressed in the online guestbook at  https://douglassfuneral.com.

 

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her name to: Summercrest, 169 Summer St. Newport NH 03773 and St. Brigid’s Church, https://saintbrigidsamherst.org/

Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

 

 

Peter B. Schmitz (December 29, 1950 – August 10, 2022) offered his rigorously innovative mind and spirit to the performing arts for over five decades as a choreographer, actor, dancer, and educator. With an MFA from Smith College, Peter profoundly impacted students while serving as Theatre and Dance faculty at Middlebury and Amherst Colleges and in residency at many universities. He taught and performed internationally, inspiring and coaching countless artists along the way. As a professional dancer/choreographer, Peter worked extensively in the US and internationally in Europe, New Zealand, and Turkey. In 1972, he, along with Andrea Olsen and Katherine Sanderson, founded Dance Gallery—a modern dance repertory company—which contributed to the revitalization of Northampton, MA. He was a member of Creach/Co in NYC, toured with Ann Carlson’s doggie hamlet, and performed in works by Yanira Castro/acanarytorsi, Wendy Woodson and Present Co., Tamar Rogoff, Chavasse Dance & Performance, Richard Colton/Amy Spencer, Freedman Coleman Dance, Penny Campbell, and many others. He received the “Best Performance” award in the San Francisco Film/Video Festival for his work in the dance/film, Trout. As a theatre artist, he choreographed/performed with multiple ensembles, including the Medicine Show Theatre, New World Theatre, No Theater, and Potomac Theatre Project.

 

Peter was a voracious reader and lover of film, painting, theater, poetry — any work that inspired questions and vitality. Whether you engaged with Peter in the classroom, the studio, or on the porch drinking a Miller Lite, you were guaranteed to encounter and be changed by his passion, curiosity, intellect, and incisive wit.

 

Peter was on the Board of Directors of A.P.E. (Available Potential Enterprises) in Northampton, MA and lived at Bramble Hill Farm in Amherst, MA. Peter is survived by his husband, Joey Trazo Schmitz, older brothers Tim and Bill, a younger brother Bob, and a younger sister Susan. He was preceded in death by his parents Lois and Bill. He loved and was loved by numerous nieces, nephews, and forever friends.

 

Peter died peacefully at home under the tender care of his husband, Joey Trazo Schmitz. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Creative Coaching Fund through A.P.E.: http://www.apearts.org/support.html. For more about Peter, see: peterbschmitz.squarespace.com

Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

Beverley “Bev” Denise Bhowmik, 73, passed away peacefully in her home on the evening of Sunday, August 7^th in Amherst, Massachusetts. Beverley was very loved by all and will be dearly missed.

She was born on August 31, 1948 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada to the late James Woodward Tom & Emma Blanche. Bev grew up in Toronto while enjoying trips to the lake and cottages as well as many outdoor activities such as boating, fishing, ice skating, and golfing, with her parents and siblings Fran and Ted. Upon graduating from Burnhamthorpe High School, she attended nursing school and then graduated from the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

There she met the love of her life and on December 31, 1973, Beverley married Prasanta C. Bhowmik through a Hindu ceremony in Bayenda, West Bengal, India. They had three children Kiran, Monica, and David. She was a loving and dedicated mother as well as a devoted wife who supported her family, children, and later her grandchildren, with her whole life and all of her love.

Bev was always known for her talented cooking skills. From hosting and attending gourmet groups through the University Women’s group and later with a tight group of friends, to the many potlucks and gatherings, holiday meals, and dinners with family, friends, and many visitors, she always had “highly successful events”.

Beverley was a natural caretaker who had an intuitive sense about what everyone needed. Unsurprisingly Beverley had a long career as an early childhood educator working at daycare centers such as Cushman Hill and the UMass Child Care Center. She also ran her own home daycare when her children were young and “Dida Daycare” for her grandchildren. In her second career you could find Bev planting, weeding, or even driving the large mowers as part of her work with the grounds crew at the Hickory Ridge Golf Course.

In addition to her joy of gardening, Bev was an avid and enthusiastic reader who participated in many book group discussions, and was a great keeper of knowledge and information. She was a puzzle fanatic and also had a great enjoyment of cards which was passed on from her parents and that she continued with her children and grandchildren. Beverley was an active participant and supporter of the Women’s Golf League and she played many rounds of golf with her husband and friends. Bev was a well verse traveler who always looked forward to her annual family vacation on Cape Cod. Bev was a patient and loving individual who touched many lives. A great friend to many and loved by all she will be sorely missed and well-remembered for her bright smile, keen sense of humor, kind heart, and her ability to accept and embrace all whom she met.

Beverley was preceded in death by her son David Edward Bhowmik, her father James “Jimmy” Woodward Tom, her mother Emma “Blanche” Tom, her daughter Kiran Denise Bhowmik (Henry), and her sister Frances “Fran” Bruce (Doug).

