Category: Obituary: B

The Rev. Dorothy S. Boroush, parish minister and passionate activist for women’s rights, died on June 14, 2014 at the age of 88 in Englewood, Colorado, at the home of her daughter Gretchen, surrounded by flowers, family, and friends.

Dorothy was born on October 3, 1925, in Tiffin, Ohio, to George Alfred Stinchcomb and Ruth Elise Brand Stinchcomb. She was graduated with a B.A. in Theater from the State University of Ohio in 1977 and went on to attain an M. Div. from Chicago Theological Seminary in 1980.

After graduation, Dorothy was ordained to the Unitarian Universalist Ministry by the First Unitarian Church of Shaker Heights, Ohio, in 1980. Shortly thereafter, she was called to serve as minister to the Emerson Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (now Emerson Church Unitarian Universalist) of Troy, Michigan, from 1980 to 1984. She then served as interim minister to the First Parish Church of Groton, Mass, from 1984 to 1985; the Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson, of Hudson, Mass, from 1985 to 1986; and the Unitarian Society of New Haven, CT, from 1986 to 1987. In 1987, she accepted the position of District Executive to the Ballou Channing District, serving 49 parishes in southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island until 1994.

She formally retired from ministry in 1995, but eventually regretted the “premature decision” and went on to serve as interim minister of the Foxborough Universalist Church in 1999. Dorothy also served as “minister-on-call” for a number of New England congregations, stepping in for other ministers who were ill or called away. She loved preaching at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House of Provincetown, MA, the Unitarian Universalist Society of Martha’s Vineyard, the Bell Street Chapel in Providence, RI and many others. She led Sunday worship services at the First Parish Church of Taunton, MA, from July 2009 to April 2012, while the congregation was without a settled minister.

Throughout her ministry, The Rev. Ms. Boroush dedicated time and service to numerous denominational organizations. She served on the Ohio-Meadville District’s Commissioned Lay Leaders Committee and the Holmes-Weatherly Award Panel. She served as Chair of the Michigan Extension Committee for two years, President of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association’s Michigan Chapter for two years, and Co-Chair of the Central Massachusetts’ Youth Adult Committee (YAC) for one year. She volunteered at the Doolittle Home of Foxboro, MA, and served on its board for a number of years.

Dorothy was a resolute advocate for women’s rights. Prior to entering the ministry, she worked as Director of Education and Public Relations for Pre-Term, a women’s health clinic in Cleveland, OH. She was a charter member of the National Organization for Women’s Cleveland Chapter, and served on the organization’s board and public relations committee. She served as member of the Cleveland Abortion Rights Action League; and member of the Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights (now the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice).

Dorothy was very involved with the Unitarian Universalist Women’s Heritage Society (UUWHS). She served on the Society’s Board of Directors from June 1995 to June 2001. She was a contributor and editor to a series of short biographic descriptions of UU women, titled “Notable Universalist and Unitarian Women,” and was the editor of the last edition in 2000. She was actively involved with programs put on by the UUWHS and was involved with the development of UUWHS calendars. She sponsored, wrote, and edited the 2002 edition of this calendar that included Antoinette Brown Blackwell, the first woman to be ordained in our liberal religious tradition.

The arts and creativity were powerful forces in Dorothy’s life. More than 15 years of her youth were dedicated to the formal study of piano and acting. She was a well-known actor and director in community theater throughout her life, much of it to critical acclaim. Her classical piano training was sufficient to consider a professional position per her instructors. She wrote poetry and in the 1970/80’s served as artistic director for the published poetry performance troupe, “Big Mama”. She also wrote, directed, and performed a one-act play about the life of the Rev. Antoinette Brown Blackwell, which was staged in a number of Unitarian Universalist churches, also to great acclaim for its historic educational and creative aspects pertinent to the UU tradition.

Until nearly the end of her life, at age 86, Dorothy was still acting minister at First Parish Church in Taunton, Mass., where congregants there remember her as “a woman of deep faith,” “dedicated,” “generous,” and “committed to the long-term health of the congregation.”

Dorothy’s family remembers her as a gardener, a collector of ‘spiritual rocks’, a lover of the color purple, a feminist, poetess, political activist, a bird and tomato lover. She was a singer of silly songs and crocheted works of art during meetings. Her mission was to leave this world in a better place.

