John Edward Canfield

March 12, 1949 – September 13, 2025

John Kennedy

 
The following appeared in the Torrington Register-Citizen, November 25, 2024:

John Robinson Kennedy
November 11, 1949 – November 5, 2024
John Robinson Kennedy of Fairbanks, Alaska passed away on Nov. 5, 2024. He was born to the late Sydney Robinson Kennedy, Jr. and late Dorothy Rose (Deering) Kennedy in Torrington, CT on November 11, 1949. John attended Litchfield High School, and earned a BA in English from Williams College, and taught English for one year at Litchfield High School. He traveled the world by train, plane, and motorcycle. His adventurous spirit led him to settle in Eagle, Alaska on the Yukon River. His pursuits included mushing, trapping, living in remote wilderness, and serving as mayor for a time. He was an artist and created watercolor and oil paintings of life in “The Bush”. In summer he traveled the Yukon River by canoe and fished for king salmon at his fish camp opposite the exquisite Calico Bluff. He later moved to Fairbanks.
John leaves behind his beloved younger sister, Susan Orpha Kennedy of Litchfield, and many friends. He was a fiercely loyal, big-hearted, kind, and loving friend to humans and creatures large and small.

 
In his letter to the Class, Steve Brown wrote

Dear Classmates and Family/Friends of ’71,

 Our classmate, Tom Morrow, passed away on Sunday, January 21, 2024. Those who attended our 50^th may recall Tom’ wife, Wendy,  speaking bravely about Tom’s ongoing battle with Lewy Body Dementia. Wendy is planning a memorial reception for May or June.  I am sure that our all thoughts and prayers go out to Wendy.

Attached below are:

1. 1.  Warm remembrances from Rob Farnham and Paul Oldshue, both of whom played football with Tom and remained close with Tom and Wendy for 5 decades following graduation,
   2. a  link to Wendy’s contribution to our 50^th Reunion book(a must read) which also appears on page 178 of our hard copy 50^th Reunion book, and
   3. a link to Wendy’s talk.

Rob Farnham commented

The cornerstone of Tom’s heart and mind was a “blue-collar” take on life’s experiences. From his Chicago roots he learned to listen (and he was a great listener) to an individual’s background and understand their viewpoints in the best tradition of intellectual balance and our own Professor Gaudino. He was the first “House Philosopher” at Fitch House and wrote essays for us there to reflect on. He loved Williams, reveled in our differing character traits and was a man of high spirit and courage throughout the ordeal of his difficult end game. I am grateful for his friendship and will miss him.

Paul Oldshue added

Tom Morrow was in my thoughts today. What I remember most was his positive attitude. I always felt better after talking with him, and will miss his presence among us.

John Ackroff said

I didn’t know Tom very well, but I knew that he was involved with telecom when I took my early retirement from Lucent in 2001, so I called him to talk about what was going on in the industry.  Within a few days, I had a subscription to Telecomm magazine, a good source of job postings and other information, courtesy of Tom.

From John Chambers:

What a good guy, and what a long fight he put up.
[ Hearing the news about Tom], I was flooded by the memory of how he and I would crash into one another playing handball on the squash  courts. I think we hit each other more than the handball, always laughing. One day Clarence Chafee appeared at the railing above us; after watching for a minute, he shook his head and walked away.

I’ll always remember Tom fondly. 

From Dave Kubie:

I first had the good fortune to get to know Tom 56 + years ago, as we served as “cannon fodder” for the varsity football team, otherwise known as the freshman football team at Williams.. Tom’s football career came to an untimely end that year due to a devastating knee injury but the basis of our friendship was established and I can say it was very fortunate for me.

The friendship was cemented by 3 years in “Fitch House” together.  Tom was an ardent student, but he always maintained a good perspective and never took things too seriously, Tom was someone who enjoyed life and, in particular, the richness in the variety of characters at Williams and beyond.  He truly loved people for who they were. I particularly enjoyed listening to Tom’s stories of his summer vacation work and cast of characters who he had worked with, whether it was cleaning the North Shore beaches outside of Chicago of dead alewives, construction or beer deliveries in downtown Chicago.
Tom was no shrinking violet. Whether it was a hearty laugh, a rowdy debate (who can forget those often repeated words around Fitch “who are YOU to judge”) , a game of pool or listening to his music of choice – Led Zeppelin, Tom was a much enjoyed presence.

