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

Amherst, Dr. William “Bill” Hutchinson passed away on Feb. 19 at the age of 84 after bravely battling cancer for the past 10 months. Born in 1929 in Worcester, MA, to Warren and Ita (Gabbett) Hutchinson, Bill attended South High School, and received his associate’s degree from The Stockbridge School of Agriculture, his B.A. in biology and master’s in microbiology from Clark University, and his Ph.D. in botany from University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Bill was a founder of the Amherst Orchid Society and served as the Dean of Sciences at Holyoke Community College, positions in which his vast knowledge of horticulture played an integral role. He was an active member of the community and a district deputy in the Knights of Columbus.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Eleanor (Riley); son William (Michelle); daughter Ellen Feld (Michael); grandchildren William Hutchinson, Sarah Hutchinson, Holly Feld, and Nicholas Feld; and many loving friends and members of his extended family.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday February 22, 2014, at 10:00 AM in Most Holy Redeemer Church, Hadley. Burial will with full military honors follow in Holy Rosary Cemetery, Hadley. Calling Hours will be Friday February 21, 2014 from 4 – 7 PM at The Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

PALM HARBOR, FL, Robert Charlton Hannum, Sr., born on May 17, 1928 in Upland, Pennsylvania, passed away February 10, 2014 in Palm Harbor, Florida. Bob retired from Sun Oil Company where he worked as a purchasing agent. He and the love of his life, Stella Hedwig Smagala, were married for 64 years and had three children: Diane Regina Hannum Stoyer of Payson, Arizona, Dr. Robert Charlton Hannum, Jr., of Irvine, California, and Professor Thomas Patrick Hannum of Hadley, Massachusetts. They have four grandchildren: Robert Charlton III, Andrew Thomas, Gregory James, and William Joseph.

Bob was a proud U.S. Navy veteran, having served aboard the USS Krishna from 1946 to 1948, and then in the Naval Reserve until 1953.

Bob was active in sports all his life, beginning with sandlot baseball and as a pole vaulter at Eddystone High School, Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Later he played basketball in the Sun Oil Company Athletic Association League, and softball on the Greenhalgh-Calderoni championship team, winning 8 straight league pennants, 7 playoff titles and the Pennsylvania State Championship in 1966. The team was the most dominant team in Delaware County history. When his playing days were over, Bob began officiating high school football in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA). He also officiated semi-pro games in the Atlantic Coast Football League (ACFL), traveling the East Coast and Midwest. In 1985, Bob was inducted into the Delaware County Old Timers Athletes Association under the category Official and in 1978, the Association awarded him the Andrew W. MacMurtrie Award for sportsman of the year. The Chester Chapter of PIAA Football Officials awarded Bob the Joe Barrett Memorial Award in recognition of his enthusiasm toward the Chapter and his fellow officials. Bob also officiated basketball and girls’ high school volleyball and was a longtime coach in the Suburban Little League and Teener Baseball Leagues.

Bob loved parades, drum and bugle corps and marching bands, especially the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band. He was co-founder and assistant director of the Brookhaven Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps, which later became the Keystone Regiment, and eventually became part of the nationally renowned Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps which are still active today having relocated their home base to San Antonio, Texas. Mr. Hannum’s dedication to the activities of young people inspired others to follow his example and created an impact on those who were fortunate to experience his incredible enthusiasm and honest leadership.

Bob’s energetic spirit and ever-present sense of humor will be missed by his wife and family and many, many lifelong friends.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 10:00 a.m. in Holy Rosary Cemetery, Hadley. Calling hours will be Friday, Feb. 14, from 4-7 p.m. at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

Melvin “Shamel” Abner Cannon Jr. 

Amherst, on January 28, 2014 Melvin was called home to his Heavenly Father at the age of 43.   Melvin Finally succumbed to an illness that had ravaged him for eight years, at the Cooley Dickenson Hospital in Northampton, MA.  Born February 12, 1970 Melvin the Eldest son of Melvin Abner Cannon Sr. and Mary Jane Riley at Lenard Hospital Troy, NY.  Melvin attended Troy  High; as a young man Melvin played semi-pro football for a Connecticut team.  The passionate body builder he was, Melvin parlayed his love of the sport into a professional opportunity when he became a Certified Personal Trainer.  While living in Amherst, Melvin showed his entrepreneurially instinct when he opened and ran a successful clothing store. During his lifetime Melvin had varied interests when it came to work.  He was a General Manager for Arby’s and a head cook at Sully’s Restaurant in Hadley MA.   Melvin is survived by his wife Danielle Lesure-Cannon, his children  Natasha, Shanika, Shaquella, Anthony, Shaimal, Serita, Kordell and Derrell.  Melvin is also survived by several grandchildren, in addition to his parents Mary Jane Riley and Melvin A. Cannon Sr., Melvin is survived by his siblings Sharlene “Tina” Cannon Bell, Ranell, J. Conyers Sr. Shewanna Conyers, Mckinsey Williams, Sean Cannon, Kamshia Cannon and Lydia Cannon. Additionally, Melvin is also survived by a multitude of nieces and nephews and His beloved dog Shadow.  A Calling hour will be Friday February 7, 2014 from 12pm – 1pm at The Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. A memorial service will begin at 1pm, following the calling hour. In lieu of flowers please send donations, the Melvin Cannon Jr. memorial fund has been established at Florence Savings Bank.  I would like to thank all the people who have contacted and supported me through this trying time. Melvin Cannon, a loving father, devoted son and my best-friend. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

