![Remembering Katharine Coon Dunlop: Amenia’s stylish go-getter and wonderful girl](https://millertonnews.com/media-library/this-photo-of-katharine-coon-dunlop-was-used-on-the-cover-of-the-service-bulletin-for-her-funeral-having-been-chosen-by-kathari.jpg?id=48208668&width=980&quality=90)
This photo of Katharine Coon Dunlop was used on the cover of the service bulletin for her funeral, having been chosen by Katharine’s son, Robert. Dunlop passed away on Monday, Aug. 22, at the age of 87. Photo submitted
AMENIA — Having touched innumerable lives during her 87 years, Katharine Coon Dunlop left a positive impression on those who knew her, all witnesses to her steadfast belief in community betterment and just plain getting things done. Known by most everyone in the area, Katharine died on Monday, Aug. 22.
Her funeral was held on Saturday, Aug. 27, filling Smithfield Church in Amenia to capacity in remembrance and celebration of her life and dedication to her community. A successful Realtor for 50 years, friends noted that she had often sold the same home to successive new owners over the course of her career.
“Katharine was known by everyone and everyone loved her,” Smithfield’s Pastor Douglas Grandgeorge said. “I have known Katharine for 14 years, and we have never had an argument.”
Grandgeorge noted that this was in spite of acknowledged distinct political differences.
“We had so much respect for one another. On my first Easter Sunday at Smithfield,” he noted and in keeping with the Midwestern Easter heritage of his youth, “I was wearing light colors.”
Katharine approached him to say, “In this part of the world, we wait until Memorial Day.”
“I’ve waited until Memorial Day ever since,” he said.
Katharine was a regular at Troutbeck in Amenia, Jim Flaherty recalled, when he and partner Bob Skibsted re-opened Troutbeck following extensive restoration 43 years ago. It would quickly become a preeminent conference center and retreat.
“She arrived within the first five minutes of our opening and we became friends in the first hour,” Flaherty reported. It was a friendship that lasted.
“She was, no she ‘is’ a great lady, not just in real estate, but also in local and national politics,” Flaherty said, promising to make her a “Bloody Mary” (her favorite) annually on her birthday.
“Kathy and I laughed a lot,” he added.
“Some people are here in church because of Katharine,” said Smithfield Choir Director Denise Jordan Finley.
“So, we can add evangelist to her accomplishments,” Grandgeorge interjected.
Realtor Robert Riemer, who knew her for 50 years, recalled meeting Katharine at the old DeLavergne Farms Hotel in Amenia. As a schoolteacher he was doing photography on the side, because in those days, teachers were not paid during summers.
Katharine was teaching third grade at that point and was a wedding guest at the hotel when she spotted Riemer and his camera. She asked him to take a photo of her with her young son, Bobby, both seated in a wingback chair.
Riemer made regular use of the dark room at the school to develop his film, enabling him to present her with the black and white photo.
Moving the story to the present day, Riemer recalled that two or three years ago, Katharine asked whether he could provide her with another copy of that photo.
Riemer recalled that Katharine ran for and was elected to the Amenia Town Board in the 1980s and was instrumental in moving ideas forward. For example, she was a proponent of the idea of converting the old school to what is now the Town Hall, and she was an important supporter of the Amenia Fire Company.
Riemer said that he went on to work part-time for Katharine summers as a real estate agent, when her office had six agents.
“Katharine was not one ever to give up,” Riemer said.
Carol Coon described Katharine as “bold and outspoken.”
Katharine’s niece, Sheila Hewitt, described her as “stylish and fashionable,” seldom without a hat and beads, and always with her hair done.
Kevin McEneaney, clerk of Smithfield’s Council, said, “Katharine was the most optimistic person I ever met,” citing her “can-do” spirit in all things. She served on the church’s governing body for two decades.
Darlene Riemer said, “Katharine could argue with you and still say it with a smile.”
She remembered Katharine’s organizing and assembling the volunteers for the annual Christmas Tea, now a community tradition.
Longtime Amenia dairy farmer Joe McEnroe went through four years of Amenia High School with Katharine.
“She was a wonderful girl,” he said. “I have a lot of fond memories.”
“An awesome mother,” her son Robert said.
Amenia resident Dan Brown called her “a cornerstone of Smithfield Valley, like a big sister to me.” He noted her 20 years of service on the town’s Republican Committee for Ward 1. She was consistently elected to the committee except for one election on a Tuesday, when Brown’s broken fan belt disabled his car in New York City. His wife, Nancy, and he were unable to drive to Amenia to cast their two votes for Katharine. She lost that election by one vote but won by wider margins in other elections that were to follow.
Katharine served as a Delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1985 and attended the Inauguration of President Ronald Reagan, earning a box seat for the big parade and even attending the Inaugural Ball.
