Member Obituaries

Martini, Richard W.

Richard Walter Martini, formerly of Amherst, New Hampshire, passed away on April 18, 2019 in Beaverton, Oregon. He died peacefully at home at age 94 from renal failure and congestive heart disease, in the company of family and caregivers.

Dick was born on August 29, 1924 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Walter H. and Lydia H. (Schatner) Martini. Dick was married to Edith M. Compton in Waukesha, Wisconsin on October 12, 1957. They met on a blind date set up by a common friend the winter before, where they played bridge and he drove Edith home on a very cold night in his drafty convertible (with the roof up). He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Emmy J. (Martini) Meyer in 2016, and wife Edith in 1999. Dick and Edith had two children, twins (double Martinis) Margaret “Peggy” Martini (George Bollweg) of Morton Grove, IL and William R. Martini (Marilyn Jacobson) of Portland, OR, both of whom survive him. Dick is also survived by his two grandchildren, Claire S. Martini of Seattle, WA and Jacob F. Martini of Portland, OR, and several nieces and nephews. Dick’s parents were first-generation Americans, born shortly after their families emigrated to Milwaukee from Germany in the 1880’s and Lithuania in the 1890’s. Dick’s heritage and upbringing were reflected in his blue eyes, his fondness for bratwurst, sauerkraut, red cabbage, and beer, and a few token German words that he seemed to enjoy mispronouncing.

As a youth, Dick read books, collected stamps, and listened to radio shows with his family. He wore knickers to school and enjoyed family picnics on the dairy farms of his aunts and uncles outside Milwaukee, especially the fried chicken and strawberry shortcake. His mother called him “Dickie” at times. Dick enjoyed playing baseball, football, tennis, and golf. As a boy, he saw Civil War veterans marching in Veterans Day parades. With his family, he saw the Graf Zeppelin over the Chicago World’s Fair (Century of Progress) in 1933. They drove out to New York City for the 1939 World’s Fair. As a teenager, he worked delivering newspapers and was a clerk in a shoe store. One summer, he worked a concession stand at Klode Park on Lake Michigan, alongside his buddy and future brother-in-law Bob Meyer. He was an avid lifelong sports fan, particularly of the Green Bay Packers, who he saw play with his father in Milwaukee in the 1930’s and 1940’s. Dick became a proud Packers shareholder in his 70’s.

Dick graduated from Whitefish Bay High School in 1942. He attended Marquette University for one semester, before interrupting his college education for 3 years of military service during World War II. Dick enlisted in the army at age 18, and served from Feb 1943 to Apr 1946 in the US Army Air Force (AAF), where he was a corporal and trained as a weather forecaster. He was stationed stateside for two years (in Berkeley, CA, and in Victorville, CA in the Mojave desert), then in Europe for one year. He departed for Germany on a troop ship just before V-E Day (fortunate timing), and was stationed in Salzburg, Austria and Wiesbaden, Germany. He saw Dachau, took photos of Munich in ruins, and visited Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest in Berchtesgaden  (“no furniture left, but the view was superb”). At Nordholz (“a godforsaken place north of Bremen”), he heard the British firing off captured German V1 and V2 rockets into the North Sea. In the army, Dick picked up handball, bridge, and a taste for scotch. He credited his army years for pulling him out of his isolated suburban existence and exposing him to the broader world. He considered himself lucky for not having gone through the hardships many vets faced in Europe and the South Pacific.

After returning from Europe, Dick enrolled at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. With the help of the GI Bill, and credit for the year of classes he’d taken at UC Berkeley during the war, he earned a BS in Metallurgical Engineering in 1949.

Prior to his marriage to Edith at age 33, Dick lived at home with his parents in Milwaukee. He enjoyed a pack of friends and life as a bachelor. He enjoyed late-night socializing, bowling, and playing pool, yet showed up reliably at work the next morning. He took regular trips to Colorado, and a road trip to Acapulco.

Dick spent his entire career working as a manufacturing process engineer in metal foundries. Dick spent the first 22 years of his career in various rust-belt industrial cities, beginning at Howard Foundry Co. in Milwaukee, where he finished as Chief Metallurgist. The family moved to Muskegon, MI in 1961, where he became Process Control Manager at MISCO Precision Casting Co. In 1966, Dick and 3 others co-founded Cast Technology Inc. in Schenectady, NY, where he served as Technical Director for 5 years. Finally, in 1971, he joined Hitchiner Manufacturing Co. in Milford, NH, the most bucolic of his outposts. He was hired as Director of the Tech Center, and spent the final 19 years of his career there.

