Hal Boudreau of Hatfield – formerly of Belchertown – Professor of Spanish at UMass Amherst, grandfather and opera fanatic, died Thursday, January 24, 2018 of complications from knee surgery.

Hal shared his intelligence, curiosity, and wit with all. His easy charm was evident early — including finding adoptive parents for himself. Hal was informed that he and his youngest sister would need to be adopted. So, in early ’31, when a couple stopped at the small farm in Ashkum, Illinois just to buy eggs, it must have been a great surprise to find three-year-old Hal in the driveway asking, ”Are you here to take me home and be my new Mommy and Daddy?” Harvey and Lucille Boudreau looked at each other for a moment, then answered “Yes, we are.”

Hal went on to be the first from his home town of Piper City, Illinois to go to college. He studied Spanish “because someone told me it was easy” – little knowing that would lead to a distinguished academic career teaching Spanish poetry, language, and literary theory.

After a year of teaching, Hal was drafted into the Korean conflict. He served as a hospital orderly and then returned to teaching in Jackson, Mississippi, where he met his future wife, Mary Scarcliff. The following year he entered graduate school at the University of Wisconsin, earning his masters’ and Ph.D.

Hal accepted an offer to teach at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1957 where he would spend his entire career including service as chairman of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese for many years. Retiring in 1990, he remained active mentally and physically, pursuing his loves of gardening and opera, and studying everything from physics to history to politics.

He is survived by his son Tim, also of Hatfield, daughter-in-law Christy Boudreau, and grandson Jack, 3, with whom he lived and delighted in these last two and a half years.

Never one to want a “fuss” there will be a gathering for Hal at Douglass Funeral Home in downtown Amherst on Wednesday, January 30 at 11AM, followed by a lunch for friends.

Natalie Anne (Boyer) (Palermo) Provost, 89, of Amherst MA, died of natural causes at her home in Amherst on Thursday, January 17, 2019. Her parents, Dale Boyer and Frances (Adams) Boyer died previously. She is survived by her children, Lindsay Palermo (Adams) of Leverett, MA, Marc Palermo of Berlin, CT, Jefri Palermo of Iowa City, IA, Matthew Palermo of Falmouth, MA and Andrew Provost of Natick, MA. Her son, Donald Provost, of Easthampton, MA, died previously.

Natalie was born September 15, 1929 in Watertown, New York. She married Loretto A. Palermo of Erie, PA. A second marriage and divorce to Richard C. Provost of Hull, MA followed.

Her devoted companion and love of her life of 43 years, Ralph Cartoof of South Deerfield, MA, was at her side when she died.

Natalie raised her six children most recently in Scituate, MA and Brookline, MA where she worked at the Brookline Booksmith. She was a successful buyer for the store for many years, specializing in cards and gifts, before her retirement and move to Western Massachusetts. She was a founding member of the Boston Names Project where she provided services to people with AIDS, in the 1980s and 90s. She was instrumental in establishing the AIDS Quilt Project in Boston after the death of her son Don in 1987.

Highlights of her life included trips to Italy with her daughters, and devotion to her five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Natalie will be remembered for her humorous and lively personality and fun-loving spirit. She had a creative eye and a love of antiques and art. She was an avid follower of pop culture and worked hard throughout her life. She will be dearly missed.

No funeral will be held at her request. Natalie’s family would like to thank her lovely caregivers and hospice nurses for their excellent care and warmth during her illness at home.