What I learned as the post Williams days passed, perhaps his most endearing quality was that he was a mensch and a good and loyal friend. Over the years, you knew that Tom would always be there for you and your family.

From John McGill;

Tom was a big man, but his heart and spirit were bigger. His warm friendship and inclusion of our Fitch House Sudanese political refugees, Mom Arou and Moses, and his 300 page final William’s paper on the complex social fabric of South Chicago, spoke of one who had an uncommon depth of caring and understanding.  Tommy’s work related visits to Minneapolis built on our friendship and our conversations invariably ran the gamut from personal topics to world politics; his underpinning was the ongoing support for the underdog. Among his many attributes, this is what I will remember most fondly.  

 
Paul passed away on July 15, 2023.

In his letter to the Class, Steve Brown wrote:

Dear Classmates and Friends/Family of ’71,   

Unfortunately Paul Schneider passed away on Saturday afternoon after a long illness.  I have attached a link to his In Memoriam page on our class website which contains Flower’s personal statements from our 25^th and 50^th reunions which describe his family life and career as a lawyer in Longmeadow, Mass. Flower’s family is holding a private service in Florida, and planning a Celebration of Life on Monday, October 23 from 12:30 to 3:00 PM at the Delaney House in Longmeadow, MA.  (Scroll down from this link for directions).  Please contact Mike Rade or John Chambers for more information if you’re interested in attending.

Below are 2 thoughtful remembrances from Mike and John, Flower’s best friends from ’71.

Mike wrote:

He was my closest college friend, my partner for 20 years in the Alumni Golf Tournament, and Uncle Flower to my two children. As a friend no one could be more loyal. He was a wonderful husband to the love of his life, Meg, and a great father to Kate and Greg.

Having a drink with Paul was an unforgettable experience. His law partners, high school friends, and fellow Ephs all loved him. We spoke weekly on the phone and always argued about the Pats v. the Bills and the Red Sox v. the Yankees. I know he is pain free and  in a better place but I’ll miss him every day.

John Chambers added:

When we first met Paul Schneider,  he looked like Paul Newman. Greg Bone was our JA; when it was Paul’s turn for a road trip, Bone declared that he smelled like a flower – so a nickname was born, and it stuck for 55 years. Never was there a more steady, unselfish friend. Yet he was a realist who understood his friends’ foibles. When it came time to name a godfather for his son Greg, Paul created a tandem, with Mike Rade for reliability and me as an apprentice. All these years later
when it was clear that Paul was not going to see the end of the baseball season , Mike and I, together with Paul’s best friend from high school,		John’s Williams flag flies at half-staff for Paul.
Henry Rigali, went to visit him in Sarasota. We laughed, cried, told stories, argued different versions of memories (Paul going over the water ski jump ramp, head down , skis up – awesome stunt or miracle survival?) and laughed some more. Then, a few weeks later, it was that same godson, Greg who broke the news to us. I’m pretty sure Paul planned it that way.

I am sure that our all of our thoughts and prayers are with Paul’s wife, Meg, and his two children.

For his personal statement in our 50th Reunion book, he wrote

“OLD FRIENDS”

“Old friends, old friends

Sat on their park bench like bookends

A newspaper blown through the grass

Falls on the round toes

Of the high shoes of the old friends

*** ***

Can you imagine us years from today

Sharing a park bench quietly?

How terribly strange to be seventy

*** ***

A time it was, and what a time it was

A time of innocence, a time of confidences

                     – Paul Simon, 1968

*** ***

While I doubt Williams is unique, I am always amazed at the number of classmates who formed friendships that have lasted 50+ years.  To all my old (in both senses of the word) friends – thank you.

John Chambers and Paul		Paul (upper left) and Megan (upper right) with friends at our 45th.
Alumni from ’70 and ’71 and their spouses wore flowered attire in honor of Flower who played in the event for years with Mike Rade.

