Amherst, George Goodwin died peacefully at the Fisher Home in Amherst on October 20th.

George was born June 29, 1921 in East Hartford, Connecticut, and educated in East Hartford public schools, with a post-graduate year at Deerfield Academy. After earning a BA in political science from Williams College in 1943, he served in the Air Force in the southwest Pacific from 1943-46.

Following the war, George pursued  graduate studies at Harvard (earning his PhD in 1955) and began a teaching career at UMass Amherst where he helped create a political science department. From the beginning he was deeply committed to undergraduate teaching and mentorship. One student group published in 1956 a humorous guidebook for their peers entitled “150 Words of Goodwinism,” in homage to George’s quirky use of language.  

In addition to being a “steady force in the University’s initial rise to prominence” during its rapid expansion in the 1950s, George devoted time and skills to the town of Amherst, serving as a member of the Planning Board and Town Meeting, and chair of the committee that wrote the Town Manager Act.

He married Ellen Safford in 1951 after what he always referred to as  a “nine-year whirlwind courtship.” Their Lincoln Avenue home became a hub of activity for their five children and the neighborhood.

The Goodwins left Amherst for Rhode Island in 1962. After three years as chair of the URI political science department, George was lured to Boston by the opportunity to be on the ground floor of something he found “rather exciting” as UMass sought to create “a liberal arts college with considerable diversity in the student body, with small classes, and a good deal of student-faculty contact.” In Boston he found particularly stimulating the all–commuter student body and the “terribly demanding” work of building a University from scratch. Close proximity the Massachusetts State House offered many unique educational opportunities for students as well. He became known as the “Mr. Chips” of the UMass Boston community for his commitment to the well-being and success of his students.

As in Amherst, the Goodwin’s large West Newton home was the site of many events and doings for neighborhood kids and for groups connected to Newton’s Second Congregational Church.

As retirement approached, George was honored with the first UMass Boston Chancellor’s Medal.  In 1985 he was one of the rare UMass faculty to be granted an honorary degree by that institution.

George and Ellen returned to Amherst in 1986 where their famously warm welcome emanated from homes on Lincoln Ave., Strong St., and finally Applewood. George often quoted a neighbor who insisted you “kiss leisure goodbye” when you retire. Among the organizations he served in retirement were the Zoning Board of Appeals, Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity, Friends of the Jones Library, vestry of Grace Church, Master Gardeners Association of Western Massachusetts, and Five-College Learning-in-Retirement. He was awarded the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce Millicent Kaufman Distinguished Service Award in 2000.

He is survived by children Alice & Ross Goodwin-Brown of Amherst, Emily Goodwin of Leyden, Maida Goodwin of Northfield, Putnam and Kathy Goodwin-Boyd of Florence, and William Goodwin of Weston, VT, as well as grandchildren Hannah and Vera Goodwin-Brown; Laura Fabricant; and Sam, Zachary, and Grace Goodwin-Boyd.

A service will be held on November 3 at 11 a.m. at Grace Episcopal Church in Amherst.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be sent to the Friends of the Jones Library or the George Goodwin, Jr. Scholarship Fund at UMass.

Sunderland, On October 20, 2018, Guillermo Cuéllar, loving husband of Dale Schwarz, passed away at the age of 72. He died as he lived as a creative artist—with intention, presence, and love. Born in Bogota, Colombia in 1945 to Teresita Moros de Cuéllar and Ramon Cuéllar, Guillermo moved to the United States in 1971 to complete his BFA and MA (Rehabilitation Counseling) at the University of South Florida. He moved to the Pioneer Valley in Massachusetts in 1975 and married Dale Schwarz on January 27,1979. Guillermo completed a doctorate in education specializing in organizational development at the University of Massachusetts in 1986. 

Dr. Cuéllar, along with Dale Schwarz, established the Center for Creative Consciousness and the New England Art Therapy Institute in Sunderland, Massachusetts. Guillermo brought a unique multicultural and multidisciplinary perspective to his work. His commitment to social justice informed his teaching and consulting work on issues of gender and racial equality to Fortune 100 companies, public and non-profit organizations, foundations, universities and schools. As a life-long photographer, sculptor, and visual artist, he integrated art as an essential element in his professional work as a consultant, therapist and educator. He practiced yoga and meditation throughout his adult life, and taught yoga from 1971 to 1990. Guillermo was also a beautiful dancer. 

Diagnosed with cancer in 2013, Guillermo engaged in creative writing and visual art to understand and express his experience with his diagnosis and years of treatment. In August 2016, he and Dale created a 40-piece exhibit at the Barnes Gallery at Leverett Crafts and Arts titled “Yes — Life is Art” to record their journey through cancer treatment and show their gratitude for life.

