Amherst, Marjorie Ruth Crossman, 98, a lifelong Amherst resident, died Sunday March 18, 2018 at the Center for Extended Care, Amherst. She was born in Amherst September 9, 1919 to the late Charles L. and Clara {Vandette} Crossman. Marjorie was a 1937 graduate of Amherst High School and a 1940 graduate of the Holyoke Hospital Nursing School. Marjorie was also a certified Physical Therapist in the state of Ct. and worked at the Veterans Rehabilitation Center in New Haven. She worked in various departments at Cooley Dickinson Hospital as well as being a student nurse at Amherst College for 31 years before retiring in 1982. She was past President of the Amherst Boys & Girls Club. Marjorie was a founding member of the Amherst Citizens for Responsible Government and volunteered in several town offices and churches.

Marjorie is survived by several nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday March 24, 2018 at 10:00 AM at St. Brigid’s Church, Amherst with burial will following in Wildwood Cemetery. Calling hours will be Friday from 5 – 7 pm at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Amherst Boys and Girls Club 39 N. Pleasant St. Amherst, MA 01002

Amherst, George Emmert McGill passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 13, 2018, in Amherst, Massachusetts at the age of 86.  

George was born on June 10, 1931, in Des Moines, Iowa.  He moved to Minnesota for college, receiving his BA in geology and biology from Carleton College, and his MS in geology from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.  It was in Minneapolis that he met Esterica Choban, who became his wife in 1955.

George and Esterica moved to Princeton New Jersey, where he received his Ph.D. in structural geology in 1958.  That same year they moved to Amherst, where he joined the faculty of what was then a small geology department at UMass Amherst.  George enjoyed a career at UMass that spanned nearly 40 years, including two terms as Department Chairman.  During his career, George spent many happy weeks out in the wilderness, solving geologic puzzles in remote areas of Montana, Canada, and the Southwestern US.  However, he was probably best known for his work in planetary geology.  He worked with NASA on many projects, including significant roles in the Pioneer Venus and Magellan missions.

Over the years, George played an instrumental role in building and developing the geology department he loved.  While he was a devoted teacher, his true passion was working with and mentoring his many graduate students; work he continued long after his retirement in 1997.  George counted his students among his friends, and he took great pride in their many achievements. 

George was also devoted to his family, and one of his greatest pleasures, particularly after retirement, was traveling with Esterica to visit his far-flung children and grandchildren.  He loved music, tended an organic vegetable garden for years, and always made sure the bird feeders were full.

George is survived by his wife, Esterica C. McGill, his daughters Kathryn Ann McGill (Grahame Waghorn), Sandra McGill Piedmonte (Brian) and Edith McGill Glasgow (Robert).  He is also survived by grandchildren Anthony Piedmonte, Brianna Piedmonte, Corinne Piedmonte, and Meghan Glasgow.

Funeral Services for George will be held at 10 a.m. on March 21, 2018, at the First Congregational Church of Amherst, 165 Main Street, followed by internment at Wildwood Cemetery, Amherst. There are no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the First Congregational Church of Amherst.

Amherst, Georges Gregorevitch Grinstein, died unexpectedly on Monday, February 26, 2018 in Amherst, Massachusetts at the age of 71, while enjoying his life long passion of teaching.

Georges was born on March 20, 1946 in Paris, France. He moved to New York City in 1959 and later graduated from City College of New York, NYU and Rochester University, where he received his Ph.D in mathematics and met his wife Janet. Georges’ teaching career began at Hunter High School in New York and continued through Temple University, Auburn University, and Fitchburg State College.

In 1983 Georges and Janet settled in Ashby, Massachusetts to raise their four children. He moved on to spend 30 years at UMass Lowell, directing the computer science department. In his “retirement” he continued to teach at various universities in the Happy Valley as professor Emeritus at UMass, Amherst.

Georges has enriched the lives of thousands of students and colleagues over his 50-year teaching career. He was beloved and will be remembered as a scholar, a visionary, a pioneer in his field of data visualization, a professor, a leader, a coach, an athlete, a musician, a world traveler, and a friend to many. Georges was beloved also for his sense of humor and his insatiable drive for knowledge and personal growth. Most importantly he was a devout family man.

Georges is survived by his partner Erica Lorentz of Hadley, MA, his son Alex and wife Jennifer of Norfolk, MA, his son Aaron and wife Lynsey of Ashfield, MA, his son Jordan of Wakefield, MA, and his daughter Raven of Somerville, MA. He also leaves behind his four grandchildren, and his sister Jacqueline and niece Julie. Georges was preceded in death by his amazing artistic wife of 34 years, Janet Coutu, who passed away in 2010.

Calling hours will be held from 1 – 4 pm Saturday March 10, 2018 at the Douglass Funeral Home, 87 N. Pleasant St, Amherst, MA. The Grinstein Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, March 11th from 1:00-4:00 at the University of Massachusetts’ Marriott Center in the Campus Center Building- 11th floor, Amherst, MA.

AMHERST, Virginia Louise (Julian) Pierce, 94, passed away Monday morning March 5, 2018 at the Center for Extended Care in Amherst. She was the daughter of the late Arthur & Helen  Julian of Amherst.