 
For our 25th book he wrote:
 

After graduation, I attended Suffolk University Law School in Boston.  Upon completing law school, my first job was in Washington, D.C., working for a small Federal Commission working as a staff attorney.  I returned to the area where I grew up, Springfield, Massachusetts, after a year and took a job in private practice. After another two years or so, I left that firm and joined another, larger firm.  After seven years, I left that firm and went to work at the law firm with which I currently practice and with which I am a partner.  More importantly, I married MEgan in 1983.  We have two children, Kate, who is almost six and Greg, who is almost three.

If pleasure is truly the absence of pain, then I’ve had a happy twenty-five years.  I have a wonderful family, my work is reasonably interesting, and many of the friendships I made at Williams remain today.

This obituary was published by Baldwin Brothers Funeral & Cremation of Sarasota, Florida:

Paul F. Schneider, Esq., recently of Sarasota, FL and a lifelong resident of Longmeadow, MA. died peacefully on July 15, 2023 under the care of his family and Tidewell Hospice. He leaves his beloved wife and partner Megan. They were married for forty wonderful years. One of his most loving and enriching experiences was being a Dad to his children Katherine Amalie and Gregory Paul. He is survived by his brothers Mark, Karl and their families. Paul graduated from Longmeadow High School in 1969, Williams College in 1971, and Suffolk University School of Law in 1974. His memories and friendships with his friends at Williams College were a source of great pride and joy throughout the years.
Paul was a well respected attorney for over fifty years. He began his career working in Washington, D.C. He returned to Massachusetts and joined several firms throughout his years practicing law. His primary specialty was litigation. He was proudest of his representation of an eight year old child whose family was killed in the 9/11 tragedy. There will be a tribute gathering in Paul’s memory at the convenience of the family in the autumn of 2023.On September 3, 2023, Kent Rude shared a “small world” story: I went to pick up my daughter, Emily, from her adult program to go to the dentist. (For those that haven’t met her, Em is the daughter with autism. An adult program gives her a place to go during the day when she is not working or volunteering.) Anyhow I was wearing a Williams polo and the young man staff member asked if someone I knew had gone to Williams. “Me.” He: “My dad went there in the 70’s.” Me: “I’m class of ’71. Who is your dad?” He: “Paul Schneider.” Me: “Flower. He was in my class!” He grinned and shook his head. I gave him my condolences over Flower’s recent death, but he had to get back to his other clients and I had to get to the dentist.   Small world, indeed.

Mike Foley passed away on June 21, 2023.

Mike came to Williams from the Canterbury School, and lived in Williams F and Gladden House.  He majored in English, and was also on the Swimming and Diving Team and a member of the JA Advisory Group.  He went on to earn his JD from Vermont Law School in 1977.  After graduating, he volunteered an an Admissions Representative, and was a member of our 25th Reunion Committee and 50th Reunion Fund Committee.  He served as Class Agent for the Alumni Fund from September 1994 to June 2001, and as an Associate Agent after that.

You can download his typically upbeat Personal Statement for our 50th Reunion Book; it included pictures of Laura and David Newton’s son Det; Mike and Laura with son Nick, wife Eli, and son James in the Dolomites; and Laura and Tommy.

You might also want to read his statement from our 25th Reunion Book.

Mike and Laura were at our 50th in 2022:

Mike and Laura with John MacAllister and Laurel Moranz		John MacAllister, Steve Brown, and Mike

 In his letter to the Class, Steve Brown said

Sadly, Mike Foley passed away last Weds. at Mass General Hospital due to lung disease that appears to have been triggered by lung surgery he had about a month ago. He was a wonderful person and friend for 55 years – kind, friendly, caring, hard-working, and fun. He loved Williams (his dad was ’39 and brother Frank ’66),  the Class of ’71, and many of his classmates.  All four of his living Williams roommates (John MacAllister, Dave Newton, Bruce MacNelly, and I) were able to visit with him at MGH  several times (10-30 min.) on Monday and Tuesday.

At Williams, Mike was a JA and 50-100 yd. freestyler on the swim team. He graduated from Vermont Law School in 1977, and worked the last 30 years or so in a wealth management  firm in Boston with his brother-in-law,  Bill Sawyer (Williams ’66). 

 Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mike’s wife, Laura, his two children, Nick and Tommy, and all the rest of the extended Foley family. He will be missed  greatly by his family and all his Williams friends to whom he gave so much over the last 55 years.

