Amherst, Rick Keller (George Richart Keller, Jr.) died on May 25 2017 after a yearlong struggle with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig Disease).

Rick attended The Meeting School in Rindge NH and graduated from Coburn Academy in Waterville ME.  He attended Wilmington College and graduated with a BA in music from Earlham College. He studied planning in the University of Rhode Island graduate school and was a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Rick was dedicated to public service in his work, non-profit service, and personal relationships. 

Rick took part in a Mass General Hospital ALS Clinical trial of gene blocking medicine and other ALS studies.

His work ranged from researching phenylketonuria at Mass General Hospital, to building pipe organs at Noack Organ Company; community planning in Newton MA and Warwick RI; and surveying land to develop residential and commercial projects in the Westport MA area and the Pioneer Valley.  He was a boat carpenter in Newport RI.

Groundbreaking and award winning work in Rhode Island and Massachusetts included helping establish the RI Solid Waste Management Corporation, and negotiations with Narragansett Electric for the first statewide municipal street lighting contract in Rhode Island.  He managed VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) programs in Massachusetts and Rhode Island that helped low income workers recover millions of dollars in earned income and child tax credits.

While working for Roy F. Weston, he managed an award-winning recycling program for the US Postal Service in New England and wrote solid waste and recycling plans for Vermont cities and towns.

Community work included serving on boards of the National Community Tax Coalition, The Cohousing Association of the US, Community Music Works and Providence RI Friends Meeting. He was a founding member of the Cohousing Research Network and the Partnership for Affordable Cohousing.

Rick helped the Wilderness Community to preserve 3000 acres of forest in Mount Holly and Plymouth VT.    

He helped research and write the first watershed protection ordinance in Rhode Island in the town of Middletown. 

Rick had a lifelong passion for music; playing piano, organ, guitar, banjo, cello, and recorder. He conducted choral and orchestral music as a student at Wilmington College and Earlham College.  He sang in the Earlham concert choir.

He performed in several folk and contra dance groups and played recorder with the Telemann Society.

He arranged songs and accompanied Nancy Hood on piano and recorder in performances of her multimedia show “I’ve Got a Song”, recounting her story as a child of the left in the McCarthy era.

Appalachian folk music recordings that Rick and his father collected are in the Smithsonian Institution. 

He learned to swim in his early forties and then swam two miles from Newport to Jamestown to benefit Save The Bay.  

Rick was the son of the late George R. Keller and Mildred Anderson Keller. He is survived by his wife, Janet Borkowski McHale Keller, sons Jeffrey and Peter Keller; daughter-in-law Meghan Cotter Keller and grandchildren Murphy, Emmett, and Sadie Keller.

Also, his niece, Rachel LaFollette Jones, her husband Ron, and their children Keegan and Makenna Jones; his stepchildren Shannon McHale and James McHale and their children Tab Kerby, Jordan and   James McHale, and his former wife, Judy Lepreau Keller.

Donations in his name to Community Music Works, 1392 Westminster St, Providence, RI 02909 will be appreciated. Community MusicWorks

communitymusicworks.org/

Interment will be at Vassalboro Friends Meeting in Vassalboro,  Maine

Information and condolences https://douglassfuneral.com/

AMHERST, Ma. — James Ross Bias Sr. died July 4, 2017. He was 79.

Born October 13, 1937, in Amherst, Ma., he was a son of Eugenia and Robert Bosworth.

Baptized March 31, 1962 as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, along with his wife he associated with three congregations in Massachusetts. He served as an elder for nearly 45 years. At the present time, he was associated with the Amherst (Ma.) Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

He found great joy in glorifying the word of Jehovah, our Creator, by teaching the “Good News” of the now established heavenly kingdom to “those rightly disposed to everlasting life” (Acts 13:48; Matthew 24:14), and learning about all of God’s wonderful creations.

Raised in Amherst, Ma., he attended Amherst High School and Springfield College. “Corky ” as he was affectionately known, was an exceptional athlete receiving football, baseball, and basketball accolades throughout his high school years.

An avid outdoorsman he enjoyed teaching young people at the Amherst Boys Club. A skilled and patient craftsman, he enjoyed using his talents to help others. Prevented from pursuing a career in aviation due to eyesight limitations, he became a detailed builder of scale R/C model airplanes. He choose carpentry as his occupation eventually retiring as a master finish carpenter from the Amherst College staff.

Mr. Bias married Myra Frances Corey of Amherst on December 21, 1957, and together they raised a family of five. His family remembers him for his love, wisdom, patience, kindness, and quiet humor.

In addition to his wife Myra, he is survived by his children James Jr. , Liana, Michael, Todd, Joel; siblings, Ellen, Ann, Timothy, Barry, Janet, Allison, Janice; grandchild, Brittani, three great-grandchildren and other relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his brother Robby.

