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Gardner W. Handy, 90
West Yarmouth Gardner W. Handy, 90, of West Yarmouth, formerly of Cummaquid, died July 21, 2000, at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis after a brief illness.
He was the husband of the late Margaret (McCormack) Handy. They had been married for 63 years.
A Woods Hole native, Mr. Handy was a 1928 graduate of Lawrence High School in Falmouth. He also held undergraduate and advanced degrees from Emerson College and Boston University respectively.
Mr. Handy worked in an assortment of Depression-era jobs and during World War II developed underwater photographs for the Navy. He then taught briefly in the Falmouth School System and won a seat on the tovn's board of selectmen before accepting a teaching post in Winchester in late 1945. He pioneered the Winchester Public School's Meaningful Math Program in the 1950s and was the principal of Lynch Junior High School in Winchester when he retired in 1971 to Cummaquid.
He sang baritone in the Barnstable Unitarian-Universalist Church choir and in Cape glee clubs.
Surviving are two sons, Jonathan of Richland, Wash. and Jason of Brookline; a granddaughter; and a grandson.
Memorial donations may be made to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, 401 Ninth St. N.W., Washington , D.C. 20004 or to any local National Public Radio affiliate.
Margaret T. Murtha, 79
Hyannis Margaret T. (Dyson) Murtha, 79, a resident of Hyannis, died July 25, 2000, after a brief illness.
She was the wife of Anthony J. Murtha, who died in 1969.
Born, raised and educated in Pawtucket, R.I., Mrs. Murtha was a resident of Pawtucket before moving to Yarmouth in 1964. She moved to Hyannis in 1969.
Mrs. Murtha was the owner and operator of various restaurants in the Cape area for 20 years and also a self-employed real estate broker. She retired in approximately 1980.
She enjoyed acrylic painting and arts.
Surviving are two sons, Thomas J. Murtha of Hyannis and Patrick M. Murtha of Marstons Mills; a sister, Rita Morris of Jupiter, Fla.; and six grandchildren.
She was also the mother of Michael P. Murtha, who died in 1976.
Rene L. Poyant, 91
West Hyannisport Rene L. Poyant, 91, a retired Realtor and baker, died July 25, 2000, at the Cape Regency Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Centerville.
He was the husband of the late Julie M. Poyant.
Born in Fairhaven, Mr. Poyant attended the Partingway School in Acushnet.
He worked as a baker beginning at age 14 in the family cider mill. He also graduated from the Fleishman Baking School in New York City and studied with the international Belgian chef K. Camille DenDoven.
Mr. Poyant moved to Hyannis in 1939 when he and his wife opened the Cape Cod Bakery, which he operated until 1963.
During World War II, he was affiliated with the commissary of Camp Edwards. He was appointed to the Massachusetts Maritime Commission by Gov. Dever in 1948 when the academy moved to Buzzards Bay.
In 1947, he entered the real estate field, selling real estate from Plymouth to Provincetown. His real estate brokerage business was incorporated in 1966 as Rene L. Poyant Inc., Realtors, and continues on Barnstable Road in Hyannis. he was active in his business until December 1998.
Mr. Poyant had 49 1/2 years of perfect attendance at the Hyannis Rotary Club. He was a member of the Cape Cod and Islands Association of Realtors, Hyannis Chamber of Commerce, Elks, Knights of Columbus, Bass River Rod and Gun Club and Redmen. He was awarded the Freedoms Inc. (Valley Forge) designation by Gov. Furcolo in 1955.
He was a communicant of Our Lady of Victory Church in Centerville.
Surviving are a son, Marcel Rene Poyant of Osterville; a brother, Clovis Poyant of Sarasota, Fla; and two grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to the Hyannis Rotary Club, P.O. Box 39, Hyannis 02601.
Richard C. Ryder, 69
Cotuit Richard C. Ryder, 69, a resident of Cotuit, formerly of Cummaquid, died July 24, 2000, at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis after a brief illness.
He was the husband of Patricia (Kelly) Ryder.
Born in Cummaquid, Mr. Ryder was a 1948 graduate of Barnstable High Shcool. After graduating from high school, he joined the Air Force from 1948 to 1952. He was a communications instructor in Colorado and Wyoming. He joined the rodeo and performed from Calgary, Canada, to Texas .
After the service, Mr. Ryder worked for A.F. Germans Automotive Parts in Hyannis for 35 years covering the Cape and islands. He retired in 1990 and started his own automotive consulting business, which he had until his death.
Surviving besides his wife are three daughters, Laurie Prince of Las Vegas, Nancy Cantella of West Barnstable, and Rachael Wanner of Whitehall, Mont.; three stepdaughters, Ellen Ryder of Ringoes, N.J.; Maureen Sisto of Stewart, Fla.; and Kathleen Macdonald; a brother, Walter F. Ryder of Chelmsford; two sisters, Janet Wedeking of Heber, Ark. and Rachel Eaves of Hilo, Hawaii; 13 grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and his former wife, Sally Weston Ryder of West Yarmouth.
