Amherst, Carol Ann O’Brien, of North Amherst MA, ended her battle with multiple illnesses on May 24, 2018.  Carol was born in Northampton on May 8, 1956, daughter of Weymouth “Bud” and Joy Heath. Carol has resided in Amherst with her significant other, Bill Pearson, for the past thirteen years.  Carol leaves her four siblings, Les Heath, Richard Heath, Donna Heath Smith, and John Heath, as well as, her three children, Stephen O’Brien Jr., Matthew O’Brien, and Kelly Swiatlowski all of Belchertown.  Carol’s greatest joy was spending time with her five grandchildren. She also loved visiting the seashore, and studying family history. For the past decade Carol has worked devotedly at the Arbors of Greenfield, where she made many lasting friendships and wonderful memories. Calling hours will be at Douglass Funeral Home in Amherst MA on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 from 5-7 p.m. Burial will be at Wildwood Cemetery in Amherst on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at 1 p.m.

Hadley, Craig Stephen Harbison age 74, died unexpectedly on Thursday May 17, 2018 in his home in Hadley. The cause of death was cardiac arrest.

Craig was born in Baltimore, Maryland on April 19, 1944, the son of the late Dale and Lucile Meeks Harbison.  He grew up in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.  He received his Bachelors degree in Art History in 1966 from Oberlin College, where he studied under Wolfgang Stechow, and his PhD from Princeton University in 1971, where he studied with Erwin Panofsky, specializing in 15th and 16th-century Dutch and Flemish painting. In 1966 he married Sherrill Rood of Burlington, Vermont.  They were divorced in 2003.

Craig’s teaching career began at the University of California, Davis, in 1970. Then from 1972-74 he taught at Oberlin College, his alma mater, before moving to Amherst in 1974. He taught in the Art History Department at the University of Massachusetts until he retired in 2003. Craig was a gifted and popular teacher of art history.  His books include Jan van Eyck, The Play of Realism (1991) and The Mirror of the Artist: Northern Renaissance Art in its Historical Context (1995).

After his retirement he came out as a gay man and spent the next 15 years growing into himself.  He had a deep life-long passion for and encyclopedic knowledge of live and recorded opera.  He was a chef, an artist and photographer, and an avid reader.  He had a unique and discerning aesthetic eye and curated his home as one would a museum.  He had a passion for beauty and a love of nature.  He was a generous and thoughtful friend, an unconditionally loving father and proud grandfather. 

He is survived by his brother, Robert Harbison of London, England, his former wife, Sherrill Rood Harbison of Amherst, MA, his two children, Hanne Harbison of Philadelphia, PA and Colin Harbison of Fairfax, VA, and his three grandsons, Amon Harbison Koopman and Aidan and Nathan Harbison.

Memorial gifts can be sent to the Human Rights Campaign, the Matthew Shepard Foundation or the New England Peace Pagoda. A memorial service will be held at the New England Peace Pagoda in Leverett, MA on June 30^th, 2018 at 1:00 PM.

Amherst, Dr. Peter L. Pellett, age 90, died on May 10, 2018 in his home in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Peter was born in London, England. A child survivor of World War II, he later went on to join the British Armed Forces where he defused bombs. After his military service he went on to receive his education at Borough Polytechnic in London, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and later obtained his post doctorate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA. After several years of research in London, the American University in Beirut, Lebanon, and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Peter was invited to be a professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1971 and later became head of the Nutrition Department. Peter was granted emeritus status after his retirement from the University of Massachusetts in 2000 but remained active into his early 80s.

Peter was an active board member on the International Nutrition Foundation (INF). Throughout his career he consulted regularly with the World Health Organization (WHO), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). During these consultancies, he frequently traveled to many different developing countries leading humanitarian missions that focused on resolving the child malnutrition crisis. This became the primary focus of his life’s work; combating infant and child malnutrition in developing countries and putting an end to world hunger.

Peter authored the second edition of Food Composition, Tables for use in the Middle East in 1970. He co-authored Nutritional Evaluation of Protein Foods: Report of a Working Group Sponsored by the International Union of Nutritional Science and the United Nations in 1983. Additionally, he has 67 other publications and 1438 citations.

In addition to his numerous academic achievements Peter was also an accomplished jazz pianist. He played the piano all his life, including an appearance on stage at his own 80th birthday party where he joined the band for one song.

Peter is survived by his wife, Amira Pellett, and three children; Charles Pellett, Rupert Pellett, and Zena Bauman. Grandchildren; Sally Manning, Joey Pellett, Tommy Pellett, Jake Pellett, Ashton Bauman, and Inara Bauman. Great grandchildren; Josephine Manning, Tetton Pellett, and Maxwell Manning.

