The Republican

Barbara Ann (Cannon) Merritt of Old Saybrook, CT, beloved by generations of former first graders and virtually anyone fortunate enough to meet her, died peacefully Monday, surrounded by devoted family members. At 92, she succumbed to a second bout of cancer. The oldest of three children born to Hubert and Marie Cannon in New Haven, CT, Barbara inherited the proverbial Irish gift of gab. As a result, people gravitated to Barbara, knowing that she would remember their name and some nugget of personal information with which they could bond. For years, when she drove her golf cart to watch the sunset at Cornfield Point, children as young as 3, as well as their parents and grandparents, drifted...

Frances (Smith) Levine, 87, died Thursday August 4th. For full obituary, please visit ascherzimmerman.com.

Charles (Chuck) Nathan Roys, 82, of Leverett, MA passed away on Monday, July 25, 2022 at the Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst, MA after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born in 1939 in Lafayette, IN to the late Carl and Ursula Purinton Roys. After moving to Leverett, MA, Chuck attended Leverett Elementary School and Amherst Regional High School lettering in football, basketball, and baseball. Attending Springfield College, he was their starting catcher for 3 years. Chuck served in the US Army from 1961-63 and was stationed at Fort Lee, VA. While in VA he met his life-long partner and wife, Sarah. During his stint in the military, he was the starting catcher for the USA...

Gary Alfred Dakin, age 75 of Spring Hill, TN passed away June 8, 2022. He was born in Springfield, MA to the late Alfred "Lefty" & Helen Dakin. Gary was a Veteran of the United States Army, serving during the Vietnam War and was a three-time Purple Heart recipient. Gary retired from the Springfield, MA Fire Department after 25 years of service in 2001. One of his passions was coaching youth hockey while he lived in Massachusetts. He coached youth hockey for 16 Acres, Van Horn, Springfield Capitals and Western Mass Braves. Gary is preceded in death by his brothers, Michael Dakin and Malcolm Dakin. He is survived by his sons, Gary Dakin of New York, NY and Kevin (Jacqui) Dakin of Franklin,...

Helen R. Barr of East Longmeadow, MA passed away at age 98 on Thursday, June 2, at her home in Bluebird Estates. Born on April 7, 1924, she grew up in Springfield, one of thirteen children of Joseph and Dora (Rosnick) Barr. After graduating from Classical High School and before continuing her studies, she worked at Brandeis University and the Children's Cancer Research Foundation in Boston. She studied music at the Boston Conservatory and was a member of the M.I.T. Choral Group. Thereafter, she moved to New York City, her home for many decades. Helen received her B.A. in English from Hunter College. She supported herself through years of graduate school, working as an Administrative Asst. in...

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Marshall Zane Solomon, age 92 in Boca Raton, FL. Marshall was born and raised in Springfield, MA, son of Joseph and Anna Solomon, brother to Phyllis Selnick. He was married to his beloved wife Joan Kaplinsky Solomon for 39 years, while they lived in Longmeadow, MA with their 3 children Jodi, Debra and David Solomon. After Joan's passing in 1994, he met and married Sandra Saxe, and they lived in both Swampscott, MA and Boca Raton, Florida for the next 27 years. Marshall spent 7 summers at Camp Lenox in the Berkshires and attended Wilbraham Academy where he was a tennis player and goalie on the Varsity Soccer Team. He...

Dwight W. Dorrell, 83, of Hadley, MA, passed away unexpectedly at home on Tuesday, May 10, 2022. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 59 years, Donna L. Dorrell of Hadley, his daughter Linda (Dorrell) Goulet, of Springfield, MA, his daughter Brenda Dorrell of Worcester, MA and his beloved grandchildren Jennifer Goulet of Chicopee, MA and Elijah Smith from RI as well as his great grandson Parker. He was born in Amherst, MA June 24, 1938, the son of Alton and Jesse Dorrell both who predeceased him. He attended Amherst schools until high school when he then attended and graduated from Smith Vocational High School. He then began his long career as a skilled mechanic starting first at...

