Amherst, Geraldine (Gerri) ”Dian” Schackert, 70, passed away on June 21, 2018 with her family at her side in her home in Amherst, MA. Gerri was born in Philadelphia, PA on March 6, 1948. She was the daughter of the late Norman and Lillian Heffelfinger. 

Gerri lived in many different places throughout much of her life before settling down in Amherst, MA for the last 16 years. She made friends easily with all different types of people, loved to laugh and joke with family and friends, always quick with a wisecrack, and would help anyone she met if she could. She loved tending to her gardens as long as she could, her two cats (and many other beloved pets throughout the years), baseball, the Boston Red Sox, and feeding others a meal whenever she had the chance. 

Gerri is survived by her loving companion of nearly 25 years, John Woynar.  They chose to build and live their life together and she will be deeply missed by him. Gerri is survived by three of her children, Lori, Robert (and his wife Kim), and Pete McKamey (and his wife, Kati). She was predeceased by her daughter, Kimberly McKamey. 

Gerri also raised her three grandchildren as her own children, Jesse McKamey (and his partner Cassie), Randy Valdez (and his wife Lauryn) and Jacquelyn Valdez. She is also survived by her six other grandchildren, Tykia (and her husband Levin), Trevon, Taliyah, Robby, Kayla, Gavin and Luke. She also had six great grandchildren – Amir, Koby, Mason, Brielle, Savannah, and Sevin. Gerri was proud of and loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by all of her family. Gerri’s many friends will also miss and never forget her. 

Leverett, Jerzy “George” Kokurewicz, 91, passed away peacefully on June 22, where he was lovingly cared for at home by his daughter and son-in-law, Annette and Dean Cycon, and his beloved granddaughters, Sarah and Aliya Cycon.

George was born in Lvov, Poland on October 12, 1926. He lived through both the Russian invasion, and Nazi occupation of Poland in World War II. After the war he resettled in London, England, with many other Polish refugees. There he met the love of his life, Wanda, married in 1951 and had a son, Jerzy Kokurewicz.

The family immigrated to the U.S. in 1953, but because of the ongoing Korean War, moved to Canada, where they lived for the next 5 years. In 1958, the family returned to the U.S. with their new daughter, Annette, and settled in Connecticut.

George worked as an engineer, taught mathematics and engineering, while completing his college education at night. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Central Connecticut State College then went on to complete a Master’s in Education from Wesleyan University, in Middletown, CT. At the same time, George and Wanda were prolific and successful artists, exhibiting their paintings and sculptures in CT and New York City, including a show with Salvadore Dali.

George became an American citizen in 1972. He was an art teacher at Haddam-Killingworth High School, for 15 years, where his passion for teaching inspired many young people. George and Wanda built a pottery business, Garnki Pottery, which thrived for more than 40 years, and put both of their children through college. George also inspired his family to love the wild outdoors, especially camping, kayaking and hiking in remote places in Canada and the U.S.

After retiring, they moved to New Salem, MA where they spent the next happy decade next door to their daughter, son-in-law and granddaughters, and close to their son, Jerzy. After the death of his wife in 2014, George moved in with his daughter and son-in-law where he lived happily embraced by community and family, sunshine, birds and the occasional black bear. George was an artist, a teacher, a free spirit, a seeker and an intellect but more importantly a warm, loving, inclusive and welcoming man. Even if he forgot your name or how he knew you, he would greet you like a best friend and offer you a Kit Kat.

George is survived by his son, Jerzy Kokurewicz of Haiku, Maui, his daughter, Annette Cycon, son-in-law, Dean Cycon of Leverett, MA and his two young adult granddaughters, Sarah and Aliya.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Tuesday June 26^th at The Newman Catholic Center at the University of Massachusetts, 472 N Pleasant St Amherst, MA at 10:30 a.m., followed by burial at Wildwood Cemetery, Amherst and a celebration of his life at the home of Dean, Annette, Sarah and Aliya, 9 Cemetery Rd Leverett. As was his style, everyone is welcome.

Special thanks to Hospice of Cooley Dickenson for supporting us in caring for Papa.

