Amherst, Janina M. Czajkowski Esselen, 100, died Friday October 2, 2015 at the Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst.. She was a professor emeritus of the Dept. of Nutritional Sciences at University of Connecticut in Storrs.

Born on May 11, 1915, the eldest daughter of John W. and Aniela (Orszulak) Czajkowski she was raised in Hadley and graduated from Hopkins Academy. She obtained a B.S. degree in 1936 from the Univ. of Mass. in Amherst and two Masters degrees, one from Cornell University and the other from Harvard. In 1963 she earned an Ed. D. from Boston University. 

Jan worked as a dietitian in the U.S. Army during WW II. Her career at UCONN began in 1947 in the School of Home Economics and she moved to the Department of Nutritional Sciences in 1972 to start the community nutrition program. Dr. Czajkowski Esselen was a pioneer for EFNEP (Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program) and under her leadership Connecticut was one of several states that ran pilot nutrition programs for low income families with peer nutrition educators from the community. Jan worked with leaders at USDA in Washington on many community nutrition initiatives. She led this program until her retirement in 1983.

During her career she wrote a series of booklets on the foods and traditions of New England, France, Poland, China and Hawaii, to name a few. She authored a weekly column, “Table Talk,” for the Hartford Courant for many years. In her retirement she continued her interest in nutrition through many professional organizations and was a life long learner with the LIR (Learning in Retirement) Program at UMASS. 

After her retirement she moved back to the Amherst area and in 1985 married William Esselen with her 93-year-old father walking her down the aisle. 

She leaves sisters Nellie Griffin and Bertha Clark, sister in law Angeline Czajkowski, all of Hadley. Richard Esselen, stepson and wife Dianne of Westwood, MA, grandchildren: Sandra Higgins and husband Michael, Cheryl, Richard, Jr.  and 3 great-grand daughters. She leaves many devoted caregivers, nieces and nephews and their families. Her husband, William Esselen, her sister Mildred and brothers Joseph and John predeceased her. 

A Mass of Christian burial will be held Wednesday October 7, at 10:00 am at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel at the Newman Catholic Center, University of Massachusetts. A calling hour will precede the service from 9:00 – 10:00 am in the Chapel. Burial will follow in Wildwood Cemetery, Amherst. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be designated to the Janina M. Czajkowski Scholarship in Community Nutrition.  Please make checks payable to:  The UConn Foundation, Inc. and forward to the following address: 2390 Alumni Drive Unit 3206, Storrs, Connecticut 06269 or The Newman Catholic Center, 472 N. Pleasant St., Amherst, MA 01002.

Amherst – Norma Dick Filios passed away peacefully on Friday, September 25^th at home holding her husband’s hand.  She was born August 10^th, 1922 in Lawrence, Massachusetts to Kathryn (Mahoney) and Walter Dick.

Norma grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts, graduating from Classical High School.  During her high school years, she was a trumpet player and a baton twirler; as an avid musician she played in a dance band, the Dix Sisters with her 3 sisters.  She went on to graduate from Mary Washington College of the University of Virginia in 1945 studying education and music.    After graduating from college, Norma taught music in Pocatello, Idaho and played in the Southern Idaho Symphony.  She then moved on to become Music Supervisor at Hopewell, Virginia.    Eventually, she returned to Massachusetts to teach music at Auburn High where she put together a full Marching band despite starting the year with only 4 musicians.

While teaching in Auburn, she met her husband, Frederick A Filios and they were married in June 1952.  They settled in Amherst where they started their family that grew to eight children.  While living in Amherst raising her children, Norma was an active member of the community as a Girl Scout leader and volunteer for school and community events.  She was a parishioner of St Brigid’s Church, and a long standing member of the Daughters of Isabella, serving as regent for several years.  They moved to Panama in 1965 returning after a few years when they discovered their youngest child was profoundly deaf.  In 1969 Norma started her Masters of Education of the Deaf at Smith College, graduating in 1970.  She taught at Clarke School for the Deaf in Northampton from 1970 to 1987.  During her years at Clarke, she thought of her students as an extension of her family.  As the senior class advisor she led 15 class trips to Washington DC, even gaining recognition in the Congressional Record for her caring and devoted service as a teacher.

