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Obituaries 8-21-12

Richard Henry Saunders, Jr. M.D.

MIDDLEBURY ––Richard Henry Saunders, Jr., M.D., 93, of Middlebury, died at his home on Aug. 12, 2012, surrounded by his family.

   He was born, February 13, 1919 in Holland, Virginia, the son of Richard Henry Saunders and Floy (Simons) Saunders both of whose families were early settlers of the Virginia Colony. He was an only child. After graduation from Holland High School (1935) and the University of Richmond (1939) he attended the University of Rochester School of Medicine from which he graduated in 1943. It was while working as an intern at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester that he met his future wife, Betsy Ann MacMillan and on May 19, 1944 they were married. During 1945 he served in the Pacific theater as a medical officer on the escort aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Kadashan Bay.  From 1947-1949 he was a resident at Yale-New Haven Hospital and instructor at Yale School of Medicine after which he held a fellowship in hematology at New England Center Hospital, the teaching hospital for Tufts University School of Medicine.
   In 1950 he moved to Burlington, where he served as a professor of medicine at the University of Vermont until 1957, held a Markle Foundation fellowship to study red blood cell production and was Associate Director of the Vermont-New Hampshire Blood Bank. For the next three years he was associate director of education at Highland Hospital, Rochester, NY and adjunct professor of medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. During these years he conducted a landmark study of university hospital internships at forty American medical colleges subsequently published in the Journal of Medical Education. In 1960 he became a professor of medicine and Associate Dean of Cornell University Medical School where he remained until 1965.  From 1965-1969 he was Associate Director of the National Board of Medical Examiners in Philadelphia, PA. Among his greatest professional accomplishments was helping to create the new University of Massachusetts Medical School where he was professor of medicine and Associate Dean from 1969-1982. From 1982-1989 he was coordinator of health services at the Willows, a retirement community in Westborough, MA. Upon his retirement in1989 he moved to Middlebury where he lived until 2001.  From 2001-2006 he and his wife were residents of the Willows before returning to Middlebury.

    He took special pride in a marriage of almost sixty-five years and frequent visits from children and grand children. His breadth of knowledge was considerable and it was the lucky grandchild who got him on his or her team in a board game where such recall was essential.

   As anyone who knew him will attest, he was modest and self-effacing. He treated everyone with respect and had little patience for those who used wealth or privilege to make others feel inferior. Throughout his life he also retained an amazing ability to remember names and even in his last days he acknowledged caregivers, medical technicians, and nurses by their first names and made a point to express gratitude for assistance.

   He is survived by his daughter Ann Warrington and son-in-law Robert Warrington, of Burlington; son Richard Saunders and daughter-in-law Barbara of Middlebury; three grandsons: Jeff Warrington and his wife Heidi of Great Falls Church, VA., Greg Warrington and his wife Jill, of Shelburne, and Christopher Saunders and his wife Beth, of Burlington.; two grand daughters: Elizabeth (Saunders) Kervick and her husband Drew of Burlington, and Katherine Saunders and her husband Robin Piya of Kathmandu, Nepal.; as well as four great granddaughters and two great grandsons.

   His family would like to express particular gratitude to the staff of the Lodge at Otter Creek and Addison County Home Health and Hospice who provided care and kindness during his last few days.

   A reception will take place at the Lodge at Otter Creek on Wednesday, August 29, at 3 p.m.. Interment will be at a later date.

   Contributions in his memory may be made to the Vermont Foodbank, 33 Parker Road, Barre, VT 05641. Online condolences may be made at www. sandersonfuneralservice

Nancy Anne Kepner

WATERBURY - Nancy Anne Kepner, age 74, a former resident of Brandon, died Thursday, August 9, 2012, at her home in Waterbury.

    Mrs. Kepner was born in Keeseville, NY on March 25, 1938. She was the daughter of Edgar & Margaret (Hebert) Kennedy. She was graduated from Plattsburgh (NY) High School, class of 1956. She had worked as an aide at the Brandon Training School for more than 20 years. October 1987 she married Richard Edward Kepner, Sr. She and her husband owned and operated KepWright Pet Shop in Brandon for several years. Mr. Kepner died Jan. 14, 1993. She enjoyed knitting, camping and hiking.

    Surviving are 2 sons; Brian Wright of Waterbury and Mark Wright of Forestdale, 2 daughters; Robin Boyd of Marlow, NH and Terry Berry-Wright of Myrtle Beach, SC, 2 step daughters; Darlene Austin and Tracy Bruce both of Brandon, a step son Richard Kepner, Jr., of Johnsonville, NY, 3 brothers Eugene Kennedy of Au Sable Forks, NY, Richard Kennedy and John Kennedy both of Peru, NY, 2 sisters; Kay Coolidge of Au Sable Forks, NY and Mary Ellen Burk of Greenville, SC, 8 Grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews & cousins also survive her. She was also predeceased by 2 step sisters; Doris LaDuke and Muriel Grady.

    The graveside committal service and burial took place on Thursday, August 16, 2012 at Pine Hill Cemetery in Brandon.

    Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers made be made to; The Alzheimer’s Association Vermont Chapter, 300 Cornerstone Drive, Suite 128, Williston, VT 05495.Arrangements are under the direction of the Miller & Ketcham Funeral Home in Brandon.

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