Helen B. Goddard

Amherst – Helen B. Goddard died peacefully on April 30^th at the Hospice of the Fisher Home in North Amherst. 

Helen, a long time resident of Amherst worked for the Amherst Pelham School District as a front office secretary in the high school and then as the Registrar for both senior and junior high schools until her retirement in 1996.

Helen is survived by her three children Dora J. Brace of Amherst; Russell H. Goddard of Valdosta, GA and Nancy B. Goddard of Long Island, NY and their respective spouses Edward Brace, Karen Goddard and Steven Sobstyl.  She also leaves her four grandchildren Benjamin, Chelsea, Zachary and Shannon.  She is also survived by her sister Elizabeth Donovan of Hyde Park, MA and many nieces and nephews.

To honor the life of Helen Goddard, services will be held at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst, with calling hours on Sunday, May 5 from 3:00pm – 5:00pm.  Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 6 at 10:00am at the Douglass Funeral Home.  Helen’s ashes will be scattered by her family at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Hospice of the Fisher Home at 1165 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA01002 or the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK73123-1718. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

DOROTHY FITZGERALD

AMHERST, Dorothy Fitzgerald, 101, died April 29, at the Center for Extended Care at Amherst. Born in Boston on May 13, 1911, Dorothy was the daughter of the late William R. and Susan (Cummings) Senior. Dorothy moved to Amherst with her sister, Ellen Vaughan, in the early 90’s. She had many happy years in Amherst with her sister and at the Amherst Senior Center. She took daily walks to CVS and would often stop and visit with friends along the way. Dorothy was predeceased by her sister, Ellen, and her husband William Fitzgerald. She will be greatly missed by her many friends, especially, Beatrice Dragon and Margaret Coty. Funeral services will be today, May 2, at 11:00 a.m. at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. A calling hour will precede the service from 10:30 – 11:00 a.m. Burial will take place in Belleville Cemetery, Newburyport. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

ERCOLE CANALE-PAROLA

AMHERST, Longtime Amherst resident Ercole Canale-Parola, a highly regarded researcher, department head, retired professor and professor emeritus of Microbiology at the University of Massachusetts, died peacefully in Amherst on March 29th, 2013 following a brief illness. He was laid to rest in Wildwood Cemetery beside his beloved wife Thelma, and his mother Ede Momigliano on April 6^th, 2013.

Born in 1929 in Frosinone, Italy, to Ede Presciutti and Mario Canale-Parola, his early years were heavily impacted by the loss of his father at age 5, and the hardships of World War II. As a child, he witnessed firsthand the Nazi occupation of Rome, the infamous aerial bombing of the San Lorenzo neighborhood, the partisan attack in Via Rasella and the triumphant entrance of American forces into the fallen city. After the war, in 1951, he reluctantly left his studies at the University of Florence to join his mother, who had moved to Chicago, Illinois and remarried an Italian doctor and professor, Lele Momigliano. Dr. Momigliano, who was Jewish, had defected to the United States when Benito Mussolini enacted the discriminatory racial laws of 1938.

Having no degree, and speaking little English, Ercole took a job dyeing candy in a gumball factory run by an Italian immigrant, a position that provided him with ample motivation to resume his education. It was while studying at the University of Chicago at Urbana-Champaign that he met his wife of 57 years, Thelma Canale-Parola. Their meeting had two immediate impacts on their futures: Thelma changed her major from Spanish to Italian, and Ercole determined that he would have to take his studies more seriously if he was going to date a star student. Both would later earn PhDs from that institution and go on to have illustrious careers in academia. Ercole would become one of the world’s leading experts on spirochetes and, during his long academic career, served as mentor to countless other scientists who now conduct research, teach and head departments throughout the country and abroad.

Ercole was also a passionate and knowledgeable opera and classical music aficionado, a Red Sox fan, a lifetime progressive Democrat and expert wine enthusiast. In his spare time he worked on a historical fiction manuscript set in wartime Italy, experimented with oil and watercolor painting, and deeply enjoyed reading and competing with his wife to be first to finish the New York Time’s Sunday crossword puzzle.