Through his art and generous spirit, Guillermo made a deep difference in the lives of so many people. Guillermo was often described by others as a Renaissance man. He was a person of enormous curiosity, creativity, intellect, diverse talents, and intense passion. He always shared himself with others with openness. His friends and family will miss his deep, honest, and caring friendship and love.  

Guillermo was preceded in death by his parents Teresita Moros de Cuéllar and Ramon Cuéllar and brother Alvaro Cuéllar. He is survived by his beloved wife Dale Schwarz of Sunderland, siblings Teyé Cuéllar and brother Arturo Cuéllar (Esther) of Bogota, Colombia and Jorge Cuéllar (Cheryl) of Orlando, Florida, and many nephews, nieces, cousins, and in-laws.

His wife Dale wishes to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, VNA, and Hospice, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Cancer Connection of Northampton and all his dear friends and family who have provided such loving care and support.Funeral services were held  Monday October 22^nd at the Montague Retreat Center, 177 Ripley Road, Montague, MA. Burial followed the service at Riverside Cemetery, Cemetery Road, Sunderland, MA. 

In lieu of flowers or gifts, contributions may be made to the Cancer Connection of Northampton, MA (http://cancer-connection.org/index.php/donate). Guillermo both gave and received great strength and wisdom during his time with the members of the Cancer Connection men’s group.

Shutesbury, Timothy Harold O’Brien, 67, died suddenly at home on Saturday October 20, 2018. He was born in Northampton, July 4, 1951, to the late Harold K. and Renee {Jacque} O’Brien.

He leaves family members he loved dearly and who miss him: his wife and high school sweetheart Deborah, and their two children Colleen O’Brien and Danny Cahill of Indian Orchard, and Timothy Jr. and Nicole of Pelham. He leaves three teenage grandchildren Taryn, Dillon, and Renee who brought an immeasurable amount of joy to his life. He also leaves his favorite sister Linda Wentworth and her husband Art in whose home were shared many wonderful family events and holidays, brothers Patrick and Lynn, Stephen and Karin and Edward. He also leaves a dear Godchild, Sami, as well as countless aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws in the Carey family, friends, and golf buddies.

Tim attended ARHS where he played football, baseball, and wrestled. He later coached Little League and supported his son’s wrestling team; escorting them to matches as far away as Penn. He worked for the Town of Amherst in the tree dept. and as an equipment operator keeping the roads clear of snow for many winters.
He enjoyed every day of his retirement, playing golf “on each day ending with Y” and being a turkey hunter and member of NWTF.
Golf trips with dear friends to Mount Washington for 4th of July vacations were a memorable part of many years.

Calling hours will be Thursday October 25th from 4 -7 pm at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. A graveside service will be Friday at 10:30 am in the North Amherst Cemetery.
The family requests that there be no flowers, but that memorial donations may be made to the Jimmy Fund Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Attn: Stephanie Hurl 10 Brookline Place Brookline, MA 02445 on Tim’s behalf.

Amherst, Doris R. Drake of 24 Canton Avenue, Amherst passed away peacefully surrounded by her four children on Friday, October 19, 2018. She was born on January 13, 1931 in East Leverett the daughter of Alfred H. Clark and Mary (Rockwell) Clark.  She graduated from Amherst High School in 1949.  She was predeceased by her husband, Charles A. Drake. They were married 64 years before his death in 2016.  She leaves her two sons, David Drake and his partner, Leslie Benson of New Salem, Clark Drake and his wife, Kimberly of Sunderland, Laurie Doubleday and her partner, John Sullivan of Wendell, Kimberly Godfrey and her husband, Donald Stebbins of Northfield.  She also leaves seven grandchildren; Bob Doubleday and his partner, Katherine Brennan, Kasey Grant and her husband, Jason, Cory Doubleday and his wife Tessa, Courtney Drake and her husband Steve Christensen, Ashley Drake, Tyler Godfrey and his wife Lisa and Drew Stebbins and four great grandchildren, Charlie and Chandler Grant, Emmalyn & Brantley Godfrey and Cory Doubleday, Jr. She enjoyed her many nieces and nephews.  She is survived by her brothers, Alfred and Paul Clark. She is also predeceased by her sister, Marion Maguire and three brothers; George, Richard and Kenneth Clark. Calling hours will be on Tuesday, October 23^rd at Douglas Funeral Home from 10:00 – 12:00 with a graveside service immediately following.  Reception to follow at Hickory Ridge. Donations may be made to the Shriners Hospital, 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104.

