John P. Gedmin, 91, a long time Amherst resident, died Monday May 27, 2019 at Baystate Medical Center. He was born in New Bedford, MA October 27, 1927 to the late Charles and Helen Gedmin. John was a WW II Army veteran and Graduate of Greenfield Community College. In 1955 he began his career with the Amherst Police Department as a Patrolman, retiring as a Sergeant in 1985. He was an avid fisherman and hunter and he always enjoyed watching the Bruins, Red Sox and Patriots. John was a devoted family man and always found great joy in the time he spent with his grandchildren.
John is survived by his son Mark and his partner Michelle, his sister Bertha Gvazdauskas and his grandchildren, John and Rebecca. He was predeceased by the love of his life, his wife of 57 years Ann {Stanitis}, his brother Bruno and sister Ann Simchack.
Calling hours will be Thursday May 30 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday 10:00 am at St. Brigid’s Church, with burial following in St. Brigid’s Cemetery, Hadley. A reception will follow services.
Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

Dorothy Nestle passed away at the Elaine Center at Hadley in Hadley, Massachusetts on May 12, 2019. She was born in Pelham, Massachusetts on December 10, 1922 the daughter of Frank Edward Nestle and Eleanor Dragon Nestle. Dorothy attended Amherst grammar schools and graduated from Amherst High School in 1940. In high school Dorothy enjoyed hiking and skiing in the Outing Club, that along with golf she actively pursued throughout her life. She graduated from the Massachusetts State College in Amherst, Mass in 1944 where she was a charter member of the Gamma Eta chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta.. Following graduation she enlisted in the women’s branch of the United States Naval Reserve better known as WAVES because of her strong desire to travel. She was disappointed that most of her duty was in the Navy Yard in Boston Mass where she worked in mail delivery services. She retired from Waves in 1946 after achieving rank of MAM 3/c.

Dorothy was a reliable and loyal worker. Her first job was as a stenographer at Mt Holyoke College in South Hadley Mass. In order to have a job closer to home and family she accepted a position in 1956 at her alma mater that by that time was known as the University of Massachusetts (UMass) in Amherst Mass. She kept her position in the UMass library until her retirement at the age 60 in 1983.

Dorothy was a well-known resident of the Town of Amherst. She was member of Amherst Golf course, loved playing bridge and volunteered in the community as a neighborhood election official. Dorothy also volunteered at the Amherst Senior Center and the coffee shop at the Cooley Dickenson Hospital in Northampton Mass.

Dorothy loved travel. Her passports record numerous trips to Ireland, France, Switzerland, Italy and Barbados. She led a very active life and enjoyed the holidays with her numerous nieces and nephews. She was blessed with an independent spirit, a strong heart and a love of walking (especially when it became prudent not to drive a car). Amherst residents will remember her walking to downtown Amherst from her home on McClure Street on a regular basis even when she was well in her 90’s.

Dorothy was predeceased by her sister Constance M Nestle Bashaw of Wallingford, Vermont, and her sister Shirley A. Nestle MacConnell of Amherst, Mass. She is survived by her sister Nancy E Nestle Bak of Chatham, Massachusetts, as well as nine nephews and nieces, 22 grand nieces and nephews and great grand nieces and nephews. Dorothy will be fondly remembered by all her friends and relatives as Popsy.

David Newton Ferro of Amherst passed away peacefully of natural causes on May 11, 2019 at the Hospice of the Fisher Home with his two sons by his side. David was born on September 26, 1946 in San Bernardino CA to Richard and Arlene (Mitchell) Ferro. He graduated from Pacific High School in San Bernardino, CA in 1964. He married Margaret Stancer, also of San Bernardino, in 1967, and they had two children, Amanda (Ferro) Slocombe and Richard Ferro. David obtained his BA from San Jose State University in 1970 and his PhD in entomology from Washington State University in 1974. He held his first teaching position at Lincoln College, Canterbury, New Zealand. Upon returning to the US in 1978, he took a faculty position in the Entomology Department at UMass Amherst, where he pursued teaching and research until his retirement. David published numerous scientific papers over the years; he said that the professional accomplishment of which he was most proud was working with local farmers in the Pioneer Valley to reduce the amount of harmful pesticides they used on their crops and to help them utilize Integrated Pest Management strategies instead. David was later married to Leanne Every from 1989 to 2006 and they had a son Stephen, in 1992.

