Obituaries

Mar 1, 2019

Edward O. Riiska, Jr., 75, of New Hartford Road in Sandisfield, MA passed away on Friday, March 1, 2019.

He leaves behind his loving wife of 56 years, Linda (Goodenough) Riiska, their two daughters, Eve (John) Bannish and Lisa (Ralph) Leavenworth, four granddaughters and two great granddaughters.  He is also survived by two brothers, Tom and Gene...

Feb 23, 2019

Stanley L. “Louie” Stanisz, 89, longtime owner and operator of “Louie’s Barbershop” in Housatonic passed away on February 23, 2019 at Fairview Commons Nursing Center in Great Barrington.

A native and lifelong resident of the area, Stanley was born May 8, 1929 in Stockbridge, MA, the son of the late Ludwik and Eva Smykla Stanisz.  He was...

Feb 19, 2019

Thomas John "Tom" Vigneron passed away February 19 th , 2019 in Great Barrington due to a head injury from an accidental fall.

He was a long time resident born at Fairview hospital in 1957, the son of the late E. Morgan and Joan “Betty” Vigneron. Tom attended Bryant, Searles and Monument Mountain, and Salisbury schools followed...

Feb 18, 2019

It is with sadness that the family of Raymond F. Pieczarka of Great Barrington, MA announces his passing in the early morning hours of February 18th at the Kimball Farms Nursing Facility in Lenox, MA. Raymond was born on October 23, 1934 in Chicopee, MA to Matthew and Helen (Przewoznik) Pieczarka. He was an only child born into a...

Feb 2, 2019

Stanley F. Koloski, 81, of Becket Road in Otis, MA passed away Saturday, February 2, 2019 at his home following a long illness.  Prior to moving to Otis he was a former longtime resident of Chatham, NY.

Born in Great Barrington, MA on April 3, 1937 he was the son of Stanley Joseph Koloski and Olga Gregoski...

Jan 21, 2019

William W. Hankey, 45, of Francis Avenue in Great Barrington passed away on January 21, 2019.

A native and lifelong resident, William was born June 27, 1973 in Great Barrington, MA the son of Joan Hankey.  Known by the nicknames “Billy” and “Gus” he attended local schools and could often be found in town riding his scooter....

Jan 20, 2019

Thomas F. DeVoti, 73, of Hillsdale Road in South Egremont, MA passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, January 20, 2019.

Born February 27, 1945 in Astoria, New York he was the son of the late Patrick and Agnes Wegrzyniak DeVoti.  He was a graduate of the William Cullen Bryant High School in Queens, NY.

Tom was...

Jan 20, 2019

John E. Heffernan III of Monterey, MA and formerly of Enfield, CT passed away January 20, 2019, at home, surrounded by his family, from glioblastoma. John was born on February 10, 1934 in Peabody, MA, the son of John E. Heffernan, Jr and Margaret (Mulligan) Heffernan. He graduated from Brookline High school in 1952 and from Northeastern University in...

Jan 10, 2019

James “Jim” E. Wells, 74, of Bow Wow Road, Sheffield, MA passed away on January 10, 2019 at his home surrounded by family.

Jim was born March 24, 1944 in Great Barrington, MA to the late Dana and Ruth Twing Wells.  A lifelong resident of the area, he attended school at the Sheffield Center and Mount Everett. ...

Jan 2, 2019

It is with great sadness that her family shares the news that Rena Yusin Orner died on Jan. 2, 2019, after a full life. Rena was born on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 1924 to Louis Yusin and Celia (Halpern) Yusin in the Bronx, New York.

She excelled academically, and at age 20 graduated from Hunter College where...

Dec 29, 2018

Born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania on December 9, 1944, Michael graduated from Groveton High School in Alexandria, Virginia in 1963.  He graduated from the Maryland Institute of Art in 1968.  Michael was an avid painter all of his life and his preferred subjects of painting were nature and wildlife.

Michael worked until his retirement as a ground maintenance...

Dec 25, 2018

David Alan Rhind, 65, a long time resident of Stockbridge, passed away peacefully on December 25 after a long illness.

David was born in Jacksonville, Florida, on July 3, 1953. His family moved to Stockbridge when he was a boy. David loved the outdoors, he was an excellent skier and drummer, and he spent a great deal...

Dec 21, 2018

James D. McGraw (1931-2018) passed away peacefully at home on Friday, December 21, 2018 surrounded by his loving family.  Like Theodore Roosevelt’s triumphant “man in the arena,” he devoted his entire life to his family, church, business community, and country.

Born in the Dust Bowl town of Ringling, Oklahoma during the height of the Great Depression, Jim...

Dec 20, 2018

Shirley Ruth Talbot, 92, of Stockbridge, MA died peacefully at her home surrounded by family on Thursday, December 20, 2018.  Born in New York City on February 26, 1926, the daughter of Abraham and Paula (Moro) Hyman, she practiced couples therapy in Pittsfield and Stockbridge for 30 years with her husband of 71 years, Eugene Talbot.

Dec 19, 2018

Evelyn J. Hatfield, 77, of Sheffield, MA, heartbreakingly passed away after a second courageous battle with cancer.  She left us peacefully Wednesday, December 19, 2018 at her home of 41 years.  Thankfully, she was constantly surrounded by loving family and friends whom she in turn loved so much.

Eve was born January 22,...

Dec 17, 2018

Brian Dillon died on December 17, 2018 in Lenox, Massachusetts, peacefully, with his family by his side.

Brian was born in New York on July 19, 1934.  He graduated from Fordham Preparatory School in 1952 and continued on to Cornell University in 1956, where he studied letters, philosophy, and faith, was President of SAE fraternity,...

Dec 13, 2018

Thomas Carpenite, 93 of Fisher Lane in South Egremont, MA, died Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018 at Fairview Commons, Great Barrington.

He was born July 23, 1925 in Brooklyn, N.Y.  to Felix and Louisa Carpenito.  He attended Pratt Institute and City College. He enlisted in the Air Corps at the outbreak of World War...

Dec 9, 2018

The family of Martin Love is sad to share the news of his passing on Sunday, December 9, 2018.  Marty passed away surrounded by his family peacefully in his sleep.

Born June 5, 1933 in Great Barrington, MA he was the son of the late Clifford and Katherine Kilcourse Love. After graduating from...

Dec 4, 2018

Valerie LeBrun Smith, 84, passed away peacefully at home with family by her side on December 4, 2018.

Born to Thomas Walter LeBrun and Vera Nordenberg LeBrun on October 2, 1934 in Rockville Centre, NY, Valerie grew up, along with brothers Thomas and Russell in Pine Plains, NY. There, her family lived on...

Dec 3, 2018

Gail M. Murray died on December 3rd, 2018 in Great Barrington, MA following a long illness. Born February 27, 1930 in New Rochelle, NY to Helen (Dodge) and Hamilton McInnes, she attended St. Agnes School in Albany, NY and Edgewood Park College in Briarcliff Manor, NY.

She married Donald F. Murray August 16,...