Donald Lee Gibavic, born August 18, 1950 in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, died April 8 after suffering a severe and rare thalamic stroke two months prior. He spent nearly all of his life in Leverett, Massachusetts, where he married, built a house, and raised two daughters.

Donald graduated from Amherst Regional High School in 1968, enrolling afterwards in the civil engineering program at UMass Amherst. He graduated in 1972, promptly taking a job at Habitat Post & Beam in South Deerfield where he would work until his retirement in 2016. Donald designed post and beam homes and structures that were constructed all over the country, including his own homes in Leverett and East Burke, Vermont.

Donald was a loyal sports fan and athlete. He played adult softball for many years, skied all over New England and out west, and golfed every Sunday for many years. He held season tickets to UMass basketball, watched the Patriots every Sunday, and avidly followed the Red Sox. Once his daughters were born, his focus turned to coaching. He could be found on the bench or sideline for nearly every team they joined, and eagerly constructed a softball diamond and backstop in his yard. He traveled with his daughter Abigail’s softball team when they participated in the National Championships in Raleigh, North Carolina, and ventured to Florida when his daughter Aubrey’s Emerson College softball team played spring training games in Orlando and Ft. Myers. Donald continued for many more years to give his time assisting softball teams in Amherst.

Donald loved to travel, spending time every summer in Provincetown, Cape Cod, and weekends at the Gibavic family home in East Burke, Vermont. He was an avid reader, known to finish a book a day while on vacation. He was a lifelong animal lover, most recently giving his love and attention to Biscuit, his Australian cattle dog who was always by his side.

Donald is survived by his wife of 38 years, Nancy, of Leverett; daughter Aubrey (Everett) and husband Will, of Quincy; daughter Abigail, of Brooklyn, NY; brother Paul and wife Denise, of Montague; sister Anne and husband Billy (Witherspoon), of Sutton, VT; sister Eva and wife Cheryl (Howland), of Leverett; and four nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents George and Annette, of Leverett. He was expecting his first grandchild, a son, due next week.

Calling hours will be held at Douglass Funeral Home in Amherst on Monday April 15th, from 3-6 p.m. A memorial service will take place on Saturday, May 18 at 11 a.m. at the Leverett Congregational Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Stroke Association or the Amherst Regional High School girls’ softball program.

Amherst, MA Leslie Huntington Brown, age 91, died April 5, 2019 from complications of peripheral artery disease. Born in Boston, MA, he was the son of Huntington Brown, a professor of English, and the former Elizabeth Waldo Wentworth. He spent his early years in Cambridge and later Minneapolis after his father accepted a position at the University of Minnesota. He was a graduate of the Blake School, Hopkins MN, and Harvard University with an A.B.cum laude in English literature. During the Korean War, Les served in the Air Force as a translator, intercepting conversations of Russian pilots flying into German airspace. A brief stint as a copy boy for The Washington Post was followed by a 28-year-career in the U.S. Department of State with a specialty in science, technology and national security. For his work as Deputy Director of the Department of Political-Military Affairs during the 1982 Beirut, Lebanon crisis, Les received a Presidential Award for serving as chief architect of the strategy to halt fighting in Beirut, evacuate personnel and relocate the PLO. After he retired from the State Department in 1983, Les joined Harvard’s Center for International Affairs (now the Weatherhead Center) for ten years as Director of the Fellows Program, a year-long sabbatical for senior diplomats and military that, as Les liked to say, helped transform the stiff and formal bureaucrats of the world into born-again students.
In his later years, Les took up long distance cycling and cross country skiing that brought him much pleasure, as playing ice hockey on Lake of the Isles had done in his youth. He added a pot of strong afternoon tea to his daily routine, as his mother had done, joined by the cat sprawled on his chest, and always with a stack of books nearby at his chair.
Les is survived by his wife Mary Elizabeth Manz, brother Randolph, sister Elizabeth Stommel, son Andrew (Robyn) from his first marriage and three grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brothers Christopher and Jonathan and sister Martha McGandy.
A memorial service will be held at the Grace Episcopal Church, Amherst on Friday April 26, 11:30 am with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Les’ memory to the Kestrel Land Trust, P.O. Box 1016, Amherst, MA 01004 or the Amherst Senior Center, 7 Boltwood Walk, Amherst, MA 01002.

On Monday, April 1, 2019 Joyce Jacque West, loving wife, mother and grandmother passed away at the age of 71.

Joyce was born August 8, 1947 to Robert and Lillian (Monchamp) Jacque of Amherst MA. She graduated from Amherst Regional High School in 1965. On June 10, 1967 she married Arthur C. West. Together they ran Hartsbrook Farm and raised four children.