She will be deeply missed by her loving husband of 63 years, Frederick A Filios, along with their children Kathryn Finn of S Deerfield; Walter and wife Suzanne of Gulfport, Mississippi; Paul and wife Maria of Alexandria, Virginia; Teresa Korpita and husband John of Sunderland; William and wife Larissa of Malden; Marita Magnant and husband Gary of Topsfield; Elizabeth Tyler and husband William of Hadley; Laurie Blanchard and husband Daniel of Southborough; her 20 grandchildren Michael, Danette, Bridget, Socorro, and Teresa children of Kathryn; Kimberly, Jason, Sarah, Paula and Patrick children of Paul; Ksusha and Marina children of Teresa; Salvatore son of Bill; Ross, Sage and Grace children of Marita; John and Kathryn children of Elizabeth; Georgieanna and Annabel children of Laurie; and 3 great grandchildren Emily, Sophia and Jonathan from the Finn family; her sisters Marita Stratton of Lee, Arlyne Dick of Falmouth, brother Walter and wife Judy of Bradenton, Florida, and sister-in-law Marilyn Dick of Austin, Texas.  She was predeceased by sister Paulyne Dick, brother Raymond Dick and son-in-law John Michael Finn.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, Sept 30, from  5:00 – 8:00pm at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, October 1, at 10:00 am at St Brigid’s Church, Amherst. Burial will follow in St. Brigid’s Cemetery, Hadley.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorial donations to St Brigid’s Church, 122 North Pleasant St., Amherst, MA  01004, or to Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech, 45 Round Hill Road, Northampton, MA 01060, www.ClarkeSchools.org.

Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

Amherst, Dallas L. Darland of Amherst, MA died on Saturday, 19 September 2015 after a long battle with lung cancer. He was 72. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Ursula, his son Christopher and his partner Sara DeNobrega, the many Darland, Fritz, and Rhodes family cousins, and wonderful friends both far and near. He loved them all. Dallas retired in December 2006 after nearly forty years as a senior-level administrator and Executive vice president at universities and colleges in Massachusetts, Maine, New York, Washington, DC, and Georgia. He began his career in 1967 at Five Colleges, Inc., then worked in the Chancellor’s office at UMass. Several years later he returned as the Director of Development for the University from 1978-1987. Born in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, his ashes will join those of his beloved father, mother, and brother, David in the Snake River. A local memorial service will be held in the new year. Please make donations to the Hospice of the Fisher Home (www.fisherhome.org) 

He was born in New Rochelle, New York, June 27, 1921, the son of the late William S. and Ethel (Cohen) Berkowitz. He attended New Rochelle High School and received a bachelor’s degree from New York University in 1942.

Following four years in the U.S. Maritime Service in World War II, he joined the Manager’s Staff of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. in 1946.  He was one of the founders of Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., which grew to become the flagship of the American community theater movement, and served as an officer and member of its Board of Trustees from 1950 until 1991.

In 1949, he left the National Symphony Orchestra staff to become Assistant Manager of the Hayes Concert Bureau in Washington, which served as the local presentation auspices for the leading classical musical artists, opera and dance companies, and orchestras of the world.  Following ten years in this position, he entered the School of Library and Information Science of the Catholic University of America in Washington and received a Master of Science in Library Science degree in January, 1961.  He subsequently served for five years as Branch Librarian in the District of Columbia Public Library System.  In 1966, he joined the National Library of Medicine at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, retiring as Chief of the Reference Services Division in August, 1984.

He was married to Mary C. Magnum for several years before her passing in 1973.  He married Edith A. Strickland in 1974.  Edith passed away in 2006.