Services: Memorial service at 7p.m. Saturday, July 15, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 511 Northampton Street, Holyoke, MA 01040.

Amherst, Carole Gonyea born in Albany, New York September 14th 1956, died July 3rd 2017, Amherst Massachusetts.

It is with great joy and peace that Carol Gonyea has gone to meet her savior. This has been a lifelong dream for her. She had fervently practiced her faith for many years. She led Bible studies and prayed for her family and friends daily. She was always talking about the Lord Jesus Christ. She was a teacher and mentor for the Lord.

Carol is survived by her several nieces and nephews, her Servicenet family, and her church family.

Calling hours will be held at the Douglass Funeral Service, 87 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, Sunday, July 9^th, 2017 from  3-5 pm.

The funeral will be held at the Wesley Methodist Church in Hadley on Monday, July 10^th,  at 10 am.

Amherst, Denno, Barbara Catherine (Nanartonis) of Amherst, MA passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, June 22nd at the age of 82.  In her final days and hours she was surrounded by her loved ones, including sons Paul and David, daughters-in-law Patricia (Trish) and Heather, and her faithful brother Bill.  Barbara was born to William and Anna Nanartonis (nee Mitchell) on March 18, 1935. She grew up on the family farm on West Street in Amherst, where she learned the values of hard work, thrift, and loyalty to family. Barbara later worked as a secretary at UMass and for her brother Bill’s real estate agency while also managing the finances for her husband’s business. For many years, she was employed by the Amherst Police Department where she found the work very fulfilling and formed many new friendships. Barbara was a devoted wife who cared for her husband during good times and bad, including an extended period of declining health. She was a loving sister who served as the bedrock of the Nanartonis family after the passing of her parents.  She was a supportive and loving mother to her two sons (whom she proudly referred to as “my boys”). Whether in caring for her aging parents, helping her siblings, providing for her children, or quietly and patiently guiding her treasured grandchildren she always placed others’ needs above her own. Barbara never talked about “loyalty,” “duty,” or “service” but they were the qualities that defined her.   She was kind, warm, loving, generous, and principled. She was unfailingly reliable. She exhibited a quiet strength, positivity, and optimism that seemed to spring from an inexhaustible well. Barbara loved to laugh and to visit with people, to tend her garden, and to feed and watch the birds and chipmunks who enjoyed her garden sanctuary.  She loved baking and bringing baked goodies when visiting. Barbara is survived by her sons Paul of Milford NH and David of Amherst MA, their wives Patricia and Heather, grandchildren Madelaine of Alexandria VA, Maxim of Dearborn MI, Elena and Penelope of Amherst MA, brother Bill of Pelham MA, and sisters Betty of Lenox MA, Margie of Northampton MA, and Lucy of Pittsfield MA and many nieces and nephews. All services were private.

Amherst, Elizabeth M. Adamitis, 80, of North Amherst, died on Wednesday June 28, 2017 at the Center for Extended Care in Amherst. Born in Northampton on August 12, 1936, she was the daughter of the late Rapo and Mary {Kosloski} Adamitis. She graduated from Amherst High School in 1953. She was employed at Prophylatic Brush Co. and was a supervisor at the University of Massachusetts dinning commons for many years.

Elizabeth enjoyed listening to polka and country western music. She cherished her home, gladiolas, and especially her dogs, who she often referred to as her “Kids.”

She was predeceased by her parents, her sisters, Anna Blasko, Julia Burns and Helen Korpita. She is survived by many nieces, nephews and great nieces and great nephews. She also leaves a circle of friends – Leona and Paul Searle, Helen Lucas and Pat Zuzgo.

A calling hour will be held from 8:30 – 9:30 am Saturday July 1, 2017 at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am at St. Brigid’s Church, Amherst. Burial will follow in St. Brigid’s Cemetery, Hadley.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Brigid’s Church, 122 N Pleasant St. P.O. Box 424 Amherst, MA 01004 or Dakin Humane Society, 163 Montague Rd. Leverett, MA 01054.

Indian Orchard, Gladys R. Markuson, 84, of Indian Orchard, passed away 6/26/17, at Wingate at Hampden Nursing Home. Born in Greenfield on March 26, 1933 she was the daughter of the late Stanley and Rose (Chichy) Chludzinski. She was preceded in death by her husband Richard Markuson and two brothers, Edward Chelsea of Manchester, NH and Theodore Chludzinski of Pittsfield.  She leaves behind her daughters Laura LaCau of Springfield, and Debra Bottum of Hillsboro, TN, son-in-law James Bottum, four grandchildren, Michael Bratcher, Joseph LaCau, Stephanie Bottum, Brianna Bottum, and one great granddaughter Addison Bratcher. Also sisters-in-law Carolyn Markuson, Elizabeth Chludzinski and several nieces and nephews. She was an avid gardener, bowler, and loved to cook and bake. She held a number of positions over her life mostly to do with food and grocery store salad bars. She was very social and loved to talk to everyone she met. She leaves behind many friends.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday June 30, 2017 at 10:00 AM in St. Brigid’s Church, Amherst and burial will follow in Wildwood Cemetery, Amherst. A calling hour will precede the Mass from 8:30 – 9:30 at the Douglass Funeral Service.

