Janet Winkler, 81, of Middlebury

JANET WINKLER

July 21, 2022

MIDDLEBURY — Janet Beers Winkler, 81, of Middlebury completed her life on July 13, 2022, when her generous heart, which held love for so many, could beat no longer. She was residing at Shard Villa in Salisbury, where she lived out the final months of her life.

Born Janet Ross Pippitt in Boston, Mass., on May 9, 1941, she was the eldest of three daughters born to Lillian Ross Pippitt and Richard Branch Pippitt, M.D., and the granddaughter of noted golf course architect Donald J. Ross.

Janet spent most of her youth in Waban and Wellesley, Mass., and graduated from Wellesley High School. She then graduated from Mount Holyoke College, in South Hadley, Mass., in 1963. In both high school and college, she forged deep friendships that would remain with her throughout her life.

After college, Janet lived in New York City, working for the Netherlands Office for Foreign Student Relations and then for the Experiment in International Living. While in New York, she coordinated and led tours around the country for foreign diplomats in service to the embassies in Washington and at the United Nations.

Returning to Wellesley, Janet met and married Bradford Beers and they went on to have two children together. For three years, Janet and Brad ran the Stone House Club Inn on the Rhode Island coast in Little Compton. It was an experience she often recalled, and throughout her life and travels, Janet expressed great admiration and empathy for bed and breakfast hosts and the proprietors of country inns.

Newly divorced in 1976, she moved with her two young children to Middlebury to be near her sister and brother-in-law. She soon met fellow single parent of two, Frank Winkler, but neither showed any serious interest in the other, until 1983 when romance between them suddenly blossomed; they were married that June, combining their families. Theirs was a fun-filled, sometimes boisterous, and always loving family, thanks in large measure to Janet’s uncanny ability to avert potential conflict through good humor.

Janet and Frank went on to successfully raise their four shared children and enjoy 39 years of happy marriage. They traveled extensively, including living for a year in Cambridge, England with the entire family. They also lived for extended periods in Boulder, Colo., La Serena, Chile, and Canberra, Australia — all places chosen for their connection to Frank’s work as an astronomer.

Janet’s involvement helping implement the “Spirit and Nature” Symposium in 1990, which brought the Dalai Lama to Middlebury, was a highlight of her work as an assistant to philanthropist and Middlebury College professor Steven C. Rockefeller. She worked with him for over 30 years, from soon after her arrival in Middlebury until her retirement in 2008.

In addition to her professional work, she was a long-time and committed volunteer, especially at the Congregational Church and The Addison County Parent/Child Center, as well as an active member of the American Association of University Women, and she supported many seniors in need in the community.

Janet was also known for her handcraft talents, especially hand-spinning, knitting, and origami. She was an enthusiastic member of the Twist O’ Wool fiber guild in Middlebury and took quiet pride when her entries won ribbons at the Addison County Fair and Field Days.

Janet was a generous, loving person, with a wonderful sense of humor, and she will be sorely missed by her family and a large network of friends.

She is survived by her husband Frank and by all four of their children and five grandchildren: Sarah Beers of Queens, N.Y.; Nathan Beers, wife Remy, and daughter Lillian of San Francisco, Calif.; Kate Corcoran, husband Ethan and daughters Allison and Claire, of Portland, Or.; and Johanna Durrett, husband William, and their children Madeleine and Quincy, of Fremont, Calif.

Other survivors include her two sisters, Susan Véguez and husband Roberto, of Cornwall, Vt., and Elizabeth Shapiro of Atlanta, Ga., along with a nephew and niece in Atlanta, Alexander Ross Shapiro, and Victoria Shapiro Kasper, her husband Jonathan, and their two sons, Charles and William Kasper.

