All Obituaries

J. Kevin Blache, 71, of Lee, passed away peacefully surrounded by family, Thursday evening at Berkshire Medical Center. Kevin was born September 12, 1949, the son of the late John E. and Josephine Tolvo Blache. He was raised and educated in Lee, graduating from Lee High School, Class of 1967. Kevin received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from St. Anselm College in 1971. He worked for many years at Berkshire Corporation in Great Barrington as a Quality Control Technician...

Richard Edward Sitzer, 93, of Jupiter FL., died on April 26, 2021 with his family by his side. Born August 19, 1927 to Edward A. and Wilma A. Sitzer, Dick grew up in Lee, MA where he attended school, graduating as president of his class in 1945. After graduating he entered the U.S. Marine Corps. Dick was honorably discharged as a private first class at the end of the war. He then entered Dartmouth College and graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics.  On June 24,...

George E. Mabee of East Otis, Mass., and Billings Mont., died suddenly April 17 at age 68. He was born in Schenectady, N.Y., on March 20, 1953, to George W. Mabee and Olive Young Mabee. George enjoyed working in a variety of fields, including cooking, sales, computer networking, and satellite installations. He attended Westwood High School in Mesa, Ariz., and in 1999 he earned an associate’s degree in computer and electronic technology from May Technical College in Billings. He was a...

Hilda “Betty” Beatrice Frissell (1922-2021) passed away at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA on April 16, 2021 surrounded by her loving family after a short illness. Betty was predeceased by her parents, Philip and Gladys Mary Kinnish-Salmon. Betty is survived by her brother, Philip A. Salmon of Brooklyn, New York and her sister Joyce, G. Cochran of Orlando, Fl. She is survived by her daughters, Joyce Frissell of Lee, MA, Nancy Frissell Spencer (Keith) of Becket, MA, and...

Alan “Mickey” Sparks, 74, former Chief of the Lee Fire Department, died peacefully at Berkshire Medical Center, with his family by his side, from a brief battle with cancer. He was born on July 4, 1946, the son of Everett and Marcia Andrews Sparks.  He was a lifelong resident of Lee, graduating from Lee High School in 1965 and shortly after graduation he entered the US Army and served in Vietnam.  Returning from his service, he joined the Lee Police Department until...

Ronald Tatro, 81, of Lee, died Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at BayState Medical Center. Ronald was born December 1, 1939 in South Lee, the son of Roger L. and Gertrude Wilson Tatro. He was educated in the Lee schools. Mr. Tatro married Joan Gilligan June 5, 1958. Mr. Tatro worked as a mechanic for the Kimberly Clark Corporation for 34 years. Ron was also a special police officer for the Town of Lee for 30 years and a member of the Berkshire County Sheriff’s Department for 30 years. Ron...

Rita R. Bartini, 87 a sixty year resident of Fairview Street in Lee, passed away early Friday morning April 2, 2021 at BMC.Born on July 12, 1933 to John P. and Isolina L. Ranzoni, Rita graduated from Lee High School in 1951. On July 5, 1952 she married Elvin “Al” Bartini—a marriage that would thrive for over sixty eight years. A loving stay-at-home mom while her children were young, Rita later went to work as a secretary at Mead Paper. In their retirement Rita and Al wintered in...

On Wednesday, March 31, 2021, Ruth A. Crawford, of Lee, Massachusetts, passed away at age 91. Ruth was born on June 21, 1929 in Norwalk, CT to Mr. and Mrs. Carl Dorbath.  Ruth worked at her father’s bakery, Lee Bakery, as a young woman and kept her passion for baking throughout her life – baking cakes for every occasion for family, friends and semi-professionally. She also worked at Lee Price Chopper for almost 40 years and retired at age 83. On July 28, 1947,...

Rena “Renie” DalBarco Masiero, 94, of 45 Taconic Ave., Lenox, MA died peacefully at home on March 26, 2021, surrounded by her seven children. Renie was born at the family home in Lee, MA on March 5, 1927, the daughter of Eliseo and Fabrizzia (Pellizzari) DalBarco. She was one of five strong, inseparable Italian sisters. Renie was the last remaining of the beloved “DalBarco girls”. Renie was the proud valedictorian of the Lee High School...

Joseph A. Guzman, known to family and friends as Alex and to the classical music world as José Alejandro Guzmán, passed away at home on March 17, 2021. He was born in New York City on July 17, 1946, the son of Maria Colón Guzmán. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Hunter College and became a New York State Court Officer, rising to the rank of Captain. He retired from that position in 2002 to pursue his music career full time. For over 50 years, Maestro...