Amherst, Joyce Muriel Quinlan (Kentfield) 77, of Amity Street in Amherst passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on June 19^th, 2017. 

Joyce was born on September 24, 1939 to her late parents George and Marion Kentfield of Amherst. Joyce grew up in Amherst and spent her entire life on Amity Street. 

After graduating from Amherst High School, she went on to attend Bay Path Junior College where she contributed to the school’s yearbook, The Portico. 

Joyce is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, John Quinlan. The two wed in a beautiful ceremony on August 23, 1958 in Jaffrey, NH.  John and Joyce have spent the years since growing their family laughing and loving one another.  

She leaves behind four children, Brenda Aldrich and her husband Rick of Belchertown, Bonnie Quinlan of Vermont, Jeffery Quinlan and his wife Leslie Gordon of California, and Belinda Deres and her husband Eliot of Leverett. Joyce also leaves behind six grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and many wonderful friends.

Aside from being an amazing wife, mother and grandmother, Joyce worked in her early years at her father’s hardware store, Kentfield Hardware in Amherst. She also worked for Decorative Coverings in Hatfield, MA and later as a Realtor for Jones Town and Country. In her spare time, she was a Girl Scout leader and volunteered for Cooley Dickinson Medical Group. 

Often, you would find Joyce at her children’s sporting events, socializing in the isles of Stop and Shop/Big Y, and on the phone chatting with those close to her. There is no doubt that Joyce was loved by many. Her care for others, pizzazz, and sense of humor will always be remembered. As she always said, “we’ll be laughing about this later.”

Calling hours will be held at Douglass Funeral Service at 87 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA on Friday, June 23rd from 5PM – 8PM. A celebration of Joyce’s life will take place at the South Amherst Congregatioal Church on Saturday August 5, 2017 at 10:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Joyce Quinlan to the Hospice of the Fisher Home, Amherst, MA.

Hadley, Peter H. Gulliver, 37, was born in Northampton, MA June 13, 1979. As the sun was rising to a beautiful, clear sky on Sunday, June 11th, with his mother Regina Elizabeth Gulliver (nee Hart), and sisters, Sarah, Elizabeth, and Abigail alongside him, Peter Hart Gulliver passed very peacefully into death. Peter had sustained a traumatic brain injury in October 1997, and in the subsequent 20 years, fought against overwhelming odds, time and again, during acute hospitalizations from Cape Cod to Charlottesville, VA. to stay with his family and friends. Peter wanted to leave on his terms and his family could not be more appreciative that he died as peacefully as he did. He wanted it to be that way.  

Peter leaves his parents, Regina (Hart) Gulliver of Amherst, Joseph Gulliver of West Virginia, and three older sisters, Sarah, Elizabeth, and Abigail; his aunt and uncle, Geraldine and Bernard Smyth of South Hadley, aunt Joan (Doyle) Hart of Amherst, as well as 16 first cousins, and many, many second, third, and “kissing,” cousins.  

At the time of Peter’s accident in 1997, he was a senior at Amherst Regional High School, played ice hockey for an elite program based in Springfield, MA, and looked forward to choosing his next school. An avid lifelong fan of the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins, and Celtics, he had more time to attend games in the years following his accident than he had previously. 

As a young man, Peter enjoyed family trips to visit his grandparents and cousins in Ontario, Canada; monthly trips to Brookline and Watertown to visit his Godparents, Margaret Callahan (deceased, formerly of Hadley) and Thomas Holmes (Westwood); annual summer trips with The Powell family to visit The Karle family on Cape Cod and going as far as West Point (with said group) for Boston College football games. Closer to home, Peter often visited his aunts, uncles, and cousins in Monson, South Hadley, and Amherst. 

To say that Peter was a funny, kind, and thoughtful, person would not adequately convey the fineness of his character. He was quick with a quip and demonstrated a sharpness of mind that only the wittiest among us could hope to rival. He had that rare talent for observing the humor in the details of a situation that the rest of us may overlook. And as imposing as Peter could be on the ice, or against a bully threatening to harm someone they perceived to be weaker — either physically or socially, he could be equally gentle with the younger cousins who looked up to him or that fellow student who didn’t enjoy the same social success as Peter. Others, young and old, gravitated to Peter because of his abiding humor, his level of comfort with himself, and his belief that we are all equal and worthy of merit, consideration, and respect, without regard for rank.  

