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In Memoriam
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CJ S. Udell
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10/6/2026
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The soul of SKIP UDELL is rejoicing in Eternity after going to Heaven late on the evening of Tuesday, 6 October 2026, in Richland, Washington.
Skip's parents were Harold Francis Udell and Delia Evangeline 'Bunny' DeLorme Udell. He was born in Lowell Massachusetts, moving to nearby Dracutt where he attended elementary school. Later moving to New Jersey for middle school, he finished high school in Amityville NY, followed by 4 years at Norwich University, the birthplace of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) and the only private Senior Military College, where he received his U.S. Army officer commission, and his Bachelor's degree in Government, followed later with a Master of Education degree in Social Science from the campus of Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. He completed further studies in Criminal Justice at Jacksonville State University in Mississippi.
When Skip first came to Richland in 1978, he had just been discharged from the U.S. Army at Fort McClellan, Alabama. He was recruited as Chief of Hanford Patrol, followed by 24 years of safeguards and security management, project management and vulnerability assessment experience on the Hanford Site. He then worked as a security consultant and technical advisor for Polestar Applied Technology; and prior to that he was vulnerability analysis and risk assessment leader in the DOE Complex with 40 years of security experience in the nuclear industry and the military. He also provided risk analysis and management support to other sites and agencies throughout the DOE Complex, including the DOE Transportation Safeguards Division, Albuquerque NM; British Transport Division, Risley UK; Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant OH; Waste Isolation Project, Carlsbad NM; and the Paducah Plant KY. In addition he traveled to Japan, France, and Scotland to lend his expertise to international security.
A Vietnam combat Veteran in the U.S. Army, Major Udell provided advisory support to the South Vietnamese infantry forces conducting counter-insurgency operations. He provided support and protective services to the United Nations Command Internal Affaires Division and the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission to the UN in the Joint Security Area, Panmunjom, Korea. He was a Branch Chief in the Combat Development Directorate, U.S. Army Military Police School, conducting scenario-oriented analysis to determine optimum combat support organizational structures and equipment requirements. He also served in company and battalion leadership and staff positions while serving during the Cold War in Germany with the 35th Armored Division in Manheim; the 4th Armored Group in Frankfort; the 10th Special Forces in Badtolz; and the 8th Infantry Division in Baumholder. He received U.S. Army training for jungle warfare in the Panama Canal Zone.
Skip's military assignments included the 35th Armored Division, Manheim Germany in 1961, the 4th Armored Group, Frankford Germany in 1962 as well as being attached with the 10th Special Forces, Badtolz Germany; the 8th Infantry Division, Baumholder Germany from 1963-1964; the 2nd Armored Division, Fort Hood TX from 1964-1966; the U.S. Army Assistance Command Vietnam, Military Advisory Team 24 from 1967-1968; the U.S. Army ROTC Detachment, Assistant Professor of Military Science, 3rd Army, Mercer University, Macon GA from 1968-1971; the U.S. Army Support Group, Military Armistice Affair Division, United Nations Command, Panmunjom Korea from 1971-1972; the Military Police Advisor to the National Guard, U.S. Army Readiness Region II, Readiness Group Dix, Fort Dix NJ from 1973-1975; and the U.S. Army Military Police School (USAMPS), Combat Development Directorate, Fort McClelland AL from 1976-1977.
Skip served as a Principal Security Consultant for Polestar Applied Technology, Inc., and served as a technical advisor to senior management and as a risk management technical program lead in support of Department of Energy (DOE) contracts at the Richland Operations Office, Hanford Site; and the Y-12 and K-25 Plants at Oak
Ridge TN. He was a security and risk management leader in the government complex, with 40 years security and military experience supporting the DOE and the Department of Defense. Responsibilities at the DOE Hanford Site included 3 years as Chief of the Site Protective Forces consisting of 230 security police officers providing protection and emergency Site services with a $14M budget; 4 years managing the Program Management Group, implementing a Site-wide performance assurance and force-on-force testing program, coordinating the Safeguards and Security (SAS) Site planning program, implementing the SAS self-assessments program, overseeing the nuclear material balance area audit program, managing the corrective action tracking program to ensure the control and tracking and correction of SAS deficiencies from DOE headquarters and Richland Operations Office inspections and audits, and the implementation of a proactive vulnerability assessment (VA) program for some 15 Site-wide facilities; 8 years as Program Manager of Risk Analysis and Assessments managing the conduct of VAs, risk analyses, cost-risk-benefit analyses and Site SAS planning for Hanford and work for others in the DOE Complex; and 8-years as Team Leader/Analyst in which he and two associates developed a Risk Evaluation System methodology which was implemented in the DOE Complex. Skip conducted computer modeling and performance testing and completed over 50 VAs and was responsible for the annual Site Safeguards and Security Plan during this 8-year period. Recommendations stemming from VA reports and Security plans resulted in many cost-effective protection strategies which reduced expenditures at a number of DOE facilities and contributed immeasurably to the DOE mission and improved national security and health and safety of the public. He held a DOE Q security clearance.