A gathering to honor his life and achievements will be held on Sunday, June 3, 2018, 10 am – 1 pm in the Dickinson Ballroom of the Lord Jeffery Inn Amherst, MA, 01002. Former colleagues, students, coworkers, friends, and family are all welcome.

In lieu of any flowers or cards please consider donating to the Peter L. Pellett Scholarship Fund. This scholarship is awarded annually to a graduate student whose focus of study is related to food security and international nutrition. Donation link: https://tinyurl.com/pellettscholarship. If you prefer to send a check: 1) Make your check payable to the University of Massachusetts Amherst. 2) Note in the memo line of your check that you would like to designate your gift to the: ‘Peter L. Pellett Scholarship.’ 3) Mail your gift to Records and Gift Processing, Memorial Hall, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 134 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003. 4) Or donate via phone at: 866-450-8627.

Amherst, Miss Mary Ann Shea, 86, of Amherst, departed life unexpectedly on Friday afternoon, May 18, 2018 in her 87^th year, at the Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton.

Born in Holyoke the daughter of Finian and Mary {White} Shea, she was an art student from the Boston area and graduated from Umass Amherst. Mary taught English for Hopkins Academy, and was a long time aviator and flight instrument instructor for Northampton Aeronautics at the Northampton Airport, formerly LaFleur Airport. She was a devote Christian and longtime parishioner, Eucharistic minister and lecture of Saint Brigid’s Church in Amherst.

Preceded in death by her parents and two brothers Finian and John, Mary leaves behind her beloved and devoted friend Charlie Brown, a Boston Terrier Chihuahua mix, rescue dog.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday May 25, 10:00 am at St. Brigid’s Church, Amherst. A calling hour will precede the Mass from 8:45 – 9:45 at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. Burial will be in St. Jerome’s Cemetery, Holyoke at 12 pm on the 25^th.

In lieu of flowers, kindly send donations to St. Brigid’s Church, 122 N. Pleasant St. Amherst, MA 01002 or the T.J. O’Connor Animal Adoption Center 627 Cottage St. Springfield, MA

Amherst, Donald G. Urquhart, 77, a longtime Amherst resident died unexpectedly May 11, 2018 at home. He was born to Lloyd and Valerie Urquart, in Miford, MA Feb. 25, 1941. Don was raised by his single mom, a seamstress, who worked many years at House of Walsh in Amherst, MA. His sister, Donna (Urquahart) Cormier, predeceased him in 2014. His only known survivor is his niece, Chandra Marie Dubay of Hilo, HI.

Don served in the Navy in submarines under the North Sea and off the coast of Russia. After his military service, he married Barbara and settled in Pembroke, MA. He was a traveling salesman, a job that suited Don’s charismatic persona, and probably gave him an advantage to close many a deal with his stories, jokes, and ability to jump in to help others in any sort of situation.  After his divorce from Barbara, he moved to South Amherst, MA and stayed at his mom’s house in late 1970s, working at UMass as a night custodian and loved being assigned to Boyden Gym. He was great at house projects and excellent at fixing things: the lawn mower, gadgets, he was handy with drills, saws, sanders, power and hand tools. He was known to hang with the gang from various local Amherst bars and restaurants. He was a regular member and golfer at Amherst golf club, where he was proud to have gotten a hole-in-one. Burial will be Tuesday May 22, 2018 at 10:00 am in the Mass Veterans Cemetery in Agawam, MA.

Belchertown, Susan O. Malo, 89 of Belchertown passed away Friday, May 11, 2018 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.

Born March 23, 1929 to Grace Ranney Heath & Leslie B. Heath.  Sue is pre deceased by her late husband William T. Malo who passed away April 15, 2007.  Sue and Bill enjoyed travelling to Florida for many a winter to escape the cold New England weather.

Sue graduated from Amherst Regional High School in 1947 and went on to work at Jacksons dry goods store and then Cooley Dickinson Hospital for over 4 years in the records Dept.  In 1953 Sue entered the Air Force where she received an honorable discharge in 1956.

Sue was employed as secretary to Town Manager in Amherst for 13 years and then moved to Shutesbury in 1983 where she became an assessor. 

Sue enjoyed playing Bingo and cards with her friends but most of all she was the best loving Mother and Grandmother, spending as much time with her family as possible.  Sunday breakfast and vacations with Grammy M&M were always a special time. 

Sue leaves one son, David Alan Malo and his wife Shelly Malo and their two daughters Grace and Lilly. 

A step daughter Sandy Jones and her husband John Jones, 2 step Granddaughters Jennifer and Kimberly Jones.