“She was a go-getter,” said Jim Murphy of Pine Plains, a friend of 30 years, adding “and how she loved her grandkids.”
Considering their grandmother, those “grandkids” Colby and Mackenzie Dunlop and Kaiden O’Brien agreed on descriptors such as “extremely supportive, helpful, very nice and very loving.”
Although now beyond the reach of mortal touch and sight, her life dedicated to service will be remembered with love by her vast and grateful Amenia community.
CANAAN, Conn. — Virginia “Ginny” Cables, 81, passed away peacefully on Aug. 28, 2024, at Geer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Canaan, surrounded by family. Born to the late Marie K. Negri and George Ralph on Dec. 7, 1942, Ginny lived a life full of love, laughter, and dedication to her family.
A devoted homemaker, Ginny took great pride in creating a warm and welcoming home. She had a deep love for gardening, cooking, baking, and thrifting. She took pride in nurturing flowers and plants that brought beauty to her surroundings. Animals always held a special place in her heart, and she was known for her kindness and care towards them.
Ginny’s greatest joy came from spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She cherished family gatherings, whether they were simple picnics or special events, where she could share stories, laughter, and love. Those who knew her will forever remember her quick wit, sense of humor, and the radiant smile that brightened every room she entered.
Ginny leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and warmth that will be cherished by all who had the pleasure of knowing her. She will be deeply missed, but her spirit will live on in the hearts of her family and friends. She will be remembered by her nicknames “Aunt Squeak” “Grandma Gin” “Ginny” to everyone she met.
Ginny leaves behind her daughter, Michele M. Cables Wilkinson of Sheffield, Massachusetts and her son Frederick E. Cables Jr. and his wife Anita Cables of Canaan; grandchildren, Chelsea Quenneville Brown (Joseph Brown), Blake Wilkinson, Logan and Miranda Cables; great grandchildren, Jade and Kristina Brown and Ethan Robles; her siblings, Richard Ralph (Cecelia), Stanley Ralph (Rosemary), David Ralph (Vicky) and Donna Roux (Ronald). She was also survived by her several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her mother, Marie K. Negri and father George Ralph, her husband, Fredrick Cables Sr., her siblings, Burt Veronesi and Valerie Poley.
Calling hours will be Friday, Sept. 13, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home in Canaan, CT. A celebration of life will be held at the Canaan VFW on Sunday, Sept. 22, from 1-4 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Litchfield County, Salisbury Branch, 30A Salmon Kill Road, Salisbury CT 06068 or The Little Guild of St. Francis in Ginny’s memory.
MILLERTON — Linda Kaplan, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, sister-in-law, cousin and friend, passed away Sept. 3, 2024. Linda will be remembered as a deeply kind woman guided by faith, family and love.
Linda was born to Francis Crawford and Lydia Johnson (nee Snyder) in Sharon, on Sept. 14, 1942. She attended Webutuck High School in Millerton, and then started her career in banking, where she worked until her retirement as a Vice President. Linda was a loving mother who raised her two sons and instilled in them her love of faith and family.
Linda met her future husband, Sanford (Sam) Kaplan, at a dance in Millerton, and they were blessed with 30 years of marriage during which they enjoyed their time on Simmons Street. Here, Linda enjoyed tending to her garden where she could be found picking green beans and tomatoes. She also enjoyed solving the daily crossword puzzle, knitting, and listening to Sam play his guitar. Together, Linda and Sam enjoyed hosting their family for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Passover celebrations. They especially enjoyed annual summer visits by their granddaughters which always included visits to their farm where they rode ATVs. Linda and Sam’s interest in dairy farming led them to travel to Europe where they toured dairy farms; a trip they fondly recounted to their family for years.
Linda’s faith was evident, not only through her family, but also through her involvement with the Millerton Presbyterian Church. She enjoyed community outreach, singing in the choir, working with children, teaching ESL classes, and helping to develop and implement programs.
Linda is predeceased by her husband, Sam Kaplan, her mother, father, and brother Thomas Crawford. She is survived by her two sons; Lorin Stapleton and his wife Mary Stapleton of Brewster, New York, and Brian Stapleton of Sandisfield, Massachusettds; her two granddaughters, Bridget Stapleton of Jersey City, New Jersey and Colleen Stapleton of Boston, Massachusetts; her sister-in-law, Susan Crawford; nephew David Keys and his wife Barbara; niece Susan Jenkins and her husband Rick Herring.
Calling hours will be held on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY 12546. A Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 10 a.m. at St. Martin of Tours Church of St. Mary in Lakeville, CT. Rev. Dennis Arambasick will officiate. Burial will follow at Irondale Cemetery in Millerton, NY. To send an online condolence to the family, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com
David Colbert with one of his sculptures on the sculpture walk he has created over 35 years.