Mr. Berkowitz was recipient of the Director’s Honor Award of the National Library of Medicine in 1976.  He was a member of the national library honor fraternity, Beta Phi Mu, and was a founding member and first president of the chapter at The Catholic University.  He was designated a Fellow of the Medical Library Association in 1985 and a Distinguished Member of the Academy of Health Information Professionals by the Association.  He received a Certificate of Merit from the US Department of Health and Human Services upon his retirement in 1984.

He is survived by his stepson, Ted (Arlene) Strickland of Chattanooga, Tennessee as well as his grandson, Daniel (Jessica) Strickland and their children Nathaniel Cowles and Asher Charles Strickland;  his five granddaughters, Kimberly (Robert) Tucker of Egg Harbor Township, N.J., Emily (Matthew) Carter of Topsham, ME, Eva Rodd of Portland, ME, Abigail (Joel) Rodd of Cooperstown, NY and Amanda (Mark) Rodd of New York, NY;  great-grandchildren, Charles, James, Ella, Annie, Elliot, Esme, and Leo; his nieces Wendy Cook of Niskayuna, NY,  Dorothy Berke and Natalie Berke Smith of Sacramento, CA.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Berky’s honor at Applewood in Amherst on October 18^th at 10:30 am.

Amherst – Kurt Maximilian Hertzfeld, a resident of Amherst, Massachusetts since 1968, died at the Fisher Home in Amherst on September 13, 2015. He was born October 9, 1918 in Grado, Italy (then Austria) where his father was stationed in the Austrian army, but was brought to Vienna when he was 10 days old. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Dorothy Wiesner Hertzfeld; five daughters: Elizabeth Hertzfeld, Anne Drapalski and her husband Henry, Susan Rice and her husband Norman, Nicole Wiesner Mobley and her husband Robert, Hillary Wiesner; and a daughter-in-law Patricia Hertzfeld the wife of his son Kurt M. Jr. who sadly died unexpectedly in 2002. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Mary King, Elon Hertzfeld, Emily Rice Hashim, Adam Rice, Joseph Drapalski, Nora Drapalski, Tanner Hertzfeld Richards, and Zachary Hertzfeld Richards. Also five great grandchildren: Haley King, Hanna King, Barry Hertzfeld, Drew Hertzfeld and Benjamin Hashim. His first wife of 44 years, Nora Alfs Hertzfeld died in 1986. 

Kurt received a BA from Harvard College in 1941, Magna cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa and in 1942, an MBA from the Harvard Business School where he was elected a George F. Baker Scholar. He was drafted into the U.S. Army while still an Austrian citizen and received his Certificate of Naturalization on August 9, 1943. He served three years in the Army, appointed to rank of Captain in 1946, and received an Honorable Discharge from the Armed Forces on the 15^th day of December, 1952.

After working at the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn and a small motor manufacturer in Rochester, NY, he was asked to join Boston University as Business Manager. In 1958 he was appointed Vice President and Treasurer of Boston University. In 1968 he accepted the appointment as Treasurer of Amherst College. He retired from Amherst College in 1983. He was also Chairman and CEO of two Manufacturing Companies, The Exolon Company of Tonawanda, NY and The Permattach Diamond Tool Company of Milford, NH.

He was active in professional and charitable organizations. For many years he was Secretary-Treasurer of the Eastern Association of College and University Business Officers and also served that organization as President. He was a longtime member of the Board of Trustees of the College Entrance Examination Board and the Educational Testing Service. In the local community he served as Chairman of the 1970 Community Chest Drive and was on the Boards of Hospice, the Cooley Dickinson Hospital, and the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.