She was born in Pelham, MA on January 31, 1924. She was educated in the Amherst Public Schools and graduated with the class of 1941. She attended the University Of Massachusetts and graduated with a BA in Mathematics in 1948. She spent three years at the Curtiss Wright plant in Syracuse, NY during WWII, and then returned to complete her college education.

She was predeceased by her husband Edward R. Pierce in 2014 and by her two children Marilyn (Pierce) Kaufman and Robert Pierce. She is survived by her Grandson Paul Constantino, his wife Melissa and two Great Grandsons, Michael and Joseph of Long Island, NY, two Sisters in Law:  Anna K. Julian of Webster, NY, Christina Cornish of Littleton, Ma. and her brother in law Allan Carpenter of Amherst, MA. and several nieces and nephews.

The surviving families extend their gratitude and thanks to the staff at CECA for their devoted skills and help during Virginia’s confinement.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete. Burial will be private.

Southampton, Tawnya Beth (Simmons) Burnett, 45, of Southampton, MA, died on February 19, 2018 at Elaine Nursing Center in Hadley. She was born on September 5, 1972 in Northampton, MA, where she grew up and attended local schools.

In 1999 Tawnya married Robert Burnett, to whom she was deeply devoted. She enjoyed working at any of her jobs where she could interact with people. She was well known by the customers at a local Stop & Shop. She always exuded a joyful heart and brought sunshine into many lives with her radiant, captivating smile. At various seasons of her life, Tawnya loved bowling, bingo, dancing, playing Frisbee and ladder ball. Her favorite thing to do was to sing into a microphone or sing along with people or the radio. She knew every “Annie” song. Tawnya and her husband Bob loved to vacation in Florida every winter. In the summer of 2015 they enjoyed a fabulous 12 week tour of the U.S. Tawnya was a believer in Jesus Christ. She served in ministries for the needy in her local church and on a mission trip to Appalachia. She participated in Bible studies and fellowship groups. She was loved by everyone who knew her.

Tawnya leaves behind her husband of 19 years, her mother, Darleen Corbett and husband Peter; her father, David Simmons and wife Luanne; her brother Chad Simmons and wife Sara and son Colin; brothers Abe and Aaron Corbett, Seth Corbett and wife Karen, and sister Faith Henderson and husband Chris, plus 6 nieces and 4 nephews. She also leaves a brother-in-law, Tad, aunts and uncles and her godparents Sharyn and Peter Kovalesky.

A celebration of Tawnya’s life will be held at College Church, 58 Pomeroy Terrace, in Northampton, MA on March 10, 2018 at 2 pm.   Calling hours will be held at 1 pm at College Church before the service.  Internment of ashes will be private with family.

To sign a guest book, express condolences and share memories, go to the www.douglassfuneral.com

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to  Alternatives Pregnancy Center, P.O. Box 344, Greenfield, MA 01302-0344;  The College Church, P. O. Box 203, Northampton, MA, 01061-0203; or to the National Down syndrome Congress at www.ndscenter.org

Amherst, MARIUS SZNAJDERMAN, a painter and printmaker, loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away on Feb. 24, 2018. He was 91.

Marius was born in Paris, France in 1926. In 1942 he and his parents escaped from Nazi persecution into Spain and moved to Venezuela where he lived until 1949.  His early training as an artist was at the School of Fine Arts in Caracas. In 1948, he was a founding member of the Taller Libre de Arte, an influential workshop for the visual arts responsible for the introduction of contemporary trends in the Venezuelan art world.

In 1949, Marius moved to the U.S., where he studied at Columbia University and received Bachelor of Arts and Master of Fine Arts degrees. He served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955 during the Korean Conflict.

In 1956 he married the love of his life, Suzanne Messing, a journalist. They moved to Hackensack, N.J., where they lived for more than 50 years and raised three children.

Marius worked as a scenic designer in New York at Circle in the Square Theater, the Felix Fibish Dance Company, the French Art Theater and Columbia Theater Associates, among other venues.

He taught art, art history and design at New York University, the School of Visual Arts, Fairleigh Dickinson University and the Ridgewood School of Art in New Jersey. He also taught art in New Jersey public schools under state and federal grants.

From 1974 to 1983, he directed Galeria Venezuela in New York City for the National Council of Culture and Fine Arts of Venezuela. The gallery was dedicated to the exhibition and promotion of prominent and rising Venezuelan artists.

In 1991, what was then known as The Museum of Contemporary Arts of Caracas Sofia Imber, Caracas, Venezuela gave him a major retrospective exhibit. Over the years, he had more than 30 one-person exhibits and numerous group shows in South America and the U.S. His work is in major public collections, including the Smithsonian Institution, Library of Congress, the Fine Arts Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Arts, Caracas, Venezuela, the Cincinnati Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art and the Museo del Barrio, New York City, and the New Jersey State Museum, Trenton.

Marius is listed in Who’s Who in American Art, and in Printworld International, as well as many other publications.

In 2015 Marius and Suzanne settled at Applewood in Amherst to be closer to their daughter, Tobi. He continued to paint and create art until his final days. He was generous, kind and warm, and treasured his family and friends above all. 

