Author: Charlie Sam

Carrabassett Valley, ME – A tragic accident at Sugarloaf Mountain claimed the life of 63-year-old Kendall Willard of Kingfield on Saturday morning, according to the Maine Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Willard, described by those who knew him as a friendly and “happy-go-lucky” man, died while attempting to retrieve a glove he had dropped from a chairlift. Carrabassett Valley Police Chief Mark Lopez, who had known Willard for many years, confirmed the details of the incident.

The accident occurred around 9 a.m. Willard, who was snowboarding with a friend that day, made his way to the top of the closed Competition Hill trail in an effort to recover his glove. The trail had been shut down due to dangerous icy conditions.

According to Chief Lopez, Willard removed his snowboard and began walking on the icy slope in his snowboard boots when he lost his footing. He slid approximately 800 feet down the hill and collided with a stand of trees. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the fall.

Several witnesses saw the incident and alerted ski patrol. Emergency responders transported Willard to the first aid station and administered CPR, but he was pronounced dead around 9:45 a.m. by the arriving ambulance crew. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma.

Sugarloaf spokesperson Jessica Sechler released a brief statement expressing the resort’s “deep sorrow” over the guest’s untimely death and confirmed that the incident occurred around 9 a.m. The resort said more information is still being gathered.

Willard’s family has declined to comment publicly. Chief Lopez noted that skiing and snowboarding-related fatalities at Sugarloaf are rare. There were no such deaths reported last year, and only a handful over the past 13 years during his tenure as police chief. His department is tasked with investigating these incidents to rule out foul play, while Boyne Resorts, which owns Sugarloaf, is responsible for assessing trail conditions.

The community of Kingfield and the Sugarloaf Mountain family are mourning the loss of a well-liked local whose love for the slopes ended in heartbreaking tragedy.

Kendall Willard Obituary and funeral arrangements will be released soon…

Dawn Cox Car Accident, Manningtree, Essex – April 8, 2025 — The educational community is mourning the tragic loss of Dawn Cox, an esteemed teacher, author, and Head of Religious Education at Manningtree High School, who passed away following a serious car accident over the past weekend.

Dawn Cox, known to colleagues and educators across the UK as a passionate advocate for Religious Education and high-quality teaching, was a pillar in the teaching profession. With an extensive career spanning various roles — including Advanced Skills Teacher (AST), Assistant Principal, and Specialist Leader in Education (SLE) — she made a lasting impact on both students and fellow professionals.

In recent years, Dawn co-authored Making Every RE Lesson Count (Crown House Publishing) alongside Louise Hutton, a widely praised resource that helped shape modern RE pedagogy. She also maintained a popular education blog, where she generously shared reflections, strategies, and inspiration for educators across subject areas.

Dawn’s sudden passing has left a profound void in the RE and wider education community. Colleagues describe her as a dedicated, thoughtful, and innovative educator who was always willing to support others. Her contributions went beyond the classroom — she mentored countless teachers and helped influence national conversations about the importance of Religious Education in schools.

Culham St Gabriel’s: We are devastated by the news that our wonderful friend and colleague Dawn Cox has died. Dawn was for many years a consultant with Culham St Gabriel’s, overseeing our social media as well as supporting other aspects of our work, including RE: ONLINE. Dawn’s love of the classroom and ensuring research applied to her day-to-day work was inspiring. She was never afraid to ask the challenging questions, pushing our thinking on and encouraging careful reasoning and creativity as a result. We will miss her greatly.
Kathryn, Tracey, Fiona, and the Culham St Gabriel’s Team. I’m raising £2500 to support DAWN COX and her loved ones while she is in hospital after a car accident.

In the wake of her passing, friends and colleagues have organized efforts to support her family. A fundraiser has been set up to help ease the burden of daily responsibilities while her loved ones grieve. Funds will go toward meals, home help, and caring for her beloved kittens — a small way to ease the load during an unimaginably difficult time.

“Dawn wasn’t just an exceptional teacher; she was a generous colleague and a dear friend to so many. Her wisdom and kindness were matched only by her commitment to helping others learn and grow,” said one fellow RE teacher. Obituary and funeral arrangements will be released soon…

Manningtree High School has released a brief statement mourning the loss of their colleague:

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Dawn Cox, a cherished member of our school community. Her passion for teaching, her care for students, and her leadership within Religious Education will never be forgotten.”

Details about memorial services or public tributes will be shared in due course by the family. The educational world has lost a guiding light, but Dawn Cox’s legacy — in classrooms, in writing, and in the hearts of her students and peers — will continue to inspire for years to come. To support Dawn’s family during this time, donations can be made via JustGiving.