Kurt enjoyed keeping up with world and local news, reading magazine publications and history, and following the stock market. His family called him Mr. Fix It, and he liked carpentry and woodwork, flowers, gardening, yard work and pool cleaning, and birds and animals at his Sunset Avenue home. That was where he also housed and befriended graduate students of UMass and local colleges coming here from numerous countries. He taught some of them to drive, showed them how to open bank accounts, and he improved their English speech with a German accent. He was a man with boundless energy and many hobbies. He collected various clocks of all kinds and sizes. He had a large collection of three monkeys, over 100 “See No Evil, Hear No Evil, and Speak No Evil” monkeys from all over the world.

Perhaps Kurt’s main hobby was collecting at flea markets and antique stores. He was an expert on silver and glass and had a large collection of glass goblets. He collected Wedgwood plates made in the 1930s with designs from various colleges and universities and enjoyed buying and selling them on eBay. He kept busy on his computer for e-mail, personal letters and research, and he enjoyed traveling the world for business and particularly for pleasure. He was a member of Grace Episcopal Church in Amherst, having had his confirmation on March 22, 1942, at Christ Church Cambridge, certified by the Bishop of Massachusetts at that historic church on Harvard Square.

Kurt was a gentleman with old world style, born handsome, modest and proper, and he never approved of paper plates even at picnics. He was a tough businessman, respected for his honesty and fairness, willing to give advice and counsel to anyone who asked for it, and he always looked on the positive side of life with a beautiful smile that drew comments even to his last days in hospice.

In his own words, “America afforded me the opportunity of a good education, an interesting professional life, longtime friends, and above all the privilege and blessing of a great family. I tried to acknowledge this good fortune by being supportive of family and friends and serving the communities I lived in to the best of my ability. I sincerely hope that after my death my family and friends will say, ‘He succeeded.’”

Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Fisher Home 1165 N Pleasant St, Amherst, The Community Foundation of Western Mass P.O. Box 15769 Springfield, MA, 01115-576, or The Amherst Woman’s Club 35 Triangle St, Amherst.

A celebration of life will be held at 11am on Saturday, September 19, 2015 at Grace Episcopal Church in Amherst, with a reception to follow at Grace Church. Burial will be private.

Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

Donald Drake Rose, D.D.S. (November 25, 1924–September 1, 2015), 90, formerly of Binghamton, New York, died at his home in Haydenville, Massachusetts. He was predeceased by his first wife of 44 years, Margaret Mary (DiLello) Rose of Binghamton, and survived by his second wife of 21 years, Patrice Woeppel. He is also survived by his three sons, John and Jeff of Binghamton and Joseph of New York City, his daughter Jennifer and her husband Shawn FitzMaurice of Milton, his grandson, Ryan FitzMaurice, and stepson Jamal Berkeley, his wife, Ann Podesta, and their twin boys, Jeremy and Justin.

Don was a veteran of both the U.S. Army and Air Force and practiced dentistry in Binghamton. He enjoyed sailing, golf, hiking, computers, writing, and photography, and he was deeply involved in the civil rights and the human growth potential movements. He had been active in musical theater, community organizations, the dental society, computer and camera clubs, and the Unitarian Church. Most recently, he was leading a life story writing seminar. Don loved traveling, re-watching classic movies, eating good food, and singing snatches from the many Broadway shows he had seen.

A Memorial Service/Life Celebration will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at 11 a.m. at Douglass Funeral Service in Amherst. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the VA Leeds Medical Center, 421 N. Main Street, Leeds, MA 01053; or to the Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice, 168 Industrial Drive, Northampton, MA 01060. 

The family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to the staff of the VA for the extraordinary care, competence, and expertise provided for our beloved husband and father; and to the staff of All About You Professional Home Care and the Cooley Dickinson Hospice for the incredible, skilled, and compassionate care and support provided by staff throughout.

Burial will be at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne, MA.