Amherst, William (Bill) James Mellen, 94, of Amherst, died peacefully on June 15, 2018, at Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst, with his family by his side.  Born in Brattleboro, Vermont, on September 10, 1923, he was the son of the late William C. and Katherine (Denning) Mellen.  He attended public schools in Brattleboro, graduated as valedictorian in 1941, then entered Massachusetts State College, now the University of Massachusetts, in September 1942.  After one semester, he left college and enlisted in the U.S. Army.  While on furlough in August 1943, before going overseas, he married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Jacqueline Wyman, in Guilford, Vermont.  Three days later, he started his three years’ service as an Army Air Corps ground-station radio operator and station chief, most of which took place in Bengal Province of India (now Bangladesh). 

Honorably discharged with the rank of staff sergeant, Bill returned to Massachusetts State College from 1946 to 1949 where he joined Air Force ROTC.  He subsequently served in the USAF Reserve, retiring with the rank of captain in 1960.  After graduating from college magna cum laude in the spring of 1949, Bill entered graduate school at Cornell University where he earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Physiology.  After serving five years on the faculty of the University of Delaware, he returned to UMass where, for the next 30 years, he conducted research and taught in the field of poultry physiology, mentoring many students along the way.  He also served as associate and acting dean of the College of Food and Natural Resources, acting dean of the School of Home Economics, and special assistant to the provost, retiring in 1988 as professor emeritus.   

From 1960 to 1961, Bill and Jackie and their three daughters lived in Sapporo, Japan, where Bill was an exchange professor at Hokkaido University.  For 25 years hence, he participated in exchange activities between the agricultural faculties of UMass and Hokkaido University.  He also served as co-director with Jackie for groups of UMass undergraduate students attending summer sessions at Hokkaido.  In 1989, Hokkaido University awarded him an honorary doctorate.  For more than 30 years, Bill was an active member of the Amherst Philosophical Society.  He also served as chair of the boards of the Amherst Housing Authority and Hampshire County United Way.  In all settings, Bill was known for his clear and reasonable approach to resolving issues, sense of fairness, and good humor.

Bill and his family enjoyed camping, traveling, alpine skiing, and the performing arts.  He played the violin in the Pioneer Valley Orchestra.  He had a terrific singing voice and onstage comedic talent and performed in operettas while at Massachusetts State College.  He sang in the Leverett Community Chorus at age 90.  Bill was the proud father and grandfather to a family of actors, dancers, musicians, and athletes and attended many plays, concerts, and recitals, as well as volleyball and baseball games.  He would spontaneously break into song or whistle a happy tune. 

One of Bill’s greatest pleasures in his later years was a trip with his family, in 2014, to Washington, D.C., to see the World War II Memorial. Wearing his veteran’s “China, Burma, India” cap, he was hailed and thanked by many passersby along the Mall. At first nonplussed by the overwhelming attention, Bill eventually relaxed into his apparent celebrity and warmly engaged with those who asked for photos and handshakes and had questions about his WWII experiences.

Bill was a kind, gentle man with a ready wit and lighthearted sense of humor who loved his family above all and lived his life with honesty and integrity. He is survived by his daughters: Donna L. Mellen, of Leverett, and her life partner, Donald K. Carew; Kathleen A. Mellen, of Northampton, and her husband, Dr. David E. Katz; and Carol M. Rogers, of Hadley, and her husband, James S. Rogers.  Also, five grandchildren: Gretchen E. Garnett, of Amsterdam, Netherlands, and her husband, Erik C. Garnett; Leah R. Katz, of Berlin, Germany, and her husband, Noah D. Telson; Hannah A. Katz, of Burlington, Vermont, and her husband, Ainsley W. Foley; Jennifer A. Rogers, of Charlemont, and Brett W. Rogers, of Sunderland.  He also is survived by his great-grandson, Linus Q. Garnett, and great-granddaughter, Zelda B. Garnett, members of the extended Carew family, two nieces and two nephews, and a number of cousins.  He was predeceased by his wife, Jackie, in 2013, and his sister, Carol, in 1972.  The family would like to thank the staffs at The Arbors at Amherst and Hospice of the Fisher Home for their loving care of Bill.  Bill’s remains will be interred, along with his wife, Jackie’s, in Christ Church Cemetery, Guilford, Vermont.  A celebration of Bill’s life will be scheduled for a later date. 