Sue also leaves two step Grandsons Gary and Drew Malo, nephews Les, Dick and John Heath, nieces Carol Obrien and Donna Smith and great nieces and nephews. 

Calling hours will be Wed May 16^th from 6:00 pm – 8:00 at Douglass Funeral Home in Amherst. A private burial will be held in Wildwood Cemetery, Amherst.

Contributions can be made to Belchertown Senior Center, as well as Wildwood cemetery in Amherst.

AMHERST – Merle L. Howes, age 93, died on Tuesday, May 8, 2018.  Dr. Howes was born on August 14, 1924 in Laytonsville, Maryland to Rose and George Howes.  Dr. Howes graduated from Gaithersburg High School in 1942.  Soon after graduation, he volunteered to serve in the United States Army joining the armed forces during World War II.                                                           

During his service in World War II, Dr. Howes worked in the United States Army Chemical Warfare Service.  His unit was assigned to a chemical munitions depot in The Forest of Dean in England.  At the end of the war, Dr. Howes served briefly in the Army of Occupation in Germany.  He was discharged from United States Army in 1945.                                                          

After returning to the United States, Dr. Howes attended Kansas State University.  He graduated in 1950 with a degree in agriculture education.  He then returned to his home state of Maryland to work at the University of Maryland’s Extension Service as a county agent.   While working at the University of Maryland, Dr. Howes completed his Master’s degree in education in 1952.                                                                                                                                                     

In 1956, Dr. Howes took a position at the University of Massachusetts as Assistant Director of the Cooperative Extension Service and Director of the State 4-H Program.  Under his leadership the 4-H programs increased in membership and projects that were adapted to both urban and rural youth.  He gave particular attention to expanding the role of the Massachusetts  4-H Foundation in program financing and the recognition of 4-H members and volunteer leaders.  He served on many regional and national 4-H program development committees and was a Trustee of the National 4-H Foundation in Washington, D.C.                                                         

In the early 1960s, Dr. Howes took time away from his Cooperative Extension job to attend the University of Wisconsin.  He was awarded a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Life Sciences from this institution in 1963.                                                                                                                

After 24 years of working in the Cooperative Extension Service, Dr. Howes became a professor of public administration and the Acting Head of the Department of Consumer Studies at the University of Massachusetts.  He retired as Professor Emeritus in 1987.                 

However, even after his retirement, Dr. Howes continued his involvement and passion about the importance of the extension service.  He believed that by helping a farmer, the extension service was helping an entire family.  By working with youth on a 4-H project, the extension service was creating a confident member of a future generation.                                      

Soon after his retirement, Dr. Howes engaged in thorough research about the system of land-grant colleges and universities in the United States.  He was strong in his belief that the land-grant institutions, like the University of Massachusetts, needed to serve the public interest because public wealth created them through the Morrill Land Grant Act.                                          

Dr. Howes also served the Town of Amherst.  He was elected to the Board of Selectmen from 1965 – 1975. In the 1980s, he co-chaired the renovation project for the Amherst-Pelham Regional High School and chaired the Site Selection Committee for the Amherst Town Police Station.                                                                                                                                           

As dedicated as Dr. Howes was to his academic and civic work, he was also devoted to his family and home.  Dr. Howes married Billie M. Clow on June 30, 1951.  They moved to Amherst in 1956 with the promise to each other that they would not stay long in the cold region of New England.  In 1963, they purchased a dilapidated house built in 1773 and renovated it into a beautiful home that welcomed friends warmly and kept their family together and secure.  Dr. Howes and his wife of 66 years also traveled extensively around the United States and abroad.  He also instilled a deep love of the Red Sox into his entire family.                                                  

Dr. Howes was very involved in his church community at the South Congregational Church.  He was a member of the Board of Trustees and enjoyed his time with the Men’s Breakfast Club.                                                                                                                 

Dr. Howes’ wife, Billie, predeceased him in February of this year.  He is survived by his three children:  Ray Howes of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia; LaVerna Howes Albury of Lawrenceville, New Jersey; and Pamela Howes of Amherst, Massachusetts.  He is also survived by his granddaughter, Jennifer Marquez Albury (Antonio Marquez) of Amherst, Massachusetts, as well as his great-granddaughter, Juliet.                                                                                             

Calling hours at the Douglass Funeral Services in Amherst will be Thursday, May 24^th from 3:00 – 5:00.  The funeral service will be held at the South Congregational Church in Amherst at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 26^th.  The interment will be private.                                               

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Massachusetts 4-H Foundation, 1671 Worcester Road, Suite #403, Framingham, MA 01701.  www.mass4hfoundation.org

Amherst, Ida Lauter (nee Nakanishi) of Amherst, MA died peacefully on May 3 after a recent fractured hip and a long struggle with dementia. On April 26, she fell and broke her hip. Without any to-do, she simply stopped eating and drinking. She did not want to linger with dementia and pain, or be confined to bed.