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

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

PELHAM, Gail passed away peacefully at home on January 23rd. She was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts on March 4th, 1939, and resided for much of her life in Pelham. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Paul Berube, her children, Jon L. Berube and Karen DiPersia, son-in-law Peter DiPersia, five grandchildren, Sofia, Vanessa, and Gaetano DiPersia, Hannah and Jon C. Berube, and a brother, James E. Barton. She graduated from Saint Anne’s School of Nursing, where she discovered a passion for geriatric nursing. She worked for over twenty years as Director of Nursing at the Amherst Nursing Home.

Upon her retirement Gail assumed the role of world traveler, devoted grandmother, and continued to be a friend and caretaker to many area elderly. From her home in the woods of Pelham, she spent her time cooking, reading voraciously, and racing through the New York Times crossword puzzle each morning. An active member of the cultural community of Amherst and Pelham, Gail attended concerts of classical music frequently and served both as a Friend and Trustee of the Pelham Library.

Amongst her family Gail will be remembered for her unending love, for inspiring and helping us to pursue our dreams, and for providing a warm home we could always come back to. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. Her sharp wit and sense of humor, friendly smile, and generous heart will be missed but never forgotten.

Contributions may be made to the Gail Berube Memorial Fund at the Pelham Library, 2 South Valley Road, Pelham Massachusetts, 01002. A celebration of Gail’s life will be held at a spring concert at the Pelham Library, date and time to be determined.  Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

HADLEY, Capt. O. Thomas Quartulli, 96, was called home to God with his loving family at his bedside on Jan. 23, 2014. Our loving father was born in Torrington, Conn., Aug 25, 1917. He was the son of the late Anthony and Elsie Quartulli.  He graduated from Torrington High-School and Clarkson College in Potsdam, NY.  Upon graduating from college in 1942 he served many years in the United States Navy including service in the Mediterranean and Pacific during World War II as well as Japan and Korea during the Korean War. He acquired the rank of Captain, having served as Commanding Officer of three Navy ships and a naval reserve base while on active duty. When released from the active Navy he served as Group Commander of naval reserve units in Western Mass. Dad was awarded several medals for his dedicated navy service including European-Africa-Middle East, Asiatic-Pacific, Victory Medal (WWII), Korean Service, Korean President Unit Citation, United Nation Service, National Defense, Naval Reserve Medal, and American Campaign. He belonged to the Veterans of Foreign War, American Legion, Fleet Reserve Association, U.S. Navy Memorial, U.S. Military Officers Association, U.S. LST association, and the Amphibious Veterans of MA. After his prestigious navy career he was employed as a Physical Plant Comptroller at UMASS Amherst retiring in 1988. Dad leaves behind his wife Theresa who is the love of his life and his best friend.  He is also survived by his three cherished children and their spouses Ronald and Michele Quartulli of WatertownNY, Barbara and Robert Beatty of Rochester MA, and Kevin and Robin Quartulli of East LongmeadowMA. He especially enjoyed the time he spent with his 5 special Grandchildren Zoe, Quinn, Ryan, Matthew, and Ashley. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 10:00 a.m. in Most Holy Redeemer Church, Hadley. Calling hours will be Monday, Jan. 27, from 4-7 p.m. at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. Burial with full military honors will be in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Hospice of the Fisher Home Amherst MA which made Dad’s final days peaceful and comfortable. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

HADLEY, Anna Newman passed away peacefully at the Fisher House, on Sunday, January 19, 2014.

Born April 25, 1922 in the Ukraine, Anna and her family moved to Moscow while Russia was under the rule of Stalin. During World War II, she met her husband, the late Morris Newman, who was the sole member of his family to survive the war and escape from Poland to Russia. After the war, Anna and her husband migrated from Russia via Poland to a refugee camp in Berlin, where their son Aisik was born. Hadassah sponsored their resettlement in the United States. Within in 30 days of their arrival, they set up a chicken farm in Jeffersonville, NY in the Catskill Mountains.