Joyce was a lifelong dairy farmer. She also worked in the banking industry before becoming a dental assistant, but her greatest achievement was raising her family. Joyce always found time for her community, serving for many years on the Hadley School Committee and the town Finance Committee. She also found time to volunteer for The Three County Fair and served for 45 years as a 4-H Leader. She retired in 2016 from River Valley Dental, previously Dr. Smola’s Dental Office, after working there for more than 20 years.

Joyce will be remembered as a caring person who loved her family and friends unconditionally. Those left to cherish her memory include her husband Arthur, and children: Catherine of Northampton, MA; Brian and his wife Michele of Hadley, MA; Keith and his wife Jessica of Hadley, MA; Tyler and his wife Elise Diemand of Ware MA; along with six grandchildren: Ethan, Audrey, Cody, Alex, Harry and Lillian. She is also survived by her three brothers Alan, Thomas, and James Jacque, and a sister, Mary Conte; many nieces, nephews and loved ones. Joyce was predeceased by her parents and sister Georgianne Conte. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2019 at 10 am, Most Holy Redeemer Church 120 Russell St., Hadley, MA.

A private interment will be at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or Baystate Hospice. 

Steven M Volpe, 69, passed away March 24, 2019. Born in Newton, MA on January 5, 1950 to Genevieve and Michael Volpe, he settled in Western Massachusetts living in Florence and Amherst most of his adult life. Steve graduated high school in Newton and served his country in Vietnam before earning a business degree with Cum Laude honors at The University of Massachusetts. He went on to establish The Vac Store in Amherst and then Hadley, where his hard work and unwavering optimism combined with natural charisma to grow a long-lasting and successful business. Steve was a good and kind man, who was always willing to calmly listen and offer advice in the most comforting way, and at once whose laughter would fill the room when he was excited. He was passionate about his hobbies, which over the years have included collecting and restoring old boats, fishing, gemology, coin collecting, and recreational piloting. He always felt happy boating on the Connecticut River, or flying over it. Steve is survived by his wife, Katherine Andrews, two sons, Anthony and Darren, their mother Darlene, and daughter-in-law Amanda. A private memorial service will be held at a later time. 

AMHERST – Dorothy Wiesner Hertzfeld, born Dorothy Mae Jones on August 29, 1929, died on March 24, 2019. While enjoying the spring day in Amherst with a dear friend, she passed from this life following a major stroke. She was predeceased by her husband of 28 years, Kurt M. Hertzfeld.

Dorothy was a proud member and past President of two historic Amherst clubs, Amherst Woman’s Club and Traveler’s Club, and an active member of Grace Episcopal Church where a memorial service is in planning. Amherst was Dorothy’s beloved home since 1983, when she was initially hired as assistant to the Amherst College Secretary of the Board of Trustees.

Dorothy began her work life in the offices of a Memphis law firm, after she graduated from the L.C. Humes High made famous by Elvis Presley, whom her family knew. Then on to Memphis’ “Cotton Row,” working for an association of cotton buyers and sellers. In her 1951 Ford Victoria, she relocated to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. In 1955, Dorothy moved to New York City for new career challenges, landing at NBC headquarters, 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Her first assignment was handling the office of Arturo Toscanini, who had recently been Conductor of the NBC Symphony. Later she supported live broadcasts of “Wide Wide World” hosted by Dave Garroway. She became Secretary to NBC’s Director of Public Affairs programming, and ultimately Assistant to NBC President Robert E. Kintner. She fondly recalled meeting many television personalities in those years, such as Milton Berle, Bob Hope, Sid Caesar, and Perry Como.

Dorothy married photographer and artist George Wiesner in 1958. They built a designer home in Slingerlands, New York, in 1967, while she earned a Bachelors degree and Teaching Certificate. George Wiesner died unexpectedly at age 55 in 1981. After relocating to Amherst, Dorothy married Kurt Hertzfeld on September 12, 1987, beginning the happiest years of her life. They traveled extensively and shared the wonders of life with their treasured family and friends. Dorothy served the College in different capacities, working first for John Callahan, later as assistant to the Secretary of the Board of Trustees under Gerry Mager, and finally as Secretary of the Board during her final year on staff.

