Author: Randi Alexandra Plake

The Rev. Frank Wayne, born November 10, 1924 in Johnstown, PA died on March 28, 2015. He was the seventh child of Ray Emmet Penick and Esther May Groff.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Jane Flegal Penick of Louisville, daughter Sharon Sochinski (James) of Blacksburg, VA, son Richard (Cynthia) of Bisbee, AZ, daughter Jan (Joe) of Louisville, and granddaughter Katie Dougherty (Paul) of Colorado Springs, CO.

Rev. Penick served in the US Navy from 1943 – 45 in Officer’s Training School. He was a graduate of Dartmouth College and the Princeton Theological Seminary. He was pastor in Trenton, NJ, District Heights, MD and Jefferson City, MO.

In 1964, he joined the Fifty Million Fund of the United Presbyterian Church as an area counselor in Rochester, NY and Pittsburgh, PA. From 1971-1980 Rev. Penick was Vice President for Development at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

In 1980 he and his wife moved to Louisville and served eight years as the Vice President for Development at the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary until his retirement in 1988.

Rev. Penick was the founding president of Kentuckiana/Ohio River Valley Chapter, National Society of Fund Raising Executives. In 1993 he received the lifetime award of CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) designation from the National Society of Fund Raising Executives, by the National Society’s Board of Directors.

From 1988 to 1992 he was President of Creative Associates, Fund Raising Consultants and also served as regional counselor for the Bi-Centennial Fund, Presbyterian Church (USA) during that same period.

He was a member of the Presbytery of Mid-Kentucky of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

There will be a private interment at the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary Memorials Gardens. A memorial service will be held at Highlands Presbyterian Church, 1101 Cherokee Road, on Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary or to Hosparus of Louisville. – See more here.

It took a celestial bolt, of course it would, to extinguish such an adventurous spirit, and that’s what happened on March 19, 2016, when Jacqui Stavis, a former resident of Rhinelander, died as the result of a lightning strike near New Orleans, La. Attending a weekend blues festival, Jacqui was doing what she loved best, living life to its fullest. She was 28 years old.

Jacqui will be missed beyond measure by her mother, Barbara Sironen, of Rhinelander, her father, George Stavis, of New York, and her life partner, Jake Gold, of New Orleans.

Barbara’s husband, David Picard; her aunt Kay, uncle Frank and cousins Nicole and Leslie Guarascio; her uncle Stuart, aunt Helen and cousin Forest Sironen; her uncle Rob, aunt Helene, and cousins Danny and Jesse Stavis, and Madeleine Klebanoff, nee Stavis; her uncle Ben Stavis, aunt Marjatta Lyyra, and cousins Sam and Kathy Stavis; and Jake’s parents, Steve and Sue Gold, will miss her deeply, as will her family in Provincetown: grandmother Barbara Rushmore, Peter Macara, aunts Katherine and Laura, and cousins Raphael, Justin, Tyler, Eric, and Elise.

Jacqui was loved dearly by close friends, incalculable in number, but especially those who celebrated her life in New Orleans and in Provincetown, Ma., where she was buried and is “growing a tree,” as she had expressly wanted to do.

Jacqui was preceded in death by her siblings, Elizabeth and Eric.

GEGGEL, Amelia Sarah Age 32, of Cambridge, formerly of Dover, passed away on Wednesday, April 27, 2016. She was the cherished wife of Eric Mattison, the loving daughter of Robert & Karen (Brown) Geggel, the inspiring older sister of Ezra Geggel & his wife Michal Miller, the treasured granddaughter of Elizabeth Geggel & her late husband Carl, and the late Pierce & Norrine Brown, and a hero to her aunts and uncles, cousins, extended family and friends. Amelia overcame challenges throughout her life. She was born with a rare ear condition and endured multiple surgeries and ensuing complications. Despite wearing hearing aids, she was always an excellent student, graduating from the Noble & Greenough School, Wesleyan University, and the Harvard School of Public Health. Innately knowing how to meet life’s challenges, she became an advocate for environmental causes and social justice. Her authenticity, spirit, and sense of responsibility to the larger world made her a natural leader and a role model to her family and friends.