Contributions in Bill’s name may be made to Hospice of the Fisher Home, 1165 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01002 or hospice@fisherhome.org.

South Hadley,  Jean Marie (Houck) Ross passed away June 14, 2018, just weeks before her 90^th birthday.   Jean made her home in Johnstown, PA for more than 30 years. More recently, she lived at Loomis Village in South Hadley, MA where she had moved with her husband Paul to be closer to their daughters.

Jean was born in Youngwood, PA to Marie (Jackson) and William Houck. She met her husband Paul while attending Derry Borough High School and dated him while they were both attending Seton Hill College (Paul was one of many men who attended a women’s college when first returning from WWII). Jean and Paul were married in 1949, and Jean left college to work while Paul attended engineering school at Ohio State University.

Over the next 20 years Jean raised three children, volunteered for numerous organizations, and was determined to finish college. When she put her mind to something, Jean did it:­ in 1969 she received her college degree (the same year her oldest daughter graduated from high school). She later went on to earn 30 graduate credits and taught for nearly 20 years in the Johnstown School System before her retirement. She was a proud member of the Association of University Women. Teaching and her students were Jean’s passion, as were cooking, spending time with her family and friends, and a good book. We will all miss her cheesy potatoes, dilly bread, and fudgy chocolate cake.

Jean and husband Paul were married for 66 years before his death in 2016. They loved their summer home in Stone Harbor, NJ, and in retirement they split their time between Stone Harbor and their home in Whispering Pines, NC. Jean is survived by her daughter Deborah Whitford of South Hadley, MA; son Daniel Ross and wife Diane of Bethlehem, PA; daughter Donna Ross and husband Peter Straley of Amherst, MA; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.     Memorial gifts may be made to the Loomis Village Employee Appreciation Fund,  20 Bayon Drive, Apt. 230, South Hadley, MA

Amherst, Kathleen Jones was born November 20th, 1919, in Bebbington, Cheshire (UK), in the middle of the reign of George V. It was the year after the Great War, just after women over 30 were given the vote in Great Britain. When Kathleen was three, Ireland became independent, and when she was nine, universal suffrage for women was introduced. Kathleen attended Rock Ferry Convent High School in Bebbington, and graduated at age 17, in 1936. That year the Queen Mary sailed from Southampton to New York in a record 4 days and the Spanish civil war began. Kathleen was glad she could get a job as a local librarian (she really wanted to be a journalist – but there were few opportunities for women). When she was 20 in 1939, the UK declared war on Germany. She met Robert Jones that year at a tennis club and they were married in 1940, before he was due to be shipped to Norway. Between 1940-45, during the war, Kathleen worked in Air Raid Control (the ARC) and in 1943 when she was 24, had her first child, Neil.

After the war ended, she traveled with her husband, Bob, who was training teachers, to Staffordshire, Wiltshire and Leicestershire. Her passion for drama was born at this time, and both she and Bob were active in the community center movement. At 34 in 1953, she had a second son, Stephen, born the same year that Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tensing conquered Everest. The Queen was crowned that year and Watson and Crick discovered the double helix in Cambridge, just 30 miles from where she lived.

In 1953, Kathleen moved to Harlow Newtown, and founded with her husband a new community center. Her interest in drama blossomed, and together with Bob, she established the first amateur drama group in the town in 1954. In 1958, she went to Trent Park College, and specialized in Drama. In 1962, now 43, she went with six other women to the Middle East in search of a Sheikh who had visited Harlow, and after her six month adventure, resumed her teaching career as an elementary school teacher – interspersed with a job as drama advisor in the East End of London. Among her many theater productions was The House of Bernarda Alba, Sergeant Musgrave’s Dance, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Knight of the Burning Pestle, Under Milk Wood, The Crucible, and Bernard Shaw’s St Joan.

She was an avid traveler and sailor, crossing the English Channel in a small sailing boat three times, and exploring the Mediterranean by sail.