Dorothy expressed her thanks to God and to the “flock of Angels” that followed her through her wonderful life. Dorothy is survived by two daughters, Nicole Wiesner Mobley (Robert) of Norwalk, CT, and Hillary Wiesner of New York City. Also surviving is her brother John Paul Jones, Jr., of Sarasota, FL, and his family. Her parents, John Paul Jones, Sr., and Maymie Weaks Jones, her sister Frances Oliver, among other family formerly resident of Memphis, TN, predecease her. Dorothy was welcomed by the families of her husband Kurt, including Pat Hertzfeld, widow of Kurt M. Hertzfeld, Jr., Anne and Hank Drapalski, Susan and Norman Rice, and Elizabeth Hertzfeld, their children and grandchildren.

AMHERST – Dorothy Wiesner Hertzfeld, born Dorothy Mae Jones on August 29, 1929, died on March 24, 2019. While enjoying the spring day in Amherst with a dear friend, she passed from this life following a major stroke. She was predeceased by her husband of 28 years, Kurt M. Hertzfeld.

Dorothy was a proud member and past President of two historic Amherst clubs, Amherst Woman’s Club and Traveler’s Club, and an active member of Grace Episcopal Church where a memorial service is in planning. Amherst was Dorothy’s beloved home since 1983, when she was initially hired as assistant to the Amherst College Secretary of the Board of Trustees.

Dorothy began her work life in the offices of a Memphis law firm, after she graduated from the L.C. Humes High made famous by Elvis Presley, whom her family knew. Then on to Memphis’ “Cotton Row,” working for an association of cotton buyers and sellers. In her 1951 Ford Victoria, she relocated to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. In 1955, Dorothy moved to New York City for new career challenges, landing at NBC headquarters, 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Her first assignment was handling the office of Arturo Toscanini, who had recently been Conductor of the NBC Symphony. Later she supported live broadcasts of “Wide Wide World” hosted by Dave Garroway. She became Secretary to NBC’s Director of Public Affairs programming, and ultimately Assistant to NBC President Robert E. Kintner. She fondly recalled meeting many television personalities in those years, such as Milton Berle, Bob Hope, Sid Caesar, and Perry Como.

Dorothy married photographer and artist George Wiesner in 1958. They built a designer home in Slingerlands, New York, in 1967, while she earned a Bachelors degree and Teaching Certificate. George Wiesner died unexpectedly at age 55 in 1981. After relocating to Amherst, Dorothy married Kurt Hertzfeld on September 12, 1987, beginning the happiest years of her life. They traveled extensively and shared the wonders of life with their treasured family and friends. Dorothy served the College in different capacities, working first for John Callahan, later as assistant to the Secretary of the Board of Trustees under Gerry Mager, and finally as Secretary of the Board during her final year on staff.

Dorothy expressed her thanks to God and to the “flock of Angels” that followed her through her wonderful life. Dorothy is survived by two daughters, Nicole Wiesner Mobley (Robert) of Norwalk, CT, and Hillary Wiesner of New York City. Also surviving is her brother John Paul Jones, Jr., of Sarasota, FL, and his family. Her parents, John Paul Jones, Sr., and Maymie Weaks Jones, her sister Frances Oliver, among other family formerly resident of Memphis, TN, predecease her. Dorothy was welcomed by the families of her husband Kurt, including Pat Hertzfeld, widow of Kurt M. Hertzfeld, Jr., Anne and Hank Drapalski, Susan and Norman Rice, and Elizabeth Hertzfeld, their children and grandchildren.

On March 27th, Raymond S. Elliott Sr. passed away peacefully at the Elaine Center in Hadley, MA. Ray was born February 18, 1924 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Ray was raised in an active family that understood a commitment to family and community. His father, William Elliott, was a soldier in the 92nd division in World War I, and also founded the Isaac Wilson Taylor Post–the first black Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Cambridge. His mother was the first president of the Isaac Wilson Taylor Post’s Ladies Auxiliary.

Ray would carry on his family tradition, but first he would live a life that would grant him the experiences that would fuel is own activism. While attending Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, Ray would volunteer for the Army in 1942. He reported to Fort Deens in Massachusetts followed by Kessler Airfield in Biloxi, Mississippi. Ray had aspirations of becoming a pilot, but was “washed out”, which Ray believes was because of discrimination. For the next 3 and half years, Ray remained in the service by creating survey maps during WWII in preparation for the bulging of landing strips in the Pacific Islands.

Like many other WWII veterans, Ray took full advantage of the GI Bill after the war and attended McGill University and majored in chemistry, only after being denied to Harvard due to their 1% quota of Black Americans. Ray would have a successful career as a chemist, most notably his work on the apollo mission, where he designed chemical resin honeycombs for heat shields on the Apollo spacecraft.

