Alumni News & Notes

William Franklin Harris (MATS. ’86)

• William Franklin Harris, passed into the presence of his Lord, Saturday, January 8, 2022 at the age of 82. Bill worked for the Overseas Missionary Fellowship for 20 years, serving as pastor to churches in Malaysia and Singapore and was fluent in the Malay and Tamil languages. He earned his Master’s degree at Gordon-Conwell and served as a pastor in Kingston Baptist Church, Kingston, Massachusetts.  In 1995, he relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma to begin a career as a substance abuse counselor. In 2003, he met his wife LaTricia Crawford and they were married on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Bill was an avid reader and chess player and he enjoyed studying U.S. History.  A fuller obituary can be viewed here.

Matthew Michael Kantrowitz (M.Div. ’86)

• Matthew Michael Kantrowitz went to be with the Lord that he loved on Wednesday, December 8, 2021. In his time on earth, Matt dedicated his life to ministering to the prisoners of ME, MA, and NH. By grace the Lord blessed Matt with a love for those men so he was able to proclaim the gospel to them. He worked as Chaplain at Maine State Prison for 18 years. After retiring from there, the Lord stirred up the hearts of churches and individuals all over New England to support Matt and his prison ministry. He was grateful for them and the Board Members who helped him establish Isaiah 61 Ministries as a 501(c)(3).Matt leaves behind his dearly beloved wife of 48 years, Christine, but only for a short while. He also leaves behind a daughter, Jessica, and a son, David. The memorial service will be postponed because of a rise in Covid cases. In the meantime, a website has been created for all to gather to remember Matt with comments or stories.

Rev. Robert E. Bell (B.Div. ’54)

• Reverend Robert E. Bell, Sr., 94, entered into the presence of his Lord Jesus, Monday, November 8, 2021, at the Sussman House after a period of declining health. In 1950, he graduated at Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts, and in 1954 completed a master’s in divinity from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. Reverend Bell was ordained at First Baptist Church, Rockland, June 26, 1953. He was the founding pastor of High Street Baptist Church in Limestone, where he served from 1954 to 1958. He continued in pastoral ministry at a number of churches until his retirement from full-time ministry in 1993. His humility and warmth gave him the ability to make friends wherever he went.

Rev. A. Theodore Ekholm (M.Div. ’52)

• Rev. Theodore “Ted” Ekholm went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, September 4, 2021. After graduating from seminary, he and his wife, Barbara, served the Lord in four Baptist Churches in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine. “Pastor Ted” was a man who loved God, loved his wife and family, and loved people. His life was filled with many challenges and blessings, but he always gave glory to God.

Richard (Dick) L. Parker (B.Div. ’59)

• Richard L. Parker, 89, of Penney Farms and formerly of St. Augustine, died Sunday, August 29, following an arduous two-week battle with Covid. With his surviving wife of 45 years, Jean (Rehmeyer Parker), Dick pastored churches in Maine, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania from the late 1950’s to the early 1970’s before launching a successful 35-year career as a fundraising consultant. He was a pastor at heart, and his genuine love for others ideally suited him to both professions. Dick and Jean shared a passion for small group ministry, and positively impacted countless people with their compassion, kindness, and wisdom. Their love for Jesus and other people bound their hearts in ministry and marriage. He is survived by his wife, Jean, 5 step-children, 15 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.

Rev. Robert Cloutier (MATS ’89, M.Div. ’92)

• Rev. Robert Cloutier (Pastor Bob) of Hopkinton, went to meet his Lord on August 25, 2021 after a courageous eight-month battle with a rare form of Lymphoma. A pastor at Faith Community Church Hopkinton (formerly First Congregational Church of Hopkinton) for over 37 years, Bob’s life mission was to serve God by serving others, and he did so with compassion, love, kindness, and commitment. He truly was a beacon of the fruits of the Spirit, loved sharing the Gospel, and ministered to thousands in his lifetime.

