‘The world is in such a tumultuous place right now, and I feel that it is so paramount for us to continue to tell the stories that both reflect on the world and also represent a bit of respite,” said Allyn Burrows, artistic director of Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, Mass., as he accepted the award for Outstanding Production of a Play on behalf of his Company at the seventh Berkshire Theatre Awards Monday, Nov. 13, at Zion Lutheran Church in Pittsfield, Mass.
The Berkies, as the awards are affectionately known in the local theater community, are accolades for “outstanding” achievements rather than the traditional “best” seen in many awards lists. “I don’t think there is anything called ‘best’ in the theater,” said Berkshire Theatre Critics Association (BTCA) president J. Peter Bergman. “But what is ‘outstanding’ is what you can’t forget. And that’s what we award for: things that are so special that you just can’t forget about them.”
This year’s ceremony was hosted by Bergman along with board member Macey Levin, whose long career in theater includes a 14-year stint as artistic director of the former Salisbury-based Aglet Theatre Company.
There were ties in several categories this year, including Outstanding Production of a Musical, which was shared by Barrington Stage Company of Pittsfield for “Cabaret” and Sharon Playhouse in Connecticut for “Something Rotten.” Carl Andress, Sharon Playhouse’s artistic director, accepted the award, saying, “‘Something Rotten’ at our theater was truly something spectacular, as with all the work that is being honored here tonight, and we just couldn’t be happier to receive this.”
BTCA held its first awards ceremony in 2016, the idea of the organization’s late founder, Larry Murray, who was also the inspiration for the Larry Murray Award for Community Outreach and Support Through Theater, which was given this year to Jean-Remy Monnay, founder of the Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate New York.
“When I started the company,” Monnay said, “I was one of probably four or five Black actors in the area. I said, ‘The local theater companies have to do better, have to be more diverse.’”
In 2012, Monnay launched his first big production and said he “didn’t know if I was going to find seven Black men to do it… Today, to go around, to see three or four theater companies doing all Black plays, all Black actors, it’s a great thing to see.”
Emily Edelman is on the board of the Berkshire Theatre Critics Association
CANTON — Luigina A. Dzenutis, 91, of Canton, died peacefully on Jan. 16, 2025, in her home. She was the wife of the late Peter A. Dzenutis Sr.
Luigina was born in Bronx, New York, on May 17, 1933, the daughter of the late Jack and Medie (Tonelli) Grecco.
Luigina’s life was full of family, friends and celebrations. She enjoyed her last Christmas season surrounded by everyone she loves, singing and dancing her way through December.
Luigina is survived by her seven sons; Peter Jr., John, Ralph, David, Stanley, Thomas and Rah; and four daughters Mary, Elizabeth, Ann and Luiginia. She is also survived by sixteen grandchildren; Jolene, Sherri, Cassie, Michael, Britney, Nicholas, Gabriela, Sydney, Page, Terry, Kaitlyn, Zachary, Jacob, Maximilliam, Gabriel and Luigina, along with thirteen great-grandchildren; Payton, Aubrey, Aman Jr., Carmela, Landon, Hailey, Hayden, Jayden, Grayson, Malia, Bennett, Rowen and Landon Jr.
Besides her husband, Peter, of 69 years she was predeceased by a son, Michael and grandson Aman.
Luigina leaves behind a legacy of stories and memories to be told by her 11 remaining children and a multitude of grand and great-grand children, nieces and nephews.
Members of her community, and friends of the family, may pay their respects at Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon, CT, Jan. 22 from 4 p.m to 6 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Immaculate Conception Church in Amenia, NY on Thursday, Jan. 23 at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at the Immaculate Conception Cemetery. The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
MILLERTON — Donald Francis “Frank” McNally Jr., passed away peacefully at Vassar Brothers Medical Center on Wednesday Jan. 8, 2025, after a short illness. Frank was a resident of Millerton since 1996. He was born on Jan. 27, 1955, in Cold Spring, New York, at Butterfield Hospital and was raised in Garrison, New York, where he enjoyed exploring and camping in the wilderness of the Hudson Valley, participating in the Boy Scouts as a bugler, and competing as captain of his high school wrestling team.
He was a graduate of James I. O’Neill High School in Highland Falls class of ‘74 and SUNY Cobleskill class of ‘76 where he majored in animal husbandry, specializing in equine science. He then proudly volunteered for the United States Peace Corps where he accepted an assignment to his host country of the Philippines, where he met his wife. Frank would then pursue his lifelong passion for horses and horseback riding on several horse farms in Dutchess County. Later he would work for New York state where he would then retire, spending his time caring for animals, reading, fishing and taking photographs. Frank enjoyed a good laugh with family and friends, while also occasionally winning a game of RISK. Frank was an avid reader, often reading several books a week while in the constant company of his cat.
Frank is survived by his wife and best friend, Paz (Alpez) McNally who resides in Millerton, and two sons, Patrick A. McNally and Philipp F. McNally; his daughter in-law, Erin McNally and his beloved grandchildren, Jack and Lila who brought him immeasurable joy in his life. Frank is also survived by his sister, Mary R. (McNally) Gutierrez and her husband Victor and their son Juan, and his brother, Daniel McNally Sr., and his daughter Jacqueline and son Daniel Jr. He was predeceased by his father Donald F. McNally Sr. and his mother Jacqueline (Adams) McNally.