William J. Matte, Known to all as” Bill” died of complications from a brief illness on January 4, 2019 at the age of 94 in Agawam, Massachusetts. Bill was born in Hartford, Connecticut on January 30, 1924. He was raised as an only child by his working mother Rose Matte. His father succumbed to a premature death when Bill was a small child. Raised in Hartford County, Bill was a Graduate of Cheshire Academy class of 1941 where Bill excelled in Track and Field and Hockey. In the summer after graduation at the age of 17, Bill enlisted into the Unites States Marine Corps. Due to the Attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Bill joined the “Fleet Marine Force” 1st Division assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. Bill served in many campaigns including Guadal Canal, Solomon Islands, Cape Gloucester, Borgen Bay, Talasea and in Peleliu. A decorated War hero, Bill was the recipient of the Purple Heart and the Combat Service Commemorative Medal. Upon his return to the States, Bill through the GI Bill graduated from the University of Hartford with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. As a successful contract engineer, Bill worked at Colt developing the M-16 and at Raytheon in the development of the Patriot Missile. Bill also loved Jazz music and heard legends like Billy Holiday perform in NYC. Bill was an avid reader. He loved to golf and was a talented Skier, serving on the Mt. Tom Ski Patrol in Holyoke, Ma. This past June, Bill was escorted to the WWII Memorial in Washington DC on the “Honor Flight”. Bill was married to Helen Matte and had five children, Keith Matte, Laura “Kim” Matte (Gochee),William Matte Jr, Stephen Matte and Dana (Dan) Matte from the CT area. He later divorced and remarried to Doris H. Matte where they lived for over 35 years in North Amherst, Massachusetts. Bill leaves behind his step children, Catherine Murphy, Steven Hughes and Tracy Gens. Along with 7 Step Grand children Justin, Jeffrey, Rachel, Andreanna, Brendan, Haley and his Godson Christopher. Plus great, great grandchildren. Bill was devote Catholic. The Family would like to extend a special thank you to “Heidi” from the Jewish Family Services and the Staff at the Heritage Hall North Long term care facility in Agawam, Ma. For taking special care of Bill. A Burial and Memorial with full Military Honors will be planned this spring at the WildWood Cemetery in Amherst. The time and date will be announced publically when known. In Lieu of Flowers, please donate to the Jewish Family Services in Springfield, Ma.

Nai Yong Chang died on January 17, 2019 at The Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke. He was born January 7, 1933 in Shanghai, China. His father, Chang Chingkiang, (also known as Zhang Renjie) was a successful businessman and Nationalist party leader. His mother, Yi Ming (Chu) Chang, co-founded the Buddhist Association of the United States. Nai was the youngest of their children.

The Chang family made its way to New York in 1939, settling in the Riverdale section of the Bronx during a time when Chinese immigration to the United States had been sharply restricted. Nai attended the Ethical Culture Fieldston School and, later, Riverdale Country Day School. As a child, he loved drawing animals and showed unusual artistic ability.

He also loved tennis and soccer, and co-captained his high school soccer team. At Trinity College he majored in mathematics, receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in 1955. In the same year, he was naturalized as a United States citizen and enlisted in the Army.

After college, he met Wei-Wen Pu on a boat ride in New York; they married in 1964. After taking evening art classes at Cooper Union, he found work as a designer at Harry N. Abrams, a prominent publisher of art books, and remained at that company from 1965 to 1981 as art director and, eventually, vice president. He was known for his exceptionally beautiful book layouts, dust jackets, calligraphy, and font design. He received industry-wide recognition for his work on MOON (1972), The Art of Walt Disney (1973), Gnomes (1977), and others.

In 1981, he co-founded the Stewart, Tabori, and Chang publishing company. During his time there, STC produced memorable titles like Glorious Food, Grandmother Remembers, Love: a Celebration in Art and Literature, and Galaxies. After his retirement, Nai moved to Massachusetts to be with his daughters. For twenty years he would struggle with Alzheimer’s; nevertheless, he continued to play tennis, draw and paint, and play with his three grandchildren. At every age, he made friends wherever he went because of his sweet, calm disposition.

He is survived by his daughters, Tse-Sheng Elizabeth Chang and Tse-Feng Susan Chang; his grandchildren, Ilya Hong-Jiang Yudkovsky, Noah Chang te Velde, and Zoe Chang te Velde; and two of his sisters, Nai Lee Smith and Nai Shun Chang.

Services will be held at Douglass Funeral Home in Amherst on January 26th. (11 am public visitation, 12 pm service). In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke or the Alzheimer’s Association of America.

Bernard T. (Bing) Aldrich Jr. passed away peacefully January 13, 2019 in Amherst, in the presence of his loving family. Bing was born at the Pelham hospital on August 12, 1927, the eldest child of Bernard T. Aldrich Sr. and Clara Aldrich (Grenier). He leaves Harriett D. Aldrich (Thornton) his wife of 72 years.

Bing grew up in Pelham in a home adjacent to the Montague Fishing Rod Shop, on the banks of Amethyst Brook. Growing up there, near the base of Mount Orient, Bing, his siblings, and his classmates, spent countless hours along the stream, on the mountain, and swimming in the “Shop Pond.” This cemented, at an early age, his lifelong love of the outdoors, and this area in particular. Late in Bing’s life, when he would refer to home, it was always clear to his family he was referring to his home at the Shop.