In addition to his parents, David was predeceased by his daughter Amanda (Ferro) Slocombe. He leaves behind his son Richard Ferro, wife Hillary Wilbur Ferro, and their two boys, Skyler and Sawyer, of Leverett MA, as well as his son Stephen Ferro of Amherst. Also surviving him are his son-in-law Neal Slocombe and three grandchildren, Sam, Max, and Meghan of Sunderland MA. David leaves behind his sister Patricia (Ferro) Legler of Chula Vista, CA and his brother Douglas Ferro of Oregon.

David was a devoted father who never missed the multitude of athletic contests his children participated in. He loved competition and pushed himself physically at all times. He was a collegiate wrestler and picked up many new sports while working at UMass including; racquetball, tennis, golf, and squash. He also had a love of the outdoors and brought his family camping, backpacking, and fishing on countless occasions. David will be missed greatly by his family and friends. A celebration of his life will be held this summer. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Hospice of the Fisher Home of Amherst. http://www.fisherhome.org/

SHUTESBURY, MA- David Carpi Dann, 76, of Shutesbury, MA, passed away on May 9th, 2019. David was born in Worcester, MA on February 9th, 1943 to the late Frank W. Dann and Germana C. Carpi. Raised in Rhode Island, he received his B.A. from West Virginia Wesleyan and his M.Ed. from UMass Amherst.

David worked as an administrator in early childhood education and in human service organizations. As an active volunteer in the community, he worked on various committees in the town of Shutesbury, including Library Trustees, Finance Committee, and Board of Assessors. He also served two terms on the town Select Board. His participation in town government led him to pursue a career change to town administrator, first for Ashfield and later in his home town of Shutesbury. After retiring, David became involved with the Council on Aging and spearheaded the creation of the non-profit organization Village Neighbors—an aging in place organization serving the towns of Shutesbury, Leverett, New Salem, and Wendell. For his work leading this organization, he received a community service award in 2018 from the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce.

David is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 35 years, Sandy Olken. He was very proud of his fabulous children Eli (Louise), Jonah (Wan Xiang), and Elena (Al). He adored his three grandchildren Amelia, Micah, and Darcy. David is also survived by his sister Brenda Dann-Messier and brother-in-law Dan Messier of Rhode Island and his sister-in-law Arley Dann of California. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother Jim Dann of California. He will be sorely missed by his immediate family, his large extended family, and his many dear friends.

David loved gardening, birding, and beachcombing. After retirement, David took up jewelry making, using the shells and sea glass he found to create unique pieces. An avid sports fan, he loved golfing, rooting for the Red Sox and Patriots, and beating his children in fantasy sports leagues.

A memorial service is being planned for this summer. Donations in David’s memory can be made to Village Neighbors, PO Box 501, Shutesbury, MA 01072.

Maurice V. Spear, Jr., 79, recently from South Hadley, passed away on Monday, May 6th at 4:26 PM at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. His family was with him at his time of passing.
Maurice was born in Northampton on September 30, 1939. His parents were Maurice V. Spear, Sr. and Barbara R. Spear (Duffy) from Amherst.

He leaves behind his wife Kathy M. Spear, his sister Rosemary E. Charnley, and his children Maurice V. Spear III, David H. Spear, Raymond A. Spear, Jeffrey P. Spear, Lisa M. Spear (Hoyle), and Barbara J .Spear. He had 9 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his younger brother, David H. Spear.

Maurice was in the Merchant Marines in his younger years, and he loved sailing and the open ocean. He loved Ireland, and became an Irish Citizen later in life. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
Calling hours will be Monday the 13th of May from 5-7 PM at the Douglass Funeral Service in Amherst. Funeral service will take place at the North Hadley Congregational Church in Hadley on Tuesday the 14th of May at 10:00 AM. Burial to follow at the West Cemetery in Shutesbury. There will be a reception at the church afterwards.

Memorial donations may be made to the Baystate Regional Cancer Program at the D’Amour Center for Cancer Care and should be made out to Baystate Health Foundations at 280 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01199.