Rev. Horace H. Stoddard (M.Div. ’65) 

• Rev. Horace H. Stoddard, 80, of Pine City, NY, passed away on June 1, 2021. Roland served at First Baptist Church (Lancaster, NY) and then Pine City Baptist Church for 33 years until his retirement. He was respected and loved by his congregations, his family, and American Baptist family. His willingness to look at situations with an open mind and ability to bring people together in consensus will be missed. He is survived by his wife, Ruth, their three children, and three grandchildren.

Rev. Brenda Holly Vautier (M.Div. ’86)

• Rev. B. Holly Vautier passed from this life into God’s presence on Thursday, June 18, 2020. Together with her husband, Holly pastored churches in New York, Massachusetts, and Arizona. She was active in the church choir, praise team, teaching Bible studies, serving on several committees, and annually oversaw the Operation Christmas Child project for Kingman Presbyterian Church, AZ. Her bright demeanor, quick wit, and cheerful personality radiated her love for Christ and for people. She was admired for her spiritual maturity and solid faith.

Rev. Roland Francis Batchelder, Sr. (M.Div. ’70)

• Rev. Roland Francis Batchelder, Sr. most recently of Whiting, New Jersey, went home to be with his Savior on May 13, 2021 surrounded by family singing the hymns he loved so dearly. Roland served in the Korean War and later worked with the Red Cross before hearing the call to serve in ministry. He graduated from Gordon-Conwell with a Master’s of Divinity and moved with his family to Wilton, Maine where, with the constant support of his wife, he established Calvary Hill Baptist Church and Christian School.

Timothy Ridolfi (MAR ’93)

• Tim passed on at age 67 on January 25, 2021 in Richmond, VA. He is survived by his brother Paul of Greensboro, North Carolina. Tim was a graduate of Trinity College of Florida and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd.

Rev. John Rankin (M.Div. ’84)

• John died of heart failure December 25, 2020. He was the President of the Theological Education Institute (TEI) which he founded in 1986. A brilliant man with multiple degrees, including a Masters in Divinity from GCTS and a Masters in Ethics and Public Policy from Harvard Divinity School, he was also an author of multiple books. He married his wife Nancy Jean Gordon on August 6, 1977, and had four children and four grandchildren.

Rev. Dr. Russel Hartley (B.Div. ’64)

• Russel Henry “Russ” Hartley, 83, of Old Town, ME, went home to be with the Lord he loved, on Nov. 28, 2020. Russ and his wife Lorrie shepherded churches in Maine before Russ accepted the role of Chaplain at the New England Baptist Hospital, in Boston MA. After 15 years as a Chaplain, Russ returned to pastoral ministry, and served churches in New York and Maine.

Dr. Donald Gill (Honorary D.Div. ’80)

• Donald H. Gill, 92, died November 12, 2020, in Gloucester, MA. Gill and his wife Beverly were married for almost 70 years. For the last 50 years, Don served churches in New England in collaboration with different denominations, both Protestant and Catholic. He was often found on the Gordon-Conwell campus, both as facilitator and participant, in gatherings of pastors.

Robert James Vetter (MTS ’75)

• Rev. Robert J.“Bob” Vetter entered the Lord’s presence Friday, November 6, after a long battle with metastatic melanoma. Bob, a widower, was married to his wife June by Gordon-Conwell President Ockenga. Together they started the Christian Singles Foundation on the North Shore, and also wrote a book on singleness. Later, Bob served in a variety of pastoral positions, was the CEO of the USA World Team Mission Office, and the Vice President of St. Joseph’s Foundation in Southern Pines.

Rev. Dr. Edward John Osei-Bonsu (MRE ’89; M.Div. ’92; D.Min. ’93)

• Rev. Dr. Edward John Osei-Bonsu passed away in August, 2020, and was buried on November 21, 2020. He was the Senior Pastor of Lifeway Community Baptist Church in Accra, Ghana.

James M. Moran (M.Div. ’79)

• Jim Moran passed away on Oct. 13, 2020 at the age of 69. He had recently retired as senior pastor of the Cranberry Community United Presbyterian Church in Cranberry Twp, PA, a suburb of Pittsburgh.  He received his M.Div. at Gordon-Conwell in 1979 and his D.Min. from the Reformed Seminary in Jackson, MI.

John L. Good (MRE, ’70)