After Mike’s funeral, there was a reception at his sister’s house; ’71 was represented by and Ilene Cooke and David Newton, Bruce MacNelly, Laurel Moranz and John MacAllister, Steve and Sue Brown, John Ackroff, and Don Mender.  John Chambers, Bob Eyre, Jim Lavigne, Dave Olson, Kent Rude, and Steve Latham were also there.

Tommy Foley has provided this obituary:

Michael Andrew Foley, age 74 of Carlisle, Massachusetts passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Michael was the son of the late Frank Martin Foley, Sr. and Alice A. “Citty” (Frauenheim) Foley.

Michael was born January 9, 1949. He was raised in Armonk, New York, and attended Canterbury School in Connecticut.

Michael attended Williams College, where he majored in English. He excelled as a member of the Swimming and Diving Team and was on the JA Advisory Group. Michael graduated in 1972, after taking a year off following the student strike of spring 1970. Mike’s connection to the Williams community was important to him, and he stayed involved in Williams affairs, serving as an Admissions Representative, Class Agent from 1994 to 2001, and as an Associate Agent after that. Mike was also on the 25th and 50th Reunion Fund Committees.

After graduation, he lived and worked with his fellow alumni in New York State. Michael moved to Stowe, Vermont where he worked at the ski area. He would earn his JD from Vermont Law School in 1977. Mike spent the next few years at a local general practice firm while developing his love of skiing.

It was in Stowe in April 1981 that Michael met his wife, Laura while working as a house painter. She soon became a writer, photographer, and eventually editor-in-chief for a weekly newspaper in Morrisville. They were married on Long Island, where Laura grew up, in October 1983. They lived together in Westford, Vermont before moving in 1986 to Melrose, Massachusetts and later Carlisle to raise a family.

Michael began a long and happy career as an investment counselor at Sawyer and Company in Boston, where he worked with his family. Mike had an amazing ability to connect with all types of people that served him well in his role.  He developed strong relationships with clients over the years and the warmth and caring he showed in these interactions was an inspiration to his coworkers.

Mike had a great love for the outdoors. He cherished hiking with his daughter Tommy in the White Mountains and walks in his local Estabrook Woods with Laura and his family dogs. Whenever he could, Michael and Laura traveled to the Dolomites in Italy, where his son Nick lives with his family. Lifelong summer trips to South Wellfleet, Cape Cod gave Mike the opportunity to swim, check in with family and friends, and remember his beloved mother, Citty.

Mike’s life was defined by the love he showed his abundant family and friends. The most popular adult with children at any gathering, Mike was known for his ability to put a smile on any face. Mike lovingly coached his children’s baseball and soccer teams, and was a regular at his sisters’ stores and on the street in Concord.

Michael is survived by his loving wife Laura McKeon Foley of Carlisle; son, Nicholas Foley and wife Elisabeth of Südtirol, Italy, and daughter Tommy Foley of Oakland, California; and two grandchildren, James and Claire Foley. Michael is also survived by his sisters Marie Foley, Toni Sawyer, and Susan Larson and brother Frank Foley, their many children and grandchildren, and his dog Sansa.

Family and friends gathered to honor and remember Michael at his funeral mass on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at 10:30 am at St. Irene’s Catholic Church, 181 East Street, Carlisle. A reception at his sister’s house followed.

		We lost Lon on March 29, 2023. His obituary from the Corpus Christi Caller Times appears below.