There are no calling hours. At Frank’s request, cremation has taken place at Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery in Poughkeepsie. A celebration of Frank’s life will take place in the spring. Memorial Contributions may be made to the NorthEast–Millerton Library, P.O. Box 786, Millerton, NY 12546 or to a local animal shelter of your choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY 12546. To send an online condolence to the family or to plant a tree in Frank’s memory, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com
NORFOLK — Florence Eugenia Cooper died on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, at the age of 92 at Geer Lodge in Canaan, Connecticut where she had been a resident for 2 ½ years. She also spent a couple of days a week at the home of her daughter, the artist Hilary Cooper and her husband Chris Crowley, in Lakeville.
Florence (neé Muhas) was born and grew up in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of Greek immigrants. She went to local public schools and then to college at Barnard where she was mentored by Professor of Religion Ursula Niebuhr, wife of the philosopher Reinhold Niebuhr, who urged her to go to her alma mater St Hugh’s College, Oxford University where she earned a D. Phil degree. Later, she received an M.A. in foreign policy with a specialty in China, at the London School of Economics.
Florence met her future husband, Kenneth Cooper, a Diplomatic Courier, in Athens where she was visiting and he was passing through. Ken grew up in Kansas, served in submarines at the end of World War II, and graduated from the University of Kansas under the G.I. Bill. Shortly after his marriage to Florence in 1958, he became a Foreign Service Officer and served as such for the rest of his professional life. His service brought the family to Frankfurt, Belgrade, Karachi, London, Washington D.C., Manila and finally Hong Kong. Their sixty-year marriage was the center and the joy of both their lives from the start to Ken’s death in 2018. Florence was bookish and a little shy. Ken had an easy social charm. They both had wonderful senses of humor. They had two children, Hilary, born in late 1958, and Christopher “Topher”, born in 1960.
Florence wanted to work but that was not so easy in the 1960s and 70s, even for a gifted and lavishly educated woman. During the Washington assignment she searched for a job in vain (how many words can you type per minute was the usual question.) At the suggestion of a friend, she met with a remarkable woman who had started the Women’s Rights Movement, Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Through that organization she found work at the State Department. When Ken was posted to Manila, she was given a commission as a consular officer issuing visas, often to young brides of servicemen at Subic Naval and Clark Air bases. She also ran the fraud unit which was a colorful challenge.
The single and central sadness of their lives was the loss of Topher of a traumatic brain injury in 2004. Shortly afterwards the couple moved to Norfolk to be near Hilary, opening a new chapter in their lives. One day Hilary brought Florence along to the Yale Art School community drawing group run by Sam Messer, who immediately gave her a pad and pencil. Florence demurred, and he said, “either you draw or take your clothes off and model!” She started drawing and never stopped, also becoming a sculptor. The drawing group and the Yale Norfolk community were a central joy and she and Hilary continued to attend sessions right up until last summer.
WEST CORNWALL — Frederick Ralph Scoville II, 72, of 243 Town St., died Jan. 7, 2025, at the Waterbury Hospital surrounded by his loving family. Fred was the husband of 45 years to Lynn (Pollard) Scoville. Fred was born in Torrington, son of the late Ralph and Thalia (Hicock) Scoville.
Fred spent his whole life in West Cornwall. He attended Cornwall Consolidated and Housatonic Valley Regional High School. The only time he left was to attend the University of Connecticut for animal science. After school he came home to work with his father on the family farm taking over full-time in 1996 milking dairy cattle and selling hay. His life passion was the farm. He could always be found tinkering on equipment or surveying the neighborhood on his golf cart. The only thing that rivaled the farm was his love of his family. His wife, sons, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren meant the world to Fred.
After changing the farm from a dairy operation to all beef in 2006, Fred went to work for the Town of Cornwall Public Works, where he got to keep up on the town chatter. He was a founding member of the Cornwall Agricultural Commission and looked forward to the local Ag Fair each year. His expertise in judging maple syrup was unparalleled! He was regularly seen around town giving “sage” advice to many local farmers.
In addition to his wife, Fred will be deeply missed by his sons, Stephen and Frederick R. Scoville III (Katherine) of West Cornwall. His sisters: Grace Kanderfer (Peter) of New Hartford; Eliza Cleaveland of Bloomfield; and Maria Bonetti (Walter) of East Canaan. Fred leaves behind his two grandchildren, Abbé Lynn and Frederick Ralph Scoville IV of West Cornwall. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Fred was predeceased by his infant sister, Priscilla, brother and sister-in-law Ralph and Marta Scoville of Denville, New Jersey.
Funeral services will be held on Jan. 18, 2025, at the West Cornwall Meeting House at 11 a.m. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours.
The family has requested that you come as you are and the way Fred knew and loved you. No fancy dress, no need to impress, just come as YOU.
Memorial donations in Fred’s memory may be sent to the Cornwall Agriculture Advisory Committee Scholarship Fund, 26 Pine Street West Cornwall, CT 06796. Arrangements are under the care of the Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home 118 Main St. Canaan, CT 06018.