Dick had many interests and hobbies and a quiet wit, and remained good conversational company to the end.Dick picked up the hobby of model railroading as a boy and participated in it throughout his life, writing articles for magazines and attending national conventions. He was particularly a fan of Colorado’s narrow gauge railroads and the big steam engines of the 1930’s and 1940’s. He bemoaned the passing of the steam era, and encouraged his young children to exclaim “damn diesel” whenever they saw a non-steam locomotive. Edith liked to point out that their honeymoon included many hours spent in the rail yards of the upper Midwest.

As a youth, Dick sang in his church and school choirs , and began a lifelong love of jazz music. Starting in seventh grade, he’d take the streetcar into downtown Milwaukee by himself to sneak into bars to see Fats Waller, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Glenn Miller, Woody Herman, and the Dorseys play. With other GI’s stationed in the desert, he hitchhiked into L.A. to see Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore sing. He saw Oscar Peterson, Art Tatum, Duke Ellington, and others live at various times. Traditional New Orleans-style Dixieland jazz was a favorite and matched his upbeat disposition well.

Dick enjoyed sailing, but only once ever owned a boat himself. In Michigan in the early 1960’s, Dick and a friend co-owned a basic 19’ sailboat, which the family took out on lakes and which terrified his kids.

Dick, Edith, and their 2 kids moved to New Hampshire in 1971, where they formed many dear and lasting friendships over the next 44 years. Dick retired in 1990.

Dick and Edith enjoyed playing bridge with friends in all the places they lived. He and Edith were also able to take many trips together within the US, and to Europe, Mexico, and Australia, before Edith’s death from cancer in 1999, after almost 42 years of marriage. One of Dick and Edith’s fondest memories was their trip in their cramped VW Vanagon, retracing the path Edith’s ancestors took west along the Oregon Trail in the 1840’s. Edith was also able to track down some of Dick’s long-lost Martini cousins in Germany, who they joined for two mini family reunions in the 1980’s. Dick continued to travel after Edith’s death, including to his grandkids’ school graduations.

Dick was an avid reader of books and periodicals, particularly of mysteries and histories. He liked “shooting the breeze” with his buddies (aka “solving the world’s problems”), listening to speakers, and making new acquaintances.

Dick volunteered in town and community organizations in New Hampshire. He served on the boards of the town library, Amherst Historical Society, and Souhegan Nursing Association. He drove for F.I.S.H., and was a member of the Lions Club and AAUW gourmet group. One year, he marched in the Town of Amherst’s 4th of July parade, dressed up as local native Horace Greeley.

In December 2015, following an acute health crisis while visiting his son Bill, Dick resettled permanently in Portland, Oregon. He spent his final three years residing comfortably and safely at the adult care home of his caretakers Cornelia and Pete Popa and their family in Beaverton. With Cornelia’s loving care, Dick was able to regain his health. He got an extra 3+ good years to spend living near family, including his grandchildren. He enjoyed their many meals together, happy-hour explorations, movies, and museum outings. He missed his life and friends in Amherst, but adapted to the unplanned relocation with his typical good nature.

Dick lived in the present and enjoyed each day, taking what comes. He chalked up his longevity to “clean living”, somewhat ironically. He loved simple home cooking and was always appreciative of a good stew, pork tenderloin, baked beans, dry martinis (gin, with a twist), and lemon meringue pie. He maintained a positive disposition and interest in many things, and was always game for a visitor or outing. He had a stack of history books, Economists, and clippings on the table next to his chair the day he died.

Dick’s ashes will be interred next to his wife Edith’s, at Meadow View Cemetery in Amherst, NH.

(Source:  http://www.springerandson.com/on-line-obituary/richard-w-martini/)
Dick was a life member of the Historical Society of Amherst, NH and served on numerous Board positions, including President from 1994 to 1998.

Medlyn, Barbara

Barbara B. Medlyn, 93, resident of Milford, N.H., died on April 17, 2019. She was born in Amherst, NH on July 28, 1925, a daughter of Orson H. Bragdon, Sr. and Helen (Newton) Bragdon. She graduated from Amherst High School, Class of 1943, and was a lifelong resident of Amherst and Milford.

