A Lifelong Partnership in Vermont

Leslie Matthews and Richard “Sandy” Hyde, a devoted couple who spent over forty years hiking New England’s mountains and serving their community, passed away within hours of each other on May 7, 2026, in Calais, Vermont — a quiet, poetic end to a life lived in service, science, sport, and love. Leslie, a plant scientist and black belt in Tae Kwon Do who later skated gracefully on ice, and Sandy, a physics professor and master carpenter, met on Mount Monadnock in the 80s and never strayed from their shared values: civil rights, environmental stewardship, and community uplift. Their legacy lives on through the Vermont Workers’ Center and Habitat for Humanity — and a heartfelt celebration of their lives will be held August 9 at the Maple Corner Community Center. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/5d6d7f31cfeab2d4