BRUCE R. OLDERSHAW

AMHERST, Bruce R. Oldershaw, 81, died on January 16^th after a long illness. Bruce was a retired educator and a retired Lt. Col. in the Westfield Air National Guard. Bruce will be greatly missed by his wife Virginia, son Alan, daughters Brenda and Sharon and 5 grandchildren; Diane, Craig, Austin, Anthony and Evan.

Calling hours will be Monday, Jan. 21, from 4-6 pm at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, January 22, at 11:00 am at Pine Hill Cemetery, Westfield. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

BRUCE R. OLDERSHAW

AMHERST, Bruce R. Oldershaw, 81, died on January 16^th after a long illness. Bruce was a retired educator and a retired Lt. Col. in the Westfield Air National Guard. Bruce will be greatly missed by his wife Virginia, son Alan, daughters Brenda and Sharon and 5 grandchildren; Diane, Craig, Austin, Anthony and Evan.

Calling hours will be Monday, Jan. 21, from 4-6 pm at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, January 22, at 11:00 am at Pine Hill Cemetery, Westfield. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

RUTH WEBER

AMHERST, Ruth (Harris) Weber, 88, of Amherst, passed away peacefully on January 6, 2013. Born on August 29, 1924, in Winchendon, MA, she was the daughter of the late George A. and Edith (Bemis) Harris. Ruth worked as a baker at the Crocker Farm School and was a member of the South Congregational Church. She was predeceased by her husband William Weber. Ruth is survived by her two sons William and Richard, four grandchildren and one great grandchild. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Funeral services will be Friday, January 11^th at 10:00 a.m. at the South Congregational Church with private burial following in Riverside Cemetery, Winchendon. Calling hours will be Thursday, January 10^th, from 5-7 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.

EMILY J. FIELD

LEVERETT, Emily J. (McCullough) Field, 64, a longtime resident of Leverett, passed away on January 8, 2013, at home surrounded by her family.

She was born February 6, 1948 in Northampton, MA, to Samuel I. and Christine (Woodard) McCullough.

Emily spent her childhood in Leverett and attended Leverett and Amherst schools. She graduated from Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School where she played varsity softball. She then went on to pursue an RN from Elliot Community College School of Nursing in Keene, NH in 1969.

In 1968, she married John R. Field and had four children: Kimberley, Amy, Jeffrey and Tracey.

Emily started her career at Cozy Corner Nursing Home in Sunderland, worked at Kaiser Permanente in Amherst from 1987 to 1988, then returned to Cozy Corner where she served over 20 years as the director of nursing, dedicating her life to the care of others.

She led a busy and productive life, spending time with her beloved grandchildren and their many activities. Family gatherings were always very important to her. She enjoyed camping and traveling, gardening, bird watching, kayaking, sewing and reading. She was an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan.

She is survived by her loving husband John, daughter Kimberley and husband Garry Myers of Russell, MA; daughter Amy and husband David Rice; son Jeffrey and wife Jennifer, all of Leverett; and daughter Tracey of South Deerfield. She leaves a sister, Kate Moruzzi and husband John of Leverett, a brother Robert McCullough and wife Phyllis of Kennebunk, ME; seven grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins in the area.

Funeral services will be Saturday, January 12th, at 10:00 a.m. at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst with burial following in East Leverett Cemetery. Calling hours will be Friday from 5-8 pm at the Douglass Funeral Service.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of Franklin County, 329 Conway Street, Greenfield, MA 01301 or Leverett Congregational Church, PO Box 324, Leverett, MA 01054. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

JEFFREY EISMAN

HADLEY, Jeffrey Eisman of Hadley, MA, passed away at his home on January 7, 2013, following a long and courageous battle with Multiple System Atrophy.  He was born in Springfield, Mass., on November 4, 1942, and was a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, and Tufts University Dental School. Jeff and his partner, Richard Stevens, founded Amherst Dental Group in the early 1970s.  Jeff held a special spot in his heart over the years for staff and patients alike, many of whom continued to express their love with cards, letters, and visits far into his retirement. 