The discrimination Ray experienced as a Black man throughout his upbringing, his experiences of discrimination in the army and in university, combined with the activism of his parents, can be seen to have held a deep impact on him and are what fueled his activism that began in the 1950s. Ray began his work in the NAACP in the 1950s, and would later serve as President for the Western Massachusetts chapter. Over years, Ray continued to work for racial justice. From 1990-2012, he was chairman for Amherst Baha’i Race Unity committee. From 1993-99, he served as Civil Rights Commissioner for Amherst, Massachusetts. In 1993, he received the Martin Luther King Citizens award. From 2012-2016 he served as president for the NAACP Western Massachusetts chapter.

Ray was a member of the Baha’i Faith, and this faith would inspire him to speak about the oneness of mankind, and his work with “Citizens of Race Amity Now!”, an organization he founded and was president for that worked on bridging the racial divide within communities and embracing race unity. He remained president and an active member until his death.

Those who remember Ray will remember his tireless work to promote Race Amity, and his relentless service to the Baha’i Faith. In 2018, for his work in the community, Raymond Elliott received the Medal of Honor.

Ray will live on through his wife, Mary Elliott, and his two children, Martha Elliott and Raymond Elliott, Jr. He has 6 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will take place on Monday, April 1, 2019 at 12pm at Wildwood Cemetery in Amherst. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to the National Center for Race Amity, 100 Powder Mill Road, Suite 245, Acton, MA 01720.

Charles Verne Parham Jr. was born in Atlanta, GA on June 30, 1945 to Charles Verne Parham and Jane Adair Parham. He had 2 siblings, Lamar and Mary Jane.

Charlie graduated Westminster schools in Atlanta in 1963. Several summers were spent at Camp Keewadin in Ontario, spending weeks portaging canoes through the northern Ontario wilderness. He would often tell of how he and his fellow campers used to hop on a swimming moose, and ride them across the lake! One summer, he worked at Disneyland, and kept the title of “Ride Operator in Fantasy Land” on his resume for life.

After the Atlanta Temple Bombing in 1958, Charlie developed a lifelong passion in support of civil rights, and met with Martin Luther King over dinner through his connections with the community.

Charlie attended Williams College in 1963, majoring in English literature, graduating with Honors in 1967. He was awarded a Rockefeller Brothers Theological Fellowship, attended Harvard Divinity School for one year, and later entered a graduate Education program at UMass. He spent his life working in Education: a summer teaching English in Hong Kong, 3 years working with rural teachers in the Peace Corps in the Philippines, and in the S. Hadley “Quest” program for gifted students.
Charlie met the love of his life in 1984 when he came to teach a word processing workshop at a school where Roxy was the English teacher. They married in 1986, and had two sons, Michael and Taylor. He taught his family how to appreciate learning, nature, and community. Charlie had an innate trust in people, and extended himself in ways that brought people together. He was an endless well of wisdom, curiosity, stories, and jokes.
In 1989, Charlie joined the Smith College Campus School as Curriculum Coordinator, where he worked to inspire both students and teachers. For the next 20 years he was involved in all aspects of the school, from assemblies to crossing guard.

Charlie played tennis on several local USTA teams, and was a member at the Amherst Golf Club, where he won several championships. He had an avid love for learning, literature, gardening, travel, cooking food, and wine. His retired years were spent auditing courses at the local colleges, and participating in the “Five College Learning in Retirement” program. He also was an active member of the Amherst Garden Club, planning their monthly outings and speakers. Charlie and Roxy were members of a book club that started in 1984, and after more than 250 books, Charlie could always recall names and plots from any of them.
Charlie passed away after a short illness on March 27. Donations in his memory will be used to purchase materials to build and donate toys to local pre-schools. Donations can be made to “Charlie’s Toys”- a division of “The Bogin Playscape Project”- c/o The Collaborative (97 Hawley St, Northampton MA 01060).

There will be a “Celebration of his Life” on June 30, 4:30 PM, at the Red Barn at Hampshire College.

Richard W. Sears passed away peacefully on March 27, 2019. He was born in Pittsfield February 3, 1930, the son of Fred and Eveline (Litchfield) Sears, grew up in Worthington, Northampton, and Amherst, and was a graduate of Amherst High School. After serving his country in the US Army Signal Corps in Germany he studied electrical engineering at the University of Massachusetts, class of 1958, and was a longtime employee of Northeast Utilities in various capacities until his retirement in 1992.

