Search all obituaries on iBerkshires.com:
 Richard R. "Rip" Vanasse Jr.
January 06, 2006
Richard R. "Rip" Vanasse Jr., 59, of Furnace Colony Drive, Pembroke, a native of Pittsfield, died yesterday at Tufts-NEMC Hospital after a long illness.
Born on Dec. 25, 1946, son of Richard R. Vanasse Sr. and Constance Davis Vanasse, he was a 1965 graduate of St. Joseph's High School.
He also graduated from Berkshire Community College and American International College in Springfield and received a master's in deaf education from Smith College in Northampton.
Mr. Vanasse was a counselor, most recently at Travelers Aid in Boston. Before that, he taught from 1969 to 1974 at Clark School for the Deaf in Northampton. From 1974 to 1977, he taught deaf students in Berkshire County as part of the Berkshire Collaborative for Low-Incidence Educational Needs (LIEN), becoming coordinator of instruction in 1976. In 1977, he was named state director of deaf education.
He was married to the former Elizabeth D. Dean.
Besides his wife, he leaves two sons, Matthew Vanasse of Upton and John Vanasse of Marlborough; a daughter, Maura Vanasse of Brighton; three sisters, Pamela Woods and Mercy Vanasse-Vickery, both of Plymouth, and Katherine Briggs of Carver; a brother, James Vanasse of Housatonic, and four grandchildren.
FUNERAL NOTICE -- A Liturgy of Christian Burial for Richard R. "Rip" Vanasse Jr., who died Friday, Jan. 6, 2006, will be celebrated Tuesday at 11 at St. Joseph's Church, 1 Maquan St., Rte. 14, Hanson. Interment will be in Pembroke Center Cemetery.
Visiting hours are Monday from 4 to 7 at SULLIVAN FUNERAL HOME, 2 Maquan St., corner of Routes 14 & 58, Hanson. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Marfan Foundation, 22 Manhasset Ave., Port Washington, NY 11050.
His generosity in spirit, empathy and commitment to living a full and productive life in the face of ever-increasing disability were an inspiration to many.
| No Comments have been left |
|