 Jeff was an avid fly-fisherman who always loved exploring every bend in the river, whether in western Massachusetts, Alaska, or South America.  He was known to friends and family for his wit and ever-present sense of humor.  His talent for telling stories and jokes delighted everyone who knew him.  Jeff also was a lover of the arts – a regular at the Amherst Cinema and Mass MOCA, a former board member of WFCR, and a patron of musical and theatrical performances.  Jeff loved his Amherst coffee circle – first at the Black Sheep, then at Rao’s – as well as his men’s group and book group, and countless other friends.  Jeff’s wide-ranging curiosity, sharp memory, and interest in politics, culture, and world events never waned; his DVR remains crammed with Charlie Rose and Fareed Zakaria programs. 

He never forgot a tooth in a patient’s mouth, a friend in need, or where his priorities lay.  He leaves behind his wife, Eve, of Hadley; his son, Benjamin, of Washington, D.C.; his brother, Wayne Eisman, and sister-in-law, Susan Eisman, of Scarsdale, NY; and many loving cousins, brothers and sisters in law, nephews, nieces, and friends.  He will be dearly, dearly missed.

The funeral service will be held, today, Wednesday, January 9, 2013, at 11:00 a.m., at the Jewish Community of Amherst, located at 742 Main Street. Burial will follow in the Jewish Community of Amherst Cemetery, Shutesbury.  Calling hours will be immediately after the service on Wednesday, as well as Thursday evening, at the Eisman residence, 10 Hillside Drive, Hadley. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.   

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

Joseph Tarallo

1925 – 2012

Leeds, Joseph Tarallo, age 87, passed away on December 28, 2012. Born in Lawrence, MA on Feb. 14, 1925, he was the son of Gaspare and Josephine {Marino} Tarallo. He lived in Valley Stream, Long Island, N.Y. for many years, maintaining a private plumbing and heating business, until retiring to Amherst in 1991.

He leaves his wife, Mary, of Amherst, MA, three daughters and their husbands, Judy and Brian McNamara of Amherst, Jan and Tony Nappo of Westtown, NY, and JoEllen and Jay Falk of Brattleboro, VT, as well as six grandchildren, Kate and Evan McNamara, Anthony and Nick Nappo and Jessica and Carter Falk.

Joe played the violin and harmonica, loved music of all sorts, and drew great pleasure from studying and discussing U.S. and world history. He was active in Democratic Party activities throughout his lifetime and was a faithful parishioner at Olivet Baptist Church in Valley Stream, Long Island and the First Congregational Church in Amherst.

Burial will be private. A family celebration of life will be held this spring. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution to the Alzheimer’s Association, the First Congregational Church of Amherst, or Overlook at Northampton, where Joe received tender care during his last months of life. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

JOHN H. MADIGAN

 NORTHAMPTON, John H. Madigan, 61, went to be with his parents, Henry and Genevieve (Morse), after suffering from a long illness. He leaves his brother, James of Conway, his sister Mary Lou of Amherst and several nieces and nephews. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 8, at 10:00 a.m. in St. Brigid’s Cemetery, Hadley. Calling hours will be Monday, Jan. 7, from 5 – 7 p.m. at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. Memorial donations may be made to the VNA & Hospice of Cooley Dickinson, 168 Industrial Dr., Northampton, MA 01060. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

SAMUEL H. CARTER, JR.

AMHERST—Samuel H. Carter, Jr., 87, passed away peacefully on December 26, 2012 at the Center for Extended Care with family by his side. Sam and his wife Betty moved to Amherst from New York in 1999 to live near their son Tim and niece Kristen and their families. 

A dapper Southern gentleman, Sam charmed everyone he met with his handsome looks, slow drawl, and beautiful baritone voice. He was born November 7, 1925 near Chattanooga, TN, and was close to his brother Lee and sister Anne. After graduating from the McCallie School, he joined the U.S. Army in 1944 and served in war zones in Europe. Sam was honorably discharged in 1946, and then earned a B.A. in Music from the College of Music in Cincinnati, OH.

Sam moved to New York City, and worked for Columbia Records as a music editor. In 1955, he left for Germany to pursue opportunities in opera. There he met Betty Golden, whom he married several years later. They raised their wonderful sons Bennett and Timothy in Englewood, NJ and Rye, NY.

Sam appeared on television as a founding member of Mitch Miller and his Gang, and toured Japan with the group in 1965. He earned a Master’s degree in Education and taught music in NY schools. He returned to CBS Masterworks as a producer, and won the Grammy award as producer of the Best Classical Album in 1983 for Glenn Gould’s recording of Bach’s The Goldberg Variations. Sam also had a modeling career and enjoyed performing in musical theatre.