The Cornwall Open Studio took place on Saturday, Aug. 31. It is a Cornwall tradition and has been taking place for eighteen years.
It is a day when Cornwall artists invite the public into their studios to see what they are working on and how they do it. The artists work in various media, including painting, sculpture, photography and artistic shoes.
To participate, prospective tourists go to cornwallct.org/event/cornwall-open-studio-2024/ where a map and a list of the artists is available to download and print. The event is free, there is no registration, and so armed with the map, those taking the tour are set to explore not only artists’ studios, but the beautiful drive through Cornwall.
David Colbert, sculptor, is the initiator of the event. He said of his work, “I was smitten by the geometry and eventually the geometry led me to art.” Behind his studio in Cornwall Bridge he has a quarter mile sculpture path which he has been building for the past thirty-five years. Those on the tour could meander down the path and enjoy the beauty of the geometrically derived works.
Asked if there were any special artists and studios that should not be missed, he said, “I can’t help but mention Tim Prentice, whose shop, barn and whole place is pretty amazing.” At Prentice’s studio in West Cornwall, an old barn, mobiles, and other kinetic works of art hang from walls and ceilings and populate the surrounding fields. Across the road, another barn holds larger sculptures.
At 93, Prentice still works most days in the studio beside his house. He said he works on “small things.” He struggles with fading eyesight due to macular degeneration. He will be in a film by The Vision and Art Project, which seeks to bring awareness of macular degeneration by featuring artists like Tim Prentice. The film will be shown at the Cornwall Library sometime in the coming months.
In spite of his failing eye sight, he enjoys getting out to the studio and working and was welcoming visitors on the tour.
Another interesting studio is that of Lauren Brinkers Shoes in Cornwall Bridge. The shoes are hand painted and “one of a kind.” “I studied in London and went to shoe making school there,” Brinkers said. “I studied traditional men’s shoe making and transitioned into women’s.” She wanted to bring “more color and expression into shoes.” She learned how to work with leather dyes and paints the shoes to accomplish this goal.
A display of Lauren Brinkers handmade, one of a kind , hand paintied shoes on display at her Cornwall studio.Robin Roraback
Next to Lauren Brinkers’ studio is that of Stephan Sagmiller, who shows with his photographs that “The world is worth looking at closely. You’ve got to look at them up close. That’s my ethos as an artist.” His photos are large and colorful and invite you to do just that — look up close.
In West Cornwall, the abstract landscapes of Suzan Scott were on display at the Souterrain Gallery. Scott says of her work, “I’ve always had a strong connection with nature. I see everything, every blade of grass.” It was overwhelming for her. She began to paint still lives thinking they’d be easier, but in doing so she realized that still lives are similar to landscapes in that she could break down the parts as she did for still lives. “Why not go out and do landscapes and simplify them — abstract them?”
Her process is to layer tinted glazes, sometimes as many as thirty. She will work on a painting, let it rest, go back to it, work some more, and continue this until the painting is finished, which can take a week or months.
Scott paints scenes from the northwest corner and has “favorite spots” that she revisits. “The more I see it, the more I can interpret it, and it becomes mine.”
These are just a few of the artists on the tour. There were also Curt Hanson’s beautiful landscapes and the looser, colorful paintings of Magaly Ohika, Katherine Freygang and Sally Van Doren. Photographers Nick Jacobs and Bela Selendy also opened their studios. They use their cameras to explore life and nature.
If you missed the tour this year, be sure to keep an eye out for it next Labor Day Weekend. It is a wonderful way to spend a Saturday. To contact these artists or find out more about their work, go to: cornwallct.org/history-culture/arts-artists/ or go to the tour website to find links to their websites.
Fresh donuts by Hanna Rybolt at ILSE Coffee.
Something scrumptious is cooking beneath Colonial Theatre.
Pastries by Hanna was established in February of 2024 at 27 Railroad St. in North Canaan. The owner, Hanna Rybolt, is a resident of Canaan who studied in the pastry program at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.
Her interest in baking is rooted in fond memories with her family. The baked goods and pastry products are sold locally at ILSE Coffee just next door, as well as the Great Barrington farmer’s market. Her pastry kitchen is located below Colonial Theatre.
Rybolt aims to ensure the goods are produced with locally grown products and sold in community businesses. Pastries by Hanna’s best-selling product is brioche-style donuts.
The business is solely owned and operated by Rybolt, who stated she is looking forward to what the future will bring for the bakery and is hoping to collaborate with more companies in the area.
Customers can custom order goods online at pastriesbyhanna.com or check out her Instagram page @PastriesbyHanna.