Claire L. Warren, 81, wife of the Rev. Kenneth Warren, died March 9, 2006 after a long illness. She graduated from the Vesper George School of Art in Boston, and worked as an artist with the Rust Craft Greeting Card Co. in Boston. After their marriage, the Warrens moved to Cape Cod, where he served the Unitarian Church of Barnstable and the Universalist Church of Yarmouth, and then the merged churches for 38 years. She was active in the Flower Guild Alliance, the Lothrop Guild, and the Kit’n’Kaboodle consignment shop, Boutique group and other fund-raising ventures. She worked in adult religious education and helped organize the Unitarian Fellowship of Falmouth. After Ken became an interim, she accompanied him to Canton, Sharon, Dorchester, Assinippi and Vineyard Haven, MA. She was a member of the Village Crafters, and sold her stained glass work at craft fairs. She participated in causes for peace and justice. Besides her husband, survivors include a daughter, Mary-Elizabeth Brague of Mansfield, and two granddaughters. A memorial service was held in Barnstable.
Author: Duane Fickeisen
Elizabeth Spafford Schmidt
Elizabeth Spafford Schmidt, 90, widow of the Rev. Harold E. Schmidt, died February 23, 2006 in Walnut Creek, CA. She had outlived her first husband of 54 years, Ernest Clifford Spafford, as well as her second husband of 13 years. Harold was minister at the First Unitarian Society of Stockton, CA, from 1958-74. Elizabeth held a BA in Biology and an MA. in education, and taught at the secondary level for the Stockton Unified School District. Lovers of travel, Elizabeth and Ernest once took their family to Europe for six months, each taking a leave of absence from teaching. She is survived by a daughter, Edith Gladstone of Berkeley, and a son, Alden Spafford of Oakland, and one granddaughter.
Rosella Macomber Bemis
Rosella Macomber Bemis, 85, of Athol, MA, died Feb. 2, 2006. Her husband, Eldred Bemis, died in 1994. She was previously married to the Rev. Wilton Cross and Norman Guertin. She was a member of the Margery Morton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and and the Petersham Orthodox Congregational Church. Survivors include her children, James Guertin of Jupiter, FL; Mitchell Guertin of Lake Wales, FL; Norma Guertin of Stuart, FL; Joyce Nelson of Athol; and Peter Guertin of Orange; 10 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; a brother and a sister. The family held a private graveside service in Petersham in the spring.
The Rev. Helena P. Chapin
The Rev. Helena P. Chapin, 68, died June 21, 2006 in Rochester, NY, of pneumonia. She earned a BA at the University of Michigan, and received an M.Ed. at the University of Maryland. She completed her Minister of Religious Education in the Independent Study Program. She was ordained in 1985 by the North Shore Unitarian of Deerfield, IL, and then served the First Parish of Framingham, MA. She also served Paint Branch Unitarian Universalist Church in Adelphi, MD, the First Unitarian Society of Schenectady, NY and the First Church in Belmont, MA. She later served the North Shore Unitarian Church in Deerfield, and First Unitarian Church in Rochester, NY, from which she retired. She volunteered for Planned Parenthood, The Susan B. Anthony House, and was an advocate for seniors and animals. Survivors include her children: Edwin, Todd and Leila Chapin. A memorial service was scheduled for July 1 at the UU Church of Canandaigua.
The Rev. Dr. Jacob Frank Schulman
The Rev. Dr. Jacob Frank Schulman, 78, died Jan. 4, 2006 from cancer. He served at Arlington Street Church, Boston; and churches in Worcester, MA; Youngstown, OH; Emerson Unitarian Church in Houston, TX, where he was later Minister Emeritus; Horsham, England; and Huntsville, TX; and at Harris Manchester College, Oxford University. He was a prolific writer of books, pamphlets, and articles. He delivered the Berry Street Essay, 1981; Minns Lectures, 1982; and the Billings Lecture, 1983. Mr. Schulman also served in the U.S. Navy, World War II and the Korean War. He is survived by his wife Alice Southworth Schulman, and four children. A service was held January 8 at Emerson Unitarian Church.
The Rev. Philip Charles Schug
Philip and Mary Schug
The Rev. Philip Charles Schug, 91, died Nov. 18, 2005 after a long illness. He served congregations in San Antonio, TX; Urbana, IL; and Lincoln, NE, retiring in 1983. He is survived by two daughters, Mary Margaret Belk and Theeta Ann Paynter. His remains were scattered in his daughter’s vast field of bluebonnets in New Braumsuls, TX, near San Antonio. A memorial service for the Schugs was held Feb. 26, 2011 at the First UU Church of San Antonio.
The Rev. William D. Hammond
The Rev. William D. Hammond, 89, died Nov. 17, 2005. He served in Asheville, NC, where he was later named minister emeritus. He also served at People’s Liberal Church, Michigan – Ohio Valley District, UU Church of Minnetonka, and Grosse Point Unitarian Church. Surviving are his wife Grace Lindquist; two sons Donald & Thomas Hammond of Michigan and a daughter, Gail Hammond-Stone, of Arkansas. A service was held Dec. 17, at the First Parish of Groton, MA.
Dorothy MacPherson
Dorothy MacPherson, 77, wife of the Rev. David H MacPherson, died Nov. 1, 2005. Refusing to accept the traditional role of the minister’s wife, she pursued careers as a lab technician for Borden; a custom-decorating accountant at J.C. Penney, and a geratric nurse’s aide for Upjohn. She posed as a renter to uncover discrimination in housing. David tells that when she wanted time with her minister husband, she would write herself into his appointment book. They resided in Silver Spring and Towson, MD; Richmond, VA; Laramie, WY; Brookfield, WI and State College, PA. They started two new churches. Surviving are her husband and three children: Duncan and Douglas MacPherson of Maryland, and Dianna of Ashland.
Dr. Jack Leo Ward
Dr. Jack Leo Ward, 78, husband of the Rev. Cynthia Ward, died Oct. 25, 2005.
He was a psychiatrist who pioneered treatment of schizophrenics. He served in the Merchant Marines during World War II. He entered private practice in Trenton, NJ, developing expertise in orthomolecular psychiatry during its nascence in the 1960s. He contributed to two books Schizophrenia: Yours and Mine and Orthomolecular Psychiatry: Treatment of Schizophrenia, and numerous psychiatric journals. He was later Unit Chief for the Health Insurance Plan of NJ.
He is survived by his wife and five children: the Rev. Mark Ward of Asheville, NC; Keith Ward of Tacoma, WA; Terry Ward of Holyoke, MA; the Rev. Lisa Ward of Havre de Grace, MD; Scott Ward of Wilmington, DE; and seven grandchildren.
A service was held Nov. 5 at the UU Congregation of Greater Naples.
The Rev. Herbert Gillespie Weeks
The Rev. Herbert Gillespie Weeks, 87, died Oct. 17, 2005, in Auburn, ME. He served congregations in Guilford-Sangerville, Westbrook, Waterville, West Paris (where he was named emeritus), and Bryant Pond, ME; and Milford and North Adams, MA. He served on the boards of the Mass. Universalist Convention, the Connecticut Valley District, the Northeast District, as advisor to LRY, and was on the faculty for Youth Weeks of Star Island and Ferry Beach. He was survived by his wife, Evelyn Gerrish Weeks and their children Arlyn H. Weeks of Portland, ME, and E. Jonathan Weeks of Waterville, ME. A service was held Oct. 21 at First Universalist Church in Auburn.