We are sorry to announce the passing of one of our Council’s long-time leaders on Feb. 7, 2008. Marge, as we all affectionately called her, was a lifetime resident of Meriden, CT. She was our expert on wild birds
Marge graduated from what is now the Central Connecticut State University. She also studied abroad as a Fulbright Scholar. Marge taught history, government, science and civics in the Meriden School System from 1942 to 1979. She established a reputation of being a “tough” teacher.
Many of her summers were spent traveling abroad and studying local birdlife. This included travel and study in over 125 countries, including trips to the Arctic and Antarctica. In “AYH” Marge was an avid hiker, backpacker, and bicyclist. She hiked parts of the Appalachian Trail and climbed all 18 of the 4,000-foot peaks in Maine and Vermont. As an opera fan, Marge loved to attend many performances of the “Met” in New York City.
Marjorie was predeceased by two brothers, Irving and Warren Hackbarth. She is survived by two nieces, Holly Hackbarth and Jamie Hackbarth as well as cousins, Richard Hackbarth and Bonny Robinson Cook. We will all miss you, Marjorie. Memorial donations in her honor can be made to Yankee Council, HI-USA, and P.O. Box 87, Windsor, CT 06095.
We are sorry to announce the passing this past November of one of Yankee Council’s long-time hostel managers. Margaret and her late husband, William S. Pratt, operated the HI-Old Lilacs Hostel in rural Granville, MA from 1957 to 1986.
In recent years, Margaret spent winters in Florida and summers at her Granville home. In Granville, Margaret and her family hosted an annual Yankee Council ”corn roast” picnic each August. In addition to roasted corn, the highlight would always be several delicious blueberry pies baked by Margaret from their blueberry bushes. However, for the last two years she remained in Florida
The Old Lilacs Hostel was unique. It was managed by Bill and Margaret from their revolutionary-period cottage home which had a convenient bucket-hoist well in its kitchen. Bunk rooms were located in an adjacent carriage house and a “bunk house” across their road. Many happy song-fests were enjoyed by hostellers at the bunkhouse. In addition, Bill maintained a spring-fed swimming pool at the edge of their orchard. Hostellers enjoyed a cool swim after a long bike ride up the long hill to the hostel (a tradition has it that all good hostels were located at the top of hills).
We will all miss you, Margaret. She is survived by family members, including daughters Kay and Marion and sons Edward and William, as well as their families and grandchildren
We are sorry to announce the passing of one of Yankee Council’s most dedicated hiking leaders on October 9, 2007. James followed the passing last year of his beloved wife and Yankee Council member, Miriam Barlow. Jim was an active Council member for over 40 years, organizing our higher level hiking programs, managing our outdoor equipment store, organizing many Bantam Hostel repair parties and serving on our Board of Directors. Jim received HI-USA‘s Clem & Louise Motten Award for leadership in 1995. Jim leaves his son, Peter Barlow and wife Marilyn with grandchildren Brian and Allison, as well as his daughter, Wendy Barlow Bocon , and husband Ted and granddaughters Anna, her fiancé Halynton Moreno, Lindsey, her daughter Macayla; and Laura. Jim also leaves his beloved little dog, “Sally”.
Jim was a masters graduate Civil Engineer from UCONN and earned a second masters degree in English Literature from CCSU. As a Professional Civil Engineer, Jim was employed for many years by the West Hartford (CT) Public Schools as Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds. Jim served in World War II at the Battle of The Bulge and received a Purple Heart. A memorial gathering was held at the Barlow home on October 20. The Barlow family suggests that donations may be made in his honor to AYH, Yankee Council, 181 Broad St., P.O. Box 87, Windsor, CT 06095
Long-time AYH member, Shirley Olson, passed away in early January. Shirley was a nature and bird lover and an active leader and participant in our C-hike program. Shirley was also a volunteer driver for the Hockanum Valley Community Council. She took part in many Elderhostel trips, including visits to Austria, Kenya, Iceland, Mexico, and Central and South America. Shirley was employed as a Clerk for the U.S. Postal Service in Manchester, CT and later ran the Bolton, CT office until 1997. Shirley is survived by her mother, two daughters, and two sons. Memorial contributions may be made to Hockanum Valley Community Council, 155 West Main St., Vernon, CT 06066
We are all grateful for the dedicated and selfless contributions which Anne E. Grant has made to AYH, her community, and her friends, especially the visually handicapped. We are also saddened to report of her passing on Tuesday, January 24, 2006. Anne was a superb volunteer and leader. A member for over 50 years, she served Yankee Council as Director, Membership Chair, trip leader, Bulletin Bee organizer, work party organizer, and especially organizer of our Service Programs, including those for the visually handicapped, which included Tandem Bike Rides and Walks with The Blind. Retired HI-USA National Board Director, Bill Nelson, states that we never could have been able to get the (former Bantam, CT) Hostel in shape to open without the work party which Anne worked on. Bill also states, “Anne was one of the Finest and Most Hard Working People for the love of Hostelling which we have ever known”. Anne graduated from Wellesley College, completed graduate courses at New York University, and taught American History and French at the Plainville, CT High School for over 29 years. Following retirement, she worked at the West Hartford, CT Library and volunteered as a driver for Meals on Wheels in her community. Anne also operated our Council office on Thursday afternoons until relinquishing that task only two years ago. Anne’s service to AYH has been recognized nationally. She was presented The (HI-USA) Clem & Louise Motton Award in 1994 for “leadership in volunteer programs” and The (HI-USA) Golden Triangle Award in 2001 for “extended volunteer service by individuals.” Anne is survived by three nephews, a niece, their spouses and children. Her nephew, George Snyder, has assisted with biographical information. Anne’s family states that donations in her memory may be made to the Scholarship Fund of Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA 02181. Yankee Council also has a long-standing, “Anne Grant Leadership Training Fund”. A memorial Walk with The Blind will be held by Yankee Council on Sunday, May 7, 2006.
Yankee Council is saddened to announce that Life Member, Miriam F. Barlow journeyed to heaven on Sunday morning, January 15, 2006. She was the dear wife of Yankee Council outdoor leader, James Barlow. Miriam loved the outdoors and was a specialist of woodland plants and birds and loved to identify them for AYH hikers. She was a graduate of both the University of Connecticut and Eastern Connecticut State University. Miriam was a substitute teacher in the Farmington School System for many years and volunteered for several organizations, including AYH. She strongly promoted AYH to high school students. In addition to her husband of 59 years, Miriam leaves her son Peter and his wife Marilyn with their children, Brian and Allison; her daughter Wendy and her husband Ted and their daughters Anna, Laura, and Lindsey with Lindsey’s daughter Macayla. A memorial meeting in remembrance of Miriam Brtlow will be held on Saturday, April 8 at People’s State Forest (See Page 4). In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Yankee Council, AYH, P.O. Box 87, Windsor, CT 06095.