Dorothy is survived by her daughter, Gretchen E. Boroush; her sons, Eric D. Boroush and Kurt A. Boroush; and granddaughter Janice E. Boroush as well as her brother Dr. Thomas G. Stinchcomb, and nephews James, William, David, and Dan Stinchcomb and their wonderful families.

A memorial service was held on September 13, 2014, at First Parish Bridgewater Unitarian Universalist Church.

Memorial donations are encouraged to the Unitarian Universalist History and Heritage Society, 27 Grove St., Scituate MA 02066.

Condolences may be sent to the family via Eric Boroush, #2 Gore St., Boston, MA 02120.

The Rev. Suzanne Black, parish minister, educator of the disadvantaged, lifelong musician, and devoted dog lover, died on 10 February 2014 at the age of 71 after a brief illness.

Suzanne is remembered as one who “helped the underdog,” and even prior to ministry, she was steadily engaged in education and pastoral care, first teaching high school French in Chicago and then moving to Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, to become the head houseparent at a home for emotionally disturbed teenagers.

As a college student, she was bedfast for many months due to a serious spinal injury suffered during a rock-climbing outing. Despite several surgeries and physical therapy, she was dependent on leg braces and crutches for most of her working life. Nevertheless, Suzanne spent several summers traveling across Europe, “not letting this impairment of function interfere with living life fully,” recalls her sister, Judy. A seminary colleague remembers walking up “Holy Hill” with her: “I never quite made it up the hill without stopping. But . . . even on crutches and in her Birkenstocks [Suzanne] could beat me. She was still an athlete at the age of 45.” In retirement, knee surgeries failed to improve her mobility, and she became more dependent on what she called, with characteristic optimism and determination, her “power chair,” and repeatedly insisted that it was not an “electric chair!”

Suzanne had a lifelong love of music, beginning with piano lessons in her childhood, continuing with high-school choir and musical theater, then guitar and folk singing in her “hippie” period, and ending with karaoke in her retirement. She always had several dogs as pets, and considered the dogs to be family. At her wedding to Gary Murphy on 12 August 2000, Suzanne’s two dogs were “attendants,” coming down the aisle wearing bows in procession with their human companions.

Susan (Susie, Suzanne, Suze) Trappe Black was born 28 August 1942 in Alexandria, West Virginia, to Winston Edward Black and Virginia Trappe (Price) Black and grew up in Urbana, Illinois. She attended Mt. Holyoke College from 1960 to 1963 before transferring to the University of Illinois, where she earned a B.A. in 1965 and a M.A. in 1967. Around 1975, after several years of conventional life and work in the familiarity of the Midwest, Suzanne headed out to the open skies of Montana in a purple van with a companion, Sam Farmer, to live communally with another couple and their children. She earned a bit of income there sewing and embroidering peasant blouses and other clothing. With the ending of that communal life, she soon returned to the helping professions, working as a special education teacher and education department supervisor at the Boulder River School and Hospital in Boulder, Montana, where she met and married co-worker, Dean Dougherty. Suzanne became active in nearby Helena’s Big Sky UU Fellowship, and eventually went off to Starr King School for the Ministry, earning her M.Div. there in 1990. Her marriage to Dean ended in divorce.

Returning to Montana, Ms. Black was ordained to Unitarian Universalist ministry on 24 May 1992 by joint action of the UU congregations of Helena, Billings, Bozeman, Idaho Falls, and Missoula in the tiny and evocatively-named town of Pray, Montana. She served interim ministries at the UU Congregation of York, Penn (1992-93) and the UU Fellowship of Fayetteville, Ark (1993-94), and an extension ministry at the UU Congregation of Las Vegas, Nevada (1994-97). In 1997 she was called as parish minister to the UU Church of South County (now “Tapestry”) in Mission Viejo, Calif, serving there until 2000, when she moved to a final interim ministry at St. Paul’s Universalist Church of Little Falls, NY (2000-01). In retirement, she and her new husband Gary returned to the desert they loved in southwest Arizona. They called themselves “snowbirds” and enjoyed traveling.

Committed strongly to the Unitarian Universalist Association’s work in anti-racism, the Rev. Ms. Black served as co-leader of the UUA’s Beyond Categorical Thinking Workshop in 1993 and as co-organizer of the UUA’s Building a Jubilee World Workshop in 1996. In the Pacific Southwest District chapter of the UUMA, she was a co-planner of three collegial retreats (1997-2000) and served as the chapter’s vice president (1999-2000).

