In Memoriam

Carol Higgins Clark, age 66, died on June 12, 2023 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after bravely living with appendix cancer for three years. Carol grew up in Washington Township, New Jersey and was a graduate of Immaculate Heart Academy and Mount Holyoke College. Just two weeks ago, she joyfully attended the 45th anniversary reunion of her college graduation and was delighted to re-connect with many of her classmates.

Carol was a successful and acclaimed mystery writer and authored eighteen novels with Private Investigator Regan Reilly as the central character. Her first book DECKED was nominated for the 1992 Agatha Award and the Anthony Award for “Best First Novel.” She followed with SNAGGED a year later, then ICED, MOBBED, LACED, HITCHED and other one-word-titled novels concluding with her last published Regan Reilly mystery, SCAMMED. Carol enjoyed wearing a gold necklace with a charm representing every title.

With her late mother, author Mary Higgins Clark, she co-wrote four novels with the main characters Alvirah and Willy Meehan, a retired couple who somehow managed to become involved in criminal investigations and ultimately identify the culprit in serious crimes which had gone unsolved. Several of Carol’s books were made into television movies and she appeared in them. She started out typing her mother’s manuscripts and went on to have her own stellar career.

Carol was deeply honored to be inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2016. She was introduced at the ceremony by her mother who had been previously inducted in 2011.

Carol was supportive of many charities including Catholic Charities, and Project Angel Food which prepares and delivers medically tailored meals to people living with serious illness, and ACPMP, an appendix cancer research foundation. She recently taped a video about appendix cancer on behalf of ACPMP, which funds doctors who conduct research on this very rare disease. She was also a loyal supporter of her alma mater Mount Holyoke.

Carol was predeceased by her beloved parents, Warren F. Clark and Mary Higgins Clark, her sister Patricia Clark and her sister-in-law Sharon Clark. She is survived by her siblings, Marilyn, Warren and David Clark, and by her nieces and nephews, Elizabeth Clark, (Lauren Pomerantz) and their children Frederick and Emma; Andrew Clark (Taylor) and their children William and Alexander; Courtney Clark Morrison (James) and their children Louis and Katherine, David Clark, Justin Clark, and Jerome Derenzo (Tara) and their daughter Stella. She is also survived by her many Clark and Higgins cousins.

A wake will be held on Monday, June 19th from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel, 1076 Madison Avenue, New York City. A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, June 20th at 10:30 AM at the Church of St. Vincent Ferrer, 869 Lexington Avenue, New York City.

Internment will immediately follow at Calvary Cemetery, 49-02 Laurel Hill Boulevard, Woodside, Queens, New York.

In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to make a donation may send it to ACPMP, Appendix Cancer/Pseudomyxoma Peritonei Research Foundation, 491 Baltimore Pike, #177, Springfield, Pennsylvania, 19064-3810.

Carol was much loved and will be deeply missed by her family and friends. Rest in peace.

Grantham, NH — Cynthia Elizabeth Howe, 65, died peacefully on Sunday morning, September 18, 2022 at her Grantham, NH home. Passionate and present in her life, she gracefully lived her last 5-plus years with ovarian cancer.

Cynthia was born on September 28, 1956 in Hartford, Connecticut to Glover and Jane Howe. She loved growing up with her 3 siblings at Loomis Chaffee School. After high school, she attended Mount Holyoke College and then earned her Masters in Education from Harvard University. In 1978 she married Murray Dewdney. They moved to Meriden, NH in 1988. There she and Murray raised their two sons, Tyler and Morgan, and enjoyed their 32-year careers at Kimball Union Academy.

An educator and mentor to her core, Cynthia dispensed unlimited advice, counsel, and comfort to the many students and faculty who had the good fortune to know her. She loved her students in so many ways, for their intellect, for their good behavior, and for their manners — and she made sure her students had those qualities. A warm and welcoming presence, Cynthia was a friend of learning and a friend of teaching — an educator whose creativity, integrity, and values enriched all who crossed her path.

Cynthia was a woman of wide-ranging interests. She was an avid reader and an excellent gardener whose hot pepper jelly was always a welcome gift. Fly fishing was a passion she enjoyed all her life. Cynthia loved the color purple and appreciated a good IPA. Her home was the home of a houseplant connoisseur and Cynthia still had plants that she had nurtured since college. And she loved watching Tyler and Morgan playing hockey and soccer. There are quite a few youth hockey players who may recall that being in the penalty box usually also meant a conversation with Ms. Howe. A keen observer of life, her kindness and her wry sense of humor were qualities that Cynthia brought to everything she did.

