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Obituaries
Richard Kearney “Dick” Warren, 87, of Bangor, Maine, died Feb. 15 in Westgate Manor in Bangor. He was credited with transforming the Bangor Daily News, beginning in 1955, when he served as publisher, to 1984, when he retired. He handed the paper over to his son, Richard J. Warren, now publisher of the Daily News. For nearly three decades, the senior Warren guided the Daily News through a series of physical and technological changes. They included moving the paper’s office from Exchange Street to the corner of Main and Buck streets, and the installation of Linotype machines, and later of satellite dishes to take delivery of news from the major wire services. Although he played a vital role in the publication, investing his time and energy on employees and the community, Warren avoided the spotlight. Under his leadership, the newspaper’s charitable influence increased through its annual Christmas fund drive with the Salvation Army, to help the less fortunate, and Bangor Daily News Charities. He was publisher of several other newspapers. He acquired a commercial printing and weekly newspaper group, Northeast Publishing Co. of Presque Isle, Maine, and what is now Courier Publications, based in Rockland, Maine, and its six weekly newspapers, which he sold in 1999. Warren was president of the Maine Daily Newspaper Association and the New England Newspaper Advertising Bureau, and was a member of the Postal Committee of the American Newspaper Publishers Association. He got his start in the newspaper business working at the Hartford (Conn.) Times. Besides his son, Warren leaves his wife, Susan; a daughter, Carolyn; four stepchildren, John, Deborah, Kathleen and David; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren.
Duncan “Dunc” Fraser, 82, of Amherst, Mass., died Feb. 17 in University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester, Mass. Fraser had a particular interest in the communication arts. At age 12, he printed and published his own newspaper, The Salem (Mass.) Press. Duncan later became a newspaper reporter for The Day of New London, Conn. With his former wife, Elaine, Fraser owned and published the former Niantic (Conn.) News from 1954 until 1967. The News was bought by a larger newspaper company. During that time, he was a part owner of Curtiss Johnson Publications, which published several weekly newspapers in Southeastern Connecticut. Fraser also was assistant publisher and advertising director of the Amherst Record, and later was advertising director for the Daily Hampshire Gazette of Northampton, Mass., and two sister publications. Fraser was the author of a weekly humor column, the Casual Observer, which appeared in the Niantic News and later in the Amherst Record. Fraser’s editorials and newspaper public service campaigns won several awards from the New England Press Association. Fraser leaves his wife, Eleanor; a daughter, Heather; two grandchildren; a brother.
Samuel Charles Pennington III, 78, of Waldoboro, Maine, died Feb. 2 at Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta, Maine. He and his wife, Sally, had been the founders of the Maine Antique Digest, of which Pennington was the publisher until his death. They were also the publishers of the Waldoboro Weekly, which the couple had acquired in 1973. The paper went out of business three years later. Besides his wife, Pennington leaves five children, Katherine, Nellie, Sarah, Samuel and Mary; 11 grandchildren.
Franklin J. Stout, 90, of Ashburnham, Mass., died Feb. 2 in his home from complications of emphysema. He was a former editor of the then-Leominster (Mass.) Enterprise, editorial writer and columnist for the then-Fitchburg (Mass.) Sentinel, regional editor of the Scranton (Pa.) Times, and a wire editor in the Boston bureau of The Associated Press. Stout won two awards from the Pennsylvania Newspaper Publishers Association for coverage of a mine disaster, and a Freedom Foundation medal for an editorial in the Leominster Enterprise. He was also honored by the Newspaper Guild for community service. He was formerly vice president of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, and a member of the New England Society of Newspaper Editors and the New England Outdoor Writers Association. He leaves his wife, Constance; three children, Michael, Sally and June; seven grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild.
Paul Robbins Paul Robbins, 68, of Weathersfield, Vt., died Feb. 23, apparently of a heart attack while working in his home. He had been New England bureau chief for United Press International in Boston. He also was a well-known ski and travel journalist who had covered eight Winter Olympics and was the U.S. Ski Team’s primary writer for about two decades. Robbins work has appeared in many newspapers, including The Boston Globe, and various ski magazines, including Skiing, SKI, and Ski Racing. He was also a television commentator on Nordic sports for the CBS and NBC networks. Robbins leaves his wife, Kathe.
