Sippican Woman’s Club

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Remember the Oar and Paddle Auction that the Sippican Woman’s Club had planned to hold last summer? These artistically painted oars or paddles done by local artists and art students were to be auctioned off in August. …Then came COVID-19.

            Well, the auction is now in the planning stages to be held this August in a safe environment. If we gave you an oar or paddle last year, please consider finishing it! If you’d like an oar or paddle to paint or decorate to be auctioned off to benefit our Scholarship Fund, email us at SWC.Marion@gmail.com.

Dale C. Dakin

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Dale C. Dakin, 80, of Rochester passed away Tuesday March 16, 2021 after a brief illness. He was the husband of Barbara A. (Bishop) Dakin; they had been married for 56 years.

            Born in Lynn, the son of the late James and Laura (Vera) Dakin, he lived in Rochester for most of his life. He was a graduate of the Waterman School in Rochester and New Bedford High School.

            Dale was formerly employed as a warehouseman for Goodhue Lumber Company and later worked for Louis M. Gerson Company in Middleboro until his retirement.

            He enjoyed going to the Rochester Council on Aging for activities and exercise. An avid sports fan, he especially like watching baseball. He loved history and travel, having visited all 50 U.S. states as well as England, Scotland, and Wales. He had a vast collection of hats. Most of all, he loved spending time with his family.

            He is survived by his wife, Barbara; his daughter, Adriana Amaral and her husband Victor; his grandson, Cameron Amaral; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

            He was predeceased by his brothers, Richard, Randolph, and Douglas Dakin.

            Relatives and friends are invited to attend visiting hours at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett Sunday March 21, 2021 from 2-5 pm. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or the Rochester Council on Aging, 67 Dexter Lane, Rochester, MA 02770. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Randall Lane Solar Array Tweaked

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            On April 5 at 7:00 pm, public hearings will be held during the Mattapoisett Planning Board meeting to vet changes to the existing Flood Hazard Bylaw and a new bylaw governing the installation of solar arrays. The Planning Board is preparing these two bylaws for the upcoming May Town Meeting.

            Planning Board member Janice Robbins has been a prime mover in bringing the two bylaws to the full board for review and discussion.

            During the March 15 meeting of the board, Robbins said that the Flood Hazard Bylaw was essentially unchanged except for mapping changes required by updates at the state level. She said that the coastal areas remain but that more areas were added, encompassing wetlands and other locations previously not noted.

            The Solar Bylaw has been in the making for more than a year, with Robbins once again driving that initiative. Robbins has studied bylaws that other communities have incorporated into their regulatory standards and attended seminars covering a variety of solar-related topics.

            As was noted during the board’s reopening of the site plan review for a proposed solar array planned on Randall Lane, solar projects currently in the pipeline will be grandfathered.

            Regarding the Randall Lane project planned by SunRaise Investments, Eric Las of engineering firm Beals + Thomas said that based on comments from the town’s peer-review consultant, BETA Engineering, as well as comments from abutter-contracted G.A.F. Engineering and board members, slight modifications to the solar field are now planned and the total project is now reduced from a 7.7-megawatt array to a 7.6. Las also mentioned that a continued hearing with the Conservation Commission is planned for next week.

            Las said that changes to regulations by the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program had delayed the finalization of the plan of record. He said those changes affect the required mitigation based on resource-area disturbance and are a factor in moving the array slightly and reducing the number of panels.

            On the topic of staging the construction, Las said that was primarily the construction team’s responsibility, not his firm, but that he could prepare narrative directives for that process.

            Robbins asked if a study of the existing entrance roadway, Randall Lane, had been completed to ensure its viability during construction and if the roadway meets directives from the Fire Department. Las confirmed that is the case and that offsite storage of materials for staging purposes would mean using smaller vehicles to ferry materials to the site.

            Chairman Tom Tucker asserted that the use of the historic stone bridge, even by smaller vehicles, is off-limits, with Las confirming that the bridge is “off-limits.”

            The project was extended until May 17; no continuation date for the public hearing was noted.

