The Rev. Dr. Robert “Bob” E. Senghas

The Rev. Dr. Robert “Bob” E. Senghas died on June 26, 2022, at the age of 94.

Bob is survived by his three sons: in Florida, Frederick Christian Senghas; in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, Edward Caiger Senghas and his wife Maureen Cotter; and in Vermont, Stuart Bailey Senghas and his wife Alicia Wein Senghas. He is also survived by Frederick’s children Matthew Senghas and Sarah Hall and Sarah’s husband Brian Hall and their daughter Emma; by Stuart’s children Nathan, Lydia, and Isaiah; and by many nieces and nephews and their children. In addition, he is survived by an identical twin brother, the Rev. Richard E. Senghas of Scarborough, Maine.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to one’s favorite charity. UURMaPA will contribute $50 to the UUMA Endowment Fund in honor of our colleague’s ministry.

Notes of condolences can be sent to Stuart Senghas, PO Box 36, Wolcott, VT 05680.

A more complete obituary will follow.

May 18, 2022

UURMaPA Registration

Apr 19, 2022

The Rev. John Patrick Gaffney

The Rev. John Patrick Gaffney died on May 16, 2022, at the age of 86.

John is survived by his wife, Beverly Gaffney nee Mitchell; two daughters, Juliette Dame nee Gaffney of Ohio and Rachel Bragg of Longwood, Florida; along with five grandchildren, Adam, Ryan, Patrick, Madeline, and Lauren, who enjoyed playing at the beach and just hanging out with their Pop. He is preceded in death by his parents, Mary Ruth and Joseph Gaffney, by his brother, Joseph Gaffney, and by his sister, Margaret Kelly nee Gaffney.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sierra Club, your local public broadcasting station, the National Association for Mental Illness (NAMI) or John would encourage everyone to travel and enjoy the great outdoors. UURMaPA will contribute $50 to the UUMA Endowment Fund in honor of our colleague’s ministry.

A more complete obituary will be forthcoming after biographical research has been completed.

Sue Male

Sue Male died on May 14, 2022 at the age of 89. Her husband was the Rev. Don Male, who predeceased her.

Sue was born on Jan. 27, 1933 in Knoxville to her parents, Marie and Carl Anderson. Sue graduated from Knoxville High School in 1950. In 1952, while at UT Knoxville, she met and married John S.G. Williams. They had two children, Jennifer Williams Nourse and Carl Edward Parsons Williams. In 1957, she and John and Jennifer moved to Tullahoma. Divorced in 1967, Sue remarried in 1971 to “the love of her life,” Donald W. Male, and moved nearby to Manchester.

Sue was passionate about social justice issues, beginning initially as a volunteer for philanthropic organizations and political campaigns that met her social justice values. She proudly stated she was the “first white woman to join the local NAACP in the county” and played a role in typing up newsletters for the civil rights movement in the 1960s. Sue also helped to establish the first chapter of the National Organization for Women in the region.

During the late 1960s, Sue began work as an advocate for the founding of and administrator for the first Multi-County Mental Health Center. Moreover, Sue played a major role in establishing the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tullahoma, a church associated with progressive issues. Sue and Don also aided in financing the Unitarian Universalist Camp, the Mountain Retreat, in Highlands, NC.

Don’s three children, Sherry, Connie, and Peggy, and Sue’s two children enjoyed stays at “The Mountain.” In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, Sue served as a UUA trustee representing the Southeast (TJ District).

In 1985, Sue completed her B.A. in urban planning at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN. She graduated magna cum laude, finding employment as a city planner for Rutherford County in Murfreesboro, including speaking on television about urban issues. Later, Sue accepted a position as a paralegal for the David Bolin Law firm in Smyrna.

During her final years as a widow, Sue moved to Richmond, VA, where her daughter, Jennifer, lives. Despite her declining health, Sue was still able to calculate arithmetic problems and work her daily crossword puzzles up until the last weeks of her life. Sue will be remembered for her kind heart, her determination and intelligence, and her love of family and friends.

She is survived by children, Jennifer Williams Nourse, PhD., Richmond, VA; Carl Edward Parsons Williams, Spartanburg, SC; Sherry Male, Nashville, TN; Peggy Male Lenny, Indian Rock Beach, Florida; Connie Male Wilson, Cookeville, TN; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

A memorial service for Sue will be held in Knoxville at the Unitarian Universalist Church on June 4, 2022 at 2 p.m. where her remains will be interred next to her husband, Donald Warren Male.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tullahoma, TN, PO Box 331, Tullahoma, TN 37388. UURMaPA will donate $50 to the UU Church of Tullahoma in her memory.

Notes of condolence can be sent online.

Packing It In and Perking It Up: Changing Perspectives

Our winter 2022 conference on February 28–March 2 was again virtual. Instead of one theme speaker this year, a panel reflected on the conference theme. Panel members were: Barry Finkelstein, Laurel Hallman, David Hubner, and Carolyn Price. Walt Wieder served as moderator. The questions posed for reflection were:

Have our perspectives changed as ministers or minister’s partners? How?
Have our perspectives changed as Unitarian Universalists? How?
If we’ve continued practicing ministry or other professions, does that mean we’ve “failed retirement?”
How have we maintained connections?
What are we letting go?
What new adventures are we exploring, welcoming into our lives?
How do we handle the challenges of our aging bodies?
How are we facing death – our own and those we love?

Following the panelists’ presentation, small groups reflected on the same questions. There were a variety of breakout groups on other topics, worship and remembrance of those who have recently died, and odysseys given by Judy Gibson and Lilia Curervo. See Spring 2022 Elderberries for a full report.

Mar 15, 2022

The Rev. Mary Louise DeWolf

The Rev. Mary Louise DeWolf died on April 26, 2022, at the age of 91.

Mary is survived by her sister, Grace D. Trice of Ocala, FL; stepson Gifford Campbell, wife Michele of Salem, MA; stepson Randy Hurt, wife Kathy of Ellijay, GA; and nine nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob, in 2015.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at Roberts Downtown Chapel, 606 SW 2nd Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Hospice of Marion County, 3231 SW 34^th Ave, Ocala, FL 34474 or to the Nature Coast Unitarian Universalist, 7633 N Florida Ave, Citrus Springs, FL 34434. UURMaPA will contribute $50 to the UUMA Endowment Fund in honor of our colleague’s ministry.

Notes of condolences can be written here.

A more complete obituary will be forthcoming after biographical research has been completed.

The Rev. Kenneth “Ken” W. Sawyer

The Rev. Kenneth “Ken” W. Sawyer died on April 24, 2022, at the age of 77.

Ken is survived by his wife, Carol Sawyer, and by daughters, Amy Washek and Rebecca Howard.

A memorial service centered on Ken’s family, friends, and the First Parish in Wayland congregation will be held on May 21. A celebration of Ken’s ministry and service to Unitarian Universalism will be held later this fall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the First Parish in Wayland, Ken Sawyer Unrestricted Endowment, P.O. Box 397, Wayland, MA 01778 or to the UU Urban Ministry, Attn. Annie Stubbs, 10 Putnam Street, Roxbury, MA 10019. UURMaPA will contribute $50 to the UUMA Endowment Fund in honor of our colleague’s ministry.

Notes of condolences can be sent to Carol Sawyer, 16 Orchard Lane, Wayland, MA 01778.

A more complete obituary will be forthcoming after biographical research has been completed.