The family would like to thank the administration and staff at Shard Villa for the attentive, professional and loving care Janet received there in the final months of her life. A memorial service will be held at a future date. Donations in Janet’s honor may be made to the Middlebury Congregational Church or to Shard Villa. ◊

A very good man! Glad for his service!! Dom Starsia is out as UVA's Head Lacrosse Coach

Dom Starsia is out as UVA's Head Lacrosse Coach

Posted: Monday, May 23, 2016 6:27 pm

BY WHITELAW REID

• 
• Posted on May 23, 2016
  by Whitelaw Reid

Virginia has confirmed the departure of longtime men’s lacrosse coach Dom Starsia via a press release.

“Dom Starsia is a Hall of Fame coach and I want to thank him for all he has done for Virginia men’s lacrosse, UVA athletics, the University of Virginia, and the Charlottesville community,” said Virginia athletics director Craig Littlepage in a press release. “In addition to winning 73 percent of his games at UVa with multiple ACC and NCAA championships, Dom was committed to the development of student-athletes as his teams were cited for their sportsmanship and academic achievements. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have worked with and learned from Dom.

“These decisions are not easy and Dom and I have had a number of substantive conversations over the last several weeks regarding the future of the program.”

Said Starsia: “When our season ended, Craig informed me of his decision to make a coaching change. I wanted to take this moment to thank everyone who has been so gracious to me and my family during our time in Charlottesville. While blessed to have been part of some great teams, this experience has always been about the people and the relationships. I want to thank the players and their families who have been such an important part of my life. I would also like to thank all the coaches and staff who have propped me up over a lot of years, and especially to Marc Van Arsdale, who was here when I arrived 24 years ago. What a joy it has been to coach with my son Joe these past three years! I am very proud of all that we have accomplished here at the University of Virginia.”

Starsia’s contract was set to expire in January 2017, with Virginia still owing him approximately $400,000.

“In our search for the next head coach, we will be looking for a dynamic leader who clearly articulates a plan to build upon the tradition Dom and his staff created over the last two and a half decades and who can position our men’s lacrosse program to compete annually for ACC and NCAA championships while also achieving success academically,” Littlepage said.

Read it all HERE

Addison Hall: Rector of St. Andrew's in Wellesley prepares to leave his flock

Rector of St. Andrew's in Wellesley prepares to leave his flock

By Lee V. Gaines WickedLocal Wellesley

Posted Feb 16, 2012 @ 11:26 AM

Addison Hall, longtime rector of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, recently announced
that he would retire at the end of August. The Townsman sat down with the 65­ year ­old Hall to discuss
his career in Wellesley and what he will be doing once he leaves the church.
What does a church rector do?

“It’s a combination of being a parish priest,” Hall said, “which obviously includes worship and pastoral
care, teaching, but also includes, in this case, being a kind of chief administrator with a large staff in a
big parish with many programs.”

Hall said it isn’t exactly easy to manage his many different roles.

“It’s both challenging and occasionally overwhelming, but also constantly stimulating and interesting.”

Hall said the position also requires lots of writing, which he likes. In addition to his sermons and the
articles he writes for internal publication, he also writes poetry, but only as a hobby.
How did you get into this field of work?

Hall taught secondary school for a year after he graduated from Middlebury College in 1969. “Like many people in my generation, I was at loose ends for a while,” Hall said. “Teaching wasn’t exactly the right thing [for me.]”

A native of Ashfield, Mass., Hall had grown up in the church but had grown distant from it during
adolescence. After college, he said, “I got interested in spirituality and was drawn back into the
church.”

“I gradually began to realize my interests and academic preparation and childhood, in certain ways,
prepared me well for this particular ministry in the Episcopal church.”
Hall attended and graduated from the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge in 1974. Between
1974 and 1978, he served as clergy staff for St. Paul’s Cathedral in Burlington, Vt., and as rector of St.
Stephen’s Church in Middlebury, Vt., from 1978 until 1990, when he came to St. Andrew’s.
“Fortunately,” Hall said, “it’s worked out really well.”

How did you find Wellesley? “Episcopal clergy people, I think it’s fair to say, function as free agents,” Hall said.

Hall said while he enjoyed his 12 years at St. Stephen’s, he knew he could not stay there forever.

