A.P. Stevens

1926 – 2014

Amherst, A.P. Stevens of Amherst, MA passed away July 17. He was born July 31, 1926, in Worcester, MA, the son of Dawn and Lloyd R. Stevens Sr. 

He was a graduate of Clark University and received a master’s degree from Worcester State College. He served in the Army Air Corps at the end of

World War II.  He started his career in education as a teacher, and became principal of Auburn (MA) High School in 1966. He ended his career as

Assistant principal at Hampshire Regional High School in Westhampton, MA. In retirement he established a calligraphy and engraving business. 

He was a member of the Vernon Lodge of Masons in Belchertown, and Rotary International. He volunteered for a number of community organizations.

He played the tuba with several bands, and was a member of the Young @ Heart Chorus. 

A.P. is survived by Shirley, his wife of 42 years. He is also survived by his sons Clark (Karen) Stevens of California, Ted (Deb) Stevens of

Virginia, and his daughter Lauren Cullen (Rich) of Maine, as well as his stepsons Brian (Bernadette) Nelson and Bruce (Doree) Nelson, both of

Worcester, MA. He will be fondly remembered by his grandchildren, Emerson and Gwen Stevens; Amanda and Luke (Jennifer) Stevens; Andrew, Peter,

Tim, and Sam Cullen; and one great-granddaughter, Lucia Stevens. 

The family wishes to thank the staff and volunteers at the Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst for their wonderful care, help, and encouragement. 

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, July 22 at 11:00am at the Vernon Lodge, 1 Main St, Belchertown, MA. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Vernon Lodge, PO Box 1258, Belchertown, MA 01007; Hospice of the Fisher Home, 1165 N.

Pleasant St., Amherst Ma 01002; or the Young @ Heart Chorus, 28 N. Maple St., Florence, MA 01062. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.

SOUTH HADLEY, Verna B. Nash 92, died peacefully at home Wednesday July 16^th surrounded by family and friends. She had moved from Amherst to Loomis Village fourteen years ago after suffering a stroke.

Wife of the late Dr. William A Nash, devoted mother to Rebecca Nash McKay (Rob) Chicago and Phillip Nash (Margaret) Florence. Beloved grandmother to Julia and Elizabeth McKay, Will, Abigail and Isabella Nash.  Sister of the late Rev. Victor and Molly Baer of Lititz, Pennsylvania.

Verna was born in Landisville, Pennsylvania and studied music from an early age. She received her Bachelors of Music degree from Grinnell College in Iowa, and Master of Music in Music Literature with a major in Violin from the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester.

She began her professional career as a music cataloguer at the Library of Congress in Washington DC. After marrying Bill, they moved to Gainesville, Florida where she was Concertmistress for the University of Florida Symphony, as well as playing in numerous quartets. She also began teaching violin to younger students. Following a move to Amherst and while attending a national music conference she learned of the Suzuki method of teaching music. After meeting Dr. Suzuki at the conference she hosted a reception at her home to introduce him to local Suzuki teachers in the area. Verna embraced the Suzuki method for the remainder of her teaching career. She was concurrently performing with the Pioneer Valley, Greenfield, and Guilford Barn symphonies. She was a founding member of the Western Massachusetts Suzuki Institute for young violin students and in 2009 received the prestigious Nathan Gottschalk Memorial Award from The Pioneer Valley Symphony.  She was a member of the American String Teachers Association, the Suzuki Association of the Americas and the Music Teachers National Association. Verna was also an active member and officer of the Amherst Women’s Club for many years where her commitment to the importance of education led to her involvement with the scholarship committee. 

In recent years, she has been a member of the Loomis choir and has enjoyed continued trips to the symphony. Her positive spirit and joy for life will be missed by all.

She leaves behind her children, grandchildren and many very special caregivers who enabled her to live a happy life with joy these past few years.

Visitation will be held Friday July 18^th from 4-7:00 pm at Douglass Funeral Home in Amherst. A celebration of life will be held at 10:00 am Saturday July 19^th at South Congregational Church of Amherst. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.

AMHERST, David Michael (Mendel) Katz (b. July 9,1943) died Saturday, July 12, 2014, just after turning 71 on Wednesday. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Michael. He was a generous, kind, smart, and funny man, a good husband, father, and grandfather, and an enthusiastic cyclist, avid hiker and down hill skier. We will miss his quick repartee and fast smile.

