Coos County Democrat Obituaries, Lancaster, New Hampshire, Wednesday, September 10, 2003 Copyright of the newspaper. Permission to include in the USGenWeb Archives was received. Matthew L. Fontaine BEECHER FALLS, Vt. — Matthew L. Fontaine, 19, of Beecher Falls, died on Wednesday, August 27, 2003 as the result of a swimming accident in Royalton. He was born on August 12, 1984 in Newport, the son of Stephen and Patsy (Blanchard) Fontaine. Matt attended school at Canaan Memorial High School. At the time of his death he was a student at Vermont Technical College in Randolph, where he majored in computer science. Matt was very active while in high school, where he was a member of the Jazz Band and Chorus, and played the guitar. He was a member of the Upward Bound program, and an honor student who freely gave his time to assist students enrolled in the special education program. He had worked summers as a valet at the Balsams Grand Resort Hotel in Dixville Notch. Last year Matt attended Champlain College in Burlington, transferring to Vermont Technical College this fall. Matt was a member of the National Honor Society. He enjoyed reading, drawing and working with computers. He is survived by his parents, Stephen and Patsy Fontaine of Beecher Falls; a brother, Stephen J. Fontaine, who is a student at the University of Vermont in Burlington; his paternal grandparents, Lawrence and Gertrude Fontaine of Derby; and his maternal grandparents, Beverly Blanchard of Beecher Falls and Bill Blanchard of Stratford, N.H.. There were no calling hours. A funeral service was held on Thursday, September 4 at the Assembly of God Church in Columbia, with the Rev. Gary Clark officiating. Interment was in the Canaan Village Cemetery. Donations in memory of Matthew Lawrence Fontaine may be sent to Canaan Memorial High School, Canaan, VT 05903. Newman Funeral Home handled the arrangements. Frederick Hosmer Johnson Jr. CANAAN, Vt. — Frederick Hosmer Johnson Jr., 92, passed away at the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook, N.H., early on September 6, 2003. Mr. Johnson was born in Providence, R.I. March 30, 1911, the son of Frederick H. and Sallie P. (Hall) Johnson. He was raised and schooled in Northboro, Mass. He trained as a pipe organ builder in Buffalo, N.Y. and as a piano tuner/ technician in Boston, Mass. In the early 1930s he rode the train to the Upper Valley and began his piano-tuning career by pedaling his bicycle from job to job and living in a spare room in the Dewing house in Norwich. With his brother, Allen, he established the Music and Recording Studio in Hanover, N.H., but as his piano and organ business grew, he left the Music and Recording Studio to pursue these other interests full time. In 1937 he married Ethelyn Watson, of Leominster, Mass. That same year they purchased their beloved farm on Brigham Hill in Norwich. Over the years they raised oxen, registered Hereford cattle, horses, and pigs. They had a large sagebrush and typically made 20 to 30 gallons of Maple Syrup each spring. Together they raised four sons. By the late 1950s, with pianos taking up space in most of the rooms of the house, Fred and Ethelyn decided to get out of farming and turn their large cow barn into a modern piano showroom which would eventually house hundreds of new and used pianos, including several Steinway Concert Grands which were available for use by traveling world class pianists. Frederick Johnson Pianos, Inc. remained on Brigham Hill until 1972 when it moved into larger quarters in White River Jct. Mr. Johnson was a man of many interests. In addition to his piano and organ business he also established a Sound and Lighting business. For years Fred provided generator power, public address systems, stage lighting, and race timing services for fairs, carnivals and commencements throughout New England, including Dartmouth football games, ski races, and carnival outdoor evenings. He provided sound and lighting for the Norwich, Tunbridge, Plymouth, Barton, Lyndonville, Lancaster, and Deerfield fairs; sound and communication for ski jumping on the big hills in Berlin, N.H. and Brattleboro, Vt., and for several years at the Lyme Rock Conn. and Watkins Glen auto races. Mr. Johnson also had an interest in real estate, restoring the brick