White River Junction, VT. —
Collamer Martin (Bud) Abbott, 92, died Sunday, April 8, 2012, at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in White River Junction.
Collamer was born on Dec. 10, 1919, in Wilder at home, the son of Leon and Irma (Martin) Abbott. He walked less than a block to the Wilder Grammar School,
which had grades one through eight where his mother had taught. He walked two miles each day to Hartford High School in White River Junction. He graduated from Hartford High School in 1938. He went on to the University of Vermont and graduated 1942 with a Bachelor of Arts. In spite of various health issues he was accepted and served in the United States Army during World War II. He served in the Alcutian Islands then transferred to England and on to France. After the war, he went to the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a Master's in Arts and Journalism in 1947. He came home to Vermont and worked in Brattleboro, Vt., for the Brattleboro Reformer newspaper as a reporter and a photographer for five years He then worked for the Valley News for five years as a reporter and a photographer. When Ski Magazine started up In Hanover, N.H., be was asked to be the editor and was the editor for a period of time before the magazine moved to New York City.
He decided to concentrate on his abilities as a photographer, which led to hiring an agent in New York City who sold his photography all over the world. In 1968, he started teaching at Castleton State College in the English Department as a professor of English and Journalism where he worked for four years. In 2003, he wandered into the Tip Top Building which had just opened as an arts center in White River Junction, He had his first of many conversations with Mr. and Mrs. O'Neil of NorthLight, now called NorthLight Editions saying he had a few photographs they might be interested in. This developed into a successful relationship with the O'Neil's — their expertise, latest digital techniques In photography and their confidence, The O'Neil's had struck gold and Collamer also finally earned the praise and admiration he deserved for his black and white photography of many familiar scenes in the Upper Valley, the French countryside and its people. He was predeceased by his parents; his brother, John Abbott; sister, Marie Abbott White; brother-in-law, George White nephew, Lt. Cmdr. Michael White; as well as several aunts and uncles. He is survived by a niece, Jane Sweatt and sons, Scott and Peter Sweatt, nephew, John Abbott and sons Patrick, Daniel and Benjamin Abbott nephew, Jonathan White and George and Rebecca White; and his sister-in-law, Trudy Abbott

Memorial donations may be made to the Wilder Club and Library. 78 Norwich Avenue, Wilder, Vt. 05088. Arrangements have been entrusted to Knight Funeral Home in White River Junction. A remembrance time will be held at the Wilder Center in Wilder, on Friday, May 4, 2012, at 1 pm. Refreshments will be served.