Beverley is survived by her husband Prasanta C. Bhowmik of Amherst, MA; daughter Monica Indrani Bhowmik (Eric Driver); son-in-law Henry Wilson; her grandchildren Taikoda David, Tsukiko Tome, Sunali Rae, Raina Elizabeth; her brother James ‘Ted’ Edward Tom (Sandra ‘Sandy’); nieces Erin and Melanie; nephews James, Michael, Darren, and Corey; 13 grandnieces and grandnephews; relatives in India; her son-in-laws’ families; and many loving close friends who were very dear to her heart and like family.

Arrangements had been entrusted to Douglas Funeral Home. A memorial celebration will be held September 10th, 2022, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Amherst Women’s Club. Special thanks to the local Indian community, family, and friends, for their support with puja and food. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

Robert J. Walker, 75, of Pelham Massachusetts, passed away on July 27^th, 2022, at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton Mass.

Robert was born in Northampton on March 29^th, 1947, to John and Mary Walker. He attended Pelham elementary and Amherst High schools. After graduating from high school, he joined the Army and served in Vietnam. After returning from the service, he worked for Brewster Highway Department on Cape Cod and then provided landscape services. He moved back to Pelham in his later years. He enjoyed gardening and road trips.

Robert is survived by his siblings Elizabeth Dwight, Charles Walker, Margaret MacDonald and Daniel Walker, and several nieces and nephews.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents John and Mary Walker.

A private graveside service will be held at a later date at North Valley Cemetery in Pelham.

TK (John) Janardhanan passed away at home in Amherst, MA on August 11, 2022, after a long illness due to end stage kidney failure. He was 76 years young.

Born in 1946, TK was raised in Mumbai, India.  He had fond memories of the two years he lived with his grandparents as a youngster in his ancestral village of Palamadai in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, running barefoot on dirt roads behind the rare car passing through.

He attended undergraduate school at the V.J.T.I. College of Engineering in Mumbai and traveled in 1966 for graduate study at the University of Wisconsin in mechanical engineering.  He quickly traded in the tailored suits his parents insisted he take to the U.S. for bell bottomed blue jeans.

A naturalized citizen, TK embraced American culture from the start.  He would croon, sometimes croak, an appropriate Bob Dylan song throughout the day to mark every occasion.  He was an avid reader, a devoted tennis fan, a guitar player and an expert in our country’s political scene yet he would drop everything for Friday after work pool with friends.

A loving father, he was known for his steadfast insistence that all schoolwork be clean, correct and complete, what he called the “Three C’s.”  He was also infamous for his antics with his three daughters and their friends – who will cherish those memories.

The majority of TK’s career was spent at the Prolamina Corporation (formerly JenCoat) in Westfield. MA.  When he was hired, there were only 19 employees, and he became part of the leadership team that led the extrusion packaging manufacturing firm to grow to around 400 employees.

TK leaves behind his beloved partner, Terry S. Johnson, with whom he spent his last ten years celebrating life to the fullest, including taking a gondola lesson the Venice’s Grand Canal.

He also leaves behind his three daughters Neela Samia, Priya Zerai and Emma Rood, their spouses and five grandchildren, Lalana, Amara, Navi, Mason and Sydney. He will also be greatly missed by his brother, TK Raman, of Longmeadow and his three sisters Vasantha Vaikunth, Rajani Sankaran and Kamala Gopalan. 

TK’s ashes will be scattered privately by the family.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Hospice of the Fisher Home, 1165 N. Pleasant St., Amherst, MA  01002. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

Roberta Claire Britt, our loving and devoted mother and friend passed away peacefully at 82 years of age on August 9, 2022, due to complications from congestive heart failure. Roberta was born on May 20, 1940, in Northampton, Massachusetts to Joseph and Alice Hebert.

Roberta loved to garden, and all were amazed by her green thumb and her ability to get every variety of plant to thrive. She enjoyed reading a good mystery novel on her patio surrounded by her plants and the birds and butterflies that were attracted to her garden. She was an avid Red Sox and Celtics fan and could often be found rooting on her teams.  In earlier times she enjoyed traveling and loved the company and comradery of playing a round of golf and the special times to be had attending UMass basketball games with her children and grandchildren.

She worked as a highly valued executive assistant at the UMass Physical Plant for more than 30 years and enjoyed meeting with her old coworkers and childhood friends for coffee at Atkins as the years went on.

A generous soul, Roberta was a dedicated mother first and foremost. She treasured her children and grandchildren and cherished every moment with them. She especially loved her role as Grammy or Grandma. She had the ability to connect with her grandchildren and the feeling was mutual. She also had a special way of making every holiday an event, and her rendition of happy birthday either in person or left as a voice mail will be greatly missed.