Ercole Canale-Parola will be deeply missed by his family, friends, colleagues and former students. He is survived by his children Claudia and Daniel, their spouses Matthew Blumenfeld and Marina Viola, his 5 grandchildren, Isa and Sadie Blumenfeld, and Luca, Sofia and Emma Canale-Parola (as well as by trillions and trillions of individual Canaleparolinas – a spirochete named in his honor).

A memorial service will be held for both Ercole and Thelma in the fall. The family suggests that anyone wishing to honor Ercole’s memory consider making a tax deductible donation in his name to the Jones Library in Amherst, as both Ercole and Thelma were strong supporters of that institution: Jones Library 43 Amity Street, Amherst, MA01002. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

OTTO VOGL

AMHERST, Professor Otto Vogl, 85, passed away peacefully April 27, at home with his dear wife Jane Cunningham Vogl and dog Gracie by his side. 

Otto was a dynamic visionary who was one of the global leaders in the development of plastic. He was born on November 6, 1927 in Traiskirchen, Austria, near Vienna.  He studied organic chemistry, receiving his Ph.D from the University of Vienna in 1949, having completed his thesis on steroids. In 1952, he went to the University of Michigan as a post-doctoral fellow where he met and married Jane.  They then moved to Princeton University where he continued his research. In 1956, he joined DuPont in Wilmington, Delaware, which was the beginning of his illustrious career.

At DuPont, Otto was one of the pioneer researchers on aldehyde polymerization (plastics). He was there for 14 years before becoming a full professor and one of the founders of the Polymer Science and Engineering Department at University of Massachusetts at Amherst.  In 1983, he left UMass to accept the newly created position as the Herman F. Mark Professor at the Polytechnic University in New York, the first endowed polymer professorship in the country. He recognized science as an international language and tirelessly taught and lectured worldwide.

During his academic career, Otto Vogl supervised approximately 100 students and postdoctoral research associates from around the world, published 450 scientific papers, wrote an additional 150 science related articles and held of over 50 US and foreign patents.  He served on 15 editorial boards, received many international awards and four honorary doctoral degrees.

Otto was also very active in committee work in the polymer field, and developed and led many of its critical organizations. He was a member of, among others, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Science Foundation, the American Chemical Society, the Austrian Chemical Society, the Pacific Polymer Federation (which he founded in furtherance of his commitment to international science), and the prestigious Royal Swedish Society of Sciences.

Otto is survived by Jane, his wife of 57 years; their son Eric of Houston and daughter Yvonne of New York; eight grandchildren; one great grand-daughter and Gracie, his dog.  He will be deeply missed by all.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, May 7^th at 10:00 a.m. in St. Brigid’s Church, Amherst. A private family burial will follow in Wildwood Cemetery. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

STANLEY P. DURNAKOWSKI

AMHERST, Stanley P. Durnakowski 77, of Amherst passed away April 25, 2013 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.  Born February 23, 1936 in Suffield, CT, son of the late Stanley and Sophie Kulas Durnakowski. 

Predeceased by Henry, Eugene, Eleanor and Valaria his brothers and sisters. Raised in Suffield he spent the last 39 years in Amherst.  

Beloved husband and father, Stanley will be missed by his wife of 53 years, Beverly Durnakowski; his four daughters Darlene Peronne and her two children Ryan and Ashlee of Gulfport MS; Lisa Sacco and her husband Michael of Leominster, daughter Jessica Sacco and sons, Daniel and Linwood Gallant and his wife Kelly and great grandson Asher Bryce Gallant; Michele and Richard O’Donnell of Amherst; Jennifer Dickinson of Holden and her children, Cody, Alexandra and Mathew.

His loves were his family, polka music, farming and food.  

In 2001 he started his campaign to collect the required number of signatures for a vote to change the government of Amherst from Town Meeting to a Mayor. He was a member of the Lion’s Club and Knights of Columbus.

The family wishes to thank The Fresenius Dialysis Center of Northampton, Dr. Kamel and staff, the ICU Unit at Cooley Dickinson Hospital for the excellent care and compassion they provided. Special thanks to Dr. Julie Stanton of Hadley.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, April 30, at 9:00 a.m. at The Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst with burial following in St. Joseph’s Cemetery Poquonock, CT. Calling hours will be Monday, April 29, from 5-8 p.m. at the Douglass Funeral Service. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

Robert F. Winne

AMHERST, Robert Frank Winne, 88, died peacefully at home in Amherst on April 22, 2013.