Michael was born in New York City. He attended Elizabeth Irwin High School, an alternative progressive school in Greenwich Village, and then went to Hunter College for his degree in psychology. He began his life-long devotion to helping improve the quality of communities (and young people) with a job in counseling, planning and policy development. Michael furthered his career with a master’s degree in counseling from Springfield College and a Master’s in Social Work from Smith College in 1983. He was a psychiatric social worker with a special knack for relating to kids, working In Northampton at FCMIC and ending his career at Providence Hospital, Holyoke.

Michael married Susan Crystal Newman in 1972; they moved to Colrain, MA, to raise their two children, Jennifer Leah and Zachariah Micah. Jennifer married Matthew Buonincontro; they have two children, Max eight and Madeleine almost three; Zachariah married Kate Ostedgaard from Iowa City, IA, where they live. Michael loved his children and grand children: he was always there to help them at the drop of a hat. He nurtured their interests and instilled a lifelong love of learning and athletics. Michael encouraged and supported their academic and career efforts. He enjoyed traveling and spending his vacations with his family. As his kids affectionately called him, he was the best “dadums” ever. To his grandchildren, he will always be known as funny, loving “Non.” Michael left us way too soon. He will always be loved and remembered. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.

SHUTESBURY, Albert L. Beswick, 80, died July 5, 2014 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. Born in Albany, NY on May 17, 1934, he was the son of the late Albert E. and Mary (Reoux) Beswick. Albert was raised in Glens Falls, NY and graduated valedictorian from Glens Falls High School in 1952. He attended Yale where he was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society and graduated summa cum laude in 1956. He then attended and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1959. On July 18, 1959 he married his wife of nearly 55 years, Nancy L. Dexter.  Albert was the Assistant Attorney General for the state of New York from 1959-1962.  He worked for Nixon, Hargraves, Devans & Doyle Law Firm from 1962-1968, Senior Counsel for ITT from 1968-1993 and was the Bar Advocate for Franklin County from 1994-2000.  Albert also served on the Shutesbury Finance Committee and the Shutesbury School Committee.  He enjoyed reading, especially history, doing crossword puzzles, watching and correcting Jeopardy, listening to music and he loved animals. He spoke and read several languages and played piano, clarinet and viola.   His clever, dry sense of humor, fond heart and compassion will be missed.  Albert is survived by his wife; Nancy Beswick, three children; Joanne Lynn Beswick, Michael Thomas Beswick and David Gregory Beswick and nine grandchildren.  He was predeceased by his daughter, Katherine Anne Beswick in 2011. All services are private. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.  We love you Poppy!

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.

AMHERST, Barbara Adams Tiffany, a life-long resident of Amherst, died July 4th, 2014.  She was 94 and a half years young.

Barbara was born December 31, 1919 in Springfield, to Clifford and Alice Tiffany, and was a 1937 graduate of Amherst High School.  Barbara worked for Schoonmaker Egg Farms in South Amherst supervising the chick incubators.  It was Mr. Schoonmaker who taught Barbara to drive.  In 1956 she began working at Amherst College in the Biology Department under Phil Ives, assisting with his research on fruit flies.  In 2006 she retired from Amherst College after 50 years, making her the longest employee in the school’s history.

Barbara was a champion bowler, a member of 4 bowling leagues spanning a period of 40 years.  In that time, she won a remarkable 118 bowling trophies! Generations of South Amherst residents will remember Barbara’s participation in the 4^th of July Parade and picnic since she was a young girl. In 1968, she was retired as the “All-Time Ladies Nail Driving Champion”, an event she dominated for decades. An avid bird watcher and member of the Hampshire Bird Club, memorable trips took her to Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Arizona, throughout New England and to her favorite Monhegan Island.

Barbara was a life-long member of South Congregational Church in South Amherst, which she lovingly referred to as her family.  On June 15, 2014, the church honored Barbara’s membership in the Choir for an astonishing 79 years.

Barbara’s legacy is a life of faith expressed through her daily actions:  hard work, dedication to family and church, humility, courage and quiet dignity.

Barbara is survived by her sister-in-law Gloria Tiffany, and niece Tracey Tiffany, both of Springfield.  Barbara will be missed and remembered by her many friends at South Church, in the greater Amherst community and by all those whose lives she touched.