            In other business, the board approved site plans submitted by Bill Madden of G.A.F. Engineering, representing applicant Stephen Randon, for property located off Randall Road named Cranberry Cove. A list of waivers for the single-lot subdivision was approved. Those waivers included elimination for the need of 4-foot utility strips along the roadway, no sidewalks, use of a hammerhead turnaround versus circular, and the development of a maintenance trust. Also decided was that the roadway would be paved versus packed gravel and that an operation and maintenance plan for Cranberry Cove be put in place for drain features and the roadway. Madden also said that language was added to the plan noting that the roadway would remain private into perpetuity.

            The project was approved by a majority, with Tucker opposing it due to his opinion that the site consisted of a “pork-chop” layout.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is scheduled for Monday, April 5, at 7:00 pm.

Mattapoisett Planning Board

By Marilou Newell

Access Roads Complicate Solar Projects

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            The Rochester Conservation Commission met on March 16 to address a public hearing on the Cushman Road solar project. Having last discussed the matter on January 27, commission members were eager to hear updates to the project and potentially close out the ongoing discussion.

            The applicant’s representative, Eric Las of Beals + Thomas Inc., informed commission members that he had been working alongside his team to address the requested changes put forth in a letter by the commission’s peer-review consultant, Horsley Witten Group. Las reported that the changes have been made and were included in the most recent rendition of the plan set.

            The updated plans meant that the majority of Las’ business with the commission was nearing its end. Progress on the site is now primarily hindered by abutters’ multiple disputes surrounding access to the proposed array. The disputes stem from the fact that the proposed access road would travel directly through two abutters’ properties.

            Las has been working with the Rochester Planning Board to find potential solutions to develop an access road to the site that will satisfy the abutters. That said, the project cannot move forward to construction without an established plan to resolve the conflicts surrounding the access road.

            The commission agreed that, since issues relating to the conservation jurisdiction on the site were resolved, there was no reason that the public hearing should continue. Commission members did warn Las that any amendments to the plans that fall under commission jurisdiction as a result of any changes to the access road would necessitate a refiling with the commission. Las acknowledged the concern and requested that the public hearing be closed. The Conservation Commission voted unanimously to close the public hearing on the project.

            Moving on to represent the Snipatuit Road Solar Project, Las informed commission members of a complication arising on the site as a result of his discussions with the Rochester fire chief. Las explained that in previous discussions with the Fire Department, he had been informed that the existing 12-foot-wide access road to the proposed solar array would be sufficient. However, as plans for the array began to develop, Las was notified that the access road needs to be widened to 16 feet in order to facilitate the travel of fire trucks in the case of emergency.

            Las told the commission that fire trucks had previously traversed the existing access road without issue to respond to a brush fire a few years ago. Despite that, the new requirement for a wider road is still being advocated for and causes new problems for the site.

            The Planning Board is requiring the larger access road to the site to satisfy public safety concerns. Unfortunately for the applicant, the existing road is bordered on both sides by wetland areas. This means that for Las to effectively expand the road, he will need to fill a portion of the nearby wetlands.

            Las informed commission members that his goal throughout development has been to avoid impacting wetlands areas in any way and that his plans reflect that desire. Since the inception of the planning phase, Las has reduced the site’s total area by 1 acre to minimize impact to surrounding land and also brought the entire site inward another 5 feet from the 25-foot protected wetlands zone.

            One possible solution to the required wetlands filling might be wetlands replication in surrounding areas to supplant the filled areas. Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon informed Las that he would need to present a detailed plan for any such proposed replication to satisfy commission concerns.

            Facing significant challenges to reconcile the requirements of the Conservation Commission and Planning Board, Las requested a continuance of the public hearing until April 20.

            The next Rochester Conservation Commission meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 6, at 7:00 pm.

Rochester Conservation Commission

By Matthew Donato

High School Students Art Show – Inspirational

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            There is something extraordinary happening at the Marion Art Center right now. Under the direction of Jodi Stevens and the board of directors, a new course has been charted, one that brings local youth to the forefront of the local art world.

            With the launch of the MAC’s Young Artist Program, a collaboration between the center and regional high schools has developed. It is no small task given the current state of humankind in a world gripped by a pandemic. And yet therein is the bud that has blossomed as students tackled themes of mental health, gender identification, and virus-related consequences in a show that asked the question, “What are you looking forward to after the pandemic?” Open now until April 15, the MAC’s walls are filled with visual art projects that answer that question with surprising insight and talent that belies the artists’ chronological ages.

