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Letters
Region
Obituaries
Abstract Paintings & Tribal Masks Exhibition At New Hampshire Antique Co-Op
Now on view through May 31, 2020
Congregational Church Stays Connected
During the suspension of in-person activities in light of the Covid-19 situation, the Congregational Church of Amherst, UCC has a variety of ways for members and others to connect with church programs. This is especially important during April as Holy Week and Easter are on the horizon.
The most up-to-date information about church activities can be found on the church’s website (ccamherst.org) or by calling the church office at 673-3231. Sunday services are broadcast on FacebookLive and recorded for later on-line viewing. Services are followed by a Virtual Fellowship Hour. Links for these and other events can be found on the website.
The church’s Facebook page is another source of information, including updates and video messages from the pastors. Pastors Maureen Frescott and Kate Kennedy are available to provide pastoral care during this time, and the church welcomes community members to connect with this loving, serving, open and affirming community of faith.
Lorraine Alice Hamilton
AMHERST – Lorraine Alice Hamilton of Amherst, New Hampshire, Beach Haven, New Jersey and Rancho Mirage, California died June 14, 2020 from pancreatic cancer at her home in California. She was 73 years old and a participant in the trial of a new cancer drug at NYU Langone in New York City since April 2019. She hoped that results from the trial would improve care for other patients who develop this cancer. She was with her family when she died and was
Donald Richard Haaker
Donald Richard Haaker, 80, born June 2, 1940, son of Carl E Haaker and Jeanne LaRochelle Haaker of Fitchburg, MA, son, brother, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, peacefully passed away on Sunday, June 7, 2020 at Saint Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, MA.
Don, as he was affectionately referred to by friends, and Dad or Grandpa by family, was a proud veteran, avid fisherman, former business owner, collector of “As Seen On TV” gadgets, and
Obituary
Vick Bennison, Longtime Amherst Resident & Volunteer
Vick Bennison was an avid photographer
AMHERST – Victor Bennison passed away at Community Hospice House in Merrimack, NH on September 12, 2021 in the presence of loved ones. Though a software engineer by trade, he was better known as a loving husband, father, grandfather, photographer, world adventurer, voracious reader, thespian, director, ham radio operator (NO1I), genealogist, painter, and poet, as well as a lover of birds and the wonderous beauty of nature.
He was born in Cartagena, Colombia, where his father was working as a petroleum geologist. After a short time in Colombia and Mexico, Vick spent most of his childhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma with his parents DeLeo (Smith) Bennison and Allan Bennison and his two younger sisters Mary (Seward) and Christina (Sabin). He graduated from Will Rogers High School in 1965 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Philosophy from the University of Tulsa.
In July of 1969, he visited Chicago, Illinois where he met his true love and life partner Nancy (Dante). After completing his National Guard training, he married Nancy on December 29, 1970, which, according to his sister Mary, was the smartest thing he ever did.
He received a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Illinois Chicago in 1973 and then transferred to the University of Chicago where he received a second masters in 1975 and a doctorate in theoretical computer science in 1976.
In 1977, their daughter Sarah was born in Binghamton, NY where he worked as a professor of computer science at SUNY Binghamton. In 1978, the family moved to Naperville, Illinois where Vick joined the technical staff of Bell Labs where he helped design the first call waiting and three-way calling software. Their daughter Emily was born there in 1979. In 1980, he took a job at Digital Equipment Corporation, and they moved into their home in Amherst, NH where he lived for 41 years and raised his girls.
Vick was a devoted member of the community. He worked tirelessly with Nancy to collect and organize books for the Friends of the Library annual sale. He served on the board of the Amherst Conservation Commission, created maps and signs, and maintained trails on Conservation lands.
In 1990, he offered to audition with his daughter Emily for the Amherst PTA production of the Music Man, and discovered his passion for theater. Since then, he directed 21 plays, acted in 43 productions, and produced and promoted many more. He was one of the founders of the Milford Area Players and served continuously on the board as well as on the board of Bedford off Broadway. He received the 2011 NH Theatre Award for Best Director for MAP’s production of August: Osage County.
Vick deeply researched his and Nancy’s family trees. Sarah and Emily have fond memories of family trips visiting historic cemeteries. He found that his family was related to both the judge and an accused of the Salem Witch Trials. After the birth of his
grandson Alden, he learned that he was coincidentally a direct descendant of John Alden and several others on the Mayflower. He was particularly interested in the Loop family, and authored the book The Loop Family in America.
In addition to his many hobbies, Vick spent his retirement years travelling the world with Nancy, friends, and family — eating scorpions, jumping fire pits, riding camels. He took beautiful photographs of people, places, and wildlife — especially birds. He visited all 50 states, 56 countries, and every continent except Antarctica.
He took great joy in his grandchildren Alden and Mila Frumkin, taking thousands of photos of them, sharing his collections, hiking with them, and eating ice cream together. He bonded as well with his sons-in-law Michael Chameides and Simon Frumkin. His family was the center of his universe and he cherished his many friends.
The world is certainly a better place for having had Vick in it.
Due to Covid 19 safety precautions, a private memorial will be held with immediate family. We will invite friends and family to a celebration of his life at a later date and will share plans for that celebration on this page when the time comes.
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Donations can be made in his honor to:
Vick loved to travel and is seen here riding a camel.