Most noteworthy during his tenure as a DOE contractor, Skip became nationally recognized and provided technical support as VA, planning, performance testing and risk management Team Leader in support of DOE Transportation Safeguards Division (TSD), Albuquerque NM, evaluating, testing and planning and coordinating with Sandia National Laboratories and TSD management to implement cost-effective enhancements for the safe and secure road transport of nuclear materials across the continental United States; assisting the Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Piketon OH, the Waste Isolation Project, Carlsbad NM, the Paducah Plant, Paducah KY, and the K-25 Site, Oak Ridge TN, in conducting assessments, performance testing and planning to identify security enhancements to meet DOE requirements. During this period Skip led a team of subject matter experts in providing risk management support to the British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) Transport Division, Risely UK, developing an evaluation approach to assess ocean transport requirements to meet International Atomic Energy Agency regulations and to be in compliance with the international nuclear non-proliferation treaty and the international threat. The support was provided during a 4-year period and assisted BNFL in developing a security system design for a nuclear transport ocean vessel to include port security. Skip coordinated activities with and delivered presentations to joint participants in the United Kingdom, France, Japan and the U.S. Department of State.
During his tenure with the U.S. Army, he served in key positions in Europe, Vietnam and Korea: as Branch Chief of the Scenario-Oriented Evaluation Branch of the Combat Developments Directorate, U.S. Army Military Police School, with a mission of evaluating and designing combat support force structure and equipment requirements for military police units on the modern battlefield; Deputy Commander of the security forces operating in the Joint Security Area (JSA), Panmunjom, Korea (meeting site between United Nations Command [UNC] and the Korean and Chinese Peoples Armies) providing protection, response and emergency services to the JSA and Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission under the operational control of the Armistice Affaires Division, UNC; Advisor assigned to the Military Assistance Command Vietnam assisting infantry forces conducting counter-insurgency operations in the central highlands of Vietnam; Military Police Advisor to reserve component Military Police Battalions and a Criminal Investigation Detachment; Combat Arms Company Commander leading 120 soldiers; Battalion Combat Intelligence and Chemical/Biological/Nuclear (CBN) Officer, Platoon Leader, and Team Leader.
Skip also completed course work in Project Management at Washington State University; associated with Government Institutes, Inc. completing course work in Environment, Health and Safety; and completed military education programs in Research Development and Management, Advanced Law Enforcement, Officers Basic, Security Management, Civil Disturbance and Terrorism, Counter Terrorism, Military Advisor, Combat Intelligence and Jungle Operations. He has also completed courses in Tactical Vulnerability Assessments and Analytic System and Software for Evaluating Safeguards and Security at the DOE Central Training Academy.
Skip enjoyed animals of all kinds, owning dogs, cats and horses. He also loved the outdoors, the Oregon coast, travel, fishing, hiking, basketball (his early hero Larry Bird and most recently Luka Doncic), golf, football, baseball, tennis, boxing, gardening and his yard. He often said "This is the yard that the Lord hath made; I am rejoicing and glad in it."-Psalms 118:24 adaptation). He always took pride in keeping everything neat-home, office space, cars, and yard. He loved to cook, as did his father and both nephews. He had a passion for sports, sports, and more sports; when he wasn't playing them, he enjoyed watching others play on TV or in person.
