Author: Duane Fickeisen

Mitzi Anderson, 69, widow of Rev. Kenneth L. Patton, died Sept. 29, 2007 in Las Vegas. She worked for the government in contract relations. She and Ken were married around 1960, while Ken was minister at the Charles St. Meetinghouse in Boston, then they went to Ridgewood, NJ. Ken died on Christmas Day, 1994. Mitzi is survived by their sons, Channing and Dag Patton. Services were private.

M. Elizabeth Anastos

The Rev. M. Elizabeth Anastos, 77, died peacefully October 14, 2004, after having suffered a massive stroke. A prominent Minister of Religious Education, she was UUA Education Consultant; UUA Co-Coordinator of Curriculum Development; and Interim Settlement Director, Department of Ministry. She is survived by her children Philip and Lori Anastos of Yarmouth, ME; Kathryn Anastos and John Wallen of Yonkers, NY; Ellen Anastos of Portland, ME; Revs. George and Andrea Anastos of Greenfield, MA; and six grandchildren. A memorial service was held October 21 at the First Parish in Cambridge, MA.

Elizabeth Hummer Allen

Elizabeth Hummer Allen, 99, widow of the Rev. James K. Allen of Peterborough, NH, died August 4, 2009. She was the mother of seven children and was a past Massachusetts Mother of the Year. She was a volunteer music teacher at the Mather School, Dorchester, MA, and inspired her children’s interest in music as well as countless members of the community where she lived. For her 41 years of dedicated service to her community, she was named Dorchester Citizen of the Year in 1995. She retired at age 90 as organist and music director of the First Parish Church in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Music remained her joy until the very end of her life. She is survived by her daughters Ilo Allen Schmid (New Plymouth, ID), Marie Allen Heft (Kent, WA), and sons Frank H. Allen, M.D. (Seattle, WA), John R. Allen (Naugatuck, CT), Herbert B. Allen, MD (Cherry Hill, NJ), and Jefferson K. Allen, JD (Peterborough, NH). She was survived by 24 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Rev. James K. Allen of Dorchester, Massachusetts and her son Robert L. Allen, MD, of Sayre, PA. A celebration of her life was held on August 22, 2009 at the Cathedral of the Pines, Rindge, NH.

Jane C. Alen, 93, formerly of Hopedale, MA, died February 11, 2014 at Beaumont Nursing Home in Westborough, MA. She was the widow of the Rev. Joseph Alen, minister of Hopedale Unitarian Church from 1962 until his death in 1976.

A graduate of Cambridge High and Latin School and Hickox Business College, Jane worked as a secretary in various law offices in Gardner, MA, for the Mass Dept. of Fish and Game, and the Mass Dept. of Public Welfare. After retirement, she was a volunteer with Elder Services Corps of Massachusetts and an outreach worker at the Bellingham Senior Center.

She founded and led the Polish Conversation Group for Seniors that met weekly at the Bellingham (MA) Public Library. The group began with ten members, and over the 15 years of her leadership, grew to have more than 60 regular participants.

Jane leaves a son, Joseph, and a grandson, Samuel, both of Lexington, MA. A memorial service was held February 15, 2014 at the Hopedale Unitarian Church, 65 Hopedale Street, Hopedale, MA 01747.

Dorris Alcott

The Rev. Doris Dow Alcott died of heart failure on April 3, 2012. She was 91 years old. Rev. Alcott was born and raised in Winthrop, ME. She was the daughter of a factory worker and a homemaker.

In 1938, she married Ernest F. Alcott, a descendant of Amos Bronson Alcott, the American Transcendentalist, and his daughter, famous author Louisa May Alcott.

Alcott began her college education in 1976 and graduated from Goddard College in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in religious education. Additionally, she took courses at Harvard University and earned her MRE through the UUA’s Independent Study Program in 1982. Rev. Alcott was ordained in 1982 at Towson Unitarian Universalist Church in Lutherville, MD. She was called to serve the Towson Unitarian Universalist Church and served as Director of Religious Education there from 1983-1985. She was also the Joseph Priestley District’s first RE Consultant from 1986-1995. Rev. Alcott served on the curriculum team that developed “World Religions for Junior Youth,” the last curriculum kit published by the UUA. She was a member of the Towson Unitarian Universalist Church and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Harford County in Churchville, MD.