Cynthia was predeceased by her father, Glover Howe, She is survived by her mother, Jane Mackay Howe; her husband, Murray Dewdney; her sons Tyler Dewdney (Emily Dewdney) and Morgan Dewdney; her siblings Ken Howe (Michelle), Robertson Howe (Amanda), Judith Gobbi (Patrick); her extended Dewdney family; and many much-loved nieces, nephews, colleagues, students, and friends.

Cynthia's family is indebted to her cancer care team: Dr. Evelyn Fleming, Dr. Amelia Cullinan, Sasha Steinbaugh, and the nurses and staff at the Norris Cotton Cancer Center and Lake Sunapee Visiting Nurses and Hospice. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Hand to Heart Project, P.O. Box 248, Cornish Flat, NH 03746, the Norris Cotton Cancer Center, One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756 and Lake Sunapee Region Visiting Nurse and Hospice, P.O. Box 2209, New London, NH 03257.

European Broadcasting Union producer, editorial assistant, 65, nurtured her children to 'become the best versions of themselves' Sharon Eleanor Clark, nee Meier, (age 65) of Bethesda, MD, Ridgewood, NJ, and New York, NY passed away at home on Saturday, October 16, 2021 after bravely living with cancer for 8 years. Loving mother of Andrew (Taylor) Clark, Courtney (James) Morrison, and Justin Clark. Beloved grandmother of William and Louis. Cherished sister of Renee Meier (Paul Frediani), Cathy Meier, and Marina (Douglas) Taylor. Much loved by her sister-in-law, Marilyn Clark, and her brother-in-law, David Clark. Dear aunt of Elizabeth Clark (Lauren Pomerantz), David Clark, Jerome Derenzo (Tara), Francesco Gallo, Ludovico Gallo, and Eleanor Taylor. Loved wife of 40 years to Warren Clark. Sharon was born in Bethesda, Maryland on April 22, 1956 to Louis and Eleonora Meier. Daughter to a US Navy Captain, Sharon and her sisters spent several years of their childhood in Italy and traveling the globe. She spoke Italian and was proud of her Italian heritage. She graduated from Stone Ridge in 1974 and Mount Holyoke College in 1978. After college, she spent several years in New York City working as a producer at the European Broadcasting Union. With her young family, Sharon moved to Ridgewood, NJ in 1988. Heartbroken is the beloved family she leaves behind. She was as nurturing and selfless a mother as anyone could hope for. Ever present at sports, school, and theater, Sharon recognized the individuality of each of her children and helped them become the best versions of themselves. Recently, she joyfully became Nonna to her two young grandchildren. She loved getting down on the floor to play with, read to, and inspire them. Ever the athlete, she was an avid golfer and paddle tennis player. Serving as president of the Ridgewood Baseball Association and chair of the Women's Golf Committee at Ridgewood Country Club, Sharon dazzled us with her organization, efficiency, and commitment. Most recently, she worked as editorial assistant to her late mother-in-law, Mary Higgins Clark. Through all the phases of her life, Sharon easily made lifelong friends. Her warmth, elegance, and intelligence invited people and put them instantly at ease. She will be greatly missed by friends of 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 years. In her final weeks, the outpouring of love from people who treasured her friendship was inspiring. A wake will be held on Tuesday, October 19th, from 4 to 8pm at Feeney Funeral Home in Ridgewood, NJ. A funeral Mass open to all will be held on Wednesday, October 20th, at 10am at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Ridgewood, NJ. The mass will also be available by live stream. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Catholic Charities of New York or ocular melanoma research at Memorial Sloane Kettering. Feeney Funeral Home 232 Franklin Avenue Ridgewood, NJ 07450 (201)444-7650

Margaret (aka Margy) was born in Syracuse, NY to the late Lawrence Meriwether Jones, Sr. and the late Margaret Hanlon Jones, on March 28, 1957. She graduated from Fayetteville-Manlius High School, Manlius, NY in 1974, and from Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA in 1978. She then resided in Buffalo, NY, Tucson, AZ, Guttenberg, NJ and Houston, TX, before moving to Atlanta, GA in 1996.

Over the course of a 30+ year professional career, Margy excelled in sales, marketing and management roles with companies such as Shearson/American Express, New York, NY; Computer Task Group, Buffalo, NY; GC Services in Secaucus, NJ and Houston, TX; and Equifax in Atlanta, GA and St. Louis, MO.