            Rachel Pina is a senior at Old Rochester Regional High School. Her digitally crafted self-portrait, “Won’t Change for Us,” takes a look at the Black Lives Matter movement through the eyes of a person of color.

            “People are standing up, but it can die down again. People forget,” says Pina, who is seen wearing sunglasses. One of the lenses reflects back to the viewer what she sees, a rally and march. The black and white tones add to the theme Pina chose. She said that using digital tools is as artistically satisfying as traditional drawing and painting. Pina plans on going to an art show once she graduates, focusing on animation with adult themes she can reimagine for younger audiences.

            Margaret Berry is a photographer who enjoys taking pictures and seeing where they lead. She said she often waits until she sees the images before deciding the themes they may express. Her two black-and-white images explore LGBTQIA topics. In one, a young man smiles joyously at the shrouded head of another model, asking the question, “Who are you?” In the other, both models have obscured faces, but their hands appear to reach to one another. “It’s about finding love and who are we,” Berry stated. A senior at ORR, Berry plans on studying film at university. She recently earned honorable mention from the Scholastic Art and Writing Alliance, an independent organization that has been recognizing young visual artists and writers since 1923.

            Also earning recognition from the SAWA is Taylor Green, a senior at ORR. Green said she has been creating art her entire life, but it was about five years ago she began thinking about the possibility of a career in art. She finds creating “exciting.” Green’s SAWA award won her a silver key for her submission, “Schooled,” now on display at the MAC. She also won honorable mention for “Popcorn,” which is also part of the high school student show. Green said, “‘Schooled’ was a spontaneous piece I did the night before my project was due in class.” She said it shows the swift passage of time. “Popcorn” “literally came to me when I was making popcorn for my family,” she said with a chuckle. Green said it is a study of reflection and altered perspectives. She is unsure what path to take after graduation, but she will definitely be pursuing art studies. “Where to go is up in the air right now.”

            Autumn Tilley, a junior at ORR, explored themes of mental health in her three submissions, two of which were digital creations and one using pen and watercolors. “The girl facing the colors is happy; the other girl is in darkness,” Tilley began. She said the piece titled “Disengaged” does not mean that one girl won’t find happiness but that for now, she is stuck. In another picture, we see a disembodied pair of feet crossing a narrow bridge from the perspective of looking down into a pool of “chaos.”

            “She’s traversing the static, the disorder in the abyss, on the edge of sanity but holding on. She doesn’t want to jump in,” Tilley shared. The watercolor-and-pen painting takes a look at the world through the eyes of someone dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tilley explained. Titled “Rods and Cones,” the face shows no emotion while the eyes are at once both suffering and strong. Tilley will be attending university to study animation and computer science.

            William Stark’s submissions are unique in the show. He carved a rich half hull and a sailboat. Stark works part-time at a local furniture store where he has learned woodworking skills along with those taught by his father. Talking about his entries, Stark said that the sailboat was inspired by a photograph a friend took of him on his own boat. “I love sailing,” he said. The half hull is of a famous J-class sailboat, the “Rainbow.”

            Speaking of rainbows, Isabel Friedrichs incorporated those in her ceramics submission. The three pieces Friedrichs is showing at the MAC span several years’ worth of effort. And when all were accepted, she was surprised. “Fortune Cookies” is three giant-sized cookies with a large scrolled message reading, “Hugs are life’s rainbows.” She also created a Converse sneaker representing keepsakes in the form of clothing articles, special editions, that is. And last but not least, she created a backpack representing transitions and issues her brother would be facing as he left home to enter university. She said she had never participated in an art show before. “I usually give my art away as gifts,” she said. Friedrich is a junior at ORR and plans on finishing out her high school career as a ceramist.

            Kate Butler is an art teacher at Old Rochester Regional Junior HIgh and High School. Regarding the program that is giving the students the opportunity to display their creations to the public, Butler said, “I’m very happy for the students.” She said it gave them exposure to other aspects of bringing art to a public venue, such as writing descriptions for items on display, submitting their pieces for consideration by the center’s show committee, and even pricing pieces for sale.

            “It’s a chance for them to see other parts of producing art,” said Butler, noting that most of her students are considering art as a career or as a component to a wider educational track. She credits art with giving the student a vehicle to “help them process what’s been going on.” She said that, despite the need to work from home, only having a few precious minutes each week to receive instruction in a virtual manner, that the students have “produced deep and meaningful pieces.”