Converse House on Main St. in Norwich, restoring the house and barn and establishing an eight-acre conservation pond at the Rix Farm in Sharon, developing apartment buildings in Hanover and Lebanon, N.H. and at one time purchasing the Fairlee railroad station to house a branch piano store. He owned land in Deming, N.M. Upon his retirement he continued his real estate ventures by buying a farm and land in Canaan. Upon their retirement, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson purchased a Motor Home and traveled extensively around the country. In 1978 they sold their Brigham Hill Farm and settled in Canaan, to help youngest son Bill establish his Dairy Farm. They loved the North Country, and farming, and were active for years doing chores and taking care of calves. Mrs. Johnson died in 1999 at the Coös County Nursing home in West Stewartstown, N.H. and Mr. Johnson, out of appreciation for the loving care the home had given his wife, continued to volunteer there right up to a month before he died. Mr. Johnson was one of a kind. With only a high school education he was at ease with educators, politicians and celebrities. He was a true intellectual, always interested in learning new things, studying and debating issues, listening late into the night to C-SPAN and the CBC, entertaining himself by reading Plato, Emerson, and his beloved Celia Thaxter. He spent untold hours researching his family genealogy. He had a wide circle of friends and touched many lives. He was frugal, self-deprecating, and generous; always helping those less fortunate than himself. He is survived by his four sons, Frederick III of New Port Richey, Fla., Richard of Hartland, Philip of West Hartford, and William of Canaan; 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Coös County Nursing Home in West Stewartstown, N.H. A celebration of Mr. Johnson's life will be held at a later date. Newman Funeral Home was entrusted with arrangements. Thomas Landry DALTON — Thomas Landry, 85 of 284 Dalton Road, passed away suddenly at his neighboring shop on Tuesday, September 2, 2003. He was born in Dalton, a son of Joseph and Rose (Pelotte) Landry, and had been a lifelong resident of his community. He had formerly been employed as a mechanic at the Georgia-Pacific Paper Company in Gilman, Vt. He had served as Road Agent for the Town of Dalton for several years. He was an avid farmer, mechanic, loved working in the woods, helping his neighbors, and most of all playing with and entertaining his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is survived by his wife of 54 years Gladys (Barnett) Landry; a son, Thomas and wife Janice Landry of Gilmanton; two step-daughters, Francine and husband Roger Thompson of Plaistow, and Barbara and husband Sam Williams of Franconia; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; a sister, Emily Matthew of Dalton; a brother, Phillip and wife Olivine Landry of Dalton; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was predeceased by an infant daughter, a stepson, four sisters and three brothers. Calling hours were held on Thursday, September 4, at Ross Funeral Home, Whitefield Chapel. Funeral services were held on Friday, September 5, at the Dalton Congregational Church, with Pastor Thomas Golden officiating. Burial followed in the Cushman Cemetery in Dalton. Donations in his memory can be made to the Whitefield Life Squad, c/o Whitefield Fire Department, Whitefield, NH 03598. Friends may sign an electronic register at www.rossfuneral.com. Richard “Dick” J. Ottmann QUECHEE, Vt. — Richard “Dick” J. Ottmann died on August 31, 2003 at the White River Veterans Hospital after a battle with ill health as well as a long and courageous battle with cancer. Born on August 19, 1924, in Port Chester, New York, he was the oldest child of Louis J. and Mabel (Bakke) Ottmann. He attended LaSalle Military Academy and graduated from Frederick E. Bellows High School, Mamaroneck, N. Y. He also attended the University of Virginia after military service. While at Bellows High School, he excelled in football and ice hockey as well as track and baseball. He was married to Virginia Oehmsen and later divorced. On October 21, 1978 he married Gayle C. Purrell in Quechee. He joined the Army in 1944, serving in the 64th Field