OBITUARIES

May MacClaire Arlt at different stages of her life.

MAY MACCLAIRE ARLT

Long time summer resident May MacClaire Arlt died at age 97 on December 21 in Rye, New York. She loved Nantucket and began summering on the island in the early 1980s with her late husband, artist Paul Arlt. They stayed at the home of their daughter and son-inlaw Ronay and Richard Menschel.

 

Mrs. Arlt was passionate about politics, art and retailing. For many years she and her husband lived in Washington, D. C. She was an active member of the Woman's National Democratic Club and a volunteer at the White House during the Carter Administration. She retired as an account coordinator for Estee Lauder in the Washington, D. C. metropolitan area.

Mrs. Arlt and her husband enjoyed sailing in Nantucket Sound, having first sailed together in a small Penguin sailboat, built by Paul Arlt, in the early 1940s. The couple also spent two winters on the island, which gave Mr. Arlt the opportunity to interpret in watercolor the island's four seasons. For a number of years, Mr. Arlt's work sold at Nantucket Looms.

Mrs. Arlt was born on December 11, 1910 in Boykins, Virginia, grew up in Richmond and attended Hollins College. She and Paul were married for 65 years until his death in September 2005.

The couple moved to Rye, New York in 2001 to be near the Menschels who reside in Manhattan.

In addition to her daughter, Mrs. Arlt is survived by a sister, Catherine M. Mooklar of Callao, Virginia; three granddaughters, Charis Drant of Washington, D. C., Sabina, and Celene Menschel; son-in-law Ryan Drant; and great grandson, Rowan Drant. Her sister, Dorothy M. Surrey predeceased her.

At Mrs. Arlt's request, her ashes will be scattered over the moorlands of the Menschel home next summer.

LOUIS HENRY COUTU

Louis Henry Coutu of Nantucket passed away at Our Island Home on Thursday, February 7, after a brief illness. He was 96.

 

Louis was born June 11, 1911, in Providence, Rhode Island, the oldest of six children born to Emma and Louis Coutu. When he was a young boy, the family moved to New Bedford, where Louis lived until he was drafted into military service. He served as a mechanic in the United States Army at various locations overseas during World War II, and after the war, moved to the mountains of Colorado and then on to the island of Hawaii. After the death of his wife Kitty, he moved into the United States Soldiers' Home in Washington, D.C. Then, in 2005, Louis moved to Our Island Home on Nantucket, so as to be near his sister Beatrice Leger. In addition to Beatrice, Louis is survived by his sister Irene Coutu of Warwick, Rhode Island.

He will be remembered as a man who lived life to its fullest, whether guiding elk hunts in Colorado or hula dancing alongside the likes of Don Ho. He was a leader and a protector, a dedicated brother and friend. At the same time, Louis will be remembered as a man who found joy in the simplest of things; one of his greatest joys in his later years was reminiscing with his sister Beatrice during her many visits to see him at Our Island Home. And everyday, upon her departure, Bea would tell her brother she loved him. "Me too, Bea," was all he'd say in reply. His infectious smile and glistening eyes, though, belied his manly façade. When you got right down to it, Louis was as big a softie as there was anywhere, and his warm smile and sense of humor will be missed by all who knew him.

A memorial service is tentatively planned for the spring. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Louis's name to the US

Soldiers' Home in Washington, D.C. I