Barbara and her late husband, Alfred "Hank" Medlyn, owned and operated Medlyn Motor, Inc. in Milford for many years. She had also worked as a bookkeeper for McKay & Wright, Ryder Concrete and The Manchester Union Leader. She wintered in Melbourne Beach, Fla., for many years and spent many summers at the family cottage on Deering Lake. Barbara was an avid golfer, enjoyed bowling and was a faithful Red Sox fan. She was a loving mother, devoted grandmother and great-grandmother, whose greatest joy came from spending time with her family.

Barbara was Past President of Ricciardi Hartshorn Post #23, American Legion Auxiliary, Milford, and a member of the Amherst and Milford Historical Societies. She was predeceased by her husband, Alfred H. "Hank" Medlyn, who died in 1996. Family members include two sons and daughters-in-law, Stephen and Patricia Medlyn, and Edward and Christina Medlyn, all of Milford; two grandchildren whom she adored, Amanda Berry and her husband, Jay of Milford, Heidi Medlyn and her significant other Matt Beal of Portsmouth, N.H.; two great-grandchildren whom she cherished, Lincoln and Quinn Berry; nieces and nephews.

(Source: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/unionleader/obituary.aspx?n=barbara-b-medlyn&pid=192582270&fhid=3008)

Odell, Marjorie Noble

Marjorie N. Odell, 90, lifelong resident of Amherst, NH, died November 30, 2010 at Elliot Hospital, Manchester, NH. She was born in Mont Vernon, NH on October 10, 1920, a daughter of the late Herbert and Emma (Alexander) Noble.

Mrs. Odell attended Miss Farmer’s School of Cooking, Boston, MA. She was a homemaker for most of her life and enjoyed spending time with her family. Many of the neighborhood children called her Auntie Dell.

She was a member of The Congregational Church of Amherst, Historical Society of Amherst, Woman’s Association and the Century Club.

Mrs. Odell was predeceased by her husband, Ralph H. Odell, who died in 1999; a sister, Edith Noble and a brother, Keith Noble.

Family members include two sons, Ralph H. Odell, Jr. and his wife, Beth of Pittsfield, NH and Charles T. Odell of Amherst, NH; two grandsons, Matthew Odell of New York, NY and Christopher Odell of Pittsfield, NH; a sister, Ruth E. Noble of Arlington, MA; nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 4th at 2:00 pm in the Congregational Church of Amherst UCC, 11 Church Street, Amherst. NH. Burial will be in Meadowview Cemetery, Amherst. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

(Source: www.smith-heald.com/obituaries/Marjorie-Noble-Odell?obId=675001#/obituaryInfo)

Helen Davis Rowe, 83, of Amherst, NH died peacefully at her residence on May 10, 2018 with her family by her bedside. She was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts on March 2, 1935, the daughter of Albert Davis and Elizabeth Hall Davis.

Helen graduated from Chatham College, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she met her husband Robert H. Rowe. She moved to New Hampshire in 1971 and taught sixth grade classes in the Milford, New Hampshire School District.

During her life in Amherst she was active in town affairs as the member of the Historic District Commission, Library Trustee, Garden Club and Questers. She served her church, the Amherst Congregational Church, as a member of the Diaconate, Ministerial Search Committee, Woman’s Association and Funeral Committee.

Helen was known by her friends and associates as an individual who did not desire recognition for her accomplishments; a woman who accomplished challenges quickly and efficiently.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Robert H. Rowe, sons Andrew Davis Rowe and David Rowe and grandchildren Hannah Rowe, Andrew Davis Rowe Jr. and Meghan Rowe.

A memorial service will be held on May 24, 2018 at 10:30 AM in the Amherst Congregational Church, 11 Church Street, Amherst, NH. A private family graveside service will be conducted at Meadowview Cemetery, Amherst. Arrangements are in the care of Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford.

(Source: www.smith-heald.com/obituaries/Helen-Davis-Rowe?obId=3088734#/obituaryInfo)

Stillman, Marilyn G.

Marilyn Garfield Stillman of Amherst, passed away peacefully on April 2, 2018. Marilyn was ever cheerful and generous and was blessed to live independently until the final week of her life. 

She was born on August 17, 1924, in Burlington, Vermont, to Ethan and Della (Walker) Garfield. She grew up in Manchester, N.H., and graduated from Wellesley College in 1945. 