            Butler summarized the students’ experience this way: “This is a great opportunity for the students to access real-life aspects of how art can interact with the public even during a pandemic.… It unites people.… It helps them to process their feelings.… It’s a bright spot.”

            Tricia Smith, chair of the Visual Art Department at Tabor Academy, said the Young Art Program at the MAC gives students a way of processing the pandemic. She said many students employed digital-art software programs and tools to create their pieces. “It’s painting and drawing on a screen,” Smith explained. She said the principles of drawing are there but “using a different toolbox. It’s been wonderful to introduce the students to this latest technology; it’s really relevant right now. It’s a real-world experience.” Smith also talked about augmented reality, in which computer enhancements can turn a static object into three dimensions or create animated movement from old masters’ works. “This is what is next,” she stated. Smith added that she is proud and pleased with how well the students have navigated remote learning and hybrid classes. “They have handled these transitions remarkably well.”

            The exhibit also includes an entire wall of photography from students of New Bedford High School. The images range from structural to personal, from emotionally charged to static, and show the breadth of their world outside school. Those students are Yadeliz Dominguez, Elexus Nunes, Alex Soares, Keira Kolostyak, Janpier Medina, Jen Andrade, Jarien Cardeiras, Kayle Forgue, Delcy Martinez, and Alan Rodriguez.

            Other students exhibiting in the MAC High School Show are Emma Zhou (Tabor Academy), Sofia Martins (ORR), Skylar Cardwell (ORR), Sarah Blake (Tabor Academy), Madeline Dugas (ORR), Rachel Foye (ORR), Mary Townsend (Tabor Academy), Christopher Knight (ORR), Claire Berry (ORR), Erin Davis (ORR), Christina Fisher (ORR), Jack Ashley (ORR), Lauren Cohen (Tabor Academy), Emma Carroll (ORR), and Ella Shannon (ORRJHS).

            Also on display behind the front desk at the MAC and at the General Store in Marion are entries from the recent Artist Expression Contest for Grades 7-12 sponsored by Tri-Town Against Racism.

            Even as difficult subjects have been explored, through artistic expression, the students’ art included hope and inspired the viewer to test the outer reaches of their own experiences. As Erin Davis’ picture shows us, there at the end of the tunnel, a bright light shines on a ladder, and a way up and out of the darkness if we just take a step forward.             To learn more about the Young Artists Program or to view the show, visit marionartcenter.org.

Marion Art Center

By Marilou Newell

Marion Scholarship and Education Committee

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Through the generosity of Marion residents, the Marion Scholarship and Education Committee is offering a scholarship to high school seniors who will graduate in 2021.

            Applicants must live in Marion, be in good academic standing, and accepted at a recognized college for the fall of 2021.

            Application requirements can be obtained through the counseling office at your high school. Applications must be received in full no later than April 15.

            Anyone who would like to contribute to these and to future scholarships can send a donation to The Marion Scholarship and Education Committee, Marion Town House, 2 Spring Street, Marion, MA 02738.

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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In the woods of Rochester, far from the eyes of the curious, sits a small family burial ground surrounded by a stone wall and overgrown trees and brush. Only one stone can be found there, though; however, in a letter written in 1989, the writer remembered more.  As a child, in 1904-1911, she and her brother would visit the site to lay flowers at five graves there. The one stone visible has an interesting story. It reads: “In memory of Mrs. Sarah Howfe (Howse) Relict (widow) of Lieut. Jeremiah Howfe, who died May 5th, 1791, in her 88th year. N.B (note well), Mr. Jeremiah Howfe was killed by Indians in May 1747 aged 45.”

            Little is known about this family other than a church record noting the marriage of a daughter, Sarah, to Earl Clap in 1761. Clap had been a prominent family in Rochester from very early on. There was also a baptism listed for Sarah, age 30, in April 1770, and another in June 1770 for five Clap children and Sarah’s mother, Sarah Howse, a widow near 70 years old.

            As for Jeremiah, only his death date is known for sure. By this time in history, only a few Native Americans remained in the area, so it is unprovable that Jeremiah was killed here, or there would have been a notation somewhere in Rochester’s history. This is where the Forgotten War comes in.

