Michael A. Alfonso
GUILFORD, ME AND PEPPERELL, MA - Michael A. Alfonso passed away September 25, 2020, at his residence in Pepperell, MA. Mike was born June 13, 1943, in Pepperell to Diana (Mills) and Samuel Alfonso. He was known by his neighbors as “Mike from Maine” or “the walker”.
He enjoyed wood carving and spent many hours researching his family tree. He had a passion for gardening, working countless hours at his home in Guilford making beautiful flower beds and tending a large vegetable garden. He was a former member of the Pepperell Garden Club where he would volunteer planting flower gardens around town. His other passion was his woodlot; he loved the trees and knew every species on the lot and where it was. He had a lot of interest in educating himself with the hobbies he had. He was a fabulous cook and baker. The homemade spaghetti sauce was one of a kind and he made his daughter’s wedding cake.
Early on he worked as a park ranger in Baxter State Park, a job he spoke of often, telling many stories of his adventures and the people he met. As a young man he was proud to have met Governor Baxter and displayed a photo of them together on his wall. In 1971 he went to work at General Electric in Bangor, ME, retiring in 2002.
He is survived by his former wife, Carol; his daughters, Theresa Tilton and husband Steve, Angela Alfonso and partner, Rodney Ramsdell, all of Sangerville; his grandchildren, Kimberly and Stephen Tilton and Macee Pearl; and his uncle, Joe Mills, who was very dear to him. He was predeceased by his parents and brother, Sam.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in his memory to Maine Woodland Owners, PO Box
836, Augusta, ME 04332. Services will be private for the family. Interment will be at Lawn Cemetery, Guilford, ME.
Arrangements are in the care of the Lary Funeral Home. Messages of condolence and memories may be expressed at www.laryfuneralhome.com.
Helen Reddy, who shot to stardom in the 1970s with her rousing feminist anthem “I Am Woman” and recorded a string of other hits, has died. She was 78.
Reddy’s children Traci and Jordan announced that the actor-singer died Tuesday in Los Angeles. “She was a wonderful Mother, Grandmother and a truly formidable woman,” they said in a statement. “Our hearts are broken. But we take comfort in the knowledge that her voice will live on forever.”
Reddy’s 1971 version of “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” from the musical “Jesus Christ Superstar” launched a decade-long string of Top 40 hits, three of which reached No. 1.
The Australian-born singer enjoyed a prolific career, appearing in “Airport 1975” as a singing nun and scoring several hits, including “Ain’t No Way To Treat a Lady,” “Delta Dawn,” “Angie Baby” and “You and Me Against the World.”
In 1973 she won the best female vocal pop performance Grammy Award for “I Am Woman,” quickly thanking her then-husband and others in her acceptance speech.
“I only have 10 seconds so I would like to thank everyone from Sony Capitol Records, I would like to think Jeff Wald because he makes my success possible and I would like to thank
Country star Mac Davis, who launched his career crafting the Elvis hits “A Little Less Conversation” and “In the Ghetto,” and whose own hits include “Baby Don’t Get Hooked On Me,” has died. He was 78.
His longtime manager Jim Morey said in a press release that Davis died in Nashville on Tuesday after heart surgery and was surrounded by family and friends.
Davis had a long and varied career in music for decades as a writer, singer, actor and TV host and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006. He was named 1974’s entertainer of the year by the Academy of Country Music and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
God because she makes everything possible,” Reddy said, hoisting her Grammy in the air and leaving the stage to loud applause. She also performed the song at the ceremony.
“I Am Woman” would become her biggest hit, used in films and television series.
In a 2012 interview with The Associated Press, Reddy cited the gigantic success of “I Am Woman” as one of the reasons she stepped out of public life.
“That was one of the reasons that I stopped singing, was when I was shown a modern American history high-school textbook, and a whole chapter on feminism and my name and my lyrics (were) in the book,” she told the AP. “And I thought, `Well, I’m part of history now. And how do I top that? I can’t top that. So, it was an easy withdrawal.”
Reddy’s death comes less than three weeks after the release of a biopic about her life called “I Am Woman.”
The film’s director, Unjoo Moon, said the film resulted in a seven-year friendship with Reddy.
“I will forever be grateful to Helen for teaching me so much about being an artist, a woman and a