Amherst, Marlene Rose Christiansen, 81, of Amherst, MA died unexpectedly September 6,

2015 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.  Marlene was born in Irvington, NJ on

November 24, 1933 to Madelyn and Joseph Cymanski.  Married to the late Richard

C. Christiansen.  Marlene is survived by her five children:  Madelyn

Christiansen (Steven Bradley) of Pelham, MA; Maryanne Christiansen of Marlton,

NJ; Paul Christiansen of Amherst, MA; Peggy Garber (Michael) of Holmdel, NJ and

Dianne Malabanan (Alan) of Brookline, MA, and her cherished grandchildren, Kyle

Garber, Allyson Bradley, Ryan Garber, Shannon Bradley, Jacklyn Bradley, Alexa

Christiansen and Christian Malabanan.  She also leaves her sisters, Virginia

Falcone (Richard) Jackson, NJ and Doreen Machette, Toms River, NJ and her

brother, the late Joseph Cymanski, of Edison, NJ and their families. 

Marlene was a homemaker and a volunteer at several hospitals.  Once her children were

older, she went to work at Mass Mutual and later at JCPenney where she retired.

After retiring she enjoyed working at the Academy of Music.  She loved spending

her time with her family, hosting Christmas Eve, going to the beach, and

vacationing in Maine with her friends.  One of her hobbies was making creative

cakes for all her grandchildren’s birthdays.  She was a gentle, caring,

wonderful mother, adored grandmother and friend.  She will be greatly missed. 

There will be a private committal service at Bourne National Cemetery.  If

you would like to make a donation in memory of Marlene, Susan G. Komen Breast

Cancer Foundation, Inc. (1-877-465-6636) was close to her heart.  

AMHERST — C. Alice Stanne, 90, of Gray Street, passed away on September 8, 2015, at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, MA.

Alice was a long-time math teacher in the Amherst public schools, an avid gardener, a volunteer for the Amherst Conservation Commission and Birthright, and an assistant editor/author of the book Harvesting History: Amherst Massachusetts Farms, 1700-2010.

Born in Clinton, MA, she was the daughter of the late John and Vera (Ebenbeck) Grealis. She leaves her son Steve of New Paltz, NY, and his wife Cara Lee, son-in-law Marty Knight, of Stillwater, MN, son Jim of Plymouth, MA, and his wife Lynn, daughter Kate, of Easthampton, MA, son Jack of Mt. Laurel, NJ, and his wife Karla, daughter Peggy Britton of Littleton, MA, and her husband Carl, daughter Janet Humbeck of Vaihingen Enz, Germany, and her husband Jochen, and sister Betty Paulino of Sterling, MA; 12 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents, she is predeceased by her husband Tony, her daughter, Mary Beth, and her brother, Jack Grealis. 

Calling hours for Alice will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, September 11, at Douglass Funeral Home, 87 North Pleasant Street, Amherst. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday at St. Brigid’s Parish, 122 North Pleasant Street, Amherst. Burial will follow at St. Brigid’s cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a favorite charity. 

Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

Deerfield, Deborah Jean (Blasko) LaClaire – mother, sister, aunt, friend and caregiver – left this world for the next on Tuesday, August 25^th, 2015 in the loving company of family, after a valiant battle with cancer.

The youngest of five girls, Deb was born to UMass Campus Police Chief Red Blasko and wife Anna (Adamitis) of Amherst, MA in February 1962. Deb attended Amherst public schools, graduating from Amherst Regional High School in 1980. She then attended Greenfield Community College, receiving her Associates Degree in Nursing in 1982. 

A registered nurse for over 30 years, Deb was a caregiver through and through. Most recently she bettered the lives of residents and co-workers at Rockridge Retirement Community in Northampton, MA where she was warmly welcomed as a part of the family. Selfless, perseverant, thoughtful, generous and quick-witted, Deb brought joy and laughter into every life she touched. Family enjoyed her decadent cooking and endless generosity. Friends benefited from her altruistic nature and big-heartedness. Co-workers and patients received boundless kindness and compassion. Deb was there for anybody and everybody at a minutes notice with a shoulder to cry on and a kind word to encourage. The fullness of Deb’s life has created a series of ripples, which have radiated to untold ends influencing lives both here and now as well as into the future – not the least of which was encouraging, supporting and frequently feeding her daughter and friends, through nursing school. She loved easily and endlessly. To the moon and back. Forever and always. The world is better because Deb was here. She was the queen of hearts and quite a lot else. She will be missed forever by many. 