For several years, he volunteered to do security for Vacation Bible School each summer at Richland Baptist Church. In addition, he and one of the church deacons also volunteered every month to drive to Pendleton, Oregon, and meet with prisoners, teaching them about the Bible and praying with them. Unfortunately, he contracted CoViD from the prison in 2023, so he ended his out-of-state community work. He also provided security advice for Kingspoint Christian School in Pasco, Washington, so they could upgrade their building safety and security systems for all the staff and students.
Skip is survived by his spouse Linda Stephens, sister-in-law/twin to Linda, Laura and Gene Wilson in Richland WA; sister Donviève (Michael) Christian in Bayside CA; nephew Ryan Sullivan (fiancée Holly Lockwood) of Arcata CA, and nephew Julian (Paóla) Calabrese and their son Max of Bozeman MT. Skip was proceeded in death by his parents as well as several uncles and aunts.
Throughout the years, Skip and Linda supported 8 children in 7 countries around the world through 2 Christian-sponsored organizations. In 2015, while Linda was volunteering at their church with an English As A Second Language class, she met the first of their two 'adopted' families, the first one from Mexico-Luis, Yesenia and their 3 daughters, Nataly, Valeria and Isabella who call Skip Grampy and Linda Grammie. In 2017 they bought a home and continued to financially help a second family from Venezuela-Tony, Rayda and 3 daughters, Sherly, Sharenley and Shariana.
Skip's favorite Bible verse is Psalms 118:24: "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Without even trying, he completely memorized Linda's favorite passage from Philippians 4:4-7 in the Living Bible while they were often riding in their car, together repeating it back and forth:
Always be full of joy in the Lord; I say it again, rejoice!
Let everyone see that you are unselfish and considerate in all you do.
Remember that the Lord is coming soon.
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything,
Tell God your needs, and don't forget to thank Him for His answers.
If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.
His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.
There will not be any memorial celebration held at church to share Skip's amazing life
Instead of flowers, please send love offerings to our favorite charity doing God's work in Jesus' Name all over the world-Samaritan's Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone NC 28607-3000. |
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In Memoriam
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Roger H. Damon
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9/2/2026
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Roger H. Damon Jr., 97, of St. Johnsbury, Vt., died peacefully at home on Spring Street on September 2, 2026, surrounded by love.
Roger was born on January 21, 1929, in Jersey City, N.J., the only child of Roger H. Damon Sr. and Clara Louise Bruce Damon. His mother died when Roger was 3, and when his father left for service during World War II, Roger was lovingly raised in Melrose, Mass., by his paternal grandparents, "Buppa" and "Mardie," and his Aunt Amy. Their love helped shape the kind, curious, independent man Roger would become, with a deep devotion to family, friends and the outdoors.
Roger graduated from Melrose High School and from Norwich University in 1951 with a degree in mechanical engineering. At Norwich he developed his lifelong interests in mountain winter warfare, skiing and ski patrolling and met his future wife, Doris Katherine Jensen. They shared 65 years together, until Doris' death in 2016. Roger later found love again and married Pam Dearborn in 2020, who was by his side during his final hours.
Following graduation, Roger was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and called to active duty during the Korean War. Stationed in Salzburg, Austria, he worked at the Austrian mountain training center while pursuing his love of skiing and climbing in the Alps. He continued his military career in the U.S. Army Reserve, ultimately attaining the rank of Colonel.
Roger and Doris settled in St. Johnsbury and raised their three daughters, Katherine, Linda and Amy. Roger enjoyed a long engineering career with Fairbanks Morse Scales, eventually managing its engineering department and contributing to innovations that resulted in multiple patents. He later became chief engineer at EHV Weidmann and continued as an engineering consultant after retiring in 1998.
Roger's dedication to skiing and the National Ski Patrol was a defining part of his life. He joined the National Ski Patrol in 1947 and received his National Appointment #2835 in 1965, beginning an extraordinary 72-year journey of service, teaching, mentoring and leadership. He served as patrol director at Burke Mountain and patrolled at Norwich University's ski hill, Bolton Valley and Mount Washington.
An emergency care and avalanche instructor, Roger was a pioneer in avalanche education in the Eastern Division, developing and teaching some of the National Ski Patrol's first basic and advanced avalanche courses in the East. His passion for snow and avalanches extended into snow science, research, publications and presentations at international conferences. In 1996, he presented a paper at the first international avalanche conference held in Russia.