Hospital in France, as a medical aid man and athletic instructor for paralyzed soldiers. After discharge, he joined the family firm of General Sand and Stone, as vice president, based in West Hartford, Conn. He worked throughout New England in real estate sales. In 1978, he joined Quechee Lakes Corporation; opened the Ott-Dog Snack Bar, at Quechee Gorge in 1979; and established Johnson and Ottmann Real Estate in Woodstock, Vermont in 1981. He retired from real estate in 1994. He loved life to the fullest, enjoying a golf game, watching UVA’s football games, sharing stories with friends and family, entertaining at his home on Main Street, or scooping ice cream. Above all, his grandchildren and family made his life complete. He is survived by his wife, Gayle; his daughter, Heidi and husband Robert Larkin of Farmington, Conn.; two sons, Gary Ottmann of Jersey City, N.J. and Kurt Ottmann of Sandy, Ut.; three stepdaughters, Joi and husband Jon Soule of Quechee, Jana and husband Bradford Swanton of Harpswell, Me., and Joni and husband George Colburn of Royalton; two brothers, Norman Ottmann of Simsbury, Conn., and Gordon Ottmann of Rocky Hill, Conn.; six grandchildren, Jason, Erika, Erina, Colby, Dylan, and Marley; sister-in-law, Laurie and husband Bernard LaBounty of Lunenburg, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and a stepmother. Calling hours were held on Sunday, September 7 at the Cabot Funeral Home in Woodstock. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. on Monday, September 8, at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church in Woodstock, Vt. Burial followed at the Vermont Veterans Cemetery in Randolph. Arrangements are being conducted by the Cabot Funeral Home. Memorial contribution may be made to the Visiting Nurses Alliance/Hospice, 46 So. Main Street, Hartford, VT 05001 or the Town of Hartford Recreation Department, Attn: Tad Nunez, Director, Bridge Street, White River Junction, VT 05001, or to the charity of one’s choice. Florence H. Polkey HUDSON — Florence H. Polkey, 91, of Hudson, died on Wednesday, September 3, 2003 at her daughter’s home in Pelham after a period of declining health. Mrs. Polkey was born on January 21, 1912 in Northumberland, a daughter of the late John and Winifred (Daniels) Hodge. She spent most of her life in the Lancaster area before moving to southern New Hampshire in 1974. She had been a resident of Buttercup Hill in Hudson for the past 16 years. She was the widow of Walter Polkey, who died in 1972. Mrs. Polkey was an avid quilter and enjoyed gardening. Survivors include three sons, John Polkey of Macclenny, Fla., James Polkey of Jacksonville, Fla., and Edward Polkey of Merrimack; three daughters, Wraye Dugundji of Hatfield, Mass., Carlene Blasko of Macclenny, Fla., and Katherine Irwin of Pelham; a brother, Raymond Hodge of Guildhall, Vt.; a sister, Marion Klinefelter of Guildhall; 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. The Cremation Society of New Hampshire in Manchester is in charge of arrangements. Anyone who would like to view an on-line obituary, send condolences, or get directions can go to www.csnh.com. Helen L. (Middleton) Thompson LANCASTER — Helen L. (Middleton) Thompson, 72, of Lancaster died suddenly at Weeks Medical Center on September 7, 2003. She had been ill for many years. She was born in Berlin on August 10, 1931, the daughter of Harry and Elizabeth (Clark) Middleton. She married William D. Thompson II on September 8, 1949. Mrs. Thompson enjoyed gardening, baking, knitting, spending time with family and friends, and she loved her cat “King Tut.” She was a member of Auxiliary VFW Post 3041, and was the 1969-1970 past president. Her surviving family members include her loving husband of 54 years, William D. Thompson II; two sons, William D. Thompson III and Wyatt D. Thompson, both of Lancaster; two daughters, Wenda D. Stimpson of Groveton, and Wynta D. Sampson of Lancaster; a nephew, Eldon Middleton of Aloha, Ore., over whom she had guardianship; sister, Jeanette and husband Arnold Davenport of Maryland; 11 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. There will be no calling hours. A graveside service will be held at the family’s convenience. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of one’s choice.