Margy enjoyed traveling, with the Middle East, Spain, France, England, Italy, and Austria, among her favorite locales. She had a special passion for the beach, as she and her husband were married on October 29, 1992, on Ka’anapali Beach in Lahaina-Maui, Hawaii. They also owned a Gulf Coast beach home on Cape San Blas in the Florida Panhandle, and would vacation annually in the Caribbean, most notably in St. Thomas, USVI. She was an active volunteer with The Junior League in Tucson, AZ, North Bergen, NJ, Houston, TX and Atlanta, GA, and served as a Deacon at her house of worship, Oglethorpe Presbyterian Church. Margy enjoyed playing tennis and, more recently, pickleball, and also took up yoga and became a certified yoga instructor. And, she was a true canine enthusiast, who loved and cared for her dogs over the years: Onyx, Nikki, Bailey, Skyler and Riley.

Margy is survived by her loving husband, David P. Dengos; her brother, Captain Lawrence Meriwether Jones, Jr. USN (ret), (Barbara); her nephew, Thomas Meriwether Jones II, (Mary Margaret) and their four children; her niece, Lieutenant Jennifer Lynn Jones, USN and fiancé Lieutenant Benjamin L. Putbrese, USN; along with her husband’s brothers, Richard Dengos, Sr. and Andrew Dengos, Jr., and sisters, Barbara Wilson and Andrea Maxick, and their families.

Donations in Margy’s memory may be made to Oglethorpe Presbyterian Church.

Margy’s family wishes to extend sincere thanks to the caregivers at Vitas Hospice and Kadan Homecare (especially Talipha Charles), for their excellent care and kindness.

Karen Berman, age 63 of Fairfield, CT, passed away on October 16, 2019 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. A writer and editor and the author of six books, she was a devoted mother, sister, aunt, companion, and friend. She leaves her beloved daughter Jessica; her sister Ellen; brother-in-law Paul Chaikowski; niece Anna; and companion Oscar. She was predeceased by her parents, Janice and Abe Berman, and her brother Robert.

Born in Paterson, NJ, she grew up in neighboring Wayne. She graduated with honors from Mount Holyoke College, where she received the John Lax Memorial Award for Excellence in American Studies. An aspiring writer since the third grade, upon graduation from college she became a newspaper reporter, working for several weeklies based in CT. After several years, she joined the staff of The Bridgeport Telegram, in Bridgeport, CT. While there, she twice won the National Press Club award for consumer journalism for her column, "Consumerwise".

In 1990, she became lifestyles editor of the paper, and the following year, left to study at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. She received a certificate in basic cuisine and returned home to begin her freelance career, which included writing books and articles, and serving in various editorial capacities on some 50 books, as well as magazines, newsletters and websites. During this time, she wrote for such publications as "The New York Times" and "Wine Enthusiast Magazine". She was the author of the cookbook "Friday Night Bites: Kick Off the Weekend with Recipes and Crafts for the Whole Family" and five others, as well as an illustrated history about Native American culture. She continued working during her illness. She chose Mark Twain's quote for her high school yearbook photo caption: "Let us endeavor so to live that when we die even the undertaker will be sorry", and tried to live up to it throughout her life.

PLAINFIELD, NH — Brenda Gayle Phillips departed from the arms of her loving family in the living room of her home on River Road in Plainfield, New Hampshire in the late afternoon sun of December 3rd, 2018. She succumbed to the same nameless, cruel, and relentless neurodegenerative disease that had claimed the lives of her South Carolinian Mother, Grandmother, and Great-grandmother.

Brenda was born on November 27th, 1956 in Tampa, Florida to George Wesley Phillips and Anne Dupre Dixon. She grew up wandering the jungles and beaches of Siesta Key, Florida where her mother “Dixie” had a small home. As a teenager Brenda took up competitive waterskiing with a local group, and her natural athletic gifts and untiring determination allowed her to claim the 1977 state championship in women’s trick skiing. Just as determined academically, and helped by some caring teachers, Brenda left Florida for Mount Holyoke College, where she reveled in the community of intellectual exploration and supportive sisterhood. At Mount Holyoke Brenda completed three majors, and was introduced to color theory and oil painting, which she pursued till the end of her life. She also met, on a weekend visit to Dartmouth, her future husband, Ted Moynihan.