Gloria Bernice Blue Boyer was born on February 13, 1932 in Sanderson, Florida to Sallie Mae and James Blue. She and her twin brother, Hallowith, were the youngest of nine children. She received the Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Florida A & M University at Tallahassee, Florida, and continued her study in graduate education at the University of South Florida at Tampa. Her teaching career included tenures as teacher at Poinsett Elementary in Cocoa, Florida, and teacher at Dag Hammarskjold Elementary and Lincoln Park Elementary Schools, Rochester, New York. During her years in Rochester she also served as Assistant Teacher of infants and toddlers in the First Baptist Church Sunday Morning Nursery at Macedon, New York. While in Rochester, she attended St. Paul AME Zion church and became very active with the youth church as a Sunday School Teacher helping with the dramatic club plays and the Youth Choir.

From 1976 until 1983, Mrs. Boyer was employed by the University of Massachusetts at Amherst Child Care System where she served as Head Teacher at North Village Children’s Center and from 1983 until her retirement in 1996 as Supervising Teacher at New World Day School.

Mrs. Boyer worked tirelessly in her community in a number of capacities. Foremost among them were her activities with the Interfaith Council of Churches of Amherst where, as a representative of the Goodwin AME Zion Church, she organized teams of workers to collect food at area stores for the Amherst Survival Center. From 1995 until 2003 she served on the Board of Directors of the Amherst Survival Center. In 1999 she received the Community Service Award from the Amherst Survival Center for outstanding contributions.

Among the other awards Mrs. Boyer received in recognition of her professional, civic and religious contributions are the Award for Outstanding Supervisor of the Summer Youth CETA Employment Program, the University of Massachusetts 1989 Chancellor’s Citation, given in recognition of exemplary and outstanding performance in the service of the University, and the 1990 Lay Service Award of the Boston District of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in honor of her outstanding service.

Until she moved to Florida in 2015, Mrs. Boyer was an avid church worker and had been a member of the Goodwin African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Amherst since 1973, serving as Chairman of the Trustee Board and Chairman of the Deaconess Board. Mrs. Gloria Boyer departed this life peacefully on May 4, 2019, in Jacksonville, Florida surrounded by family.

Gloria was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Dr. Horace Clarence Boyer. She leaves to cherish her memory sisters Mrs. Armetta B. Cason, Olustee, Florida and Mrs. Fannie L. Morton, Jacksonville, Florida; sisters-in-law Mrs. Fairy Blue, Buffalo, New York, Dr. Minnie Boyer Woodruff, Orlando, Florida, Dr. Edythe Boyer Jones, Orangeburg, South Carolina, Mrs. Juanita Boyer, Maitland, Florida, Mrs. Edna Boyer, Manhattan, Kansas, Dr. Patricia Boyer, Huntsville, Alabama; niece and goddaughter Dr. Edythe Woodruff Stewart (Robert), Selma, California, great nephew and godson Thomas Clark Stewart and she leaves with heartfelt thanks and gratitude her niece, Ms. Laeutonia Cason-Drayton, Olustee, Florida. She also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, May 13, 2019 at 11am at the Douglass Funeral Service in Amherst with burial to follow at Wildwood Cemetery, Amherst. A reception will be held immediately following at Bistro 63 in Amherst.

Dawn M (Sindberg Malinowski) Delisle of Easthampton, passed away on Monday April 29th 2019 after complications from Parkinson’s disease. She was born in Winchendon Mass on May 11th 1942. She was the daughter of Bertha Higgins Capen, Leonard Capen and Charles Sindberg.
Dawn was a graduate of Amherst Regional High School and went on to cosmetology school. She worked briefly as a hairdresser, at Louis’ Foods in Amherst and at UMass in the dining commons where she retired after 24 years of service.
Dawn was a loving mother and grandmother. She was a talented seamstress. She enjoyed going to tag sales, flea markets, auctions and refinishing furniture.
Dawn leaves her husband of 20 years Neil Delisle, her mother Bertha Capen, daughter Karen Malinowski, son Joseph Malinowski (Eileen), daughter Debra Malinowski (Jim Young). She also leaves her beloved grandchildren Kristin and Rebecca Whalen, Brett Turban, Nicole Lapa, and Shannon Schrock; Sisters, Sandra Stiles, Bonnie Rowan, and Nancy Capen and many neices and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister Linda Fitz.
Calling hours will be Thursday May 2 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. Funeral services will be Friday at 10:00 AM at the funeral home with burial following at the North Amherst Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations to the Michael J Fox foundation are requested. Michaeljfox.org