Saundra F. (Levitt) Solomon, 88, passed away Monday May 9th at Mercy Medical Center. Born in Wildwood, NJ, she graduated from Classical High School in Springfield and the Forsyth Dental School in 1952. Saundra moved to Longmeadow in 1967 and East Longmeadow in 2000. She was the office manager of Levitt's TV, a family-owned TV sales and repair business, from 1974-1994. Saundra was a member of Temple Beth El and its Sisterhood, B'nai Brith, and the Springfield JCC. She was predeceased by her husband Seamon "Simi" Solomon in 2000. Saundra is survived by her 3 sons David Solomon and his wife Maria, Gary Solomon and his wife Elena, and Richard Solomon, her daughter Michelle Solomon, her brother...

Richard Simons, 83, passed away on April 30, 2022 at home and in the presence of his children from the effects of living hard. He fought with an unmatched fervor as he was never one to give up. Even though a failing heart and kidneys eventually took their toll, it was not for his lack of fighting. Richard is survived by his two daughters, Miche Bacher (Noah) and Stacey Simons (Holly Cooper), two grandsons, Jordan and Elijah Bacher and his longtime companion Joy Levine. He had very few, but very close relationships he relied on and was fiercely loyal to. Richard was born and raised in New York and earned a bachelor's degree from Springfield College where he founded its male soccer team. He...

Ronald Kenneth Hambleton was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada on June 27, 1943, the elder son of Kenneth Hobson Hambleton and Ethel Marion Ralph. His father was serving in Hamilton, Ontario with the British Royal Air Force and his mother, Ethel, had immigrated to Canada with her parents from England as an infant. When Ron was one year old, he traveled to England with his mother and his younger sister, Carol (Carr) in a naval convoy, returning to Canada in 1950. He grew up in a world of hockey, soccer, church groups, the Boy Scouts, and the RAF Club. He was a Queen's Scout. He received a B.A. in mathematics from the University of Waterloo in 1966 and a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto...

Sheila Gail Okun died peacefully on Saturday, April 16, 2022 in Dedham, Massachusetts. She was 85. Born on October 23, 1936, in Hartford, Connecticut, Sheila lived a life that was marked by her endless creativity and her boundless capacity for love. From the start, she enjoyed singing and dancing (befitting the Shirley Temple era) and became an accomplished pianist. She graduated from Classical High School in Springfield, MA., attended The University of Connecticut, and returned years later to complete her education at American International College, earning a bachelor's degree in Psychology. Sheila was known for her striking color combinations and excellent taste when it came to her home,...

Richard R. Rescia, 92, died on Monday, April 11, 2022, surrounded by his children and care giver at his home. Richard was born in Springfield, MA on February 12, 1930, to Giacomo and Ida Rescia, and spent his childhood growing up in North Agawam, an enclave of Italian immigrants. His father died when Dad was 10 years old, leaving him with his mother and his older brother Reno. After high school he left for the University of Mass. where he graduated cum laude. He then did his graduate work in mathematics at the University of Conn. In 1953, Dad married Helen C. Smith and they moved to Northampton where he had a job opportunity to work at the Foster Farrar Company, a hardware store owned...

Barbara Elizabeth (McKemmie) Jacque, 89, passed away peacefully on Sunday April 10th, 2022. Born in South Amherst, MA on December 5th, 1932 to the late John E. McKemmie, Sr. and Ebba (Tidlund) McKemmie. Funeral Services will be held on Friday at 11:00 AM at the Douglass Funeral Home in Amherst, a calling hour will precede the service from 10:00 to 11:00. She will be interred with her husband at South Amherst Cemetery following the service. Full obituary and memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

Margaret Orwell Krzystofik, 93, passed away after a short illness, at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. She was born in 1928, to the late Michael and Alice Wallace. Margaret grew up and was educated in Chicopee. She was a graduate of AIC, where she earned BA and Masters Degree. Margaret was a long time employee at the Amherst Regional High School and Holyoke Community College, where she was a typing teacher. She loved tending to her flower garden, Travel, reading and listening to Irish music. She is survived by her husband of 70 years, Anthony, son James and daughter in-law Kathleen. Margaret was predeceased by her son Michael. She leaves behind three grandchildren, John and wife Sarah, Anne...