After college, she and Ted lived and worked in Berkeley, California, New York City, and then in 1982 settled in the Upper Valley of New Hampshire. There, Brenda took an administrative job at R&D engineering firm Creare Inc, doing technical writing and project administration. Brenda left Creare in 1991 to care for her children and to focus on her painting, while also serving on the board of the AVA Gallery. She was honored by Creare, which appreciated an art major always focused on getting the job done and fearlessly un-intimidated by a roomful of opinionated PhD engineers. She became the first woman employee ever selected for their Rogue’s Gallery of Distinction. In 1984, Brenda and Ted bought an 1860 farmhouse in Plainfield, where they were married in 1985, and have lived and raised their family since.

While on the surface Brenda’s life could appear a simple fairy tale, below the surface Brenda carried dark wounds from early childhood abuse. Brenda’s lifelong journey to understand that abuse was the deep process that both burdened and motivated her through much of her life. She was ultimately able to reveal, understand, and forgive the abuse. That final act of forgiveness was transformative and liberating, inspiring her joyous mothering, her adventurous spirituality, her generosity, and her exuberant painting.

Brenda leaves behind her husband, Ted Moynihan, of Plainfield, NH, and their children; Alison of Keene, NH, Liam of Boston, MA, and Galen of Hanover, NH. Brenda’s wonderful siblings are scattered around the country. Sister, Alison Carter lives in the house where they grew up in Sarasota, FL, sister, Linda Phillips lives in Wesley Chapel, Fl, sister, Diane Hansen lives in Land of Lakes, FL, brother, Jim Phillips lives in Boulder Creek, CA, and brother, Doug Phillips lives in Hanalei, HI.

Brenda was continually seeking spiritually, and when she came face to face with her disease 20 years ago, she wasted no time on self-pity. Instead, she made the conscious decision to put all of her energy into making the world a better place. She made sure her own children knew they were well loved, she reached out to homeless children, she built 50 disease free homes in a remote village in Bolivia, she cared for friends and neighbors in her community and battered women needing shelter, and she made art to uplift the spirit. She would be honored if any who knew her were inspired to do the same.

Please make any contributions in her memory to The Turning Point Network in Claremont, NH, to Mount Holyoke College, or to a local charity in your own community.

Sarajane Edelglass Hersh, of Ardmore, PA, born in New Haven, CT, passed away on October 29, 2016 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Daughter of Patricia and the late Herbert Edelglass, mother of Adam Hersh and Jessica Hersh, sister of John Edelglass (Elizabeth) of Woodbridge, CT and Kim Michelstein (Richard). Funeral Services will be held at Congregation B’nai Jacob, 75 Rimmon Road, Woodbridge, CT.

PALM COAST, Fla. - Linda Jeanne McAleer (Grossman) passed away in Palm Coast, Fla. on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015 after a brief illness. She was 59 years old. Born in New Haven, Conn. to Gordon William & Mary Ann Grossman (Creel), Linda was raised in Chappaqua, N.Y. where she graduated from Horace Greeley High School in 1974. Linda with her husband, Ken moved to Dublin in 1983 where she made her home and raised their daughter Jennifer until recently moving to Florida full time in July 2015.

A graduate of Mount Holyoke College, Linda spent her early Direct Marketing career in the circulation departments of the Atlantic Monthly and Harvard Business Review magazines. In 1983 Linda joined the Millard Group in Peterborough, ultimately becoming Executive Vice President and an owner and partner. During her time at Millard, the company grew to become the country's leading list management and brokerage company. Linda retired from Millard in 2007.

Over the years Linda held a variety of Direct Marketing trade group positions and was a frequent speaker and panelist at industry events.

Linda was a beautiful singer who was active in madrigal and other choral groups during high school and college. She was an avid animal lover and devoted a great deal of time to working with and on behalf of distressed, abused and abandoned animals.

Robin Northup Conn ’78, career development manager of Asia-Pacific, People Operations (HR), Bloomberg L.P., Singapore

Biochemistry and graduated Magna Cum Laude. Janet was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society. She was also a Mary Lyon Scholar and a Sarah Williston Scholar.
Following her undergrad education, Janet was accepted into the UMass Medical School, where she did cardiovascular research. Doctor Cogoli graduated from UMass Medical School and then began her residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Multiple sclerosis.