Amherst, Claude Richard Jean Bersano passed away suddenly on October 7. He was born on November 13, 1949, in Nice, France, at a time when the city was still recovering from Italian occupation during WW II. His parents having divorced at the time of his birth, he was raised by a cousin, Louis Nucera, who would go on to become a well-regarded journalist and novelist. With family on both sides of the border, Claude grew up speaking both French and Italian. Louis’s career having taken them to Paris in the 60s, Claude’s final year of lycée was marked by the events of 1968, and he was fond of recounting his experiences of that turbulent time. His love of classical organ music brought him in contact with many of the great French organists of the day, and he briefly studied organ performance and organ building before training in acoustics and broadcasting. He was chief sound engineer at CBC/Radio Canada’s Paris studio for ten years. It was there that he met his future wife, as she worked for CBC one summer while in graduate school. Following their marriage in May 1981, they moved back to the U.S., living first in Lexington KY and then for over two decades in Richmond VA. Claude retrained as a computer hardware technician and enjoyed problem-solving and user support. After moving to Amherst in 2006, he applied for citizenship and proudly voted for the first time in 2008. He had a keen technical mind, a genuine interest in the stories of the people he encountered in daily life, a newsman’s attentiveness to politics and current events, a passion for steam locomotives, and a deep love for his family and his many friends throughout the world. He is survived by his mother, Liliane Minucci of Nice, as well as other family members in France; his wife, Julie Candler Hayes of Amherst; his son, Daniel Claude Bersano-Hayes of Pittsfield; sisters-in-law Mary Leonard of Richardson TX and Elizabeth Hayes of Garland TX. The family is deeply grateful for the compassion and expertise of the many healthcare professionals who insured an excellent quality of life for Claude in recent years. Memorial gifts may be made to Cooley Dickinson Health Care/Cooley Dickinson Hospital, either online or sent to the Development Office, PO Box 329, Northampton MA 01060.

Amherst, Muriel “Mim” Alice Thayer (nee Bagg), was born October 14, 1932. Muriel passed away peacefully at home on October 10, 2018. Wife of Donald Thayer, devoted husband for 65 years, Mother of 5 children; Donna and husband Bob Waskiewicz, David and wife Carol Thayer, Douglas and wife Lauren Thayer, Lori Thayer and Leann Thayer. She also leaves behind nine grandchildren; Wendy, Monica and Lacey Waskiewicz, Emily and (predeceased by) Kelly Thayer, Regan and Samantha Thayer and Zachary and Jacob Harrison.

Mim grew up and graduated high school in South Hadley, MA. She became a Registered Nurse after graduating from The Cooley Dickinson Hospital School of Nursing in 1953. She worked for the Northampton VA Hospital, then stayed home to raise 5 children before working for the Town of Amherst as a visiting nurse and Amherst Public Schools as a school nurse.

Mim had a big heart. She was a happy person who loved life and loved her husband, family and friends. One of her favorite places to be was walking the beach at Goose Rocks Beach in Maine, having vacationed there with her family since early in her marriage. She has passed that love along to her children and grandchildren who all have memories of Goose Rocks as a happy place. She was an avid reader, had a love of nature and birds in particular, gardening, cooking, knitting and of course hosting family events. She spent many days in the summer relaxing, swimming and fishing at Lake Wyola.

Famous for her strawberry jam, Mim gave away countless jars to eagerly awaiting family and friends. Those jars of jam have traveled East, West, North and South over the years, for Mim, the giving never stopped. Her love was always expressed in pouring out her time and talents to those around her. She will be greatly missed.

We would like to thank the caregivers Jaren Lareau and Judy Fernandes of Judy’s Angels along with her angels Estella and Sonia for the excellent care that made Mim’s last month’s so much more comfortable.

Donations in Muriel Thayer’s name may be sent to VNA & Hospice Care of Cooley Dickinson or to the South Congregational Church of South Amherst.

Calling hours will be Sunday October 14, 2018 from 3:00 – 5:00 pm at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. Funeral services will be Monday October 15, 10:00 am at the funeral home, with burial following in North Amherst Cemetery.

Amherst, Muriel “Mim” Alice Thayer (nee Bagg), was born October 14, 1932. Muriel passed away peacefully at home on October 10, 2018. Wife of Donald Thayer, devoted husband for 65 years, Mother of 5 children; Donna and husband Bob Waskiewicz, David and wife Carol Thayer, Douglas and wife Lauren Thayer, Lori Thayer and Leann Thayer. She also leaves behind nine grandchildren; Wendy, Monica and Lacey Waskiewicz, Emily and (predeceased by) Kelly Thayer, Regan and Samantha Thayer and Zachary and Jacob Harrison.

Mim grew up and graduated high school in South Hadley, MA. She became a Registered Nurse after graduating from The Cooley Dickinson Hospital School of Nursing in 1953. She worked for the Northampton VA Hospital, then stayed home to raise 5 children before working for the Town of Amherst as a visiting nurse and Amherst Public Schools as a school nurse.

Mim had a big heart. She was a happy person who loved life and loved her husband, family and friends. One of her favorite places to be was walking the beach at Goose Rocks Beach in Maine, having vacationed there with her family since early in her marriage. She has passed that love along to her children and grandchildren who all have memories of Goose Rocks as a happy place. She was an avid reader, had a love of nature and birds in particular, gardening, cooking, knitting and of course hosting family events. She spent many days in the summer relaxing, swimming and fishing at Lake Wyola.

