DOUGLAS SEYMOUR
NORTH SPRINGFIELD - Douglas Seymour, 89, husband of Mary Aiello Seymour, died at Central Vermont Hospital in Berlin on Dec. 25, 2014. He was born in Minetto, N.Y., on April 8, 1925, to Lyle and Esther Chrisfield Seymour.
Mr. Seymour attended public schools in Stoneham, Mass. Following a year at Wheaton College, he enlisted in the United States Navy serving in the V5 Aviation Cadet program.
After the war, he studied at Tufts University, receiving his BS in Biology. Douglas then taught at Cincinnati (Ohio) Country Day School for two years. He returned to New England in 1952 to teach at Springfield (Vt.) High School. From 1959 to 1971, he was principal at Riverside Junior High School in Springfield.
As a lifelong learner, he continued his education, receiving his Master's in Education from Springfield College (Mass.), and a sixth year Professional Education Degree from the University of Connecticut.
In 1971, he was appointed principal of the Mount Mansfield Union High School in Jericho, Vt. He held this position until his retirement from secondary education in 1983.
In the decade that followed, he served as a tour guide for Vermont Transit Tours which permitted him to travel extensively throughout the United States and Canada. Douglas was an active volunteer as a trustee of the Springfield Library, and as a member of Rotary, serving once as president of the Springfield chapter. He loved the outdoors, having spent several summers as waterfront director at the Boy Scout Camp Plymouth in Ludlow. He was a member of the Bromley Mountain Ski Patrol, in addition to being an avid camper, fisherman and hunter. He stayed active as long as he was able, walking and riding his bicycle into his eighties. He also loved carpentry and woodworking.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters by a previous marriage, Linda Seymour (Dean Tauscher) of Waterbury, Vt., and Nancy Burchfield (Bill) of Webster Groves, Mo.; and three grandsons, Michael Tauscher, and Will and Joe Burchfield. Additional survivors include, Susan and Thomas Hogan of Lignam, Va., Daniel and Linda Aiello, and Matthew and Kirsten Aiello of Springfield; and seven grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sister, Elizabeth Seymour of Schenectady, N.Y.
A memorial service and reception will be held at the Catamount Country Club in Williston on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015, from 1 to 4 p.m. There will be no calling hours. Douglas asked that we all "take care of his kids" after he was gone. Donations can be made to the school of your choice in his honor.
Published in The Burlington Free Press on Jan. 4, 2015
January 19
Fran Mahoney, class of '57, who, along with others, attended the memorial service for Doug sent me this today:
I met Walt Krupinsky, Dick Hopkins, and Richie Wyman in Barre, and we traveled together to Williston. Other Springfield folks, were Madison Boyce, Dr. Sten Fersing, and Ed Kiniry.
There was a big turnout, (100). Mostly folks associated with his tenure as Principal of Mount Mansfield HS. Norm Lewis presented a slide presentation of their times together as Chester commuters to Riverside.
February 2
Cynthia Dyshlevich Ploof sent me a copy of the narrative of a presentation made at Doug's memorial service.
F C Bock
What can I say? He was a great teacher and a good friend. He was held in high esteem by everyone I knew. He was a must have guest at many of our reunions. I can remember when I found out, when in my mid-twenties, that he and my dad were close friends. That didn't seem right to me somehow. From an early age I felt teachers were teachers and parents were parents and in my mind the two only knew each other perhaps as aquaintances but not as friends.
He will be missed by all who knew him. RIP Mr Seymour or as he often told me in later years to call him, Doug.
Cynthia Dyshlevich (Ploof)
We all have special memories of Doug Seymour--family, teacher and friend--
Don and I were privileged that Doug and Mary lived at our home in North Springfield for several years. Those years being very special to us.
Doug continued to teach, though he may not have realized (or, perhaps, he did)! He was a craftsman in wood and furniture refinishing, teaching Don a great deal. He was a desciplined walker, walking daily--rain, snow, sleet, and heat. Another lesson learned. He was also thoughtful, kind and generous. We often saw him taking a "tin of goodies" to his friends, doctors, dentists, even us! Oh yes, and the homemade bread!!
He was so proud of his family and their accomplishments as well as his many students.
He will certainly be missed, but his legacy will live on.
Don and Cynthia Ploof
Richard Maynard
A single class was enough to sustantiate Doug 's energy and sense of fairness. And itseemed natural that his affinity for our class of 1958 was born while we were at Park Street and grew over the years.
And now with the news of his passing, it is as if there now is a tear in the fabric that links
us together. And when we think of our time together there will always be missing threads
to our story that will once again remind us of the march of time and it's weight upon those who remain.
Dick Maynard