Dawn M (Sindberg Malinowski) Delisle of Easthampton, passed away on Monday April 29th 2019 after complications from Parkinson’s disease. She was born in Winchendon Mass on May 11th 1942. She was the daughter of Bertha Higgins Capen, Leonard Capen and Charles Sindberg.
Dawn was a graduate of Amherst Regional High School and went on to cosmetology school. She worked briefly as a hairdresser, at Louis’ Foods in Amherst and at UMass in the dining commons where she retired after 24 years of service.
Dawn was a loving mother and grandmother. She was a talented seamstress. She enjoyed going to tag sales, flea markets, auctions and refinishing furniture.
Dawn leaves her husband of 20 years Neil Delisle, her mother Bertha Capen, daughter Karen Malinowski, son Joseph Malinowski (Eileen), daughter Debra Malinowski (Jim Young). She also leaves her beloved grandchildren Kristin and Rebecca Whalen, Brett Turban, Nicole Lapa, and Shannon Schrock; Sisters, Sandra Stiles, Bonnie Rowan, and Nancy Capen and many neices and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister Linda Fitz.
Calling hours will be Thursday May 2 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. Funeral services will be Friday at 10:00 AM at the funeral home with burial following at the North Amherst Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations to the Michael J Fox foundation are requested. Michaeljfox.org

Patrick W. Fairhurst, passed away peacefully this month, much too young and much too soon. Pat is thought of by all his family and friends as one of the most polite and kindest of men a person would be lucky to know. Patrick’s family invites all who can attend to be at his ceremony at the Massachusetts Veterans Cemetery in Agawam Friday May 3, at 3:00 pm. Following the ceremony, there will be a gathering at the Amherst American Legion to reminisce about a good man.

AMHERST, Justin “Bud” Lyman Cobb, III, 92, died peacefully at his home on April 21, Easter Sunday, surrounded by loved ones. A native of Mansfield, MA, he was the son of the late Justin L. Cobb, Jr., and Emily (Roberts) Cobb, whose family had a long history in the region including, most recently, as operators of the J L Cobb Jewelry Manufacturing Company. He was educated at local schools in Mansfield and was a graduate of the Wayside Inn Boys School in Sudbury.

During the Second World War, he served in the Army Air Corps with the 6th Weather Squadron at Albrook AFS in the Panama Canal Zone. He was awarded an Army Commendation Ribbon for meritorious service during an attempted rescue of the survivors of a crashed military transport on Taboga Island.

Justin was a committed athlete and educator. After his discharge from the Air Corps, he enrolled at Springfield College, where he played lacrosse and graduated with his BA in 1950, followed by a master’s degree in Physical Education at Pennsylvania State College (now University). He relocated to Amherst with his young family and joined the faculty of the University of Massachusetts in the Department of Physical Education, retiring in 1987 as Associate Vice Chancellor for Administration.

Upon his retirement, he formed his own small business, Captain’s Quarters Antiques, which specialized in maritime art and folk art, a venture that combined his love of the sea with his fascination with history. A tireless traveler to antiques shows throughout New England, he was a familiar face at auction houses across the region. His fondness for the sea continued over many winters in the warm waters of Marco Island, FL.

He was married for 61 years to Patricia (Belcher) Cobb, who predeceased him and with him raised his family of six children in Amherst. He was active in local youth athletics and was a former vice chairman of the Great Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America. An active and energetic father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend, his wise counsel on the outdoors, New England lore, higher education, Inuit art, nautical history and maritime art will be missed by many.

He is also predeceased by his sister Justine Oyster of Tiburon, CA and survived by his six children (Christine, Justin, Paula, Christopher, Jeffrey, and Paul) and their spouses and partners, 9 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren and cousins here and in Michigan.

A graveside committal service with military honors will be held at St. Brigid’s Cemetery on North Maple Street in Hadley, MA on May 4th at 11:30am, followed by a reception at the University Club, Stockbridge Rd., UMass campus, Amherst. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to the New Bedford Whaling Museum, 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA 02740 or to jimmyfund.org.