            As a Lieutenant, he must have been in a militia at some point in time. Between 1689 and 1763, four wars were fought between the British and the French, with Indians fighting on both sides. The first three were King William’s War, Queen Anne’s War, and King George’s War. The fourth, the French & Indian War, is the one we today know and remember.

            The British ordered towns in Massachusetts to supply men to fight in the wars as subjects of the crown. Around 1744-45, Massachusetts raised a force of some 3,300 men, many from this area. These recruits, mostly farmers and fishermen, sailed from Boston with the very inexperienced but rich Boston merchant William Pepperell in charge. The intent was for these troops to take the garrison of Louisburg on Cape Breton Island. Having no idea of how to carry out a siege, ammunition and provisions were gone in three weeks.

            Disease was everywhere. Thankfully, the French garrison was poorly manned. King George did send help, and finally, the town and fort were demolished. It took 9,000 cannonballs, 600 bombs, and a great deal of courage to accomplish this deed. When departing, Pepperell left 2,500 men to hold the fort for the British. Sickness that winter took the lives of 900 men. By spring, those left were hospitalized. Three regiments of British troops were sent to help. Fighting continued for two more years. By October 1748, when it was finally over, the British signed over the fort, which was so hard fought for, back to the French.

            Was Jeremiah on Cape Breton and at Louisburg or elsewhere fighting during this time? Was he one of those left behind to fight for two more years? We only know that his death in 1747 fits the timeline. What we know for sure is that he had a wife and children in Rochester who were left alone when he was “killed by Indians.”

Lonely Graveyard, Forgotten War

By Susan LaFleur, Secretary/Librarian

Schools Looking for Level-Services Budget

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            Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson told the March 15 joint meeting of the Marion Finance Committee and Board of Selectmen that the Fiscal Year 2022 budget for Sippican School will see a 2.43-percent increase, and the FY22 budget for the ORR School District will see a 2.47-percent increase.

            These percentages do not count the assessment made by Bristol County Agricultural High School, one that Town Administrator Jay McGrail has repeatedly told elected officials he has no intention of paying. Marion is among several towns disputing the assessment based on debt, of which non-member towns have no control.

            McGrail commended Nelson, ORR Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber, and the Marion School Committee for achieving “a level-services budget, or as close as we could (get).”

            The first draft left Marion with a $170,000 shortfall, but after huddling with Marion Finance Director Judy Mooney, McGrail said a subsequent meeting with ORR administration resulted in a workable solution for both sides.

            The general operating funds for FY22 are $6,456,815 for Sippican School and $19,895,966 for ORR, factoring in the Bristol Aggie assessment of $126,744.

            “We really appreciate the work that they did,” McGrail told Marion’s elected officials. “The budget they are presenting has Judy’s and my support.”

            “I don’t want to be looking at a fix…. I want to be looking at a two, a three, a five-year plan,” said Barber, alluding to his recent illness that postponed the joint meeting originally scheduled for March 2.

            Barber told the meeting that he started from scratch building the FY22 budget on department-based goals and establishing what he called an “all-funds budget,” factoring in grants and other funding sources that allowed him to operate on that approach.

            Finance Committee member Karen Kevelson questioned a $56,000 line item for substitute teachers at Sippican, a number that projects to 2.78 substitutes per day at the elementary school.

            Barber explained that the year-to-year item covers maternity leave and other long-term absences. Without such coverage, Barber said the school would have to invest in a long-term substitute at a greater expense. He said, based on the current union contract, the minimum is $254 per day. The Masters 1 category, he said, costs $280 per day and, at 45 days or more (long-term), is a minimal expense of $13,000.

            In discussing the ORR budget for FY22, Barber said the district has been approved to add a Chapter 74 vocational program and therefore added a paraprofessional in that area. To compensate, he said, the position of director of guidance was reduced and eliminated from the budget, and in its place, a $7,000 consultant was added.

            Technological upgrades via grant and other funding sources led to the need to install a computer science laboratory in the Junior High School. To compensate, ORR is not filling a position being vacated by a retirement.

            According to Barber, ORR’s $21,175,000 total operating budget for FY22 constitutes a $500,000 increase over $20,673,628 for FY21. With offsets, the FY22 number is still at $21,174, 638.

            FinCom member Shay Assad suggested a deeper dive into the long-term impact of ORR’s school-choice policy.