Predeceased by her parents, Deb is survived by her loving daughter and best friend Rebecca LaClaire Wolf, son-in-law, Darin Grant Wolf, beloved Labrador Casey and grand-dogs Cash and Chanook, all of Athol, MA. She leaves aunts Elizabeth Adamitis and Leona & John Napolitano in addition to her four sisters: Dotty & Ray Pascoe of Leverett, MA; Patsy & Fritz Williams of Montague, MA; Nancy & Jerry Stahlman of Lewisberry, PA and Elaine & Stephen Warren of Deerfield, MA. Deb is survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews, extended family and close friends. Additionally, Deb is survived by her former husband Matthew Emid LaClaire of Leverett, MA and his family, which she was a part of for many years.  

Ever modest, Deb requested no formal services. A celebration of life will held at a later date to dutifully honor such a special person and exceptional life. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to The Buddy Fund at Dakin Pioneer Valley Human Society or to The Alzheimer’s Association.  Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

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

Agnes Francis Mary (Gubbins) Sullivan

AMHERST, Agnes G. Sullivan passed way on April 25, 2015 in Bunnell, Florida.  Formerly of Amherst, Massachusetts, Agnes was born in Annsville, New York, on August 22^nd 1916.  Her parents were Charles and Mary (Sullivan) Gubbins.  Agnes grew up with five siblings: Helen Gubbins, Margaret Thomas, Lucille Hillebrand, Charles Gubbins Jr. and Grace Johnson.  In 1940 she married John A. Sullivan, who passed away on September 29, 1992.  Agnes leaves behind many loved ones including her children: Joanne Jaszek of Sunderland, Massachusetts; Thomas Sullivan of Palm Coast, Florida; and Ruth Sullivan of Tiverton, Rhode Island.  She leaves her grandchildren: Kimberly French of Greenfield, Massachusetts; Amy Newth of Montague, MA, Todd Sullivan of Springfield, MA; and Shelby Sullivan-Bennis of Tiverton, Rhode Island.  She also leaves two great-grandchildren: Nicholas and Heather French of Greenfield, MA. 

Agnes started her career as a hairdresser at the Forbes and Wallace Beauty Salon in Holyoke, Massachusetts, at the age of twenty one.  Then, after her marriage, in her mid twenties, she studied business and mastered the art of shorthand (a skill she enjoyed using for the rest of her life).  She also spent a few years at the Springfield Armory, in civil service.  The next few years she spent in Davenport Iowa, where she enjoyed nurturing her parenting skills.   

In her fifties, the family returned to the east coast.  She then became a legal secretary and a notary public.  Later, entering her sixties, she decided to switch gears, she obtained employment at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst Massachusetts, a job that she loved, working for the professors and managing all the trips and accounts for them.  She worked there well into her seventies, at U Mass, enjoying every minute, and enjoying all the people with whom she worked.   

The last ten years of her life she spent divided between Florida (with her son Tom), and Rhode Island (with her daughter Ruth) where she enjoyed playing her piano / keyboard, and making many new friends at the day care centers.  All her new friends enjoyed her love of music and her sparkling sense of humor.   

Agnes was a bright and spirited woman who loved music and the arts, always encouraging her children’s creative pursuits.  Her best friend from childhood onward was Ruth Schaefer, who went on to be a syndicated cartoonist.  She rode horses and loved dancing and singing.  Until her very last days, Agnes kept those around her laughing and blushing with her feisty personality and wry wit.  She had a good, long life, was a dedicated wife, loving mother and a doting grandmother, and she will be dearly missed. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

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