Around Town: March 23, 2023

Condolences

Jonathan Waters Fisher
Jonathan Waters Fisher died peacefully on October 24, 2022, at the University of Vermont Medical Center after a short, aggressive battle with acute myeloid leukemia. He was a gentle, kind, generous and devoted son, brother, father, grandfather and friend.

Jonathan was born to Sally and Ralph Fisher on June 11, 1948, in Washington D.C. He lived in Korea, Ethiopia, Rhodesia, Nyasaland and Uganda while his family was stationed abroad with the foreign service.

Jonathan graduated from the Middlesex School in 1966 where he played soccer and rowed. He graduated from Pomona College in 1971 with a degree in anthropology, after studying primatology with Alan Walker at Makerere University in Uganda. Jonathan earned his master’s in public health at Yale University in 1979, after working on a country-wide nutrition survey in Lesotho.

Between his studies, Jonathan spent time motorcycling across Europe, working in the sugar cane fields of Kauai, summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro and road tripping across Africa in a VW Beetle, homesteading with his brothers in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, traveling to Central America by VW Bus and working at Plantation Farm Camp in Northern California.

In 1981, Jonathan began working at the University of Vermont on a USAID grant that brought him to Honduras, Haiti and Uganda. He met his wife, Molly McClaskey, while working at UVM, and they married in 1984.

Jonathan became a father to his son William in 1987 and his daughter Emily in 1990. Jonathan was an incredibly involved and supportive father and cheerleader, coaching soccer teams, attending mountain bike races, horse shows and ski races. At this time, he transitioned to working as a realtor with Akin Associates in Charlotte, Vermont. From 1990-2021, Jonathan served Charlotte as a volunteer zoning board member in various roles, including zoning administrator, chairman and vice chairman.

In 2014 Jonathan became a devoted “Baba” to his granddaughter Sage, and grandson August in 2017. His third grandchild is expected to arrive in the coming weeks. Jonathan found great joy in his active role as a grandparent and was deeply dedicated to his family. He traveled to Kauai, Hawaii, every winter to reconnect with extended family in Hanalei Bay.

Jonathan is survived by his son William Fisher and wife Lindsay Bloxham Fisher, grandchildren Sage and August Fisher of Burlington, daughter Emily Fisher and husband Dwyer Haney of Starksboro, brothers Galen Fisher of Greensboro, Timothy Fisher of Cornwall and Anthony Fisher of Philadelphia, and ex-wife Molly McClaskey of Charlotte.

A celebration of life will be held Monday, May 29, 2023, 2 p.m. at Kingsland Bay State Park in Ferrisburgh, Vermont. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations please be made in Jonathan’s name to the Vermont Land Trust.

David A. Waller
David Austin Waller died peacefully on Saturday, March 11, at The Arbors in Shelburne, Vermont, where he had lived for the past two years following the progression of his dementia. David was born on July 13, 1944, to Denison and Mary Waller in Charlotte, Vermont, where he resided for most of his life.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of more than 50 years; his two daughters and their husbands Amy and Jason Bodie and Jody and Peter Sunna; grandchildren Charlotte Bodie, Owen Bodie and Stella Sunna; siblings Constance “Connie” Waller, Peggy Jones and her husband Terry and Linda Waller; and his nephews and nieces. His death was preceded by his parents, Denison and Mary, and brother Arnold “Arnie” Waller.

A builder, David owned and operated David Waller & Company for several decades. The homes he built in and around Charlotte are a lasting reminder of his talent and skill as a craftsman.

David was also a life-long skier, boater and outdoorsman. He was a long-time member of the Mount Mansfield Ski Patrol in Stowe. He and Dorothy met, raised their family on the slopes and developed life-long friendships there. During the summer months, David could be found on Lake Champlain, spending weekends on the family’s 1914 Elco wooden boat, The Folley, in St. Albans Bay — where they spent countless years, together with close friends, raising their collective families — or at their summer camp on Garden Island, then Long Point.

David lived a long and full life, entertaining and bringing joy to many. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends and loved ones.

A service will be held at the Charlotte Congregational Church, 403 Church Hill Road in Charlotte, on Wednesday, April 12, at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to The Arbors at Shelburne Holiday Associate Fund, 687 Harbor Road, Shelburne, VT 05482, which the family thanks for its generous care and support over the past few years.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Cremation Society of Chittenden County, a division of the Ready Family. To send online condolences to the family please visit their website.

Congratulations

Madeline Haydock from Charlotte has been named to St. Lawrence University’s dean’s list for the fall semester.

Cole Rehkugler of Charlotte was named to the dean’s list at Rochester Institute of Technology for the fall semester. Rehkugler is in the mechanical engineering technology program.

Sam Sturim of Charlotte was named to the dean’s list at Tufts University for the fall semester.

Sean Gilliam of Charlotte was named to the dean’s list at Bates College for the fall semester.

Harrison Falk, Kiley Stearns and Heloise Guyette of Charlotte were named to the Champlain College dean’s list for the fall semester.