AXTMAN, Victoria (Dally) - 79
Littleton
The Sun, Lowell, Massachusetts
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Littleton - Victoria (Dally) Axtman, 79, of Littleton died at Lahey Clinic in Burlington on October 15, 2011. She was born in St. John's, Newfoundland on April 22, 1932 daughter of the late David and Bessie (Whalen) Dally and was the wife of the late Richard F. Axtman who died in 2003. She grew up in Newfoundland and was married in 1951. She and her husband moved to the United States in 1954, and they lived in various areas of the country while he was in the U.S. Air Force for 22 years. They settled in Littleton in 1971 after returning from 5 years at Rhein Main Air Force Base, outside of Frankfurt Germany. Vickie was very active as an antiques dealer, owned and operated Victoria's Vagary for over 10 years, antique collecting was a passion she enjoyed for most of her life. She was former President and member of the Littleton Country Gardeners, Past President of Littleton Women's Club, a member of Littleton Council on Aging, and member of the First Baptist Church of Littleton. She and her husband Richard were also members of the Mohawk Trail Motorcycle Club, riding their Indian Chief for many years.

Mrs. Axtman is survived by 4 children Richard L. Axtman of Littleton, David E. Axtman of Yuba City, CA, Jacqueline L. Ayers of Leesburg, VA, and Melissa M. Axtman of Alexandria VA., 6 Grandchildren, David Axtman, Nathan Ayers, Elizabeth Axtman, Devin Ayers, Katelyn and Ricky Axtman and 3 Great-Grandchildren Tyson Ayers, Wyatt Ayers and Amelia Axtman.
AXTMAN - A Memorial Service will be held at the First Baptist Church, King St., Littleton on Wednesday October 19 at 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers please contribute in her name to the Littleton Council on Aging. Please see www.badgerfuneral.com

BENNETT, Arnold, Democratic consultant and health-care strategist for President Clinton, dies
By T. Rees Shapiro, Published: November 2, 2011 Washington Post
Arnold Bennett, 71, a Democratic consultant and grass-roots organizer who played a key role in shaping strategy for President Bill Clinton's unsuccessful campaign for nationwide health insurance coverage, died Oct. 26 at George Washington University Hospital.
He died after an apparent heart attack, said his wife, Nancy Bennett.
Mr. Bennett began his career in politics in New York working as a campaign staffer for Shirley Chisholm in 1968, when she became the first black woman elected to Congress. During the 1970s, Mr. Bennett had a consulting firm in Washington whose clients included Democratic party leaders such as George S. McGovern, Walter F. Mondale and Lloyd M. Bentsen.
Mr. Bennett became media director for the liberal-leaning lobbying group Families USA in the mid-1980s. After Clinton was elected to the White House in 1992, Mr. Bennett frequently met with the president in the Oval Office and created talking points for the administration to promote.
Instead of focusing on how the health-care bill would cover every American, the White House should emphasize how Clinton's plan would ensure that no family would lose their insurance, Mr. Bennett said.
"When you talk about universal coverage, people start to worry about paying for someone else," Mr. Bennett told the New York Times in 1994. "When you talk about losing insurance it sounds like something that will protect them."
Much of Mr. Bennett's work involved corralling support for the health-care measure. In the garden of public opinion, he was a master of knowing which seeds would grow.
At Families USA, Mr. Bennett helped stock what news reports called a "misery bank" of stories involving people and their insurance companies. Families USA provided news outlets and talk shows, including Oprah Winfrey's, with cases from its health-care archive.
One story involved an 8-year-old girl from St. Louis named Jennifer who was born with a hole in her heart. In a letter, she wrote that she lost coverage because "insurance don't want to mess with me."
Mr. Bennett also helped organize a national bus tour, which was dubbed the "Health Security Express."
Along the way, "reform riders" collected thousands of handwritten letters to deliver to members of Congress at the end of the trip. At several stops, Clinton and Vice President Al Gore joined the cavalcade to speak at events.
The health-care bill was a polarizing issue that did not neatly divide on party lines. Opponents of the measure spent tens of millions of dollars in television advertisements, including one highly effective piece featuring a fictional middle-class couple, Harry and Louise, who grumble about how the Clinton plan would allow bureaucrats to dictate insurance coverage.
Even though the Democrats controlled the House and the Senate, legislation for Clinton's health-care plan fizzled before voting occurred.
Arnold Bennett was born April 12, 1940, in New York. After attending Cornell University and the New School for Social Research, Mr. Bennett started his work in politics.
Through his later work in making political advertisements, he helped produce several documentaries, including "Books Under Fire" (1982), about censorship.
Mr. Bennett left Families USA in 1996 and moved to Newfoundland, Canada. He became a Canadian citizen in 2004, inspired by the country's universal health-care system.
Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Nancy Derrickson Bennett of Newfoundland; two sons, Daniel Bennett of Washington and Jeremiah Bennett of Toronto; a brother, Lawrence Bennett of Bethesda; and two granddaughters.
(Contributed by Vince Hunter)

FORWARD, Maxwell L. 85
March 29, 2011
Salem, Mass.
BEVERLY - Maxwell L. Forward, age 85 years, husband of over 40 years to the late Dorothy "Jean" (Godwin) Forward, died on Sunday, March 27, 2011, at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers. Born in Newfoundland, Canada, he was son of the late Frank and Myra (Mercer) Forward. He was raised and resided in Manchester-by-the-Sea for most of his life.

Mr. Forward was a graduate of Manchester High School, and later went on to serve the U.S. Navy during World War II and the Merchant Marines upon his return. Max was a construction worker with Laborer's Local Union no. 22. He was a member of many organizations, including: Beverly/Salem Elk 1309, Beverly Senior Citizens' Club, The American Legion Post 113, Veteran of Foreign Wars, a Freemason with both Budleigh Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of Beverly and Manchester Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of Manchester-by-the-Sea, a member of the Scottish Rite's Valley of Salem, an Aleppo Shriner, A.A.O.N.M.S.

Surviving him are his daughters, Maxine Forward and her husband Mark Ordung of Stratham, N.H., Julie Chapman and her husband Steve of Beverly, and Susan Ayers and her husband John of Beverly; his grandchildren, Karen, Ryan, and Benjamin; and many nieces and nephews. He was also brother of the late Frank Forward, Jr., Gus Forward, and Olga Strenz.
ARRANGEMENTS: A memorial service will be held at the Campbell-Lee, Moody, Russell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot St., Beverly (North Beverly location) on Wednesday at 1 p.m. with a Masonic Service at 1:15 p.m. There will be no visitation at the request of the family. Contributions may be made to the Kaplan Family Hospice House, 78 Liberty St., Danvers, MA 01923. Information, directions, condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com