Famous for her strawberry jam, Mim gave away countless jars to eagerly awaiting family and friends. Those jars of jam have traveled East, West, North and South over the years, for Mim, the giving never stopped. Her love was always expressed in pouring out her time and talents to those around her. She will be greatly missed.

We would like to thank the caregivers Jaren Lareau and Judy Fernandes of Judy’s Angels along with her angels Estella and Sonia for the excellent care that made Mim’s last month’s so much more comfortable.

Donations in Muriel Thayer’s name may be sent to VNA & Hospice Care of Cooley Dickinson or to the South Congregational Church of South Amherst.

Calling hours will be Sunday October 14, 2018 from 3:00 – 5:00 pm at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. Funeral services will be Monday October 15, 10:00 am at the funeral home, with burial following in North Amherst Cemetery.

Leverett, Philip O. Woodard, 94, of Depot Road, passed away on October 6, 2018 at Charlene Manor in Greenfield, MA with his loving family by his side. He was born November 19, 1923 in Leverett, the son of the late Harold and Ethel (Beaman) Woodard. He was educated in local schools and was a graduate of Amherst High School, where he met the love of his life, Catherine. Mr. Woodard was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and served overseas.

He was a lifelong carpenter and built many homes in the local area. He was a selectman, police officer, served on various committees and was a volunteer fire fighter for the town of Leverett. He was a member of Most Holy Redeemer Church in Hadley and years earlier was a communicant of St. John’s Church in Millers Falls, and previously belonged to St. Brigid’s Church in Amherst.

Philip spent his life in Leverett raising 10 children with his wife Catherine. They enjoyed traveling, birdwatching and the company of his family. Special memories were made with his dedicated golfing buddies.

His wife Catherine, of 71 years, passed away in 2014. He leaves his children; Sandra McMahon of California, Alan of Michigan, Gerald of Erving, Patricia Page of Pelham, Martha Woodard of Florida, Brian of Vermont, Wayne of Sunderland, Daniel of Northfield and Neal of Leverett. His daughter Nancy Hargraves of Wisconsin passed away in 2017. He also leaves daughters-in-law and sons-in-law, 27 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

He is predeceased by his brothers Donald, Gilbert and Paul of Leverett and his sister, Christine McCullagh of Maine.

The family would like to thank the nurses and staff at Charlene Manor for their care and concern of Philip.

Calling hours will be held Thursday, October 11, 2018 from 4-7pm at Douglass Funeral Home in Amherst. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be Friday October 12, at 10am at Most Holy Redeemer Church in Hadley. Burial will follow at St. Brigid’s Cemetery in Hadley with military honors.

Memorial gifts may be made to St. Brigid’s Cemetery or Most Holy Redeemer Church or to the charity of one’s choice.

It is with great sorrow that the family of Joe Wyngowski tells of his passing after a short illness on Oct.7th, 2018, age 63. 

Joe is forever lovingly remembered by his wife, Deana, his son, Joe, and dear Amy.  His is also lovingly remembered by his brothers and sisters, Pat (Don), Joanne (Wayne), Rose (Matt), Larry (Debbie) and Ed (Tina), and by his 9 nieces and 4 nephews. Joe was predeceased by his parents, Mary and Joe Wyngowski, and by his brother-in-law (Wayne). 

Joe was a decorated Vietnam War veteran serving in the Army 10th Special Forces unit. He loved his family, fishing and hunting, Alfa Romeo’s and talking! He will be sorely missed. 

Calling hours will be held Friday, Oct. 12th, from 4-6pm at the Douglass Funeral Service in Amherst. A Celebration of life will begin at 6pm with military honors concluding the service at 6:45.

Memorial donations maybe made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org.

Hadley, Joan (Shea) Ziomek, 91, passed away Wednesday, October 3, 2018.  Joan was born in Springfield on July 7, 1927. She graduated from Amherst High School in 1945 and in 1948 married Casmir Ziomek.  In addition to always being there to care for her extended family when needed, Joan worked with her sons on the family farm up until a month before her passing.  

Joan, loving mother and grandmother, is survived by her son Michael, his wife Kit and her son Paul. She is also survived by grandchildren Matthew, Kelly, and Christopher Ziomek.  She was predeceased by her husband Casmir and grandson Michael Ziomek, Jr.    

Donations may be made in Joan’s memory to the Michael E. Ziomek, Jr. Scholarship Fund.  

Calling hours will be Monday, October 8^th, from 4-7pm at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Tuesday, October 9^th, at 10am at the Most Holy Redeemer Church in Hadley, with burial to follow at Holy Rosary Cemetery, Hadley. 

Memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com