Lon C. Hill IV, age 73, last in a line of Lon C. Hills who were dedicated to the growth and development of South Texas, passed away on March 29, 2023. Despite his Texas roots, Lon IV was born June 16, 1949 in Evanston, Illinois. He visited his grandparents annually at Bayview in Cameron County, and has lived in Corpus Christi since 1995. In 1904, Lon’s great-grandfather, Lon Carrington Hill Sr., founded the town of Harlingen, in Cameron County, at a site originally called “Six Shooter Junction” or “Rattlesnake Junction.” The early Hill family home has been preserved as part of the Rio Grande Valley Museum and the family name has migrated from the former Lon C. Hill Library to the current Lon C. Hill Park. Lon C. Hill, Jr. (known as Mose) was dubbed “Mr. South Texas” in the 1950’s for his role in Valley development and as President of Central Power and Light Company. Lon C Hill III raised his family in the Northeast, but moved back to Corpus Christi as owner of Adcraft Advertising and promoter of the Port of Corpus Christi, the Navy League, and local tourism. Lon Hill the fourth was raised in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Connecticut. He attended Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts during his high school years. He was a Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Williams College in Massachusetts, and received a joint Master’s degree from Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary. He lived in San Francisco, Milwaukee and New York City, before returning to Corpus Christi in 1995. His digital and people skills led him to work in a variety of fields, including teaching, writing, customer service and insurance. But his deepest interest remained in religion. This persisted throughout his life, leading to many wonderful years of involvement as a member of the First United Methodist Church of Corpus Christi. For the past five years, he has delighted in his friends and the staff associates of Brookdale/Trinity Towers. The family is grateful for the truly excellent care received from the extraordinary staff of Holmgreen Skilled Nursing, and for the comfort provided by Harbor Hospice. Lon is preceded in death by his mother Jean Fitch Hill and father Lon C. Hill III. He is survived by: his sister and brother-in-law, Aline Hill-Ries and Stan Ries, nephews Greg and Evan Hill-Ries, great-nephew Jack and great-niece Nellie all of New York; cousins Tomasita Hill Lipe of Los Fresnos, Betty Shepherd of Dallas, Diane Hill Easley of Houston, Dabney Hill of Brookshire, TX and Georgiana Gormley of Sawyer, Michigan.

We lost Steve on February 7, 2023.  Steve Brown wrote:

 Unfortunately, Steve Lawson died last week of natural causes at his home in Williamstown.   I have attached below the obituary that appeared in the Berkshire Eagle.

       All of us  enjoyed seeing Steve at our 50^th and attending his session on Stephen Sondheim ’50. Alongside Gordie Clapp, Steve demonstrated his legendary story telling ability and quick wit.  You can watch the video here.  A conversation or communication with Steve was always a delight – mixing anecdotes of contacts with famous friends in the entertainment business with huge doses of insight and dry humor (frequently self-deprecating). At Williams, he was President of Cap & Bells, actor or director on 30 productions, a Junior Advisor, house officer, and won the Gilbert W. Gabriel, Class of 1912 Award in Theatre and Hubbard Hutchinson prize (for demonstrated exceptional talents in the creative arts). Steve also served ’71  as our Class Secretary from 1991-2001, and worked on the 25^th Reunion Book.  

    In addition to his many accomplishments listed in the Berkshire Eagle article below, Steve will be remembered for his one-man plays A Distant Country Called Youth and Blanche and Beyond based on Tennessee Williams’ letters (which were performed at the Kennedy Center and published by Samuel French), television credits including a Christopher Award and a Humanitas Prize nomination, “St. Elsewhere” (for which he co-wrote the first teleplay on AIDS), “The Elephant Man,” and the Emmy-winning “ Broadway Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre.”

     Please share your own recollections or pictures of Steve by sending them  to John Ackroff at [email protected] to post on our class website at williams71.org or posting them there yourself.

From the Berkshire Eagle.

Steve was born in Rye, N.Y., and graduated from Rye High School in 1967.  He graduated from Williams College in 1971 with a BA in English, and from Yale University School of Drama in 1976 with an MFA in Drama.  At Williams, he was an active participant in Cap & Bells, receiving the Gilbert Gabriel award, and began his long association with the Williamstown Theatre Festival.  He was part of the Theatre Festival for over 50 years, as an actor, writer, dramaturg, and director.  He was a founder of the Free Theatre, and was instrumental in setting up and being a member of the late-night Cabaret for many years.

A prolific student of film, he founded and ran the Williamstown Film Festival for 15 years.  He took great joy in bringing independent films and documentaries to the Berkshires, along with their actors, writers and directors.  [ SDB Note: please check out Steve’s personal statement on pages 161-62 in our 50^th book titled my Mussolini Complex in which he describes his role in the wonderful Williamstown Film Festival].

His writing talents were evident.  He wrote for television, including St. Elsewhere and The Dick Cavett Show, nationally for publications as diverse as the New York Times, Travel and Leisure and Saturday Review, and more locally for the Williams Alumni Review.  He held an early position with Manhattan Theatre Club in New York City, before settling in Williamstown fulltime.