The greatest joy of Sam’s life was his 53-year marriage to his beloved Betty Ann, who died just three months ago. Sam is survived by his sons, Bennett and Timothy, of whom he was so proud; Tim’s wife, Jennifer Murray; in-laws Edna and James Murphy and James and Anne Golden; nieces Kristen Golden and wife Barbara Findlen, Joanne (Golden) and husband John Quinn, Edna Murphy and husband David Howarth, Madeleine Murphy and husband Scott Bullerwell; nephews Roy, Rex, and Reed Carter, and Stephen Golden and wife Beth; grandchildren Dylan, Max, and Eliza; 13 grandnieces/nephews; and lifelong friends Chet and Vera Kalm, and Patsy McCarthy. The family would like to thank Mariana Luz, as well as the staff at CECA, for their loving care and devotion to Sam. 

A memorial service will be held on Monday, December 31, at 11:30 a.m. at Grace Church, Amherst. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

Virginia S. Ricci

AMHERST, Virginia S. Ricci, 88, of South Amherst died December 20, 2012, at Linda Manor Extended Care Facility, Leeds.

She was born in Providence Rhode Island to David and Emma (nee Mellor) Simpson and grew up in Edgewood (Cranston), RI.

Virginia graduated from Cranston High School, Class of 1941 and was a member of the Rhode Island Honor Society.

After high school and during WWII, she worked at a bank in Providence.

Virginia married her high school sweetheart, 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin Ricci, USAAC, at Post Chapel, Fort Leavenworth Kansas, on June 23, 1944.

During the 1950’s she and her husband hosted students from numerous European countries who were participating in the Experiment in International Living, Putney VT.

She visited some of these ‘Experimenters’ during her many trips to Europe especially Italy.

It was after her husband’s 1963 Sabbatical to Italy that she began learning Italian becoming an accomplished speaker which she retained throughout her entire life.

She received her bachelor’s degree from UMass/Amherst Class of 1974 and then attended Middlebury College Summer Italian School.

She taught ‘English as a Second Language’ for many years through UMass and had many students from Italy and Japan.

Virginia made an extensive photo study of the Stave Churches of Norway in 1971 and a similar study of the Campanile of Italy in 1978. These photographs were displayed locally.

She was a member of the ‘Thursday Club’ of South Amherst for many years.

She always enjoyed singing and was a member of the Grace Church Choir, Hampshire Choral Society and the Amherst Opera Society. She sang in the chorus at the premier of Randall Thompson’s “Frostiana” at Amherst Regional High School in 1959.

For many years she was a member of the Belchertown State School Friends Associated later known as the Advocacy Network.

She was involved with a landmark lawsuit for the rights of mentally retarded citizens. Virginia was a real and true advocate for the disabled person and his or her family.

Virginia is survived by her three sons: Robert S. Ricci, Amherst MA, James B. Ricci, Haydenville MA, his wife Margaret E. McCarthy, grandson James, partner Sarah Hulton, great-granddaughter Juno, Astana Kazakhstan, grandson Jonathan, wife Sabine Schroeder, Frankfurt Germany, and Thomas D. Ricci, Antelope CA, wife Susan, granddaughters Anne and Emily, grandson David. Her husband Benjamin died in 2006.

Funeral services will be private. A memorial service is planned for the spring.

Memorial donations may be made to The Advocacy Network, PO Box 2071, Amherst, MA 01004 or to VNA Hospice of Cooley Dickinson, 168 Industrial Dr., Northampton, MA 01060. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

THERESA M. ROBERTS

AMHERST, On December 22nd, 2012, Theresa M. Roberts died just shy of her 90th birthday after a short hospitalization. She was a lifelong resident of Amherst, residing in the house that had been home to her grandparents and her parents before her. Theresa was the beloved daughter and only child of Julius and Julia (Joy) Roberts, a loving cousin, and a loyal friend. She was an accomplished quilter, an avid gardener, an adventurous cook, and a tireless knitter who provided hundreds of hats, sweaters, baby sets, and mittens to church fairs and children in need. Theresa worked for many years at Pro Brush in Florence, Massachusetts, before retiring early to care for her ailing mother. She was a lifelong member of St. Brigid’s Catholic Church in Amherst. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Dec. 29^th, at 10:00 a.m. at The Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst with burial following in St. Brigid’s Cemetery, Hadley. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to VNA & Hospice of Cooley Dickinson, 168 Industrial Dr., Northampton, MA 01060. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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