Mitchell Ira Kontoff of Fayston died peacefully on February 7, 2015, surrounded by family and friends. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Dr. Henry Arthur Kontoff and Ruth (Lappin) Kontoff.
He graduated from Newton High School in 1947 and attended Tufts University where he graduated with a degree in psychology in 1951.
In 1956, he married Gertrude Friedman and with her had his children Matthew, Daniel and Sara. They were married until 1971.
He was a frequent visitor and skier in Vermont and after a successful career in home development and real estate, he moved here in 1973. He built the home he lived in for the past 40-plus years, along with the tennis court he and Jennifer Howard had many happy games on. They met in 1975 and the two have been inseparable ever since. As well as being an avid tennis player, he was a hiker who loved bridge and became a Life Master. He enjoyed playing locally and in tournaments around the world.
He was very involved in his community, including many stints as director, producer, board member, fundraiser and onstage talent for Valley Players Theater. He and Jennifer revived and restarted this community theater group. He worked with the theater department at Harwood Union coaching student actors and helping with production, staging and directing.
For many years he was the regular chef for the Mad River Valley Senior Citizens twice-weekly luncheons. At charity fundraisers he often donated a catered meal served by liveried waitstaff. Said staff generally included Jennifer and some friends.
Mitchell was also one of the founding directors of Mad River Valley Television, The Valley’s public access channel. He served as treasurer for the station for many years.
He volunteered in the Boy Scouts, helping local troops rebuild a camp and headquarters in Duxbury, and was one of the founding members of the Mad River Valley Cricket Club, a charitable organization that raised funds for local causes. In 1993, he was recognized by The Valley Reporter as the newspaper’s first Volunteer of the Month for his ongoing contributions to the Mad River Valley.
He loved music and being a member of the Mad River Chorale, and he loved listening to live performances by Michael McCloud in Key West, where he and Jennifer spent their winters starting in 1997.
Mitchell was passionate about traveling and he and Jennifer visited every continent, some multiple times. In 1989, they spent six months traveling around the world, visiting friends and joined by other friends at several locales along the way.
After he retired from his first career, he studied culinary arts at Cordon Bleu. He was a consummate host who delighted in feeding family and friends at the home he shared with Jennifer on a hill in Fayston. He wrote a cooking column for The Valley Reporter under the pen name of Aida Lott. Nothing made him happier than hearing a compliment on his cooking.
He is survived by Jennifer Howard; his son Matthew, daughter-in-law Jane, grandchildren Alex and Michelle; his son Daniel and his daughter Sara Allexander; his sister Rachel Ann Ezrin; nieces and nephews and many friends. He was predeceased by his parents.
There will be a service at the Beth Jacob Synagogue at 10 Harrison Avenue, Montpelier, VT 05602 at 1 p.m. on Friday, February 13, with a graveside service and burial immediately following.
Friends are welcome to join the family afterward for remembering and celebrating at their home at 1065 Center Fayston Road from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday.
The family will receive visitors on Saturday, February 14, from 2 to 4 p.m. and will sit shiva that evening from 7 to 9 p.m. as well as Sunday, February 15, from 2 to 5 p.m. with a service at the house at 3 p.m.
The family will also sit shiva in Acton, Massachusetts, on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 17 and 18, from 6 to 9 p.m. at 217 School Street, Unit A.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Mad River Valley Interfaith Council (P.O. Box 342, Waitsfield, VT 05673, madrivervalleyfoodshelf.wordpress.com), Mad River Valley Community Fund (P.O. Box 353, Waitsfield, VT 05673, mrvcommunityfund.org) or Green Mountain Swing Scholarship Fund (Fred Abraham, 1396 Gregg Hill Road,