Eleanor Ferriter Eleanor “Ellie” Ferriter, 58, of Manchester, N.H., died Feb. 20 at Hackett Hill Healthcare Center in Manchester. She was a reporter and an assistant editor for 25 years for the Family section of the New Hampshire Union Leader of Manchester. She became editor of the same section, now called Lifestyle, in 1992 and held the position till her retirement in January 2007. She met her husband, James Ferriter of Hooksett, N.H., 29 years ago while working at the newspaper. He still works as a copy editor at Union Leader. Besides her husband, she leaves a son, Jeremy, and a daughter, Molly.
Robert Eddy Sr. Robert Eddy Sr., 90, of Springfield, Mass., died Feb. 6 at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield. Eddy began his 53-year career with a newspaper route and retired as a composing room supervisor at what is now The Republican of Springfield. He leaves his wife, Margaret; four sons, Alan, Robert, Phillip and Roger; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; a brother.
Wallace A. Weeks Wallace A. Weeks, 86, of Scituate, Mass., died of heart failure Feb. 21 at his daughter Amy’s home in Hanson, Mass. He was a reporter and copy editor in The Boston Globe’s news and sports departments for about 20 years. Besides his daughter, Weeks leaves three other daughters, Peggy, Mary and Julie; two sons, Michael and David; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.
Francis L. Murphy Francis L. Murphy, 86, of West Hartford, Conn., died Feb. 23. He was a reporter and aviation editor for the former Hartford (Conn.) Times. Murphy leaves his wife, Mary Jane; a son, Peter; two grandchildren.
Robert J. Slossar Sr. Robert J. Slossar Sr., 72, of Shelton, Conn., died Feb. 9 in his home. He was a copy editor for Hometown Publications, now part of Hersam Acorn Newspapers, based in Ridgefield, Conn. Robert leaves a son, Robert Jr.; a brother, Joseph; a sister, Therese; his stepmother, Helen; nieces and nephews.
Mary D. Birchmore, 94, of Pembroke, Mass., died in her sleep Jan. 31 at Boston Medical Center. Birchmore was a reporter at the former Weymouth (Mass.) Independent, and later became a reporter for the Patriot Ledger of Quincy, Mass., for the next 18 years of her career. Birchmore leaves a son, Edward, and a daughter, Rosemary.
Ella Rita Hennessey, 87, of Southbury, Conn., died Feb. 4 at her home. Hennessey was a reporter for the New Haven Register and the Republican-American of Waterbury, both in Connecticut. Hennessey leaves six children, John, David, Barbara, Nina, Ellarita and Molli; three grandchildren; two sisters.
Ann Marie Nancy Hughes Harrington, 76, of Weymouth, Mass., formerly of Dorchester, Mass., died Feb. 17 at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth of complications from a heart ailment. She was a reporter for the Dorchester Argus Citizen and Dorchester Reporter. She also wrote columns for those newspapers called Nancy’s Pen and Nancy’s Notes. Harrington leaves three sons, Joseph, Thomas and John; six daughters, Ann, Margaret, Elaine, Kathleen, Theresa and Helen; 18 grandchildren.
Alice W. Kyros Alice Kyros, 85, of Portland, Maine, died Feb. 14 in Falmouth By The Sea nursing home in Falmouth, Maine. Kyros was a society reporter at the Portland Press Herald. Kyros leaves a daughter, Joanne, and a brother, Peter.
Douglas Hill Douglas Hill, 77, of Osterville, Mass., died Feb. 6 in Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston after a brief illness. Hill began his career as a compositor with what was the Framingham (Mass.) News and South Middlesex News, and what is now the Metrowest Daily News of Framingham. He worked there for 48 years until his retirement. Hill leaves his wife, Theresa; four children, Paul, Paula, Patricia and Pamela; six grandchildren; a brother.
James G. Proulx Sr. James G. Proulx Sr., 81, of Franklin, Mass., died Feb. 5 at University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester, Mass., after a long illness. He worked for 40 years as a compositor for Hearst Newspaper Co. and newspapers that his wife, Elizabeth, said included the Boston Herald, The Boston Globe, Milford (Mass.) Daily News, Daily News Transcript of Dedham, Mass. Besides his wife, Proulx leaves three sons, James, John and Stephen; a daughter, Ann; 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren
Charles A. Crayton Jr., 66, of Brockton, Mass., died Feb. 17 at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston after a brief illness. He was a pressman for the Boston Herald for many years before retiring because of illness. Crayton leaves his wife, Tamara; a daughter, Kimberly; a son, David; five grandchildren.