Family and friends gathered for a meal of remembrance on 22 February 2014 in Bloomington, Illinois — the area of Suzanne’s childhood. Another informal memorial gathering was held in the Tyson RV Park clubhouse of her Quarzite, Arizona, housing community on February 28. Her sister recalled Suzanne as “passionate about people, her connections with people, and maintaining those connections.” She “knew how to put a good spin on things and look at [life] in a positive way.”

Suzanne’s second husband Gary died in 2010. She is survived by her sister, Judith May; brother, Theodore Black; nephews, Andrew May and Brian May; and niece, Ginny Black.

Memorial donations may be made to Starr King School for the Ministry, 2441 Le Conte Ave, Berkeley, Calif. 94709, to your area companion pet rescue shelter, or to a charity of your choice.

Notes of condolences may be sent to Judy May, Box 2100 RR 1, Corner Brook, Newfoundland, A2H 2N2 Canada.

The Rev. Richard E. “Dick” Benner, parish minister and passionate advocate for freedom of choice and dignity, died of brain cancer on May 18, 2013, aged 70, at the Tidewell Hospice House in Sarasota, Florida.

A devoted follower of the renowned psychotherapist Carl Gustav Jung, Mr. Benner taught classes based on Jung’s work and attended the C. G. Jung Institute in Switzerland. He was also a founding member of the C.G. Jung Society of Sarasota, Florida.

Richard Elden Benner was born in Bangor, Maine, on May 30, 1942 to Anne and Elden Benner. He received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Education from the University of Maine in 1964 and 1969, respectively, and went on to attain a Master of Divinity from Bangor Theological Seminary in 1974.

Mr. Benner was ordained at the First Universalist Church of Westbrook, Maine on June 16, 1974, and began his parish ministry with service to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers, Florida, 1974-79. He went on to settlements at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Central Nassau in Garden City, New York (1979-87), the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota, Florida (1987- 98), and finally at the First Unitarian Church of Omaha, Nebraska, from 1998 until his retirement in 2005.

The Rev. Mr. Benner was faithfully devoted to both the larger UU movement and to his local communities. He served two terms as President of the UUA’s Florida District. He also served as President of the Sarasota Council of Concern, was a founding member of the Sarasota Interfaith Education Coalition (SURE), and served on the Board of Directors of the Sarasota Family Counseling Center. With a strong commitment to preserving and promoting freedom of choice and dignity at the end of life, Mr. Benner served as the President of the statewide Hemlock Society of Florida as well as of its first local chapter, Suncoast Hemlock.

Richard Benner enjoyed foreign films, British and Scandinavian television series, and Civil War history. A true dog lover, he would often fondly recall memories of his late, beloved golden retriever, Josh, named after Civil War hero and Maine native, Joshua Chamberlain. Many knew of his poetic gift, and the “humanity, compassion, and wit he was able to convey through his work.” He published several books of poetry based on his experiences in the state of Maine: Maine Moods, Living Double, and Night Songs.

Richard Benner is survived by his wife of 47 years, Susan (Gammon) Benner; sons, Christopher Benner and Andrew Benner; and a granddaughter, Sophia Benner.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota.

Notes of condolence may be sent to Susan Benner at 5459 Beneva Woods Way, Sarasota, FL 34233.

The Rev. Wells E. Behee, 86, died Dec. 15, 2011 as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident on Dec. 13 2011, which took the life of his wife. He was a native of Lynn, MA and a fifth generation Universalist. Wells earned his BA from St. Lawrence University and his M.Div. from St. Lawrence Theological School. A veteran of World War II, he saw action at Iwo Jima. He served UU churches in Woodstock, Eldorado and New Madison. He earned his M.Ed. at Miami University in Oxford, OH and went on to teach high school at Arcanum. He served as special education coordinator at Mansfield. He was a scoutmaster and coached his children in Olympic marathon canoeing. He enjoyed classical music, art, literature, genealogy and gardening. The Behees are survived by their five children: Kathy Becker, Karyl Parks, Kris Rantz, Emerson Behee, Karen Fageol, their spouses, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. They were predeceased by their grandson, Aaron Dean Rawlings. The Behees donated their bodies to the Anatomical Gift Program at Wright State University.