Kathleen retired in 1979, and in 1980 her first grandson, Lawrence, was born. In 1987, came the birth of her second grandson, Ilya. She was a fabulous grandmother, always curious, loving, and imaginative. In 1996 Kathleen’s husband of 56 years died, and Kathleen came to the United States to live with her son, Stephen, daughter-in-law, Marina, and her grandchildren. She continued to be active in Amherst, attending classes, making pots, attending her grandson’s concerts in New York, traveling when she could to Europe, and making new friends. She will be sorely missed by her family, and by her neighbors and friends around the world. 

Amherst, Jane Elizabeth Cowles Bacon, 86, born in 1931 to Anna Swords Cowles and Walter E. Cowles in Springfield, MA, Jane was the second of 7 children — five sisters and one brother.  She Worked at the Holy Name Rectory while attending Cathedral High School and later at the Phone Company.

After graduating from the Elms College (majors in education and math) Jane worked for Pratt & Whitney. She met Carl Rogers (Roger) Bacon of Amherst at a dance at Mt. Tom and they married in 1953. With Roger she raised 4 children. Jane taught math at St. Michael’s School in Northampton for four years. After teaching, Jane learned computer programming and worked at the University of Massachusetts as a programmer for the Health Services, the Campus Police Department and Cooperative Extension Service.

Jane was a dedicated parishioner at St Brigid’s Church.  She taught CCD classes for many years and later became a Eucharistic minister making nursing home visits to offer communion to residents.

A warm and spiritual woman, Jane devoted herself to her family. Content in her life, she enjoyed family vacations in Maine and long car trips with Roger through new England and Canada.  She will be remembered for her ready smile and many kindnesses, pies and fruitcake, frequent check-in calls to family and friends, and for offering her prayers and unconditional love always.

Jane was predeceased by loving husband Carl (Roger) and by her parents and siblings Mary Ann, Carol, Diane, Peter and Margaret. Jane is survived by her sister Kathleen and sister-in-law Jean Cowles, and by many nieces, nephews, and cousins Margaret Swords, Christina and Chip Hedeen.

She is also survived by her children, Mary Jane Bacon, David Bacon and his wife Linda, Earl Bacon, and Roger Bacon and his wife Barbara Schaffer Bacon and grandchildren Amy Bacon Goldberg and husband Jonathan Goldberg, and Aaron Bacon and by her great granddaughter Elliotte Jane Goldberg who arrived in time to meet her Great Grandma Jane.

Funeral services will be Friday June 8, 2018, 9:00 am from the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am at St. Brigid’s Church. Burial will follow in Wildwood Cemetery, Amherst. There are no calling hours.

Hadley, MA – Patricia Ann Carpenter, who lived in Massachusetts for most of her life, died on Saturday, May 26^th, 2018 in Cooley Dickenson Hospital.  The cause of death was respiratory arrest as a result of infection and pneumonia. 

Patricia was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on July 20^th, 1939, the daughter of Homer and Teresa St. Onge.  Patricia was raised in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts where she graduated and went on to attend Becker College in Worcester.  Patricia eventually met her 1^st love, Herbert Gordon in Harvard, Massachusetts and went on to establish the largest amateur radio business in New England.  Following the death of her husband she eventually met and married Phillip Carpenter where she continued to partake in amateur radio.

Patricia went on and worked as an accountant for most of her life at Hamilton Newell Printing in Amherst, Massachusetts as an accountant maintaining all the business accounts for the entire business.  Always a supporter of higher education, and especially the education of children she went on and started attending the University of Massachusetts, Amherst to obtain her degree in teaching.  Although only a few credits shy of her degree prior to her passing she spent many years as an assistant teacher at the Renaissance School in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Patricia loved traveling and was able to visit many places in the United States as well as in Europe.  An aficionado of reading, you would always find her reading a book or magazine if she was not teaching.  Above all, Patricia was proud of raising her two successful children and passing on the importance of education and living life.

Patricia is survived by her sons Steven Gordon of Las Vegas, NV and Neil Carpenter of Silver Springs, MD, their wives Svetlana Gordon and Siobhan Gorman Carpenter as well as 4 grandchildren David Gordon, Nicholas Gordon, Amanda Gordon and Alexis Carpenter.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, June 15^th, 2018 11:00 AM at Wildwood Cemetery in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Northampton, Paul Dubin, 77, died May 23, 2018 in Cooley Dickinson Hospital, after living well with inoperable pancreatic cancer for more than three years. He was born in New York City to Carolyn and George Dubin. He graduated from the Bronx High School of Science, City College of New York, and received his Phd at Rutgers University in New Jersey, where he met his wife, Nancy. He worked as a chemistry professor, first at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis and more recently at the University of Massachusetts.

