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No. R-232. House concurrent resolution in memory of former Castleton State College Dean of Education Honoree Fleming.
(H.C.R.173)
Offered by: Representatives Sammis of Castleton, Andrews of Westford, Andriano of
Orwell, Austin of Colchester, Branagan of Georgia, Brumsted of Shelburne, Burrows of
West Windsor, Campbell of St. Johnsbury, Casey of Montpelier, Chapin of East Montpelier, Chase of Chester, Conlon of Cornwall, Dickinson of St. Albans Town, Dodge of Essex, Donahue of Northfield, Durfee of Shaftsbury, Elder of Starksboro, Goldman of
Rockingham, Goslant of Northfield, Graning of Jericho, Harrison of Chittenden, Howard of Rutland City, Jerome of Brandon, Krasnow of South Burlington, LaBounty of Lyndon,
Logan of Burlington, Maguire of Rutland City, Marcotte of Coventry, Masland of
Thetford, McCann of Montpelier, McGill of Bridport, Morris of Springfield, Morrissey of
Bennington, Mulvaney-Stanak of Burlington, Nicoll of Ludlow, Ode of Burlington, Page of Newport City, Priestley of Bradford, Roberts of Halifax, Scheu of Middlebury, Shaw of
Pittsford, Stebbins of Burlington, Taylor of Milton, Walker of Swanton, White of Bethel,
Williams of Granby, and Wood of Waterbury Whereas, the horrific killing of Honoree Fleming, former Castleton State College Dean of Education, distinguished cellular biology scholar and compassionate human being, on October 5, 2023, while she was walking along the Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail in
Castleton, stunned all Vermonters, and Whereas, she grew up in a difficult family environment, enmeshed in poverty and with
a father who died of alcoholism, and Whereas, Honoree Fleming far exceeded conventional expectations, receiving a doctorate in biophysics from the prestigious University of Chicago and becoming a cellular biology research associate at the Icahn School of Medicine in New York City, and Whereas, in 1988, she accepted a biochemistry faculty position at Middlebury College,
and she later taught at the former Trinity College in Burlington, and Whereas, in 2002, Castleton State College appointed Honoree Fleming an associate dean, and, recognizing her special talent and superb pedagogic skills, subsequently named her the dean of education, and Whereas, after retiring in 2012, Honoree Fleming resumed her scientific research, and,
in 2023, she published a seminal cellular biology article in the journal Advances in
Bioscience and Biotechnology, and Whereas, her tragic death provoked enormous grief in the Castleton community, and over 150 persons attended a movingly emotional memorial service held on the school’s campus at which her husband, Ron Powers, spoke of his late wife as “brilliant in science and brilliantly loving,” and she is also survived by their son, now therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
That the General Assembly extends its profound sympathy to the family of Honoree Fleming, and be it further VT LEG #375738 v.1
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Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to
the family of Honoree Fleming, to the Castleton Town Clerk, and to Vermont State University Interim President David Bergh.
VT LEG #375738 v.1