Roberta is survived by her husband Robert; their children Aaron and his wife Cathy, Sharon and her partner Dan, and Shawn and his wife Dawn; her grandchildren Lindsey and her husband Eric, Danielle, and Christiane; her loving brother and sisters Leonard Hebert and his wife Joanie, Dorothy Lashway, and Beverly Savage and her husband Dick. She also leaves many cherished nieces and nephews who were very special to her, and many wonderful friends and family who will sadly miss her. She was predeceased by a son, Joseph, who died in very early infancy, her brother-in-law Richard Lashway, nieces Kelly McElmon and Alison Barabe.

Friends and family are invited to join us in celebrating her life by attending visiting hours on Thursday, August 18^th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Douglass Funeral Home 87 N Pleasant St. Amherst MA, followed by a Liturgy of Christian burial will be Friday August 19^th at 10 a.m. at Saint Brigid’s Church 122 N Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA. Burial will follow in St. Brigid’s Cemetery, Hadley.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial gifts may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute danafarber.jimmyfund.org whose providers, along with Dr. Grim at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, helped her to live a long life in which she saw her children and grandchildren grow up, got to play many rounds of golf with friends, and was able to send countless holiday cards to her loved ones.

Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

Peter B. Schmitz (December 29, 1950 – August 10, 2022) offered his rigorously innovative mind and spirit to the performing arts for over five decades as a choreographer, actor, dancer, and educator. With an MFA from Smith College, Peter profoundly impacted students while serving as Theatre and Dance faculty at Middlebury and Amherst Colleges and in residency at many universities. He taught and performed internationally, inspiring and coaching countless artists along the way. As a professional dancer/choreographer, Peter worked extensively in the US and internationally in Europe, New Zealand, and Turkey. In 1972, he, along with Andrea Olsen and Katherine Sanderson, founded Dance Gallery—a modern dance repertory company—which contributed to the revitalization of Northampton, MA. He was a member of Creach/Co in NYC, toured with Ann Carlson’s doggie hamlet, and performed in works by Yanira Castro/acanarytorsi, Wendy Woodson and Present Co., Tamar Rogoff, Chavasse Dance & Performance, Richard Colton/Amy Spencer, Freedman Coleman Dance, Penny Campbell, and many others. He received the “Best Performance” award in the San Francisco Film/Video Festival for his work in the dance/film, Trout. As a theatre artist, he choreographed/performed with multiple ensembles, including the Medicine Show Theatre, New World Theatre, No Theater, and Potomac Theatre Project.

 

Peter was a voracious reader and lover of film, painting, theater, poetry — any work that inspired questions and vitality. Whether you engaged with Peter in the classroom, the studio, or on the porch drinking a Miller Lite, you were guaranteed to encounter and be changed by his passion, curiosity, intellect, and incisive wit.

 

Peter was on the Board of Directors of A.P.E. (Available Potential Enterprises) in Northampton, MA and lived at Bramble Hill Farm in Amherst, MA. Peter is survived by his husband, Joey Trazo Schmitz, older brothers Tim and Bill, a younger brother Bob, and a younger sister Susan. He was preceded in death by his parents Lois and Bill. He loved and was loved by numerous nieces, nephews, and forever friends.

 

Peter died peacefully at home under the tender care of his husband, Joey Trazo Schmitz. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Creative Coaching Fund through A.P.E.: http://www.apearts.org/support.html. For more about Peter, see: peterbschmitz.squarespace.com

Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

Aida Luz Caraballo, better known as Cherry, passed away peacefully at home in Amherst on Saturday July 16th. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, neighbor, and friend. Born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico on May 7, 1936, Cherry spent her childhood between Puerto Rico and New York. As the oldest of four, she helped care for her younger sisters Blanca, Mercedes and Zoraida, and was a maternal figure to many throughout her life. 

Cherry moved her family to Puerto Rico in 1968. Prior to the move she was the quintessential stay at home mom for her children, Bobby, Debbie and Frank.  Upon arriving to Puerto Rico, she joined the workforce to ensure that her children could attend the best of schools.  She often worked two jobs.  Her strong work ethic, warm personality and natural leadership led to a variety of jobs and business endeavors in which she was warmly regarded and excelled.   

Her favorite job came in 1992, after retiring from her position as office manager for Black Hawk Shipping.  She relocated to MA to be close to her children Frank and Debbie and help care for her grandchildren.  She alternated her time helping to care for Laura, Miguel, Carlos and Armando during the week and Carol Anne and Bobby during weekends and summers.  

Cherry will be remembered for her kindness, generosity, fiercely independent spirit, delicious home-cooked meals, sense of humor, and penchant for keeping a spotless home. But most of all, she’ll be remembered for her unconditional love and support of her entire family, her friends and neighbors and the joy she brought to their lives.

 

A Celebration of Cherry’s life will be held on August 12, 2022 at 3 PM at the First Baptist Church of Amherst,

434 North Pleasant St., Amherst, MA Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com