Despite having suffered extreme physical and economic danger under Stalin and the chaos of WWII, Anna was generous in spirit, often thinking about others before taking care of herself. In the early 1950s they moved to Brooklyn, New York, where Morris ran a Kosher delicatessen in BoroPark, while Anna kept a meticulous home, taking great pleasure decorating their home and cooking (her specialty was her cabbage soup). Their son, Aisik thrived under her tender loving care, studying medicine at CornellUniversity, graduating Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and specializing in Child Psychiatry in the PioneerValley.

Anna and Morris moved to the PioneerValley to be near their son and family in 2005 when Morris became ill. After he passed away the following year, Anna lived independently in Hadley until her health declined last year. Anna leaves her loving son, Aisik Newman and daughter-in-law Terry Rooney, an artist, and her grandson Alex Newman, a recent UMass graduate now working as a software engineer in Boston. Services were held at the JCA Monday, January 20th. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to Fisher House of Amherst, Jewish Community of Amherst or any other charitable organization of your choice. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

Beth grew up in Wakefield, Massachusetts until the age of thirteen when her family moved to Pittsfield.  In Pittsfield, at the age of 16, Beth met and began dating Frederick D. Royal.    Beth and Fred were married on September 13, 1969 and would have celebrated their 45^th wedding anniversary this year.  For the last 17 years, Beth and Fred have resided together in Bernardston.  For over two decades prior to that, they lived in Longmeadow.        

Beth is survived by Fred, the love of her life, and their two daughters, Amy of Deerfield and Meghan of Northampton.  Beth is also survived by her son-in-law, Richard, and her two grandchildren, whom she absolutely adored and doted on, Dylan and Brandon, of Deerfield.  In addition, Beth is survived by her sister, Joy Meeker, and brother-in-law, Ron Beales of Escondido, California as well as a niece and two nephews.  She was predeceased by her brother, David Passler, of Atlanta, Georgia.     

Beth loved playing the piano.  A graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Beth concentrated her studies in music theory, performance and education.  As an adult, Beth transformed her love and talent for the piano into a career, performing in numerous concerts and at innumerable events and with various groups and ensembles throughout New England.  Beth was a retired music and elementary school teacher and, for many years, was also a private piano teacher. 

Beth was very active in politics, having served on a variety of local, regional and statewide committees.  For a number of years, Beth served as the Chairperson of the Democratic Town Committee in Longmeadow.  In addition to being an accomplished musician and pianist, Beth was a talented cook.  

Friends and relatives may gather with the family for calling hours on Thursday, January 23, 2014 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Douglass Funeral Service, 87 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, Massachusetts.  Celebration of life services will be held on Friday, January 24, 2014 at 10 a.m. at the Wesley United Methodist Church, 98 N. Maple Street, Hadley, MA.  A reception at the church will immediately follow the services.  A prayer ceremony will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2014 at Mahar & Son Funeral Home, 628 Main Street, Bennington, Vermont, followed by a graveside service, for those who are able to travel to attend.   

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Elisabeth A. Royal may be made to the Cancer House of Hope, CHD, 332 Birnie Avenue, Springfield, Massachusetts01107.  Obituary and electronic memorial guestbook can be accessed at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

Amherst, Mitchell R. Dzwonkoski, 87, a long time Amherst resident, died Saturday January 18, 2014, at the Soldiers Home in Holyoke. He was born in Amherst on Sept. 15, 1926 and was the son of the late Frank and Rose {Kozacka} Dzwonkoski. Mitch leaves his wife of 57 years Helen Alice {Bielunis} Dzwonkoski.

Mitch was raised in Belchertown and attended school there. After school he entered into the Navy and served his country during WWII. After his military service Mitch returned to Belchertown and began working at the University of Massachusetts, where he was a long time employee. Mitch was also a Police Officer for the Town of Amherst. He retired as the supervisor for the Town of Amherst Public Works Highway Department. Mitch was an avid gardener and his lawn was the envy of all. Mitch loved his extended family and they loved him, most of all he loved and cherished the 57 years with his wife Helen.

Mitch was pre-deceased by seven brothers and sisters. He is survived by his wife Helen, his sister Mildred Frasier of Fl, and many nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held Tuesday January 21, from 5 -8 PM at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. A liturgy of Christian burial will be Wednesday January 22, 10:00 AM at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 24 Jabish St. Belchertown, with burial following in St Brigid’s Cemetery, Hadley.

Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

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