Posts filed under 'Deaths'
Nantucket People in the News
“Kerry Hallam in Orlando”. Sounds like an unlikely headline.
How about “Kerry Hallam Kisses a Giraffe in Orlando”?
Harpo (The Fragrance Bar) is gathering the photographs of the late Les Saunders to be shown at the Atlantic Cafe at a future date. Contact Harpo at: info@nantucketnaturaloils.com, or 325-4740, ex.4.
Vanessa Noel is described as “shoe maven and hotelier” in the April issue of Town & Country. The article features her new Vanessa Noel Hotel Green that opened last year, describing it as ” outfitted with sustainable accoutrements gathered on Noel’s world travels, including bamboo shades and handmade Senegalese furniture.”
A service has been announced for Phil Murray for Friday, August 17th at St. Paul’s Church at 4 p.m.
Sheriff Richard Bretschneider has been fined $1500 by the State Ethics Commission for violating the Massachusetts conflict of interest law. The full story is in the I&M.
Add comment April 3, 2007
In Memoriam: Les Saunders
Les Saunders passed away on March 14 at the age of 91 at Our Island Home. Les had been a bartender at the JC, and a maker of the doughnuts at the Downeyflake. I first met him in the late 70’s or early 80’s. He would bring in a roll or two of film every few days, and then order blow ups of his best photographs. I assumed he was selling them, but one day asked, and no, he was not. He was just giving them away, hundreds of them. I tried to give him a discount, and he said thanks, but no thanks. He was happy to pay the price, and didn’t have much else to spend his money on.
You’ve seen Les, shuffling along in his latter days at a paltry pace, head held proudly up over his cane and body bent forward about his middle. Tourists must have seen a curmudgeony old man insistent upon stubbornly slowing down their day when he stepped into the street to cross. I saw a man who would “just keep truckin on” ’til his dying day, and that he did. Not much could keep him from his 11:30 lunches at the A.C. on his own stool and with his own mug.
As Steve Turrentine, who supplied this photograph, said, “people like Les only come around once in a lifetime.” Pictured with Les are Bobby Short, Brian Gallagher, Steve Turrentine, Jerry Blitefield and Brian Pluff.
Les’ friend Mark Watson told me that Les wanted to be cremated, but he didn’t want his ashes spread over the ocean. Why? “Because I can’t swim.”
A service will be announced soon. See also Mary Lancaster’s piece in the Nantucket Independent.
1 comment March 23, 2007
In Memoriam
Jessica Mehringer passed away at the age of 35 on March 2. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, March 18 at 1 pm at the Unitarian Church. Mary Lancaster has written a fine tribute to Jessica in this week’s Nantucket Independent.
John Shugrue died on March 2 on Nantucket. The service has already been held. See the March 8 issue of the I&M for the obituary, and the March 1 issue of the Independent for a story.
Add comment March 17, 2007
Winter Somber
The winter we thought we had escaped has settled in; it’s been a somber week here on Nantucket.
15 year old Nantucket High School freshman Vaughn Mitchell Peterson took his own life last Saturday. In a community as small as this, we ask how we missed the signs, or were there any signs, and how have we failed as a community. We’ll likely never know. But we do know that this island came together quickly, efficiently, selflessly and compassionately to help those who suffered the most from this tragedy: daily student assemblies, yellow ribbons, a bulletin board of messages and remembrances, counselors and clergy. And we’re all reminded that that which affects one of us affects all of us, and if you feel desperate, talk to someone. We are here if you need us.
The island also lost Phil Murray last week. Born on Nantucket in 1921, Phil died at the age of 85. He was probably best known for making Nantucket Reds famous through the store he owned, Murray’s Toggery; Phil was also instrumental in building the hospital you see today at 57 Prospect. There will be a service in August at the Sankaty Golf Club.
Add comment March 4, 2007
In Memoriam
Whitney Balliett died on February 2nd at the age of 80. Though not a resident of Nantucket, his daughter Blue Balliett was an island resident with her husband Bill Klein, the island’s first professional Planning Director. Blue is the author of The Ghosts of Nantucket: 23 True Accounts (spawning a cottage industry in ghost tours), Chasing Vermeer, (a bestseller and winner of the 2005 Edgar Award in the Best Juvenile category), and The Wright 3. Whitney Balliett was a jazz critic for the New Yorker from 1957 to 2001. It’s not easy to write about music, and Whitney was the best - maybe the best jazz writer in our lifetimes. Most of what I know about jazz has come from, other than listening, the words of Whitney Balliett and summer ‘Sconset resident Peter Watrous when he wrote columns on jazz for The New York Times.
Some additional notes on the passing of Phil Murray mentioned last issue: There will be a service at St. Paul’s Church at 4 pm on August 17, followed by a reception at Sankaty. Correcting some information: Phil was instrumental in raising funds, the Lifeline Campaign, along with his friend Sandy Craig, to help the hospital keep its doors open and create a cardiac-rehab unit
.
Add comment February 20, 2007
Winter Somber
The winter we thought we had escaped has settled in; it’s been a somber week here on Nantucket.
15 year old Nantucket High School freshman Vaughn Mitchell Peterson took his own life last Saturday. In a community as small as this, we ask how we missed the signs, or were there any signs, and how have we failed as a community. We’ll likely never know. But we do know that this island came together quickly, efficiently, selflessly and compassionately to help those who suffered the most from this tragedy: daily student assemblies, yellow ribbons, a bulletin board of messages and remembrances, counselors and clergy. And we’re all reminded that that which affects one of us affects all of us, and if you feel desperate, talk to someone. We are here if you need us.
The island also lost Phil Murray last week. Born on Nantucket in 1921, Phil died at the age of 85. He was probably best known for making Nantucket Reds famous through the store he owned, Murray’s Toggery; Phil was also instrumental in building the hospital you see today at 57 Prospect. There will be a service in August at the Sankaty Golf Club.
Add comment February 9, 2007