Calling hours will be Thursday, July 10, from 5-7 p.m. at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. A graveside service will be Friday, July 11, at 10:00 a.m. in South Amherst Cemetery. Friends are invited to a lunch at 11:15 a.m followed by a Celebration of Barbara’s life at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 13, both events will be at South Congregational Church. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.

AMHERST, Anton “Tony” M. Mushovic, Jr., 77, of Amherst, died on June 29, 2014 at Baystate Medical Center. Born in Greenfield on July 8, 1936 he was the son of Olga (Zewinski) Mushovic and the late Anton M. Mushovic. Tony was raised in Greenfield, attended local schools and graduated from Greenfield High School in 1954. He attended Northeastern University for two years. Tony was married to his wife Avis (Swenson) Mushovic for 54 years. He was a longtime employee of Kollmorgen Instrument Corp. of Northampton and retired from General Electric in 2000. He was an Amherst Town Meeting Member for 12 years and a past member of the South Congregational Church serving as a member of the Building Committee. Tony was a lifelong hot-rodder and car enthusiast and especially cherished the many lifelong friends he met through this hobby. He is survived by his mother, Olga; his wife Avis; two sons, Anton Michael Mushovic, III and his wife Victoria of CA and Peter Mushovic of South Hadley; two granddaughters Nicole and Alexa Mushovic; his sister Elizabeth Ogonis of Westfield and several nieces. He was predeceased by his father and his sister Barbara Miller. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, July 3, from 5-8 p.m. at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. A private interment will be held at the convenience of the family. The family requests that in lieu of flowers please make memorial donations to the American Heart Association, 54 Wayside Ave., W. Springfield, MA 01089. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.

AMHERST, Barbara L. Knowles, 67, of Amherst, died June 26, 2014, with family and friends by her side. She was born on February 22, 1947 in Plymouth, MA, the only child of Lillian H. Knowles and late William S. Knowles, Jr.

In her youth, she and best friend Sandy Lodi Alston founded the Verloren Yacht Club in Plymouth. Barbara was a member of the Plymouth Antiquarian Society. She received a BA from Boston University and an MA from the University of Chicago, where she studied ancient languages and archaeology, and helped create the first Hittite-to-English dictionary. She traveled throughout Greece and Turkey in pursuit of her studies.

Barbara moved to Amherst in 1978. In 1987 she opened Le Boudoir with her friend, the late Dorothy Grannis. She contributed to the Valley Light Opera and made costumes for the Amherst High School musical productions. She managed the town’s Independence Day fireworks celebration in 1991. She spent many happy weekends buying and selling antiques with her dearest friend, Melinda McIntosh.

Barbara is survived by her mother, Lillian H. Knowles of Plymouth; her aunt, Barbara H. Brenner of Panama City, FL; her uncle, John E. Holmes of Plymouth; her husband, Mitchell B. Gervickas of Amherst; her son, James A. Rosen of San Carlos, CA; several cousins; and many friends.

Memorial donations may be made to the ASPCA or the Heifer Project. A service will be held at Douglass Funeral Service later this summer. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.

Former Amherst and Belchertown, MA resident Dorothy T. “Theresa” Whitney, 85, died Sunday, June 15, 2014 resting comfortably in York Hospital, York, ME. 

Mrs. Whitney was born October 20, 1928 in Boston, MA, to Charles A. and Nora E. (Kissel) Mohan.   Most of her early life was spent in Roxbury, MA and she attended High School in nearby Boston.

Shortly thereafter, she met and married Eugene P. Whitney, from Medford MA, on April 9, 1949, and moved to the western part of Massachusetts.  There, they remained married for over 46 years and raised a family of 5 children in Amherst.

After raising her children, she went into professional life by running a local telephone answering service for several years.  Following that, and for almost 30 years, she was the assistant to the Treasurer of the University of Massachusetts, playing an instrumental part in the acquisition of the real estate for many of UMass’s diverse and distributed campuses. 

During the latter part of her life, she led a more quiet and contemplative life.  She was very active in Church life (First Church of Amherst) while the children were growing up.  However, later, she would become a Eucharistic Minister, serving St. Brigid’s Church in Amherst and St. Francis of Assisi Church in Belchertown, as well as taking her vows as a Benedictine Oblate at the St. Scholastica Priory in Petersham, MA.