Roger's contributions were recognized with the National Ski Patrol Distinguished Service Award in 2016, the Yellow Merit Star, the Eastern Division Outstanding Instructor Award and the National Silver Merit Star for his work in avalanche education. In 2013, the Eastern Division established the Roger H. Damon Jr. Eastern Division Avalanche Award in his honor, with Roger as its first recipient. The award recognizes outstanding and continuing contributions to avalanche education and the Eastern Division's Avalanche Program.
His National Ski Patrol service concluded with more than 40 years with the Mount Washington Volunteer Ski Patrol, much of it involving demanding climbs, descents and rescues in Tuckerman Ravine. He retired from active patrol in 2018 at age 89 because, according to Roger, being a ski patroller at 90 was "ridiculous." But he never really stopped being a patroller at heart. He continued teaching and mentoring generations of patrollers and sharing his knowledge and love of skiing and the mountains. Even in his final days, conversations returned to skiing, patrolling, snow conditions and Tuckerman Ravine.
Skiing remained a lifelong passion. Roger made his final turns on his 95th birthday, skiing with his family and, true to form, beating his granddaughter down the hill.
Roger was also an accomplished climber and mountaineer. In 1962, he and fellow climbers Dan Brodien and Andy Fisher made the first ascent of the Lakeview Route on Cannon Cliff following a major rockfall. He climbed throughout New Hampshire, the Cascade Range, Greenland and Mexico and helped organize one of the region's first formal mountain search-and-rescue groups, the Mountain Rescue Service in North Conway. He participated in rescues of hikers and climbers in difficult terrain, combining his love of the mountains with a commitment to helping others enjoy them safely.
Roger's love of the outdoors extended to flying, biking, camping, travel, hiking and backpacking. He summited New Hampshire's 48 4,000-footers numerous times, in both summer and winter, and was a steadfast volunteer for the Appalachian Mountain Club, receiving the AMC Community Builder Award in 2019.
Roger was particularly devoted to AMC Cold River Camp in North Chatham, N.H. His connection began there as a child in 1932. He later worked on the Croo, served as a hike leader and committee member, and remained a dedicated volunteer throughout his life. He loved the mountains, especially the Baldfaces, and the community at Cold River Camp, passing that love on to his children and grandchildren. Even at age 87, he completed the more-than-10-mile Baldface Circle once again.
Roger loved to read and was a published author, contributing articles on the outdoors, aviation, skiing and snow science. In 2014, he published his novel, The Third Watch. He was, in every sense, a Renaissance man - an engineer, pilot, ski patroller, climber, teacher, explorer, writer, musician, outdoorsman and volunteer. More than anything, he loved sharing what he knew.
Roger leaves behind a remarkable legacy - not only in the many things he accomplished but in the countless people with whom he shared his knowledge, enthusiasm, humor and love of life. He taught those around him to be curious, to keep learning, to get outside, to try something new and to lend a hand when someone needed it. His children and grandchildren carry forward his love of the mountains and the outdoors, his sense of adventure, and his belief that life is best lived fully and shared generously. Roger lived 97 years with purpose, curiosity and an extraordinary zest for life. He will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever present in the mountains, trails, skies and stories he loved so well.
Roger is survived by his wife, Pamela Dearborn, of St. Johnsbury; and his daughters, Amy and her husband, Timothy Grover, of Bolton, Vt., and their children, Ted and Miranda; Linda Damon of Shelburne, Vt.; and Katherine and her husband, Casimiro Izquierdo, of Chantilly, Va., and their children, Gabriela and Casey. He also leaves behind many extended family members, friends, and generations of people whose lives he touched through his teaching, mentoring, volunteer service and lifelong love of the outdoors.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Roger's memory may be made to the Appalachian Mountain Club, 10 City Square, Suite 2, Boston, MA 02129. Please note that the donation is specifically for AMC Cold River Camp.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, September 18, 2026, 5 to 7 p.m., at Sayles Funeral Home, 525 Summer St., St. Johnsbury. A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 19, 2026, 1 p.m., at United Community Church, 1325 Main St., St. Johnsbury. A reception will follow at Roger's home, 25 Spring St., St. Johnsbury.
Memories and condolences may be shared with family at saylesfh.com. |
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