In 1947 she married the love of her life, Ronald E. Stillman of Manchester, who predeceased her. Marilyn and Ronald moved with some frequency during their first twenty-five years of marriage, and whenever they relocated, Marilyn considered the move a new adventure-an opportunity to learn more, make friends, and give back. Deeply committed to volunteerism, she contributed to the many communities in which she resided, and strove to leave a place better than she found it. 

She was a member of the DAR, the Winthrop Society, and a strong supporter of Wellesley College, serving her class in various capacities. Marilyn had a great interest in genealogy and corresponded with individuals across the country in pursuit of acquiring information about her family and heritage. She possessed a lively intellect and a thirst for learning. She was an avid reader and had a profound knowledge of history, particularly British history and the Civil War. She loved to travel, both within our country and abroad. Priding herself on living fully and independently, Marilyn endeavored to make each day meaningful. Her unwavering faith, her grace in the face of adversity, and her love of family sustained her throughout her later years. 

Marilyn will be deeply missed by her daughter Sara Stillman Drogin and her husband Jeffrey; her son Ronald G. Stillman and his wife Elaine; and her daughter Nancy Stillman. Her adoring grandchildren will miss her profoundly: Ethan Drogin, Elizabeth Drogin, Jennifer (Stillman) Ranalli, Heather (Stillman) Firth, and Mary Stillman, who predeceased her. Marilyn also leaves behind 11 great–grandchildren who feel blessed to have known her.

(Source: www.smith-heald.com/obituaries/Marilyn-G-Stillman?obId=3058170#/obituaryInfo)

Struss, Bonnie (Norman)

Bonnie M. Struss, long time resident of Amherst NH, passed away peacefully December 21, 2019, while under hospice care at Highland Hospital, Rochester, NY.

Born in Jefferson City, Missouri, on March 19, 1930, Bonnie was the daughter of the late Dow Norman and Margaret Overstreet Norman. A graduate of the St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing in St. Louis, MO, she later pursued a bachelor’s degree in nursing at Southern Illinois University. She worked many years as an ENT nurse as well as in pediatrics. Bonnie was an accomplished cook, seamstress and painter. She was active in a variety of community and historical organizations while living in Amherst, especially the Amherst Historical Society, for which she served as curator of the Chapel Museum. She and her husband Harold were honored as 1999 Amherst Citizens of the Year.

She was predeceased by her husband of 52 years, Harold R. Struss, and her brother Tom. Bonnie is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, David and Nancy Struss of Penn Yan, New York; daughter Janet Burdet of Gatineau, Quebec; brother and sister-in-law Dan and Marianne Norman of Huntington Beach, CA; and, 7 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

Donations in her memory may be made to American Parkinson Disease Association. 

(Source: https://www.cabinet.com/obituaries/cabinet-obituaries/2020/02/06/bonnie-m-struss/)

Taussig, Ann (Jennings)

After a full life of over ninety years, Ann Jennings Taussig of Springfield Point in Wolfeboro, NH died peacefully on Tuesday, February 6, 2018 with family by her side in The Arbors’ Nursing Home for the Memory Impaired, Bedford, NH. Born in Winchester, Massachusetts on April 25, 1927 to Irving and Ellen Jennings, she is survived by her twin sisters Allie Castelli and Betsy Maley and her husband Bill, and her brother Charles “Skip” Jennings and his wife Nancy.

Ann and her husband of 56 years, John W. Taussig, Jr. (2006) will be missed by their four children John W. Taussig III (Anne Huston) of Sammamish, WA; Jeffrey J. Taussig (Katherine Totaro) of Rye, NH; Timothy T. Taussig (Nancy Arnot) of Larchmont, NY and Ellen K. Taussig (Arilee Bagley) of Voorheesville, NY. Ann and John loved and were blessed with eleven grandchildren: Kate, John, Charlie, Sarah, Rick, Kara, Bill, Torrey, Tim, Kiera and Mary and in recent years, three great grandsons Ozzy, Jimmy, and AJ. 

Ann and her siblings moved to New Durham, NH with their parents in the early 1940’s to what became the Jennings Farm. Ann graduated from Colby College in Waterville, ME and while there met John Taussig, attending Bowdoin College, on a blind date arranged by a high school friend. They married on May 6, 1950, and soon began the family that was so important to them both.
In 1959, John and Ann built their home on Springfield Point Road. They commuted from their Englewood NJ home with their growing family to spend summers on the lake in Wolfeboro where they entertained and always had a dock full of family and friends. It wasn’t until in 2001 that Ann and John made it their permanent residence.
 