            While members of the Finance Committee shared growing concern over a lack of control in spending and implied the need to establish subcommittees in order to better evaluate enrollment trends and the necessity of services, Marion School Committee member Heather Burke argued that a decrease in services could results in greater expense for the town paying out assessments to out-of-district schools educating Marion’s children.

            Assad, FinCom Chairman Peter Winters, and other members thanked Barber and Nelson for the significant improvement in transparency through the budget process.

            Like his message to the town a year ago, Winters reiterated his interest in more information, saying he would like to also see hard figures in line item costs that he said become obscured by the budgeting process and presentation.

            The public hearing for the school budget will be held on March 24. FinCom will also entertain a vote that night on McGrail’s presentation of the draft warrant for the Annual Town Meeting. McGrail said, if there are problems, they can meet again on March 31.

            The budget schedule will culminate with the April 6 closing of the warrant of articles for the May 10 Town Meeting and its April 13 submission to the printer.

            The next meeting of the Marion Finance Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, March 24, at 7:00 pm.

Marion Finance Committee

By Mick Colageo

Tri-Town Early Childhood Program

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Tri-Town Early Childhood Program Registration for 2021-2022 is open online. Children who have attended high-quality preschools are well prepared for their future learning. In an effort to provide this opportunity to more children, the Tri-Town Early Childhood Program enrolls children ages 2.9 to 5 years. Class size is limited to 15 children per day. The enrollment policy, as adopted by the ORR School Committee, is as follows: Enrollment is based on a balance of 3, 4, and 5-year-olds, a balance of boys and girls, and a balance among residents of Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester. If openings remain after resident applications are processed, nonresidents may apply.

            Preschool choices and options are as follows: Two days per week (Tuesday & Thursday) 72 days total; three days per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) 100 days total; five days per week (Monday-Friday) 172 days.

            There is a half-day option, 7:00 am-12:00 pm, $35/day; and full-day option, 7:00 am-3:30 pm, $45/day.

            Parents are responsible for providing transportation to and from school each day.

            The Tri-Town Early Childhood Program serves as a model setting for high school students interested in early childhood education. Under the direction of both the high school early childhood teacher and the preschool classroom teacher, high school students learn, practice, and master the skills necessary to support young learners in a preschool classroom.

Donald R. LaBrode

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Donald R. LaBrode, 66, of Acushnet passed away at home on March 14, 2021 surrounded by his loving family.

            He is survived by his wife Donna (Mayer) LaBrode. Last year they celebrated their 47th year of tireless and dedicated love. Donald was born on January 7, 1955 in New Bedford to the late Myles Louis LaBrode and the late Deolinda (Amaral) LaBrode. He was a resident of Acushnet for his entire life residing in the family home originally built by his grandparents. Donald’s source of ceaseless joy was his family, which consists of three children, Julie Bosworth along with her husband Thomas of Dartmouth, Eric LaBrode along with his wife Rebecca of Westport, and Elizabeth Leifheit along with her husband Gareth of Avon, MA. As “Puppa”, he adored his six grandchildren: Logan and Hadley Bosworth, Taylor and Eleanor LaBrode, and Emin and Alder Leifheit. Donald was the youngest of four siblings and is survived by his sister Margaret (LaBrode) Rapoza along with her husband John of Sarasota, FL, his brother Myles LaBrode along with his wife Elizabeth of Taunton, MA, and his brother Paul LaBrode along with his wife Claire of Leland, NC as well as his brother-in-law Donald Mayer and with his wife Janet of Mattapoisett.

            Donald was an avid sailor, captaining his beloved Dove and later Honeybee, out of Padanaram harbor on the waters of Buzzard’s Bay and beyond. The friendships he made through boating were true and enduring. Donald was a long-standing member of the New Bedford Yacht Club. Brodie, as he was affectionately known, worked as a Pepperidge Farm distributor for forty-one years until his retirement in 2017. He traded driving the bread truck for long rides in his 1967 Mercedes coupe. Donald had a knack for making people feel welcome and comfortable; that was never more true than on Sundays by the pool when family and friends would gather for fantastic food, conversation, and music. He always enjoyed relaxing with a book and looked forward to a new selection arriving from his cousin Michael.

            His life will be celebrated this summer by family and friends in true Donald fashion under a tent in the field he so proudly tended at 188.

            In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Southcoast Visiting Nurses Association, 200 Mill Road, Fairhaven, MA 02719. For guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.