Memorial donations may be made to Cape Cod Regional Technical High School to the Richard C. Ryder Scholarship Fund for Automotive Training, 851 Pleasant Lake Ave., Harwich 02645.
Bertrand C. French Jr., 80
Warren, N.H. - Bertrand C. French Jr., 80, a former Barnstable resident, died Aug. 1, 2000, at his home after a long illness.
He was the husband of Sally (Turpin) French, who died in 1988.
Born in Plymouth, Mass., Mr. French started going to Warren in 1973 and became a permanent resident in 1992. He also lived in Barnstable, where he worked for 31 years as a Right of Way agent for the Cape and Vineyard Electric Co., acquiring land rights for the company.
Mr. French attended Dartmouth College for two years and worked for Pratt and Whitney as a representative with the Army Air Corps during World War II. After the war, he attended the University of Connecticut.
Known for his sweet corn and flower gardens in Cummaquid, he enjoyed outdoor activities, wildlife and his dog Tory Belle.
Surviving are two sons, Richards B. French of Barnstable and James C. French of Sherman, Conn.; a sister, Lucy French Morrison of South Yarmouth; three grandchildren; and a niece.
There will be a gathering for remembrance from 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 10 at Murph's Recession, Thornton Drive, Hyannis.
Memorial donations may be made to the Hospice Visiting Nurse Association, Route 25, Bradford, VT 05033; or to the Hospice of Cape Cod, 923 Route 6A, Yarmouthport, MA 02675.
Cameron P. Haig, 18
Marstons Mills - Cameron P. Haig, 18, a musician and Web designer, died July 31, 2000, during a visit to Cape Coral, Fla., three days before his 19th birthday.
He was the son of Mary B. Burkinshaw of Marstons Mills and Daniel R. Haig of Cape Coral, Fla.
Born in Seattle, Wash., Cameron had lived in Marstons Mills since a very early age and most recently lived in West Yarmouth.
A talented musician, artist, computer programmer and Web designer, Cameron had received many awards for his artwork.
Cameron was looking forward to a career in the music industry, where he could combine his many talents and interests, which included writing music and poetry. He was especially interested in rap music and had created a Web site focused on the musician Tupac Shakur, whom he admired.
He also enjoyed being with his dog, Max.
Besides his parents, he is survived by his grandmother, Regina E. Burkinshaw of South Yarmouth; and a large extended family.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701; or to the Animal Rescue League of Boston, Cape Cod Branch, 3981 Route 6A, P.O. Box 1265, Brewster, MA 02631.
Paul B. Jones, 85
Brewster - Paul B. Jones, 85, a retired firefighter and former operator of a Hyannis jazz boat, died Aug. 5, 2000, after a brief illness.
He was born in West Newton and graduated in 1935 from St. Anslem Prep School in New Hampshire.
For 35 years, he worked as a Newton firefighter. He retired the Cape in 1973.
He was the husband of Ruth (Morris) Evans- Jones for 13 years.
He was an accomplished musician and was the drummer in the Dudes of Dixie Land for several years. From 1976 to 1978, he ran a jazz boat out of Hyannis Harbor.
He was also a member of the Brewster Town Band.
Mr. Jones was an usher at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Orleans.
He was avid boater and enjoyed golfing.
In addition to his wife, survivors include a daughter, Beverly Jones of West Newton; a stepdaughter, Carole Davis of Brewster, and a stepson, Russell Brown; five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Aug. 18 at the Church of the Holy Spirit, Monument Road, Orleans
Memorial donations may be made to the Church of the Holy Spirit Building Fund, Monument Road, Orleans, MA 02653.
Elaine N. Lavner, 71
Northboro - Elaine N. (Smith) Lavner, 71, died Aug. 5, 2000, in the Metro-West Hospital in Framingham.
She was the wife of Einar V. Lavner.
Mrs. Lavner was born in Windsor, Vt. She graduated from Commerce High School in Worcester in 1948.
She was employed by the Clinton Item newspaper in the advertising department and retired from the Wonder Market Co., where she worked in the flower department. She also worked for the Welcome Wagon Co. in Worcester.
Mrs. Lavner lived in Hyannis from 1996-1999. She returned to Northboro in 1999.
She was a member of the Epworth United Methodist Church in Worcester and the VASA Order of America Quinsigamond Lodge 517.
In addition to her husband, survivors include two sons, Robert E. Lavner of Shrewsbury and John W. Lavner of Northboro; two daughters, Donna E. Robinson of Northboro and Gail A. Maloney of Oxford; a brother, Raymond Smith of Millbury; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association of Central Massachusetts, 35 Harvard St., Worcester, MA 01609.
