Friday , May 12 , 2017 The Colebrook Chronicle Page 15
Obituaries
Norman Lewis
NORMAN LEWIS
DANVILLE , Vt .– Norman L . " Jitney " Lewis , 88 , of Danville , Vt ., educator ( 1952-1983 ), Cog Railway engineer ( 1950-1967 ), and entertainer ( 1928-2017 ), died of natural causes in the early morning hours of Thursday , May 4 , 2017 at the Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital in St . Johnsbury , Vt .
Lewis , the youngest of five boys born to Albert Arthur and Eunice Mattie ( Colby ) Lewis of Lunenburg , Vt ., was proud to say he was born on 8 / 8 / 28 at 8 p . m . at home . Norm went to school in Lunenburg , Gilman , and graduated from Lancaster Academy in 1946 . He followed his brothers into the military and served in the U . S . Army of the Occupation in Germany . Discharged and back home working on the town road crew , he took the milk truck driver ' s advice and went to Lyndon Teachers College because , as Gob Streeter told him , " They ' ll take anybody !"
At Lyndon , he was part of the first class to move up to the Vail Manor campus , and pitched for the baseball team . Active in campus politics , he made sure the Hornet became the college ' s mascot , and with his friend , Dick Collins , got in trouble for risqué cartoons in the campus newspaper . His roommate , George Trask ( responsible for the " Jitney " nickname due to Norm ' s jitter-bugging ability at the local dance hall ) introduced Norm to Col . Henry Teague at the Mount Washington Railway , and thus began a summer job he went back to for 18 seasons first alone then with his family .
Norm met his partner at Lyndon . Barbara Jean Whitney was from South Royalton , Vt ., and upon graduation the pair married in June 1952 . Norm and Barb ' s teaching careers centered around Chester , Springfield , Newport and Derby , Vt ., areas Barb focusing on elementary education , Norm teaching and providing students guidance before moving into administration as a principal , and then the superintendent ' s office until he retired 1983 . They had two children , Tim Lewis ( former broadcast journalist now teaching at his parents ' alma mater ) and Cintra Hazen ( retired IBM employee now working part-time at the Northwestern Medical Center in H-R ). Cintra and her husband , Richard Hazen , provided Norm and Barb with a granddaughter , Erica ( a social
service worker helping troubled youth in Chittenden County ). Norm and Barb were glad Erica had two older half-brothers she could count on – Rick and Rob Hazen . The couple retired to Danville in November 1995 . Barb predeceased Norm in 2000 after 47 years of marriage .
Norm was able to nurture his childhood desire to work in vaudeville by writing and producing original school plays that put every student on stage . He combined his vaudeville tendencies with his interest in politics , and orchestrated the perennial and constantly unsuccessful campaign of Rep . Danny Gore of Avery ' s Gore for more than 35 years and 1,500 appearances around the state , the region , and that big flight to Colorado ( where he got to see “ that other Cog Railway .”)
For the last two years , he and his son have worked to complete a manuscript first begun in 1962 of an operating manual for the Mount Washington Railway steam locomotives during the Jitney Years of 1950 to 1967 . While Jitney ' s technical manual and eyewitness story-telling section was completed early on , his son morphed the document into an extensive memoir , and with the help of Jitney ' s Cog family , it became an in-depth look into the little-known employees and events during the New Hampshire tourist attraction ' s lifetime . The fourth draft was completed at the hospital the night Norm died .
No service is planned at this point . Rep . Danny Gore says he and the Avery ' s Gore Historicity Committee will hold a celebration of the life of his long-time campaign manager Norm Lewis this summer in Avery ' s Gore . Norm fully endorsed Rep . Danny ' s stance that kindness was the key to success in a community , and so those wishing to make donations in his memory should select a local organization food shelf , historical society , or school program that puts kindness and dignity for all the world ' s people at the top of their agenda .
Memories and condolences may be shared with the family online at www . saylesfh . com .
Gary D . Foss
GARY D . FOSS COLUMBIA – Gary D . Foss ,
69 , of Columbia , passed away on
Monday , May 1 , 2017 , at his home after months-long battle with cancer .
He was born in Lynn , Mass ., on March 3 , 1948 , the only son of the late Frederic and Sally ( Ellison ) Foss . Due to the nature of his father ’ s work which required frequent relocation , and with his sisters , Gary was raised in Binghamton , N . Y ., Alabama , and New Jersey . He attended the University of Alabama .
For more than 20 years , he was a long-haul truck driver for a trucking company in New Jersey , but his other hobbies and interests were many and varied . Gary was an avid reader and his knowledge of just about any topic was impressive . He loved to visit with friends and tell stories , and he enjoyed following and studying the stock market . He had a wonderful sense of humor that will be remembered by all his friends . He loved to go snowmobiling and be in the woods .
Gary is survived by two sisters , Betsy Foss and husband Chuck of Rochester , N . Y ., and Carolyn Foss of Columbia ; two nephews , Tucker Foss-Stockwell and wife Sabrina of Denver , Colo ., and Gene Gant of Montgomery , Ala .; and a cousin , David Foss of East Hiram , Maine .
There are no public calling hours . A celebration of Gary ’ s life will be held at a later date at the Colebrook Country Club , of which notice will be given .
Expressions of sympathy in memory of Foss may be made to the Colebrook Ski-Bees ’ Trail Maintenance Fund , P . O . Box 125 , Colebrook , NH 03576 .
Condolences may be offered to the family online by going to www . jenkinsnewman . com .
Arrangements are under the direction of Jenkins and Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook .
Robert C . Gonyer
ROBERT C . GONYER
LANCASTER – Robert C . Gonyer died Sunday morning May 7 , 2017 at his home in Lancaster . He was born in Lancaster on Feb . 8 , 1941 , the son of Robert and Madeline ( Brigham ) Gonyer . He attended Groveton schools and enlisted in the US Army at age 17 . He was a paratrooper and MP with the 82nd Airborne Division .
After leaving the service he was employed by the various paper mill companies in Groveton . He retired after 35
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