Later in life, she became an active member of numerous ecumenical groups and was active in religious education. Rev. Alcott retired in 2008 but continue to serve as a guest pastor, and officiated at weddings, funerals and memorial services. An experienced traveller, Rev. Alcott visited all seven continents and, in 1993, joined an expedition that travelled to Antarctica. She enjoyed talking to colleagues in chat rooms and once said, “I retired from ministry but not from life!”

Rev. Alcott was predeceased by her husband, Ernest F. Alcott. She is survived by her sons Colin C. Alcott and his wife Janet, of Albuquerque, NM and Bronson E. Alcott of Columbia, MD; by two granddaughters; and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service for Rev. Alcott was held at the Towson Unitarian Universalist Church, 1710 Dulaney Valley Rd., Lutherville-Timonium, MD 21093, on May 11, 2012 at 11:00 a.m.. Notes of condolence may go to Bronson Alcott, 10654 Faulkner Ridge Cir., Columbia, MD 21044.

The Rev. John C. Agnew, 84, died of complications of Alzheimer’s disease July 10, 2004 in Milford, MA. He received a bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University and a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology from Harvard. He served congregations in Auburn, ME; Newport; and Brookfield, Mendon, and Rockland, MA. After retiring, he was named minister emeritus by the Brookfield Unitarian Universalist Church. He served in the US Army during World War II, attaining the ranks of sergeant and chief clerk of the Judge Advocate General’s Office at the Central Pacific Base Command in Honolulu. He then worked as a staff reporter for the Burlington Free Press in Vermont, the Plattsburgh Press-Republican and the Watertown Daily Times, both in NY, the Providence Journal, and the Patriot Ledger in Quincy, MA and the Telegram & Gazette in Worcester, MA as a religion writer and suburban staff reporter. In the late 1950’s he was elected to the RI House of Representatives, serving two terms. His wife, two daughters, two stepsons, and three grandchildren survive him. At a graveside service July 14 at Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, MA his wife, Rosemary K. Agnew, was presented with a flag in recognition of his military service.

Herbert Adams

The Rev. Herbert R. Adams, 78, died suddenly March 18, 2011. He was a graduate of Colby College and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He also studied at Harvard Divinity School. He served Methodist and Congregational churches and UU churches in ME, MA, NY, NM and FL, sometimes simultaneously with other posts in teaching and publishing. He was a Kiwanian and active in various other civic groups. He had a particular interest in lakes and conservation. Herb loved to go to Heald Pond, his summer home of 42 years, in Maine. He also enjoyed golf, fishing, poker, theater and jazz. Most of all, he relished spending time with his extensive extended family. He is survived by Mary Ryan Adams, his wife of 34 years; his sister Anne Adams; his four children: Ashley, Joshua, Lee and Rachel Adams; three stepchildren, 12 grandchildren; and five nieces and nephews.

The Rev. Eugene H. Adams, 87, died August 11, 2004 of cancer. He served congregations in East Boston, Medford, Orange, and Worcester, MA; Binghamton and Jamestown, NY. He was chaplain and secretary at the YMCA in New York City. He was minister emeritus at the UU Church of Medford. In 1965, he followed Dr. King in the march from Selma to Montgomery. To show support for migrant farm workers, he wore denim in the pulpit for three years. As a teenager, he boxed professionally under the name of “Red Adams.” His boxing career ended in 1938 in a knockout at the old Boston Garden. Surviving is his wife, M. Caroline (Brown) Adams, and four sons: Richard of Prince Frederick, MD; John of Nobleboro, ME; Peter of Pittsburgh, PA; and Thomas of Livermore, ME. A memorial service was held August 28 at the UU Church of Medford.