In 1942, Bing and his family moved to Amherst, where he met the love of his life, Harriett Thornton. In the fall of 1944, he enlisted in the Navy and served aboard LST 543 as a Radioman in the final days of WWII in the Pacific theatre. He was discharged in July of 1946, and married Harriett on September 11, 1946. They built their first home on Pelham Road, not far from where they both grew up. They built their second home right next to their first on Jenks St. in Amherst. Their 3 boys grew up enjoying the same woods that he loved so much.

He went to work as an electrician’s apprentice at Amherst College following his time in the Navy. He went on to become the Electrical Supervisor and worked there for over 40 years until his retirement in 1989. He was very active in the Second Congregational Church in Amherst, teaching Sunday School, and was a Trustee and a Chairman of the religious education services. Bing also worked as the Electrical Inspector for the towns of Pelham and Amherst for many years. He was a volunteer fire fighter, town meeting representative, and served on the Conservation Committee for the town of Amherst.

He was a member of the Pacific Masonic Lodge of Amherst since 1949. He helped organize the Alpine Camping Chapter and served as President of the group at its creation. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping.

Bing was also an Assistant Scout Master for the Amherst Boy Scout Troop 503 and the Pelham Boy Scout Troop 508. Each summer his “vacation” consisted of taking the scouts to Camp Chesterfield and his winter vacation included the Klondike Derby.

Bing and Harriett moved to Hadley in 1985, where they lived near their son Jerry and his family. Following their retirement, Bing and Harriet enjoyed traveling and spending several winters in Florida, making many new friends.

Bing was predeceased by his brother Kenneth Aldrich, Pelham, MA, and leaves behind his brother Richard Aldrich, Ware, MA; sister Maggie Aldrich McCassie, Hadley, MA; sister Linda and husband Peter Mottarella, Lee, MA.

Also surviving are his three sons, James and partner Nina, Hatfield, MA; Jerry and wife Janna, Hadley, MA; Bruce and wife Amy, Ballston Lake, NY, and four grandchildren, Jason and wife Emma, North Amherst, MA; Nathan and his partner Olivia, Easthampton, MA; Hailey and Dillon, Ballston Lake, NY. Bing was an incredible husband, father, grandfather, and brother, and is dearly missed by his family.

Bing’s family would like to thank Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice for all of their help in creating a comfortable and peaceful transition for Bing. Donations can be made in Bing’s memory to Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice at 168 Industrial Drive, Northampton, MA 01060.

Bing was a man who valued the simple things in life, was never attached to material objects, and encouraged others to enjoy life. There will be no calling hours, at Bing’s request. A family memorial service is being planned for the spring at the North Valley Cemetery in Pelham.

Thomas “Tom” Kelley, 68, a longtime resident of Hadley, died peacefully in his sleep at his home on January 9th, 2019. A gentle and kind soul, Tom was predeceased by his parents, Lawrence T. and Mary Kelley of Amherst; beloved “Citizen Journalist” and brother, Larry, from Amherst, who died in a well-publicized car crash in Belchertown in February of 2017. He was also predeceased by his nephew, Andy Garcia, of Ashburn, VA. Mr. Kelley is survived by his sister, Margaret Garcia and her husband Pedro, Ashburn, VA; his nephew Peter, a brother, Marty his wife Charlene, Endicott, NY; former sister-in-law, Donna Kelley; and Tom’s beloved nieces, Kira and Jada, of Belchertown; and a very special friend, Paul Britt of Amherst. Mr. Kelley attended the former St. Michael’s High School in Northampton and graduated from Amherst Regional High School. For many years Tom worked in Building & Grounds at Hampshire College and was eventually promoted to Campus Security. Tom’s career at Hampshire was short-circuited by a foot injury that caused his eventual retirement. Even though he was disabled, Tom would often visit the campus and strike up humorous conversations with students that adored Tom for his candor and humor. Tom was also very giving of his time to his community as he volunteered countless hours at the Amherst Boys Club and for his brother Larry and business partner, Kirik Jenness, at the Amherst Athletic Club. In his later years, Tom developed a talent for making jewelry. And he could be found at flea markets in the area selling his wares. He particularly enjoyed renting a booth at the Campus Center at the University of Massachusetts where he liked “to work over the students with his pricing strategies.” Tom was a die-hard New England Patriots fan and enjoyed attending games in Foxboro. He cultivated two new Patriot fans for life; his loving nieces Kira and Jada. Tom outfitted Jada with her own “Gronk” shirt that she would wear on Sundays for “game day”. Tom loved those girls with all his heart.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, January 17th, at 10 a.m. at St. Brigid’s Church, Amherst, with burial following in St. Brigid’s Cemetery, Hadley. Calling hours will be Wednesday, January 16th, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Douglass Funeral Home, Amherst.