Having been an avid fisherman in his youth he always found time for outdoor activities and was proud of his carefully tended yard and garden, remaining busy and vigorous until declining health obliged him to move to the Elaine Center in Hadley, where he resided for the last few months of his life. His wife Jean (Stewart) Sears predeceased him in 1979. Richard is survived by his son David Sears of Amherst, with whom he lived for many years, as well as sisters Jane Vondell of Andover and Nancy Fellers of Brewster, along with several nieces and nephews, plus the many friends and neighbors who routinely joined him for morning coffee at Atkins or in the stands at UMass basketball and football games.

There will be no calling hours. A memorial service will be scheduled at the convenience of the family. Douglass Funeral Home in Amherst is in charge of arrangements.

Edward Scudder Belt passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, March 23, 2019 after a brief battle with lung cancer. Ed was born August 4, 1933, to Emma Willard Keyes Belt and Charles Banks Belt of Glen Cove and Southampton, Long Island, New York.
Ed attended Friends Academy, NY and The Portsmouth Priory School, RI. He received an undergraduate degree from Williams College in 1955. In 1957 he received his MS in Paleontology from Harvard, completing his PhD in Geology at Yale in 1963. Ed’s outlook on life was one of determination, hard work, camaraderie, friendship and hope.
Ed started his career as Assistant Professor of Geology at Villanova University, PA. In 1966, Ed came to Amherst College where he taught Sedimentology, Invertebrate Paleontology and Geomorphology. From 1999 until his retirement in 2002, Ed was the S.A. Hitchcock Professor of Mineralogy and Geology. Ed was known to say, “I am teaching what I want to teach, where I want to teach it.” Ed’s dedication to education reached many students who benefitted from his fatherly and professional guidance through their time at Amherst College and beyond, starting life-long family friendships.
From 1987-2002, Ed was Director of the Pratt Museum of Natural History at Amherst College. Here he was able to combine his passion for teaching, archiving, and story-telling. This allowed him to mentor students in museum ‘field work.’ In his retirement, Ed assisted in the museum’s move into the new Beneski Geology Museum. Ed was a prolific researcher in the field of Geology and his work was published in a variety of scientific journals.
One of Ed’s personal interests was building ship models. This culminated in a replica of “The Fair American” Schooner. His attention to detail and accuracy led him to solving a structural mystery, and his article was published in “Ship Modeling” magazine.
At the age of 60, Ed pursued tennis lessons with Art Carrington of Bay Road Tennis Club. He became an enthusiastic player and it became the family sport. He played regularly until last September.
In 2013, Ed recorded a collection of songs with local international folk musician, Annie Patterson. These were songs he sang on family trips. His daughters and some grandchildren accompany him on the CD.
Ed’s love of history evolved from Geology to his family ancestry. He produced a number of films and books, one of which he was working on the morning of his last day with collaborator and film-maker, Rawn Fulton, of Searchlight Films.
Ed was a devoted son, brother, uncle, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. His commitment to his family was unconditional. Ed was known to say, “The best decision I ever made was marrying your mother!” Emily was Ed’s partner, his rudder, his rock, and his salve. She brought him laughter, conversation and diversity. Together they raised four daughters: Emily, Anne, Aggie, and Kilty. As a family they camped, hiked, explored and formed bonds that have carried them through life.
One of the cornerstones of Ed’s life was his deep spiritual faith in God and the Roman Catholic Church. From Portsmouth Priory School to renewing his vows with Emily for their 50th wedding anniversary, he always relied on his faith to inspire and guide his life.
Ed is pre-deceased by his parents, Charles Banks Belt and Emma Willard (Keyes) Belt of New York; and his older brother Charles Banks Belt, Jr., of St. Louis, MO. He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Emily Hillen (Macsherry) Belt; his daughters Emily Hillen Belt of San Diego, CA; Anne Banks Belt Ye (Jiuming Ye) of Amherst, MA; Aggie Keyes Belt (Stanley Poreda) of Southborough, MA; and Catherine Kilty Belt-Vahle (Peter Vahle) of San Francisco, CA. Six grandchildren: Nashua and Machias Poreda, Kieran and Jasmina Vahle, and Devan and Derek Ye; his brother, John Hewlett Keyes Belt (Mary Jane) of Glen Cove, NY; sister-in-law, Louise McKeon Belt of Wildwood, MO; cousin Zoë Van Wyck de Ropp; and many nieces and nephews.
Calling hours are today, Thursday March 28, from 4-7pm at the Belt Family home, 116 Alpine Drive, Amherst. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held, Friday, at 10 am at Saint Brigid’s Roman Catholic Church, Amherst, MA, followed by a reception at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel, Hadley, MA.