Glass artist Toby Ruth Schwartz is one of thousands of Vermonters whose lives ended in 2017. We chose eight of them for this package of stories reflecting on Vermonters who died this year — an annual exercise since Seven Days began publishing obituaries in 2014. We looked for individuals whose lives were remarkable in some way; people whose deaths signified the end of an era; people who made the most of their time on this crazy, messed-up planet; or people who inspired us.
Holiday decorations filled the display windows of stores in Burlington this December, but Michael Valente didn't create any of the seasonal scenes. The Waterbury artist, who worked as a visual merchandiser for dozens of downtown shops over the past 40 years, didn't make it to Christmas. He died of cancer in October. Michael Anthony Valente Samuel Francis Esposito Anne Rowley Howrigan Steven Attree Hopkins Laure Isabelle Marie Angel Dominic John "Zip" Aloi Toby Ruth Schwartz John Kenneth "Ken" Lawless Valente is just one of thousands of Vermonters whose lives ended in 2017. Some deaths garnered headlines — such as those of drowning victims Christian Kibabu and Ali Muhina, or lawyer and conservationist John Ewing, or perennial political candidate Peter Diamondstone. But most who died quietly slipped away, remembered mainly by the families, friends and colleagues they left behind. We chose eight of them for this package of stories reflecting on Vermonters who died this year — an annual exercise since Seven Days began publishing obituaries in 2014. We looked for individuals whose lives were remarkable in some way; people whose deaths signified the end of an era; people who made the most of their time on this crazy, messed-up planet; or people who inspired us. We're grateful to their families and friends for sharing their remembrances. — Cathy Resmer Michael Anthony Valente February 14, 1949-October 3, 2017 You might never have known of artist Michael Valente by name, but if you strolled through downtown Burlington any time over the last four decades, you've seen his work. He might even have inspired you to buy a new set of plates, eyeglasses or a mountain bike. Valente's canvases were the display windows of Burlington businesses, dating back to the early 1970s. It might be quicker to list the stores the freelance visual merchandiser didn't work for than all of those he did. Among his regular clients were the Optical Center and Expressions on Church Street, Bennington Potters North on College Street, and Skirack on Main Street, to name a few. Bob Paolini, his partner of 41 years, suggested that Valente "had a very familiar face," since the designer himself was often on display while he worked. "I think a lot of people knew him, even if they didn't know him," Paolini continued. Valente, born on Valentine's Day in 1949, got his start in visual merchandising after graduating from high school…
Glass artist Toby Ruth Schwartz is one of thousands of Vermonters whose lives ended in 2017. We chose eight of them for this package of stories reflecting on Vermonters who died this year — an annual exercise since Seven Days began publishing obituaries in 2014. We looked for individuals whose lives were remarkable in some way; people whose deaths signified the end of an era; people who made the most of their time on this crazy, messed-up planet; or people who inspired us.
Holiday decorations filled the display windows of stores in Burlington this December, but Michael Valente didn't create any of the seasonal scenes. The Waterbury artist, who worked as a visual merchandiser for dozens of downtown shops over the past 40 years, didn't make it to Christmas. He died of cancer in October. Michael Anthony Valente Samuel Francis Esposito Anne Rowley Howrigan Steven Attree Hopkins Laure Isabelle Marie Angel Dominic John "Zip" Aloi Toby Ruth Schwartz John Kenneth "Ken" Lawless Valente is just one of thousands of Vermonters whose lives ended in 2017. Some deaths garnered headlines — such as those of drowning victims Christian Kibabu and Ali Muhina, or lawyer and conservationist John Ewing, or perennial political candidate Peter Diamondstone. But most who died quietly slipped away, remembered mainly by the families, friends and colleagues they left behind. We chose eight of them for this package of stories reflecting on Vermonters who died this year — an annual exercise since Seven Days began publishing obituaries in 2014. We looked for individuals whose lives were remarkable in some way; people whose deaths signified the end of an era; people who made the most of their time on this crazy, messed-up planet; or people who inspired us. We're grateful to their families and friends for sharing their remembrances. — Cathy Resmer Michael Anthony Valente February 14, 1949-October 3, 2017 You might never have known of artist Michael Valente by name, but if you strolled through downtown Burlington any time over the last four decades, you've seen his work. He might even have inspired you to buy a new set of plates, eyeglasses or a mountain bike. Valente's canvases were the display windows of Burlington businesses, dating back to the early 1970s. It might be quicker to list the stores the freelance visual merchandiser didn't work for than all of those he did. Among his regular clients were the Optical Center and Expressions on Church Street, Bennington Potters North on College Street, and Skirack on Main Street, to name a few. Bob Paolini, his partner of 41 years, suggested that Valente "had a very familiar face," since the designer himself was often on display while he worked. "I think a lot of people knew him, even if they didn't know him," Paolini continued. Valente, born on Valentine's Day in 1949, got his start in visual merchandising after graduating from high school…