He was born December 27, 1924, in Brockport, NY, the son of Robert Frank and Miriam (Thompson) Winne. His grandmother Lina (Cook) Thompson came from a long line of Cook families in Hadley, and his grandfather Alfred Thompson was the principal of Hopkins Academy in the 1890s and president of Brockport Normal School, now the State University of New York at Brockport, 1910-1936.

As a child, Bob enjoyed family holidays on an island in Georgian Bay in Canada. When Bob was 15 he joined the very first group of campers at the Farm and Wilderness Camps in Plymouth, VT. He went on to be a counselor and lifeguard and met his first wife, Mary Eliot, there. Later his children attended while Bob designed and helped build several camp structures. The camp is still active.

Robert graduated from BrockportHigh School in 1942 and attended one year of college at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, NY.

He was inducted into the Army in 1943, served in the 289^th Infantry Regiment, and fought in the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes in Belgium. Out of his unit of 40 men he was the only one not killed or wounded. After the war ended in Europe, he was manager of a commissary and supervised imprisoned German officers. He separated from the Army in February 1946.

He returned to college on the G.I. Bill, graduating from the RPI School of Architecture in 1949. He worked for architectural firms in Houston, TX, and Boston, MA, before joining the architecture faculty at RPI. He earned a M.A. in 1960. He had appointments at PennsylvaniaStateUniversity and at BarnardCollege, and retired from RPI in 1988.

His second wife was Ann Hagen Griffiths, a photographer.

In 1986 he and Patricia G. Holland, a writer, were married at their house in Amherst.

He became a member of Amherst Town Meeting. He took part in planning the renovation of Town Hall 1992-1994, served actively on the committee to renovate the North Amherst Library 1995-1996, and in 1997-1998 worked with architect Peter Kitchell to design the Boltwood Walk parking garage.

He had a long interest in the history of art and was a skilled and sensitive photographer. His closest friend was the late artist and craftsman Richard Hooke of Amherst, who with his wife, Ruth Hooke, introduced Bob to Pat.

He leaves behind his wife, his daughter Elizabeth “Lise” Winne, her partner James Lestrange of Saratoga Springs, NY, their daughter Kiersten Lestrange, and his son Clark Thompson “Tom” Winne and his wife Victoria Wilson Winne of Homer, AK.

He leaves his grandchildren, Holland Hill of Edmonds, WA, Vanessa Fefelov of Homer, AK, Amon Winne of Green Lake, WA, and Llosh Winne of Bothell, WA, and five great-grandchildren. He leaves his sister, Alice (Winne) Garlock, and nephew Charles Garlock of Brockport, NY, and his stepson and family, Jonathan, Kristin, and Jesse Lieber of Portland, OR, and his stepdaughter, Lucy Barber, of Washington, DC.

Burial will be at WildwoodCemetery, Amherst, Friday, April 26, at 1 p.m. Arrangements are by the Douglass Funeral Service. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

Peter Ivy

AMHERST, Peter Cryer Ivy, 91, died on April 17, 2013, in Amherst. Peter was born to Robert and Norma Ivy in 1922 and raised in Philadelphia. He graduated from Friends Central School and Amherst College. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army’s Persian Gulf Command in Tehran, Iran, where he met his future wife, Valerie. After discharge from military service he worked as a civilian for the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and married Valerie before returning to Philadelphia.

After attending the University of Pennsylvania Law School and Drexel Institute of Technology, Peter made his career working at Burroughs Corp. Research Center, General Electric, Link Aviation, and Grumman Aerospace Corp. in Bethpage, NY. During his working years, Peter was active with the Philadelphia Junior Chamber of Commerce, Toastmasters, and Little League baseball teams.

Peter and Valerie retired to Pelham in 1992, and later to Applewood in Amherst. Peter was a lifelong artist and continued painting until his death. His paintings have most recently been exhibited at the Burnett Gallery and at Applewood. Peter was also an avid golfer and served for 14 years as class secretary for the Amherst College Class of 1943, for which he won a Distinguished Service Award.