Donna E. Beardsworth, age 54, the Founder, President & CEO of the Contract Research Organization, Beardsworth Consulting Group, Inc., passed away unexpectedly early Sunday morning. "We are shocked and greatly saddened by the passing of Donna. She was a dear friend who cared deeply about people and humanity. Donna was a visionary leader, a devoted clinician and a mentor to many within the Clinical Research Industry. The people with whom she worked over the years will deeply mourn her loss and miss her spirit. We extend our sympathies to her family and all of her friends," said Vincent F. DiBianca, a principal in the company. "Donna's vision for our company was to focus on complicated clinical trials in Oncology and other difficult therapeutic areas. Her goal was to make an impactful difference in healthcare. She was a true pioneer in the CRO industry, and we have all been inspired by her dedication and limitless spirit," said Mr. O'Brien. "Donna was very proud to be ushering in the 25th anniversary of Beardsworth this year, and the company is fully committed to continuing her legacy."

MOORE April Kathryn Moore of Hamilton, Ohio died Thursday, September 28, 2006, at Mercy Fairfield Hospital in Fairfield, Ohio. She was 50. April was a loving wife, stepmother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. She is survived by her husband of six years, Dwight Schwing, step-daughters Leandra Schwing of Sharonville, Ohio and Jennifer Sawvel, grandson Michael Sawvel of Broken Arrow, OK. Her brother, Tom Moore and his wife Suellen of Perrysburg, OH, nephews Ryan, Jonathan, and Zachary Moore, cousins Jeanne, John, Debbie, and Diane Lemasters. She had many wonderful friends and colleagues that will miss her. Born on June 17, 1956 in Toledo, Ohio, April had resided in Maumee, Canton, Cincinnati and New York City. She graduated from Louisville High School, Louisville, Ohio and Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Class of 78, after spending her junior year abroad in Paris, France. April worked at Fifth Third Bank as an Operations Manager. Before that, she worked as a financial advisor, estate planner, and operations manager at other financial institutions such as National City, Merrill Lynch and Pierce Fenner & Smith. She attended Zion Lutheran Church in Hamilton, Ohio. April loved her pets, gardening, her horses, riding her motorcycle, entertaining at any time of the year and enjoyed the company of good friends.

Mary Lou was a Literary Specialist at the Martha Jones and Deerfield schools in Westwood.

Susan M. (Nosal) McClusky, 46, of Malta died April 6, 2003 at Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston after a long illness. Mrs. McClusky was born in Saratoga Springs and lived in Malta for many years. She worked for the New York State Comptroller’s Office in Albany as a retirement examiner before retiring in 2003 after 20 years. She enjoyed camping and was a member of Corpus Christi Church. She is survived by her husband, Harold R. McClusky of Malta; her father, Leo Nosal of Saratoga Springs; three sisters, Lenore Toomey of Green Valley, Ariz., Marilyn Dame of Atlanta, Ga., and Mary Nosal of Saratoga Springs; two brothers, Leo Nosal and Michael Nosal, both of Saratoga Springs; three nieces, Genevieve, Diana and Caitlyn Dame. She was predeceased by her mother, Helen Niewinski Nosal.

Beverley Parker Brown, 47, passed away November 29, 2002 at her home in Madison, N.J. She was a native of Richmond, Va. She graduated from St. Catherine's High School and Mount Holyoke College and received an MBA from Columbia Business School. She was formerly an employee benefits administrator and most recently a Red Cross volunteer. She is survived by her two sons, Andrew Thomas Savage Shire and Nathaniel Carter Shire of Chatham, N.J.

Claire E. Grossman, 44, an advertising executive, died of cancer Sunday, July 22, in her home in Portland, Ore. The Evanston native worked for Amnesty International and as a community development officer in London and an urban planner in New York. Then she became an executive at several New York advertising agencies. Most recently, she was strategic planning director at Wieden & Kennedy in Portland. She earned a bachelor's degree in American history from Mt. Holyoke College and a master's in city planning from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is survived by her husband, Paul Sonnenschein; a daughter, Margot; a son, Carl; her parents, Allen and Gale Grossman; and a sister, Amy G. Raine. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Aug. 5 at Temple Beth Israel in Portland.

Pamela Jane Fenn, of Virginia Beach, Virginia (formerly of Huntington and Shelter Island, New York), on September 13, 1997. Wife of Mark L. Pomory. Mother of Colin and Sean. Daughter of Dick and Mary Jane Roos Fenn. Sister of Susan and Jennifer. Aunt of Andrew and Dana. Reposing at The Shelter Island Funeral Home, 38 North Ferry Road, Shelter Island, tonight 7-9 P.M. only. Funeral Mass, on Wednesday, at 11 A.M., Our Lady of the Isle R.C. Church. Interment in Our Lady of the Isle R.C. Cemetery.