Ida was born in Elk Grove, CA. Her early life intersected with parts of American history that still resonate today. Her parents arrived from Japan on one of the last ships before the U.S. closed its doors to Asian immigrants. The family established and owned two grocery stores in Sacramento, CA that were lost when Japanese-Americans were abruptly and unjustly incarcerated following Pearl Harbor. Throughout the internment, Ida’s family lived in fear that the children might be separated from their parents.

After the war ended, Ida moved to Philadelphia, PA to attend St. Luke’s and Children’s Medical Center School of Nursing, becoming a registered nurse in 1949. Moving to Chicago, IL, she worked as an R.N. in medical-surgical settings. In 1951 she met and married Eric W. Lauter, who was a medical student at the University of Chicago.

In 1953, Ida left nursing to raise her children, creating a wonderful, happy home for them and for her husband. By the late 1960s, she was enrolled in Wayne State University in Detroit, MI where she earned her BSN and MSN degrees. Subsequently, she returned to the workforce as a nurse and nursing educator.

Ida and Eric were devoted to each other and enjoyed a long, happy marriage. They loved to golf, garden, and be together. Ida was pre-deceased by her husband and is survived by her daughter (Karen Utgoff), her son (David Lauter), her grandchildren (Naomi Utgoff (Aryeh Englander), Emily VanHassel (Dan), Ariel Ely (Greg), Chloe Lauter, Noah Lauter, and Gillian Lauter), and great-grandchildren (Leda, Miranda, Carl, Eytan, and Eric).

A private memorial service will be held later to celebrate the lives of both Ida and Eric. Memorial donations may be made to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU Foundation), to which Ida was always grateful for its courageous defense of the civil rights of innocent Japanese-Americans when so many others were silent.

Belchertown, Nancy Long Huntley, daughter of Frank and Blanche Long, died on May 8, 2018 at the age of 79. She grew up on the Long farm in the New Kingston Valley in upstate NY, graduated from Margaretville High School and studied for two years at Hope College in Michigan before settling in Northampton, Massachusetts for her entire adult life.

From her first job in banking services, Nancy enjoyed a full and rewarding professional career in mortgage banking. Many, many residents in the area expressed gratitude for Nancy’s having helped them to purchase their first house or to set up a professional practice. With decades in the business of banking and mortgages in the Amherst area, Nancy had a wide circle of professional relationship as well as her circle of family and friends. She was an active fundraiser for the United Way and the Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s Auxiliary and she volunteered her financial skills at the Amherst Ballet. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to these or a charity your choice.

Family and Friends are gathering on Sunday May 20th from 1- 4pm at 111 Daniel Shay’s Highway, #34 in Belchertown and all are encouraged to stop in to share stories and celebrate her life.

Belchertown, Susan O. Malo, 89 of Belchertown passed away Friday, May 11, 2018 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.

Born March 23, 1929 to Grace Ranney Heath & Leslie B. Heath.  Sue is pre deceased by her late husband William T. Malo who passed away April 15, 2007.  Sue and Bill enjoyed travelling to Florida for many a winter to escape the cold New England weather.

Sue graduated from Amherst Regional High School in 1947 and went on to work at Jacksons dry goods store and then Cooley Dickinson Hospital for over 4 years in the records Dept.  In 1953 Sue entered the Air Force where she received an honorable discharge in 1956.

Sue was employed as secretary to Town Manager in Amherst for 13 years and then moved to Shutesbury in 1983 where she became an assessor. 

Sue enjoyed playing Bingo and cards with her friends but most of all she was the best loving Mother and Grandmother, spending as much time with her family as possible.  Sunday breakfast and vacations with Grammy M&M were always a special time. 

Sue leaves one son, David Alan Malo and his wife Shelly Malo and their two daughters Grace and Lilly. 

A step daughter Sandy Jones and her husband John Jones, 2 step Granddaughters Jennifer and Kimberly Jones.

Sue also leaves two step Grandsons Gary and Drew Malo, nephews Les, Dick and John Heath, nieces Carol Obrien and Donna Smith and great nieces and nephews. 

Calling hours will be Wed May 16^th from 6:00 pm – 8:00 at Douglass Funeral Home in Amherst. A private burial will be held in Wildwood Cemetery, Amherst.

Contributions can be made to Belchertown Senior Center, as well as Wildwood cemetery in Amherst.