Peter is survived by Valerie, his wife of 66 years; children Valerie and Andrew Steinberg, Elizabeth Read, and Stephen and Robin Ivy; grandchildren Scott Steinberg, Jennifer and Colin O’Sullivan, Madlen Read, Peter Ivy, Samuel Read, and Lauren Ivy; great-grandson Devin O’Sullivan; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service is planned for May 20 at 11 a.m. at the Grace Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Peter’s name to the Friends of the Amherst Senior Center (70 Boltwood Walk, Amherst, MA, 01002) and the Smile Train (PO Box 96231, Washington, DC, 20090). Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

NANCY ROCKLAND-MILLER

LEVERETT, Nancy Rockland-Miller died comfortably in her home in Leverett, Ma on April, 19 after 54 joyous years alive that included an extraordinary and courageous 15-year marathon with a rare Lymphoma.

Nancy lived life with abundance, integrity and passion, no doubt holding a world record for the most deep, abiding friendships. The curiosity, compassion, commitment and engagement she exemplified in her vast landscape of family and friendship made her a natural in her professional life as a psychotherapist. Graduating from Union College (B.A. Psychology) and Yeshiva University (MSW), Rockland-Miller began a psychotherapy practice that spanned positions from Connecticut to California to Western Massachusetts, where she moved with her family in 1992. She has worked as a therapist in the Valley for the last 21 years.  

In addition to her professional life, Nancy pursued a career as a singer-songwriter and a committed lifetime avocation in ballet. Nancy began her music career as a children’s singer-songwriter, forming a band with a group of physically challenged kids that went on to perform at venues including the Falcon Ridge music festival. As Nancy’s music and lyricism developed she became a folk-rock musician, exploring themes of love, friendship, and emotional resilience. She published two original CD’s and her recording and performance band included many of the Valley’s great local musicians.

However, above all else, Nancy’s greatest passion was her life as mother to her three children—Ari, Noah and Kyla. She is survived by her beautiful children and daughters-in law, Jenna and Carina. She is also survived by Harry Rockland- Miller, her partner of 27 years; her loving parents Larry and Charlotte Rockland; her younger brothers Tommy and Peter, who have both been her “rock”; and each of their loving and beautiful families. Nancy lives on in the memories of her many, many friends. All of us are so much the better, the more interesting, the more alive because of our lives close to Nancy Rockland-Miller. All of us, the more devastated to imagine the day-to-day world without her. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

DAVID A. MCDONALD

AMHERST, David A. McDonald, 74, a long time Amherst resident, died Monday, Apr. 8, at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. Born in Boston on June 7, 1938 he was the son of the late Anthony F. and Muriel (Kelly) McDonald. David worked for many years as a custodian for the Amherst school system. Upon his retirement in 2004 he moved to Florida before returning to Amherst in 2010 and becoming a resident at the Ann Whalen House. David is survived by his brother Daniel of Easthampton and his friend Eleanor Mielowszyk. Interment will be Tuesday, April 23, at 1:00 p.m. in Wildwood Cemetery, Amherst. Family and friends are all invited to attend. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

GLENN W. ELLIS

SHUTESBURY, Glenn William Ellis, age 64, passed away peacefully after a short illness on April 14, 2013 at home in Shutesbury with his wife by his side. 

Glenn was born in Holyoke, MA, January 7, 1949, son of the late Robert Ellis and the late Barbara (Hay) Hutton. He grew up in South Hadley with his younger sister Peggy Carter and younger brother David Ellis. 

After studying photography at Rochester Institute of Technology, Glenn worked for several years as a commercial and wedding photographer.  He returned to school and studied business management at the University of Massachusetts and worked at several companies before returning to work at UMass in 1999 as a facilities supervisor.

Glenn had a deep love for nature and animals.  He enjoyed fishing, camping, boating, gardening, and caring for furry and winged creatures both wild and domestic.  He used his experiences outdoors as inspiration for his photography, a passion he pursued throughout his life.  He had an extraordinary talent for capturing images in the most beautiful ways, and his spirit will live on in his photos. 

Glenn leaves the three loves of his life – his wife of 42 years, Terresa Ellis, and two daughters, Rachel Ainsley Ellis and Olivia Andriana Ellis – and two beloved dogs, Poppy and Virgil.  He will be missed everyday. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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