He is survived by his brother Jon and sister-in-law Nicole of Rhinebeck, NY.   There will be no memorial service.  Donations in Steve’s memory can be made to the Williamstown Theatre Festival.

An addition from John Ackroff, illustrating Steve Brown’s remark about Steve’s self-deprecating sense of humor:

Steve was also awarded the Thurston Bowl at our 25th Reunion.   The description of this prize is

For distinguished service as class secretary. This award was donated by the family and friends of Ted Thurston, Class of 1912, who wrote Class Notes for 65 years. During that time, Ted missed only one deadline—and only because he forgot to send his completed notes to the magazine.

The last time I spoke with Steve, we talked about this.  He said there was a slip of paper in in, and when he got back to his seat he read it.  “Please return the Bowl before leaving the gymnasium.”  He said “I guess I wasn’t good enough to get to keep it for a year.”

Steve was the Executive Director of the Williamstown Film Festival for most of its run, and he presented some shorts from previous seasons at our 35th Reunion, with Gordon Clapp as his co-host.

Commencement Speech, June 6, 1971: Listed in the Program as “Fred and the Rattlesnake of the Rockies” but Bill says it’s “actually entitled The Myth of Sisyphus, or It’s Hard to Row a Garden, Ho, Ho, Ho, or How We Were Flushed Through the Intellectual Vortex into the Slimy Sewer of The World.”

December 31, 2022 Chapel Hill, North Carolina – William Fitzhugh Williams Massengale, known to those who loved him as Bill or Willie, died December 31st 2022 at the age of 73 from heart disease. Born in Texas, Bill moved to Chapel Hill at the age of two where he was raised, and later returned to raise his own family.

Preceded in death by his father Robert Massengale, mother Rosalie Massengale and older brother Bob Massengale; Bill is survived by his wife of 45 years Sally McLaughlin Massengale, his sons Bob, Johnny and Billy, his daughters-in-law Lily Barberich, Ashley Massengale, Ginny Kirk Andrews, granddaughter Campbell and older brother Tom Massengale.  Bill was an engaged Chapel Hillian, growing up at 7 Cobb Terrace, following the early death of his father in Texas. Bill attended Christ School in Arden, NC where he excelled, and earned a scholarship to Williams College in Massachusetts. After delivering a graduation speech in his inimitable style, Bill sought out adventure, traveling across the country and the globe.
For five years Bill taught history at Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut, where he met the love of his life, Sally McLaughlin Massengale. He loved that she worked for 25 years at Glenwood Elementary, the school their beloved sons attended. After graduating from UNC Law School, he was hired as an Assistant District Attorney by his dear friend Wade Barber, Jr. Bill later worked in private practice with Barry Winston and Marilyn Ozer. Marilyn and Bill remained law partners until his retirement in 2022, focusing on criminal defense in support of folks from all walks of life. His work ranged from death penalty appellate work across the state, to local cases in Chapel Hill and Orange County. He had an abiding love of friends, family, the wider community, and his dog Ladybug. He met people where and as they were, and frequently left them feeling better for their meeting.

Durham Herald-Sun, January 5, 2023

 
Bo Brush has shared a photo of “Happier times when we were young welcoming the next generation into our lives!”

Tim Murnane remembers “Bill was great. So full of life. If I have it right, there was a party weekend coming up at Brooks house, maybe in ’70 or so and we had no entertainment. Bill said he could take care of that. And he got Livingston Taylor, James brother to come to Williamstown and sing and play in the Brooks house basement. Livingston was a star, James older brother. Bill knew the whole family. I hope I have this story straight. It’s been a long time. Bill was a wonderful guy, very funny and smart. So sorry he is gone.”

John Ackroff remembers a conversation with Bill in 2018:  The topic of our 50th Reunion came up, and Bill asked “When will that be?”  John said it would probably be June 10 – 13.  “No,” Bill said, “What year will it be?”  At that point, John thought “this is classic Bill Massengale.”  But maybe he knew something the rest of us didn’t…

Tony Goodwin shares two memories:   ” One was snowshoeing up the very steep power line on Mt. Greylock one January day. I believe I remember Bernie Brush and Steve McCausland were also with us, but I’m not positive on those two, and there might have been others.  The other was recruiting Bill to be my ‘ground man’ on the night before our graduation. He assisted while I climbed the flag pole in front of Baxter Hall and lifted a tire over the top so that it was sitting around the base of the flag pole for all the attendees to see. ”

Bill Ervin says Bill was “one of the very best I ever spent time with at Williams.”