John J. Coughlin John J. “Jack” Coughlin, of Cranston, R.I., died Feb. 17 in his home. Coughlin was a printer for the Providence (R.I.) Gravure, a subsidiary of The Providence Journal, before retiring in 1996. Coughlin leaves a daughter, Roberta; a granddaughter; a brother; a sister.
John R. Connors John R. Connors, 76, of Warwick, R.I., died Feb. 20 in his home. He was a photoengraver for The Providence (R.I.) Journal and the Providence Gravure before retiring. Connors leaves his wife, J. Anne; a son, Gary; a daughter, Susanne; four grandchildren.
Raymond B. White Raymond B. White, 92, of Providence, R.I., died Feb. 8 at Heritage Hills Nursing Home in Smithfield R.I. He was a truck driver for The Providence Journal for several years before retiring in 1984. White leaves two sons, Harold and Richard; three daughters, Judith, Jane and Mary; 15 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; a great-great grandchild.
Barbara Beck-Ramsay Barbara Beck-Ramsay, 58, of Avon, Mass., died Feb. 2 in her home. Beck-Ramsay was Avon correspondent for The Enterprise of Brockton from 1983 until 1995. She won numerous journalism awards. She leaves her husband, Mark; four sons, Mark, Erik, Jason and Adam; two daughters, Carrie and Heather; five grandchildren.
Robert Pokorak Robert Pokorak, 76, of Ridgefield, Conn., died Feb. 1 at his home in Ridgefield. Pokorak was active in collecting and publishing articles in Dick’s Dispatch, which appeared weekly in The Ridgefield Press. Pokorak leaves his wife, Barbara; two children, Scott and Kirby; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a brother; a sister.
Mary E. McGovern Mary E. (O’Sullivan) McGovern, 76, of Cranston, R.I., died Feb. 21 at Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence, R.I. She was a telephone operator for the Providence Journal Co. for 30 years, before retiring in 1995. McGovern leaves a son, Cahil; two daughters, Colleen and Maureen; three grandchildren.
Trenetta Saba Trenetta Saba, 80, of Clinton, Maine, died Feb. 7 at Maine General Medical Center in Waterville. Saba was an inserter at The Enterprise of Brockton, Mass. She leaves her husband, Paul; three children, Paula, Trenetta and William; four grandchildren; a brother.
Alice McNeil Sullivan Alice A. McNeil Sullivan, 69, of Waterford, Conn., died at home Feb. 8 after many illnesses. She was a newspaper carrier at The Day of New London, Conn. She had one of the largest newspaper routes in Waterford. Sullivan leaves four daughters, Colleen, Kerry, Kelley and Kathleen; two sons, Leo and Michael; 11 grandchildren.
Margaret Nellis Margaret Nellis, 102, of Mansfield, Mass., died Feb. 7 at Coccomo Memorial Health Center in Meriden, Conn. Nellis worked at the Record-Journal of Meriden. Nellis leaves three daughters, Dorothea, Grace and Marlene; 15 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren.
Charles Urquhart Charles “Chuck” Urquhart, 82, formerly of East Hartford, Conn., died Feb. 2 at Life Care Center of Orange Park, Fla., after a long illness. He worked for the former Hartford (Conn.) Times. Urquhart leaves his wife, Patricia; two children, Charles and Debora; a stepdaughter, Diane; and two granddaughters
John Thomas Glynn John Thomas Glynn, 93, of Cranston, RI, died Feb. 10. He was an employee of the Providence (R.I.) Journal Co. for 39 years before retiring in 1976. Glynn leaves his wife, Anna; two daughters, Karen and Maureen.
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Richard
Warren
Duncan
Fraser
Samuel
Pennington
Franklin
J. Stout
Mary
D. Birchmore
Ella
Rita Hennessey
Ann
M. Harrington
Charles
A. Crayton Jr.
NEPA
Promoting
Growth and Excellence in New England Newspapers