Calling hours will be held on Monday, June 19 from 4 p.m.-7p.m. at Douglass Funeral Service in Amherst. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, June 20 at 10:30 at St. Brigid’s Roman Catholic Church in Amherst. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Francis E. Hart Scholarship Fund, Bank of America 99 Founders Plaza CT 2-547-05-19 Attn: Jean Harrison East Hartford, CT 06108

Robert James Hunt, 74 years young, lived life to the fullest. He left this world on June 7, 2017 peacefully with his family by his side. Bob was born in Batavia, NY to the late William and Helen (Waclawski) Hunt on November 30, 1942. He was married to his soul mate Mary Ann (Lullo) Hunt for 53 years.

Bob was an accomplished athlete, playing baseball, basketball, and football at Batavia High School. His football ability won him a full scholarship to Boston University where he graduated in 1964 with a Bachelors degree in Public Relations and Communication. He continued his education and received an additional degree in Electrical Engineering from Lowell Technological Institute.

He was employed in the management division with Massachusetts Electric Co. (National Grid) in Northampton and Williamstown for 36 years.

He was an avid supporter of the University of Massachusetts sports programs and especially the football and basketball programs. His early life in sports led him to continue a physical fitness program at the local YMCAs in Williamstown and Northampton and the Hampshire Athletic Club in Amherst.

Bob and Mary Ann were fortunate to be able to travel extensively, but his favorite trips were to various college football games around the country and especially the week he spent at Dodger’s Fantasy Camp with many old-time dodgers.

His love of life was infectious, and he will be missed by all who came to know him.

He is survived by his wife Mary Ann, his son Robert Joseph and partner Kimberly Lowney, and his daughter Christine (Hunt) Sowle and husband Brian and their son Evan. He is also survived by his brothers William Hunt and wife Kay, Thomas Hunt, and Arthur Hunt and wife Patti.

Bob was inducted into the Batavia High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004. In keeping with his love of sports, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the Batavia City School District Foundation, Inc. to support the athletic program of the Batavia City School District in memory of Bob Hunt. Please make checks payable to BCSDF Inc. Mail to: District Administration Office, Att: Superintendent, 260 State St, Batavia, NY 14020.

Bob was a communicant and Eucharistic Minister at St. Brigid’s Parish, Amherst, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10am on June 23, 2017 followed by burial at St. Brigid’s Cemetery in Hadley. A reception will follow the burial to share memories of his life.

It is with great sadness that the family of William (Bill) L Kilmer announce the passing of their beloved husband, father and grandfather in March 2017, at the age of 84.  Bill’s family, though deeply grieving his loss, find some comfort in his release from the long-term, debilitating pain he valiantly fought until the end.

Bill spent his happy childhood in the small town of Wellsboro, Pennsylvania.  He was an avid sportsman in high school,  nicknamed “Atlas” by friends, and excelled at baseball, basketball and later, track and field. It was through his success running the 440-yard race that he was awarded a scholarship to Penn State University to study Electrical Engineering, where he also completed his graduate work. Later, Bill would fondly recall his track days, which included traveling the country to compete at the national level.

Following his years at Penn State, Bill went on to pursue his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. It is during this time that he met his lifelong partner and best friend, Virginia Large.  Bill’s career took the young family to Montana State University, Princeton University, MIT, and Michigan State University before settling in Amherst in 1971, where Bill accepted a position at the University of Massachusetts in the Computer Science department.  Bill remained at UMass through to his 2005 retirement from the Electrical & Computer Engineering Department.

Bill’s contributions to the advancement of brain science were significant, working in close partnership with the pioneers of neuroscience, at MIT and beyond.   Modeling brain activity throughout his career, Bill focused increasingly on practical robotics.   

Sharing with his family a deep love of the outdoors, Bill led a very active lifestyle, and was known in the community as a dedicated horseman for several years.  Aside from his professional interests, Bill’s love of mathematics, history, philosophy and poetry remained strong throughout his life and his breadth of subject mastery was impressively vast.  

Bill will be lovingly remembered by his dear wife of 60 years, Virginia, his surviving children, Janice (Gerry), Patti (Wayne) and Cindy (Raed).  The memories of Bill will also be cherished by his five loving grandchildren: William, Kenza, Rebecca, George and Jannet. Bill was predeceased by his daughter Ellen.

Memorial Service for Bill:  Saturday, August 5, 2:00 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church, 98 North Maple St, Hadley, MA.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bill’s memory to the Wesley United Methodist Church.