Owner of Pittsfield Veterinary Hospital Dies in Kayaking Incident

09:40AM / Friday, December 10, 2021Print Story | Email Story

RICHMOND, Mass. — The Berkshire State Police Detective Unit is investigating the apparent accidental death of a John Reynolds, owner of Pittsfield Veterinary Hospital

Reynolds, 58 of Richmond, died Thursday at Berkshire Medical Center after his kayak overturned in Richmond Pond.

At approximately 7:05 a.m. Berkshire County Dispatch received a 911 call reporting an individual in Richmond Pond calling for assistance. Troopers assigned to the State Police Lee Barracks, Richmond Fire, Stockbridge Fire, West Stockbridge Fire, Berkshire County Sheriff's Office, Action Ambulance, and County Ambulance responded for an attempted rescue.

Firefighters with the Stockbridge Fire Department rescued Reynolds from the water and immediately administered CPR. Action Ambulance transported Reynolds to Berkshire Medical Center, where doctors and nurses attempted to save Reynolds' life.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner took custody of the body for further examination. The early evidence suggests that the death was accidental. The Berkshire State Police Detective Unit's investigation is ongoing.

The Berkshire Humane Society took to Facebook to share their condolences:

"Ever since Dr. Reynolds established his practice in Pittsfield in 1996, he has been a friend of Berkshire Humane Society. In 2012 he became a member of our board of directors and in 2016 we named him our Volunteer of the Year. We will miss Dr. Reynolds on so many levels -- his compassion to animals, his veterinary prowess, his leadership on our board, his service to community, his vision and foresight and most of all, his friendship. Our deepest condolences to the Reynolds family and employees of Pittsfield Veterinary Hospital/Shaker Hill Pet Resort."

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Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Restructure

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to restructure the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

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