Mr. Russell L. Shaw of Aurora, Colorado, formerly of Springfield, Massachussetts, was called home to be with the Lord on March 9, 2022. Please visit www.horancares.com for full obituary.

Thomas "Tom" Scanlon, Sr, of South Deerfield, MA was peacefully called home on March 8, 2022 at the age of 87. Tom was born in Webster, MA in 1934 to the late James Peter Scanlon (b. Doonaha, Clare, Ireland) and Alice Cecilia (Ryan) Scanlon (b. Webster, MA). Tom grew up in Central and Eastern Massachusetts which was very prevalent from his "par the ca" Boston accent that we all knew and loved! He had 7 siblings: Margaret Scanlon, Nancy Scanlon, Donald Scanlon, Butch Scanlon, Mary Scanlon Sumner and Twin Stillborn Scanlon. He attended Saint Louis High School, Webster, MA class of 1953 and then went on to put himself thru school to earn a degree in Accounting. He worked for the State...

Peggy Cecil Epstein (n?e Margaret C Burtaine) died on February 20, 2022 peacefully and on her terms. A vibrant women of high style, she was the family matriarch sharing stories of growing up in Brooklyn, NY., Hartford, Conn.; and Springfield/Longmeadow, Ma. Her love of music, art and performing came from her father (Henry E. Burtaine, who was concert master of Radio City Music Hall in the 1920's). Peggy attended Juilliard, and Hart School of Music. As an Opera singing, she loved Mozart, especially Cosi Fan Tutte (translated as "All Women Do It!") Her wit and political views were influenced by her mother (Antoinette Glassberg Burtaine, a Suffragist. Discussing (aka, arguing) political points...

John "Jack" J. Collins, Jr., 82, of Ludlow, Vermont, passed away peacefully on February 6, 2022 with his family by his side. Jack was born on December 7, 1939, in Springfield, MA to John and Mary (Murphy) Collins. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, February 14, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of Annunciation in Ludlow, VT. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. in the Church of Annunciation Fellowship Hall. An online guest book & full obituary can be found at cabotfh.com

Arthur W. Mundt of Hadley Massachusetts passed away peacefully at his home in Hadley on January 28, 2022. He was 93. Arthur was born May 23, 1928, in Springfield Massachusetts to Katherine and William Mundt, immigrants from Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire (now part of Ukraine), respectively. He and his sister Evelyn (now in Agawam) grew up in Springfield. Arthur graduated from Technical High School in 1948 and was hired by Foster Machine Company where he worked as a draftsman. In 1952 he enlisted in the US Army National Guard and was honorably discharged in 1955. In 1960 Arthur joined his cousin Carl H Psholka as a partner in Berkshire Plastics Company, Inc. in East Longmeadow...

Ronald P. Pettirossi passed peacefully from this life into the loving arms of our Lord on Thursday, January 27, 2022, at Promenade Senior Living in Sebastian. He was 78 and his spiritual strength and fierce determination helped him through the death of his beloved wife of 56 years, Carol, who God chose to bring back to Him September 8, 2020. Ron was born in Springfield, Massachusetts to the late Mauro and Angelina Mazzei Pettirossi, who predeceased him. He leaves behind daughter Joy Ann Poland (Tim) of Foster, RI, son Damon Pettirossi of Vero Beach, FL and his loving grandchildren, Ashley Hendrickson, Angelina Pettirossi and Ariana Pettirossi all of Sugar Hill and Jayce Poland of Foster. He...

Ronald Geagan of Springfield passed away on Jan 24, in Northampton Ronald was born on Oct 30, 1950, in Springfield Ma the son of Patrick and Joyce (Small) Geagan. Ronald was raised in Springfield and attended local schools. He graduated from Tech High School Class of 1968. Ronald worked in construction and later retired from the Log Cabin after working there as a bartender for many years. Ronald served in the US Air Force. Ronald always had a book in his hand, and he loved history Ronald leaves Denise Roy-Geagan his former wife and then his friend for the last 12 years. A stepdaughter Erin, who he was extra proud of. Brothers William Geagan and Patrick Geagan and his wife Sheila, as...