Louis A. Carpino passed away at home in Amherst on Friday, January 4, 2019, surrounded by family. He was a Professor Emeritus of Organic Chemistry at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Louis was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on December 13, 1927. A loving husband, father and grandfather, he is survived by his wife, six children, eight grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, two sisters and a brother.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. The family wishes to thank Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the University of Massachusetts Amherst (c/o Records and Gifts Processing, Memorial Hall, 134 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003) to establish a Louis A. Carpino Memorial Fund in the Department of Chemistry (please mention this purpose on any donation).

Madeleine Leblanc Lenz, 90, passed away peacefully this morning in her own home with family and under the care of the Hospice of the Fisher Home and Applewood staff.
Madeleine “Madge” LeBlanc, daughter of Estelle & Jean, was born in Chicopee, February 2, 1928. She was raised in Chicopee & attended the College of Our Lady of the Elms. Madge married Robert “Bob” Lenz in 1953. They moved to Amherst in 1966 when Bob became a faculty member of UMass as a founding member of the Polymer Science & Engineering Program.
Madge was a devoted wife and mother who also volunteered at the Reception Desk of Cooley Dickinson Hospital for over 40 years. She was an avid golfer & bridge player, loved jigsaw puzzles, tennis, skiing, vacationing at Cape Cod & world travel shared with Bob and family. She was very active in the Applewood community. Madge will be remembered for her welcoming embrace, genuine friendliness & acceptance.
Madge was predeceased by her husband of 57 years, Bob, who died in 2010. She is survived by her sisters Janie Brochu of South Hadley Falls and Terry & brother-in-law Ray Couture of Belchertown; son Douglas Lenz, his wife Karin Krasevac-Lenz (NY); daughters Kathy Cunningham, her husband Doyle (KY), Cindy Goodman, her husband Peter (MO), and Suzanne Lenz, her husband Jack Torres (NH); seven grandchildren, two great grandchildren & many nieces & nephews.
Calling hours will be Thursday January 10, from 4:00 – 6:00 pm at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday January 11, at the Newman Center at UMass Amherst, burial will be private. Memorial gifts in honor of Madge can be made to either the Robert W Lenz Scholarship at UMass or the Hospice of the Fisher Home of Amherst, MA.

Patricia A. Jones, 78, of Pelham, passed away on Sunday, January 6, 2019.

Patricia was born June 3, 1940, in Northampton, to parents John and Ethel Daley. The eldest of 11 siblings, she was raised in Northampton, where she attended Saint Michael’s High School.

A longtime resident of Pelham, Patricia loved spending time with her family, watching birds and wildlife, solving crossword puzzles, reading mystery novels, and keeping up with current events.

Patricia will be lovingly remembered by her family, including her daughters Kathleen Ake, Donna Cook, Susan Alishouse, and Laura Jones; her son Bob Jones; and her seven grandchildren and one great-grandson.

There will be no calling hours and burial will be private.

Lyndell Day Nuttelman, passed away on January 3, 2019 at the Center for Extended Care in Amherst. Lyn was born on July 4, 1918 to Fred M. and Lelia {Cobb} Day in North Hadley, in the farmhouse she lived in her entire life. She was predeceased by her husband Ernest F. Nuttelman.

Lyn was a graduate of Hopkins Academy and the former McCarthy Business College of Northampton.

She leaves behind her son James E. Nuttelman of Marstons Mills, MA and her Grandson Jeremy J. Nuttelman of North Hadley.

From 1936 -1946 she worked at the former Music House in Northampton, where she waited on Leonard Bernstein while he was a student there, she also took dictation from composer Aaron Copeland.

She loved the town of Hadley, antiques, the river, braided rugs, the Red Sox and especially the Cape.

Remembering a friend to all, and a very gracious lady.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

All services will be private.