Diagnosed with incurable sarcoma six years ago, Amelia knew she had only a short time to fill this world with her energy. Despite her constant chemotherapy schedule, Amelia finished her master’s degree and worked full time for an environmental consulting firm. She met her perfect match just prior to her diagnosis; three years later they married on the coast of Maine. Eric stood by her throughout her treatments, providing humor and support in equal measure. She traveled and hiked across five continents – to New Zealand, Patagonia, Chile, England, Belgium, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Cyprus, Brazil, the Rockies, and throughout New England. Her personality, dry sense of humor, creativity, and genuine, remarkable strength will serve as an inspiration to all those fortunate to have known her and her story. Services will take place at Temple Aliyah, 1664 Central Avenue, Needham on Sunday, May 1, 2016 at 1:30 p.m., with burial at Beit Olam East, 60 Old Sudbury Road, Wayland. Following burial, memorial observance will be at the home of Robert & Karen Geggel until 8 p.m. and continuing Monday, from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m., and on Tuesday and Wednesday from 7-9 p.m. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to First Descents, which provides outdoor adventures for young adults with cancer (www.firstdescents.org) or a foundation to be established by the family to honor the causes Amelia cared deeply about.

Surrounded by love near and far, in the comfort of her home, Lori passed away very peacefully last night, January 7, shortly after 5:00pm. She has been warmed by everyone’s love and support over the years, and held in a sacred space the last few weeks, and truly blanketed in prayers and care the last 24 hours. Lori was an old soul, a sage beautiful lady, and had an accepting understanding of death as part of life’s journey. Perhaps that understanding moved her to live her life with such deep gratitude and so mindfully in the moment as she did. Those of us that were gifted the opportunity to walk with her through the last few weeks feel in our hearts that Lori found a calm peace and trust that allowed her to quietly transition on this eve. She has left her physical body but she is with us forever in our hearts, our memories, perhaps in sunsets and sunrises, or in any place of beauty we choose to hold her. Most of all she lives on in her beautiful courageous daughter Emilia. Please hold Emilia, Matt, Mike, and the rest of Lori’s family in your thoughts and prayers as everyone travels this journey of such great loss. Possibly the only thing greater than the loss is the deep love Lori showered everyone with, and the great love everyone has forever for her.

Rest peacefully dear Lori – we love you for all of eternity.

Bradley James Toomey unexpectedly passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 9, 2016 at his home in Kansas City. Brad was born in Amesbury, MA on May 4, 1957 to Alice Leary Toomey and Daniel Joseph Toomey, who both preceded him in death. He was a graduate of Amesbury High School, Vermont Academy in Saxton’s River, VT and Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT where he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon and studied environmental chemistry. Brad is survived by his wife of 30 years, Joan Dungey Toomey, his children, Mary Eliza Toomey and Daniel Joseph Toomey II, and his brother, Bruce Toomey, and his family in Anchorage, AK.

Brad was a talented athlete, participating in baseball, track, football, and skiing while growing up in Amesbury, often on teams that his father helped coach. Later, Brad skied, ran sprints and hurdles, and played football for Vermont Academy and then played football and pole vaulted at Wesleyan. Brad passed along his enthusiasm for sports while coaching young football players and cheering on his children on the ski hill and at all of their meets and games. The night before he passed, he was watching his son run track and could not have been happier.

Following graduation, Brad worked in the commercial insurance industry for over 30 years where he developed many professional relationships that became long-lasting friendships. He was always proud when his efforts earned the trust and commitment of his clients. Brad relished his old and new friends, never allowing the years or miles to get in the way of maintaining their friendships. This devotion was most evident in his detailed organization of the annual Vail Boys Trip attended by friends from around the country for many years. More recently, Brad nurtured a deep appreciation for music and often attended concerts of singer-songwriters whom he enjoyed.

Brad was a genuine, spirited, and compassionate man. He left us too soon, and we are enormously saddened by his loss.

A memorial service will be held at Unity Temple on the Plaza on April 18, 2016. The family will receive friends at 3 p.m. and the service will begin at 4 p.m., with a reception to follow in the Temple Room. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made in Brad’s name to the Wesleyan Memorial Fund at Wesleyan University c/o Marcy Herlihy, University Relations, 318 High St., Middletown, CT 06459 or Rockhurst High School, 9301 State Line Rd., Kansas City, MO 64114.