She moved to Wells, ME in 2008. She was both adventurous and courageous, and had a zest for life that led to her becoming a private pilot and even to the extreme of trying her hand at parachuting, much to the surprise of her husband.   She also loved dogs and spent much of her life in the company of them.  

She also loved piano bars and spent many years with good friends and family on the Southern Maine seacoast enjoying her favorite places by the sea, featuring good food and entertainment.   Everyone always wanted to sit near her, since she always knew the words to all of the songs.    

A loving mother, confidant, and friend, Theresa was always there to lend a helping hand.  She was strong and fearless in her ability to live life.   

Mrs. Whitney was predeceased by her husband, Gene, in November of 1995 and her sister Mary in 2005.  

She is survived by her son, James Whitney of Waterbury, CT; son Richard Whitney of Wells, ME, son and daughter-in-law Paul and Susan Whitney of Falls Church, VA;  daughter and son-in-law, Jayne and Peter Krause of Hadley, MA;  daughter Suzanne W. Ragland of Northport, FL.; brother and sister-in law Philip and Patti Mohan of Norwell, MA; sister-in law Edith K. Whitney of Medford, MA; grandchildren, David Whitney of Waterbury, CT; Shannon Whitney of Alexandria, VA;  Sabrina and Haydn Hardwick of St. Petersburg, FL; Jessica Krause and Chris Stanavage of Hadley, MA; and a multitude of nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, June 21, at 10:00 a.m.  in St. Francis of Assisi Church, Belchertown with burial following in St. Brigid’s Cemetery, Hadley. Calling hours will be Friday, June 20, from 5-8 p.m. at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst.

Donations in her name to the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital may be made in lieu of flowers if folks are so inclined.  Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.

HADLEY, Edwin Dziekanowski, 73, died on June 15, 2014 at Overlook at Northampton. Born in Northampton on August 28, 1940, he was the son of the late Chester T. and Rose (Wysocki) Dziekanowski. Edwin grew up in North Amherst and spent his life working on the family farm. He was predeceased by his parents, an infant brother and his brother, Chester T. Dziekanowski, Jr. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Thurs., June 19, at 11:30 a.m. in St. Brigid’s Church, Amherst. Burial will follow in St. Brigid’s Cemetery, Hadley. A calling hour will precede the Mass from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. Memorial donations in Edwin’s name may be made to the Dakin Humane Society, PO Box 6307, Springfield, MA 01101. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, Jonathan Richard Quick died May 13, 2014 in Charlottesville, VA at the age of 72. The son of the Rev. Joseph Quick and Katherine Brock Quick, he was born in Greenville, OH on February 9, 1942. His family moved to Rockville Centre, NY where he graduated from South Side Senior High School, the recipient of the National Honor Society Award.

From 1959-1963 on an Upson Memorial Scholarship he attended Rutgers University from which he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and as a Henry Rutgers Scholar in the Department of English. At Rutgers he wrote reviews of cultural events for the university newspaper, The Daily Targum. He also introduced classical music selections on the university radio station.

On a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship he earned his PhD in English from Yale University in 1968. He then went on to teach English at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA until his retirement as full professor in 2002. At UMass he taught courses on Modern American and European Literature focusing on James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Virginia Woolf, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. He served as Chief Undergraduate Advisor and participated in 1979-1980 and 1989-1990 in the Regensburg and Freiburg, Germany exchange programs. In the 1970s he wrote reviews for the Los Angeles Times. He also published articles on modernism in professional journals. His book Modern Literature and the Art of Subversion appeared in 1999.

He was a wonderful and devoted father to his son Benjamin and a loving husband to Elaine. A man of diverse interests, he loved reading, world travel, classical music, modern architecture, home repair projects and the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team. 

He was predeceased by his father, mother and brother David. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 33 years Elaine, his son Benjamin Joseph Quick and his wife Julie Lefer Quick, grandson Zachary Austin Quick, step-grandson Hunter Stav Mnich, niece Robin Verge and grand-nephews Colin and Parker Verge. A memorial service will be held at Wildwood Cemetery, 70 Strong Street, Amherst, MA, on September 20, 2014. Donations in memory of Jonathan may be made to the charity of one’s choice. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.