A man of many interests, Paul loved to travel, and had many former students, friends, and research associates all over the world. He had a special love of Japan, and was honored there with a chemistry symposium in 2015. With a strong spiritual nature, he became a Buddhist many years ago, meditated at least once a day, and participated in the Mangala Shri Bhuti community. He played the guitar and loved the traditional music of many cultures. Very concerned with staying fit, he enjoyed hiking, kayaking, cycling, tennis, and squash, the latter of which he played until very shortly before his death. He also earned a brown belt in Karate, studied Kyudo (Japanese archery), and was a devoted practitioner of Tai chi. Paul was especially concerned with nuclear disarmament, and was a leader in the nuclear weapons freeze movement.

Paul is survived by his beloved wife Nancy of almost 48 years, son Jeff and daughter-in-law Charlene, brother-in-law Gene Brown and his partner Harilyn Rousso, and also by his cousin Beverly Chethik and her extended family. He was predeceased by his brother Richard.

Memorial arrangements will be private. Donations in Paul’s honor may be made to the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Squash and Education Alliance, or Mangala Shri Bhuti.

Amherst, Frederick Jimmy Cortes, known as Freddy to his family, died on May 26, 2018 at Baystate Hospital after a brief illness. Born on August 9, 1946 at Brooklyn Hospital, he was the eagerly awaited third child and only son of Esther Mercado and Federico Cortes. Freddy was the beloved brother of Lydia Cortes of New York City and Sonia Nieto (his guardian for the past 30 years) and brother-in-law Angel Nieto of Amherst. He is survived by many nieces and nephews in Massachusetts, as well as cousins in Puerto Rico, New York, Florida, and other places around the country. Always a sweet and loving man, Freddy had a special skill in solving jigsaw puzzles. He loved easily and enjoyed music and every kind of Puerto Rican food. Freddy was unable to attend public school as he was raised before education and other support services were available to the developmentally disabled. He remained in his parents’ home until his mid-thirties after his father died. In 1979, 3 years after Massachusetts passed Chapter 766 providing services to children and adults with special needs, Sonia and Angel were finally able to convince Esther to move to Amherst, something she only agreed to when she was persuaded that Freddy would be placed in a loving home. Freddy was subsequently placed in one of the first community settings for adults with autism, Down’s Syndrome, and other conditions, the last of which was a beautiful home in Wilbraham where Sonia and Angel were able to visit and spend time with him. The family is forever grateful to the loving care he received from all his caregivers at these homes. Calling hours will be on Thursday, May 31 from 5-7 pm at the Douglass Funeral Home, 87 No. Pleasant Street in Amherst. In lieu of flowers, please support one of the following organizations that provide help, education, and other services to developmentally disabled children and adults: The May Institute: https://www.mayinstitute.org/; Autism Connections: https://autismconnectionsma.org/; Whole Children: https://www.wholechildren.org/

Amherst, Carol Ann O’Brien, of North Amherst MA, ended her battle with multiple illnesses on May 24, 2018.  Carol was born in Northampton on May 8, 1956, daughter of Weymouth “Bud” and Joy Heath. Carol has resided in Amherst with her significant other, Bill Pearson, for the past thirteen years.  Carol leaves her four siblings, Les Heath, Richard Heath, Donna Heath Smith, and John Heath, as well as, her three children, Stephen O’Brien Jr., Matthew O’Brien, and Kelly Swiatlowski all of Belchertown.  Carol’s greatest joy was spending time with her five grandchildren. She also loved visiting the seashore, and studying family history. For the past decade Carol has worked devotedly at the Arbors of Greenfield, where she made many lasting friendships and wonderful memories. Calling hours will be at Douglass Funeral Home in Amherst MA on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 from 5-7 p.m. Burial will be at Wildwood Cemetery in Amherst on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at 1 p.m.