Ann’s life was always about family. Her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy and are a living testament to her being a loving mom and Grandma. She was the quintessential homemaker and she took such pleasure in cooking, baking, knitting, sewing, quilting, and her lifelong passion in planning & tending to her gardens while keeping her bird feeders full.  She took particular delight in her kitchen where she spoiled everyone with her delicious plum tortes, peach cream or blackberry pies, dozens of her oatmeal cookies, frozen “yukky” pies and chocolate sauce for ice cream sundaes among many of her staple creations. One never went hungry in the Taussig house – she saw to that!

While Alzheimer’s took her memory away in recent years, her children and the grandchildren promise to keep her story, her laughter and loving ways alive going forward. 

(Source: http://www.lordfuneralhome.com/notices/Ann-Taussig)

Wichman, William Merrick (Bill)

On December 12th, 2015, William Merrick (Bill) Wichman passed away peacefully at Community Hospice House in Merrimack N.H., of complications from ALS. A long-time resident of Amherst, NH, he was 78.

Born in Schenectady, NY, reared in Fort Wayne, IN and Hartford, CT, Bill graduated from Cornell University in 1961 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. He met his wife of 54 adventurous years through the Cornell Outing Club and, after the wedding, they moved to Washington where Bill served as a Lieutenant at McChord Air Force Base, as an air defense computer maintenance officer. He then earned an Engineer degree at Stanford University, for graduate work in the emerging field of computerized control and sensing systems, at the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. In 1967, he became an engineer for Sanders Associates where he designed and maintained computer systems all over the world, traveling 697,000 miles over his 30-year career.

An avid outdoorsman, Bill hiked all the 4,000-footers in the White Mountains and explored many far-flung locations. Earning the rank of Eagle Scout introduced him to community service, and it became a lifelong passion. He volunteered with the Daniel Webster Council, B.S.A., provided lighting and backstage support for P.T.A. theatrics, and in later years became active in the Amherst Historical Society, the Amherst Conservation Commission, the Amherst Land Trust, and several other town boards and commissions. He was happiest when active and out-of-doors, and was known for maintaining town trails by hiking with a chainsaw on his backpack. In 2007, Bill was proud to be named Citizen of the Year by the Amherst Lions Club for his outstanding volunteerism.

He is survived by his wife, formerly Blanche Greene; a son, Robert Wichman of Saint Cloud, MN; two daughters, Heather Lattanzi of Los Altos, CA, and Elizabeth Wichman of Sunnyvale, CA; eight grandchildren; and a sister, Ann Klemme of Basking Ridge, NJ.

A Celebration of his Life will be held at 2 p.m., January 2, 2016 in the Barbara Landry Meeting Room at the Amherst Town Hall. Memorial contributions may be made to the Amherst Conservation Commission, PO Box 960, Amherst, NH 03031, with his name on the memo line.

(Source: http://www.cabinet.com/cabinet/cabinetobituaries/1075367-435/william-merrick-wichman.html#sthash.uUODcljy.dpuf)

Young, Marion G.

Marion G. Young, 88, longtime resident of Amherst, NH, died on December 27, 2012 at the home of her daughter and son-in-law in Goffstown, NH. She was born in Cambridge, MA on June 27, 1924, a daughter of Peter and Alice (Hayes) Macklin. Marion graduated from Somerville (MA) High School, Class of 1941 and Salem State College, Class of 1945. She continued with graduate studies at Boston University and Rivier College. Prior to her marriage in 1949, she taught high school in Ipswich, MA and Waltham, MA. She moved to Amherst in 1949 and spent more than 30 years teaching Business Education at Milford Area Senior High School.

Mrs. Young was a member of Nashua Area Retired Educators and the Amherst Historical Society. She enjoyed gardening, reading and most especially spending time with her family. Mrs. Young was a communicant of St. Patrick’s Church for 62 years and a member of the Catholic Women’s Club.

She was predeceased by her husband, Donald O. Young, who died in 1988. Family members include two daughters and sons-in-law, Patricia A. and Steven Giguere of Goffstown, NH, Jean C. and John Rotch of Milford, NH; two sons and daughters-in-law, Raymond A. and Leticia Young of San Diego, CA, Paul A. and Anne Young of Exeter, NH; 14 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Jake Young of Amherst, NH; many nieces and nephews.
 

(Source:  http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/obituaries/988470-466/marion-g.-young.html)