Obituaries

Peter Wood Waldron, Former Bradford College Creative Arts Chair, Set Designer, Dies at 69

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Peter Wood Waldron, 69, was a scenic designer, arts center manager, teacher, husband and father who loved life, loved the arts and loved showing people a good time. Born in Birmingham, Ala., Waldron was the oldest child of Martin O. Waldron Jr, a Pulitzer-Prize-winning reporter, and Ann Wood Waldron, a journalist and author. With his three younger siblings, Peter grew up in Tallahassee, Fla., and Houston, Texas, as the family relocated in support of Martin’s journalism career. Peter enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin and majored in technical theater. He also worked as a stage manager at Austin’s famed Paramount Theatre.

Haverhill

Last City-Hired Administrator of Haverhill’s Hale Hospital, Nathaniel Bond, Dies at 89

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Nathaniel Bond, who oversaw the 1984 move of the city-owned Hale Hospital from Buttonwoods Avenue to a new Lincoln Avenue campus, died Sunday at age 89. Bond was the last of city-hired administrators when he took over in 1982. His lost his job four years later when an insurance company forced the city to hire a national management company later blamed for the hospital’s failure. City officials claimed in 1985 that American Municipal Bond Assurance Corporation insisted on “veto” power over management hiring as a condition of its insurance on a $37 million refinancing of the hospital. Bond, of North Andover, came to the Hale from Beverly Hospital and accepted the job as administrator of Nantucket Cottage Hospital in June.

Obituaries

Shay Patrick Sullivan, Whittier Tech Teacher, Dies at 44

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Shay Patrick Sullivan, a devoted husband, father and son, peacefully passed away on June 11, just shy of his 45th birthday, surrounded by his loving family in Plaistow, N.H.

Born on July 6, 1978, in Methuen, Shay was a passionate educator who dedicated his career to teaching. After earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism from UMass Amherst, he started his career as a reporter for the Longboat Key Observer. He later went on to earn a master’s degree in education from UMass Lowell and, from there, spent 14 years as an English teacher at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School in Haverhill, where he found true fulfillment in guiding and inspiring young minds. Shay’s commitment to education went beyond the classroom, as he proudly served as president of the teacher’s union. He cherished his role in mentoring and shaping the lives of his students.

Haverhill

Richard Kelso Atwood, Former Owner of Haverhill’s Atwood Memorial, Dies at 93

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Richard Kelso Atwood, a former owner of Atwood Memorial Co., passed away June 3, at the age of 93. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was pre-deceased by his wife Lorraine, who passed away on May 3. He leaves behind his family, Sally Atwood Finan and spouse Douglas, Richard Atwood and spouse Meredith, Judy Atwood Ducey and spouse Thomas, Norman Roy and spouse Lynn, and Dr. Gary Roy. Grandchildren: Melissa Finan Holleran and spouse Edward, Scott Finan, Geoffrey Atwood and spouse Luis Williams, Andrew Atwood, Elizabeth Ducey, Thomas Ducey, Michael Ducey, and spouse Chloe.

Haverhill

Robert F. MacDonald, Boston Herald and Boston Globe Editor and Writer, Created ‘Beer Facts,’ Dies at 79

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Robert F. MacDonald, 79, of Haverhill, passed away unexpectedly May 13, at Lawrence General Hospital. He was the husband of Deborah (Mann) MacDonald. Born in Brockton on July 16, 1943, he was the son of the late Robert E. and Marion (Bryant) MacDonald. Following his graduation from New Hampton School he continued his education at Northeastern University, graduating with a degree in journalism and receiving a master’s in journalism at the University of Missouri. MacDonald pursued a career in journalism at the Boston Herald, Record American and concluded a successful and fulfilling 35-year career as copy editor of the Arts Department at the Boston Globe.

Obituaries

Memorial Service Saturday for Artist Thomas M. ‘Tomaso’ Schena

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A memorial service for Thomas M. “Tomaso” Schena, 43, of Newton, N.H., takes place this Saturday morning. Schena, known for his personal artistic depictions of people he met, died Friday May 5, at his home following a brief illness. He was born Feb. 25, 1980 in Exeter, N.H., son of the late Thomas and Sharon (Benjamin) Schena. He was a simple man, who found great joy in his art, and riding his bicycle.

Haverhill

One of Haverhill’s First Women Assessors, Helene A. Murphy, Dies at 86

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Former Haverhill Assessor Helene A. (McCaughey) Murphy, 86, of Salisbury and formerly of Bradford, joined her beloved husband Martin in eternal rest on April 27. Murphy, appointed by former Mayor William H. Ryan during the early 1980s, was one of the first women to serve on Haverhill’s reconstituted three-person board of assessors. Murphy, who rose to chair, served initially with assessors Mariana W. Morse and William J. Krajeski during a period of tumult following voter approval of the tax-limiting law, Proposition 2 ½. She was born in Lowell on June 2, 1936, daughter of the late Francis M. and Caroline (Krzystyniak) McCaughey. Murphy grew up in the Back Central neighborhood of Lowell and was a graduate of Lowell High School, class of 1953, where she was captain of the cheerleader squad and a girl officer.

Haverhill

Suzanne ‘Tudy’ Poore Davis, Served as Haverhill Public Library Trustee, Dies at 91

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It is with heavy, but grateful hearts that the family of Suzanne “Tudy” Poore Davis, announce her passing on Saturday, April 22, at her Haverhill home of 38 years. She was 91. A Haverhill native, she was born June 13, 1931, to Leon McGregor Poore and Helen Pauline Butler Poore. She was the youngest of two daughters. Tudy was the wife of the late Kingsbury Davis to whom she was married for 63 years prior to his passing in 2019.