Mary Evelyn Newhall Behee, 85, wife of the Rev. Wells Behee, died Dec. 13, 2011 in a traffic accident, near New Madison, OH. The crash also took the life of her husband of 62 years. A native of Lynn, MA, Mary graduated from Salem Teachers College, and received a certificate of religious education from St. Lawrence Theological School. She earned her teaching credentials from Miami University. She taught many years at Franklin Monroe Elementary School. She was a doll collector, an avid gardener and a supporter of the New Madison Friends of the Library. She was active in Universalist and UU churches in New Madison and Eldorado. Mary was beloved by an extended family. She was known for her caring nature and her sunny disposition. Their family says Wells and Mary were best friends who enjoyed traveling together.

The Rev. Carl Bierman, 79, died January 6, 2010. A native of Germany, he emigrated to the US in 1935. He was educated at Columbia, City College of New York and Harvard Divinity School. He served congregations in Woodstock, VT; Springfield, MO; Washington Crossing, NJ; Kennebunk, ME, overseeing construction of churches in Washington Crossing and Springfield. He taught religion at Missouri State U and was active in the civil rights movement and in the Torch Club in Trenton, NJ; he had a passion for history and also enjoyed astronomy and playing chess. He is survived by his wife Dolores Hart Bierman, three daughters, Natalie, Daphne and Sally, a son, Andrew, and their spouses and twelve grandchildren.

The Rev. John Nicholls Booth, 97, died Nov. 11, 2009. As a young man he worked as a professional nightclub magician. His enrollment in Meadville Lombard in 1940 made Newsweek. He served churches in Detroit, MI; Long Beach, CA; Belmont, MA; and Evanston, IL. He was a world traveler and an adventurer who climbed the Himalayas. He enjoyed giving talks about his travels. Throughout his long life he retained his connections to other magicians; his monthly column for Linking Ring Magazine ran from 1963-2000. He is survived by a daughter, Barbara Christie, two grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Jeanne Tobin Bletzer, 91, widow of the Rev. Russell Bletzer, died November 8, 2009 in hospice care in Surprise, AZ. A native of Chicago, she was first married to the Rev. G. Richard Kuch. The Kuchs served the Ft. Worth TX congregation. The couple divorced in the early 1960’s. Jeanne did a great deal of work in RE over the years and served as DRE at the Evanston IL congregation, prior to marrying Russell R. Bletzer in 1967. The Bletzers also served in Woodstock VT. Jeanne was an avid golfer and an active community volunteer in Woodstock. She had been in assisted living for several years following a stroke. She lived out her later years with dignity, despite the limitations of arthritis and macular degeneration. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Ken and Sheila Kuch and her daughter, Cameron Kuch.

The Rev. James Marshall Bank, 65, died July 23, 2009, after three years of living with cancer. A native of Michigan, he was educated at Baldwin Wallace College, Berea, OH, and Boston University. Ordained at King’s Chapel, he served in the US Navy, as chaplain on Okinawa and then aboard the aircraft carrier Constellation. He next served congregations in MA, MD, and interim ministries in VT, NC, NH and PA. An active voice for social justice — especially for gay rights and AIDS ministry — he advocated strongly for local inter-denominational cooperation. He was in our Minister on Loan Program and a member of the Religious Education Futures Committee, and the AIDS Community Review Panel of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. He saw his ten years as a member — and later as president — of the National Cancer Institute’s Institutional Review Board as one of the most significant lifetime contributions. He was truly a Renaissance man, who loved history, books, films, music, gadgets, animals, telling stories, and being a good Dad. He is survived by his wife, Cathy Miller and their daughters Julia, Sarah, and Sasha Bank.

The Rev. Dr. James Madison Barr III, 90, died June 10, 2009 at home. He attended Fork Union Military Academy and University of Virginia, where he earned a law degree. He taught at UVA’s School of Economics and Commerce. He worked as an attorney, accountant, and auditor. Jim served on the Charlottesville, VA city council and as president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce there. An active member of Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Universalist Church in Charlottesville, he entered Starr King and served churches in MA, NY, and TN. He was instrumental in building the Memphis church —“The Church of the River.” The church named him minister emeritus for his 20 years of service. In his retirement, he was a member of UU Village Church (Hot Springs Village, AK), where he also preached. He served in the Southwest District as Settlement Representative, Good Offices Representative, as member of the SWD Board of Directors, and as Chair of the Summer Institute. His community activities in Memphis included board service for Tenn-Ark-Miss Council of the Girl Scouts, Urban League, and the Heart Association. He was a member of the Memphis Community Relations Commission. He is survived by three daughters, their spouses, four grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his third wife, “Maggie.”