Marius was predeceased by his parents, Charles and Jeanne Sznajderman, and a brother who died in infancy.

In addition to Tobi and her husband, Joel Harris, of Amherst, he leaves behind son Michael and his wife Elaine, son Marc and his wife Jeannette, and grandchildren Evan, Jesse, Lily, Hannah, Noah, Aimee and Rachel.

The family expresses its deep appreciation to the staff at Hospice of the Fisher Home, who lovingly cared for Marius before his death.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Marius can be made to Free Arts NYC, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the Jewish Community of Amherst.

http://mariussznajderman.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marius_Sznajderman

Memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

Amherst, Roger E. Crossman, 86, died Friday February 23, 2018 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. He was born in Northampton July 9, 1931 to the late Kenneth and Elizabeth {Hamilton} Crossman. Roger was a 1950 graduate of Amherst High School and married his beloved wife of 63 years, Evelyn in 1954. Roger was a long time Taxi driver in Amherst before working at the former Aubuchon Hardware. After retirement he and Evelyn spent 17 winters in Florida. He enjoyed vacationing in Maine, Nascar racing, Country music, cooking, playing cards and doing puzzles.

Roger is survived by his wife Evelyn, daughter Peggy son Edward and wife Song, grandchildren Mary and Matthew, as well as his great-grandchildren Calina, Tiana, Siana, Damon and Claire, his sister Ann Weston and several nieces.

Funeral services will be Thursday March 1, 2018 at 11:00 am at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst a calling hour will precede the service from 10 – 11 am. Burial will follow in Wildwood Cemetery.

Amherst, Daphne Reed-Penttinen of Amherst, MA died at home on February 18, 2018.  

She was born in Hartford, Connecticut to Edward M. and Adele V. Stevenson.  

She was wife to Bruce T. Penttinen; sister to William Schoppe, Ruth Hegedus, Edythe Stevenson, and Adelita Moore; mother to Laurie Mangano, Rory Johnston and Bonnie Johnston; mother-in -law to Mark Mangano, Cat Johnston and Elaine DeRosa; grandmother to April Robbins, William Trudell, Erica Trudell, Jeremy Johnston, and Chase Johnston; great-grandmother to Alex, Zach, Ethan, and Sina Lynn; grandmother–in-law to Tony Davis and Samantha Johnston; sister-in-law to Patricia Hawes-Hipps, Robert Penttinen, Marilyn Penttinen, and to her favorite dance partner, Don Moore. 

Daphne was a teacher, writer, artist, actor, editor, activist, researcher, and publisher of metaphysical phenomena, and devoted family member and loving friend. 

A memorial service for Daphne will be held Monday March 5,^, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. at South Congregational Church, 1066 South East Street, Amherst, MA.  In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of America, (alz.org).

AMHERST – Billie Marie Howes, age 92, died peacefully on Saturday, February 17, 2018 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.  She was born on November 13, 1925 in Buffalo, New York to Maude and Gary Burton Clow.  While attending Lyndonville Central High School, Mrs. Howes studied voice at Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester.  After graduating from high school in 1943, she attended the University of Rochester receiving her degree in English and history in 1947.  In 1963 she earned a Master’s degree in speech from the University of Wisconsin.

            After teaching in New York and Maryland, Mrs. Howes worked as a teacher and administrator in the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District for 24 years.  During her 30 years as an educator, Mrs. Howes earned the respect and admiration of her colleagues and students for the dedication, enthusiasm and creativity that she brought to her work.

            On June 30, 1951, Mrs. Howes married Merle L. Howes.  During their 66 years of marriage, they worked together to build a beautiful home where her love of gardens and nature bloomed brightly and a cat was always a dear companion.  Throughout their marriage, Mrs. Howes and her husband traveled extensively around the United States and abroad.

            She was very involved in her church community at the South Congregational Church.  She particularly enjoyed working in preparation for the Christmas fair by creating crafts and making a lot of delicious jam.

            Besides her husband, Mrs. Howes is survived by her three children: Ray Howes of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia; LaVerna Howes Albury of Lawrenceville, New Jersey; and Pamela Howes, of Amherst Massachusetts.  She is also survived by her granddaughter, Jennifer Marquez Albury (Antonio Marquez) of Amherst, Massachusetts, as well as her great-granddaughter, Juliet.

            Calling hours at the Douglass Funeral Service in Amherst will be on Wednesday, February 28^th from 3 – 5pm.  A funeral service will be held at the South Congregational Church in Amherst on March 3^rd at 10:00 a.m.  The interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the South Congregational Church, 1066 South East Street, Amherst, MA  01002.

Amherst, Ida A. Vlach, 95, died Sunday February 18, 2018 at the Center for Extended Care in Amherst. She was born in Southbridge, MA., January 13, 1924 to the late Arthur and Blandine {Lachambre} Arcambault. Ida is survived by her beloved husband, Edward F. Vlach, her two sons, David and Brian Vlach and her sister Irma Murzycki.

A Memorial Mass will be Saturday February 24, 2018 at 10:00 am in St. Brigid’s Church, Amherst. There are no calling hours.