Deaths

Catharine (McHenry) Rogers – Shelburne

Catharine (McHenry) Rogers died peacefully on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015, in the caring community of Wake Robin. She was born at home on Jan. 4, 1912, in South Bend, Ind., to Elizabeth Baker McHenry and William K. McHenry. Catharine, “Cay,” went to South Bend schools before attending Tudor Hall in Indianapolis and Wellesley College, transferring in 1932 to University of Michigan from which she graduated in 1934. She was always a good student and well-liked by her peers. At Tudor Hall, she was President of Student Government; at University of Michigan she was President of her Sorority, Vice President of her Senior Class, and Women’s Business Manager of the Michigan Daily. Summers were spent on Lake Michigan. Attending college during the Depression, Cay had to borrow money to pay for her senior year and signed a statement that she wouldn’t marry until the loan was repaid. Upon graduation, she enrolled in business college until she found employment. During this time, she met her future husband, Paul Rogers, who was working for a year in South Bend. They married on June 4, 1938, and moved to Paul’s hometown of New Britain, Conn. There they raised two children, Andrea and Paul III, and enjoyed many good friends. With the onset of W.W.II, Catharine traveled to volunteer activities by bicycle. Paul worked full time at Skinner Chuck Company (later Skinner Precision Industries) to support the war effort and joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary to do evening and weekend coastal patrols. His duty provided them gas for the car. Cay was a natural leader and an active volunteer. She gave considerable time to the Junior League, the New Britain Youth Museum, the YWCA, the New Britain Symphony, and the early beginnings of Planned Parenthood. She was most remembered for her work with the YWCA – assuring that it obtained equal community footing to the YMCA and served the needs of women and girls, particularly those with limited means. Her good business sense was greatly valued, and she was not afraid to ask for money. She was honored by the Elks Club as Citizen of the Year in 1992 and by the YWCA in 1987 and again in 1993. Cay and Paul enjoyed sailing and skiing – at home and abroad. They made lasting friends on their trips. Though Cay suffered a series of broken legs, it did not curb her enthusiasm for the sport. Cay was predeceased by her outgoing and active husband in 1975, but lived life fully for another 35 plus years. In New Britain, she joined the boards of the A.W. Stanley Foundation and Central Connecticut State College, studied Chinese, hosted a young Chinese student and took the first of several trips to China with the U.S. China Friendship Society. An inveterate traveler, she journeyed to every continent and the far reaches of the world, taking annual ski trips to Europe and touring Saudi Arabia and Russia well into her 80’s. In October 1993, she left her home in Kensington, Conn., and moved to Wake Robin to be near her daughter, Andrea. One of the early Wake Robin residents, Cay was active on the outside events committee and became an avid attendee of performing arts events. She enjoyed more than 20 years of good health, good friends, and good care at Wake Robin – until recently, enjoying daily exercise class and scenic trips. She celebrated her 103rd birthday in January 2015, surrounded by family members. Catharine is survived by her daughter, Andrea Rogers and husband, Avery Hall, of Burlington, their children, Tim (Pat), Ben (Lisa), and Leslie (Eric), and grandchildren, Catie Lynn, Robert, Jessica, Cody, and Michael; son, Paul Rogers and wife, Martha, of Camden, Maine, their children, Jonathan and Christopher (Heather), and grandson, Wes; and nephew, John McHenry and wife, Phyllis, of Miami, and their daughter, Elonia. She was predeceased by her husband, Paul; and her brother, William. Cay will be remembered as a woman with a lively mind and a big heart; generous, open minded, positive, appreciative, inclusive, and fair. She enjoyed people, cared about her communities and embraced life. There will be a Circle of Remembrance at the Wake Robin Community in Shelburne, Saturday morning, Jan. 24, 2015, at 10am. The extended family will celebrate her life at a future date. Donations in her memory may be given to the Wake Robin Employees Fund or an organization of your choice.

Merrill E. Johnson Jr. – Shelburne

Merrill “Mel” Johnson Jr., 62, of Shelburne, died on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015, in the Vermont Respite House surrounded by his family. Born on Oct. 9, 1952, in Burlington, he was the son of Merrill and Bereneice Johnson. Mel attended school in Vestal, N.Y., and graduated from Broome County Community College with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. On April 6, 1974, he married Denise O’Riordan. They moved to Shelburne and Mel worked for G.E., Simmons Precision, BioTek, and retired from General Dynamics in March of 2014. He is survived by his wife, Denise of Shelburne; son, Michael, and wife, Miranda, of Huntington; son, Daniel and wife, Gail, of Gales Ferry, Conn.; grandchildren, Mia and Max; mother, Bereneice; sisters, Karen DeRosa and husband, Rich, and Kristen Johnson-Budziak and husband, Walter; brother, Neil Johnson; two sisters-in-law, Jeanne Correll and husband, Ray, and Betty O’Riordan; brothers-in-law, David O’Riordan and Fergal O’Toole; and numerous nieces and nephews. Mel was predeceased by his father, Merrill; two nephews, Ari and Jesse Finander; and sister-in-law, Noreen O’Toole. Mel was very active in the community. He volunteered for the Sugarbush Ski Patrol for more than 25 years, served in the Shelburne Lions Club for 35 years, and supported the Shelburne Recreation Department. He was active with the Shelburne Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, organizing their annual Christmas Tree Sale for many years, and led various Scout adventures, including a cross-country hiking trip to Philmont in New Mexico. Mel supported various organizations with fundraising and his time, including the American Diabetes Association, Toys for Tots, the Wounded Warrior Project, and others. Mel loved the outdoors, spending his free time skiing, hiking, biking, golfing, boating, fishing and traveling. One of Mel’s proudest achievements was hiking the Long Trail from end to end in one summer. Some of his favorite time was spent at the Johnson family camp in the Adirondacks, a special place that Mel helped to build and maintain for many years. There will be a celebration of Mel’s life on Friday, Jan. 23, 2015, from 5 to 9pm at the Sunset Ballroom, 1712 Shelburne Road, South Burlington. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sugarbush Ski Patrol Relief Fund, 802-583-6569; or the Lions Club International Foundation 630-203-3836.