“When I was in my early 40s I began to consider other possibilities, and by a chain of happenstance or by the working of the Holy Spirit, I became aware of an opening [at St. Andrew’s],” Hall said.

“We both, the parish and I, came to an agreement it would be exciting for us to try working together,” he said. “We’ve had a very productive and generally happy time together.”

What would you consider your greatest accomplishment during your time as rector of St. Andrew’s?

“The sense of accomplishment is very comprehensive,” Hall said. “I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with so many different, very highly motivated and gifted people, both parish volunteers, parish leaders and staff members. It’s been the teamwork that has been most satisfying.”

What would you consider the biggest challenge during your time here?

“The challenges are of course constant and highly various,” Hall said. “Some of the standard challenges are those that everyone who lives and works in local non­profits experience.”

Specifically, Hall highlighted the simple time constraints that plague many of his hardworking parish volunteers.

He said it is hard for people to find the time and make the time to do the kinds of ministries within the church they would like to do.

But, Hall said he meets these challenges “patiently, optimistically everyday.”

How did the death of your son affect your career and your relationships within the community?

Hall’s son John, a member of the Boston­based band Addison Groove Project – named so for his father – died at the age of 25 after a 17­month battle with cancer in 2004.

Hall said the experience “created a bond with people who have experienced particularly painful personal losses.”

“Going through the experience here, in the St. Andrew’s community, was the best possible way I can imagine to go through a terrible
experience because the community was so supportive in so many different ways, to me, to my wife Jody, and to our daughter Frances.”
Why have you decided to retire?

“I think it’s going to be such a big change in my life that much as I love this work and community, it’s better for me to start sooner thanlater to make this change which will require energy and vitality and some patience getting adjusted,” Hall said.
Who willtake over as rector for the church?

Hall said an interim rector, who has not yet been chosen, will take over once he leaves in August. The name of that person will be
announced sometime during the summer.

A permanent replacement will be chosen by the chief vestry officers of the church, who will be conducting a search over about a
yearlong period.

“It’s a big staff and I’m the only one who is leaving,” Hall said. “It’s a big and very capable staff.”
What will happen to Ben, “The Church Cat?”

Ben, the famous St. Andrew’s “church cat,” came to the church of his own volition about 15 years ago.
The now 18­year­old cat
belonged to a neighbor of the church, but when she developed a terminal illness, she asked that the church take care of Ben. Since that
time, Ben has been an integral staff member.

“I’m especially glad to be able to leave Ben in his highly respected staff position,” Hall said. “He is an attractive focus of attention for
parishioners and visitors of all ages and provides a superb welcoming presence.”

What are your plans for post­retirement?

Hall said he looks forward to pursing a range of other interests.

“I’m retiring to a family property in Ashfield, Mass., where I grew up, which has been in my family since 1800,” Hall said. “There is
some property management and lots of outdoor work thatI will enjoy.”
Hall said he will be retiring with his wife Jody. Their grown daughter, Frances, works for a nonprofit organization in Oregon.

“Most of all, I look forward to spending more time with my wife Jody, who has been such a constant support to me, not just in Wellesley, but also all through 40 years of ministry. We look forward to traveling, to spending more time with our daughter Frances
and with our other family and friends.”

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Mentor Bloggers.... on Episcopal Cafe Blog

Two of my mentors from VTS, Roger Ferlo and Kathy Staudt have blog posts on the Episcopal Cafe Blog.


Dr. Ferlo wrote yesterday here about the "Anonymous Apostles" who have arrived at Virginia Theological Seminary for the beginning of a new academic year at VTS. Since this arriving class is 'replacing' my own class of 2007, I was very interested in his reflections. Also, it seems like only yesterday that I was beginning my academic work at VTS, struggling through introductory Koine Greek and wondering what this whole seminary thing would be! Read Roger's post here.


Dr. Staudt wrote today here of the teacher, theologian, writer, and prophet Verna Dozier who died just a year ago today. I was a big fan of Verna Dozier's as well, having read her book, The Dream of God several times. Kathy writes well about Verna Dozier's wonderful ministry and her great presence. Read her post here.