Robert Lee Berran, 96, Vero Beach
Robert Lee Berran, 96, of Vero Beach, passed away on Jan. 15, 2020. He was born in Mt. Vernon, N.Y., on Dec. 24, 1923, and was raised in Scarsdale, N.Y.
Between the ages of 19-22 he served as a medic during World War II under General Patton’s third army in Europe. After the war he studied at the Art Students League in NYC from 1947-1950. After leaving the Art Students League, he painted movie posters for 20th Century Fox. Four years later, he joined the Illustrators Group where artists were predominately from the Haddon Sundbloom School of Painting.
His work at the Illustrators Group was for prestigious clients such as Ford and Coca-Cola. Subsequently Bob illustrated for the Seventh Day Adventists for their series of children’s books “My Bible Friends,” which are still popular today.
In 1969, Bob began to paint paperback book covers mostly for Avon, Ballantine, Harlequin, Fawcett among others. He then joined Mendola Ltd, an artist’s representative group, for 17 years, and Hankins-Tegenborg for another 11 years.
Then computerized art arrived and put many talented artists out of work. Bob was fortunate, he was introduced to the art director of a publishing company, Quadriga Art. He worked for them for almost 25 years painting religious artwork, which he was happy to return to as it was his first love as an artist.
He also enjoyed painting portraits of adults, children and pets. His career spanned over 70 years.
Bob married Suzanne Marie Culbertson in 1952. They have three children, Kathryn (Edward Gutleber), Kristine (Gordon Hamilton) and Scott, along with three grandchildren Kathryn, Eddie, and Irene Gutleber.
Bob and Suzanne lived in Stony Brook, N.Y., for 43 years before moving to Vero Beach in 2004.
A Memorial Service will be held 2 p.m. Jan. 24, at First Presbyterian Church, Vero Beach.
In lieu of flowers, donations to American Cancer Society, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Shriners Hospitals for Children would be appreciated.
Gladys M. Brown, 92, Vero Beach
Gladys M. Brown, 92, of Vero Beach, passed away Friday morning, Jan. 17, 2020, at her residence. Gladys was born July 19, 1927, in New Haven, Ct., a daughter of the late Alfred Anthony Melillo and Gladys Estelle (Henry) Melillo.
She graduated from East Haven High School, class of ’45. Gladys was a leading member of the Mother’s March Against Polio and actively involved in the Momauguin Elementary School Parents Club.
She retired from Southern New England Telephone after 22 years and 10 months as an office clerk. She was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church, Vero Beach.
Gladys is survived by her husband of 72 years, William H. Brown, Jr., of Vero Beach; son, William H. Brown III (Susan), of Tampa; grandson, Keith Brown (Kacey), of Audubon, Pa.; three great-grandchildren, Jeremiah, Joshua, and Allison, of Audubon, Pa.; brother Alfred Melillo, Jr., of Arlington, Texas; brother-in-law, Jerry Van Keulen, of Vero Beach; many nieces and nephews; and other family members and friends who will sadly miss her.
Gladys was preceded in death by her sisters, Cheryl Van Keulen and Barbara Chamberlain.
Memorial donations may be made to the National Shrine of Saint Rita Cascia, 116 South Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19146, in Gladys’ memory.
A Funeral Mass was celebrated at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 500 Iris Lane, Vero Beach, on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
Howard Eastman Page, 104, Vero Beach
Howard Eastman Page, 104, of Vero Beach, died Jan. 20, 2020, at Willowbrooke Court at Indian River Estates. He was born in Groton, Vt., and lived in Vero Beach since 1974, coming from Alexandria, Va.
He graduated from the University of Vermont and earned his PhD in Psychology from Clark University in Wooster, Mass.
Before retirement, he was employed by the Office of Naval Research and the National Science Foundation in Washington, D.C.
He served in the United States Army for five years during World War II.
Survivors include his daughter, Donna P. Clark, of Vero Beach; sons, Jeffrey H. Page, of Valley, Ala., and Timothy H. Page, of Moneta, Va.; brother, H. Gordon Page M.D., of Williston, Vt.; granddaughters, Page C. Santello, of Londonderry, N.H., Shannon Marcum, of McLean, Va., and Adrienne Squillante, of Brentwood, Tenn.; grandsons, Brian L. Clark, of Hingham, Mass., Timothy Page, of Opelocation, Ala., Keith Page, of Homewood, Ala., and Ryan Page, of Midlothian, Va.; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Howard was predeceased by his beloved wife, Mary West Page, in 2018; and sister, Carlene Murphy Newton, of Vero Beach in 2013.
Interment will be at a later date in Groton, Vt.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Groton Free Public Library, 1304 Scott Hwy, Groton, VT 05046 or Groton VT Historical Society, P.O. Box 89, Groton, VT 05046.