Jack posted this Caring Bridge entry on October 10, 2022:

Arria died peacefully in her sleep last night.  Allison arrived earlier in the evening from Portugal and the family joined in prayer led by our close friend, Rev. Cathy George at 7 PM.  Once Allison arrived Arria knew it was time to leave us.  Because of the rarity of her neurological disease it was Arria’s last wish that her body be donated to science for research.  Massachusetts General Hospital will be performing the autopsy and her remains will be returned to New Hampshire for cremation.  The family will be holding a private memorial service later this month.  There will be a public celebration of Arria’s life here at our home next summer.  It is Arria’s request that anyone who wishes to attend is invited, but no one should feel an obligation do to so.  So typical of Arria.

After the struggle Arria faced over the last twelve months she got her wish — she is finally resting in a quieter place.  I am relieved for her, and while I already miss her terribly I know this was the time for her to go.  I am at peace also.

A Celebration of Life for Arria was held on July 15, 2023.  Doug Bryant, Steve Brown, Ken Richardson, Wally Schlech, John Untereker (standing), Bill Ervin, Gordon Clapp (standing), Phil Cantelon, Steve Latham, and Geo Estes represented our class.

Jim passed away on Saturday, August 13, 2022 after a brief, but devastating, battle with what appears to have been peritoneal cancer.  His son, Wick, provided the following obituary:

James Middleton Vipond of Waverly passed away peacefully and surrounded by his family on Saturday, August 13th. 

Jim was born on February 17, 1948 in Scranton, PA to the the late David Spruks Vipond and the late Florence Neumann Vipond. 

The Viponds moved from Scranton to Waverly where Jim (or Jimmy, to his family) spent his childhood before embarking on an educational journey that played an important role in shaping the incredible human he is known to be. In middle school he attended Eaglebrook (‘64) in Deerfield, Massachusetts. While there he discovered his love for skiing which he enjoyed with grace through this past winter. He then went to the Hill School (‘67) in Pottstown, Pennsylvania and established friendships that lasted his lifetime. He followed his family legacy and attended Williams College (‘71) in Williamstown, Massachusetts to complete his B.A. in American Studies where he also played tennis and soccer. He was extremely proud to be a Williams graduate and it was one of his favorite places to visit year after year. It was at Williams he discovered his skill to imagine and create spaces that others cannot envision, leading him to the University of Pennsylvania (‘77) to earn an M.A. in Architecture. 

Jim had a successful and impressive career in architecture and planning including roles at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Arthur Cotton Moore and Associates, and eventually establishing his own practice. His architectural masterpiece is his Waverly residence, an imperfect century-old farmhouse now transformed into a piece of living art that considers every angle, creates purpose in every square foot, and beautifully compliments its surroundings. 

But, alas, Jim’s story is much more than creating beautiful spaces. It’s about how he applied that same level of detail to every action and interaction. He was genuine, engaging, and caring to everyone and anyone. He had an understated magnetism that made every room he entered and person he met better. Jim worked tirelessly to enhance his community, conserving countless acres, creating miles of walking and biking trails, preserving the beauty of historic buildings, and spearheading an ongoing effort to distribute tens of thousands of BOMBAS donation socks to those in need. 

Jim was most dedicated to his family, and they were his biggest source of pride. His memory will beam through the love of his life, Sharon York Vipond (wife), his dedicated son Winthrop (Wick) Vipond, daughter-in-law Carolyn Miraglia Vipond, granddaughters Emerson and Wynne Vipond, his loving siblings Jonathan Vipond III (and spouse Tim Bunner), Linda Vipond Heath (and spouse Robert Heath), David Vipond (and spouse Jerry Bakka), nieces, nephews, and a vast and humbling support network of extended family, “framily,” and friends. 

Anyone who knew Jim Vipond knows that it is impossible to summarize his life in a few paragraphs. He leaves behind an indelible mark, and a blueprint for a better world.