BAAMS Receives $10K Donation from Noel Family

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Berkshires' Academy for Advanced Musical Studies Inc. (BAAMS) has recently garnered significant support from the family of the late Edward J. Noel Jr. 

This backing came in the form of a $10,000 donation awarded in April, facilitated by Kirby Noel, son of the late North Adams educator, through NexPoint Philanthropies of Dallas, Texas, an auxiliary of the Dallas Foundation.

"We were thrilled and delighted, and it came as a pleasant shock that the Noel family would choose to donate that level of sponsorship. In the world of nonprofit arts education fundraising, we hear a lot of nos and our requests may even be ignored — so when you have a family take an avid interest in what your organization is doing, and give of their time, attention, they're curious about it, it's a real breath of fresh air," said BAAMS Director of Development and Communications Jane Forrestal.

Forrestal said BAAMS, a nonprofit music educational institution based in Western Gateway Heritage State Park, was not expecting such a donation. She said Noel and his wife, Judy, had attended many BAAMS events and were supporters of the academy.

After Noel passed away in September 2023, the family discussed making a contribution in his honor.

"At the time of Ed's passing, BAAMS was something Judy and Ed saw as a positive for thecCity and region, and had attended some of our events over the years, so they urged mourners to donate to BAAMS in his memory," Forrestal said. "It was astonishing to receive the support we did back then from so many people whose lives were touched by Ed Noel, from as far away as California, Georgia, Texas. We really had no idea they would continue this legacy of giving in this way."

Kirby Noel explained the motivation behind the gift. 

"This gift is made in memory of Ed Noel — always teacher and coach," he said. "He would do anything for anyone, at any time. He just wanted to help kids get better at whatever they were doing — math, baseball, basketball, rabbit care, building doll houses, etc. It didn't matter what it was, he just wanted to help."

Judy Noel added that her husband had a passion for working with young people and this sentiment fit with BAAMS' mission.  

"Eddie loved working with kids of all ages, and always just pushed them a little to get them to work harder towards their goal." she said. "The first time we heard the BAAMS group perform, we were just totally excited and so happy they would be staying in North Adams. We knew we would be back to listen to them often. BAAMS is a wonderful gift to North Adams and our surrounding area."

Kim Noel emphasized her father's dedication to shaping young futures. 

"My dad was at his happiest when he was having a positive impact on a young person's future," she said. "I know that he would be so happy to be a part of supporting BAAMS in its mission."

Richard Boulger, the executive director of BAAMS, expressed pride in the substantial backing received from the Noel family.

"We're proud to announce tremendous support from the family of Edward J. Noel Jr., who became 'Marquee' level supporters during the month of April," said Boulger. "None of these programs offered at BAAMS would be possible without generous support from private donors such as the Noels, and from grant-making organizations and businesses."

Forrestal added that the money will help continue to support BAAMS after-school instruction and monthly workshops. She added that the funding will also support the Summer Jazz Band Day Camp.

North Adams Becomes a Purple Heart Community

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
05:16AM / Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Veterans Service Officer Kurtis Durocher, a Purple Heart recipient, tells his own story of how he was wounded in Iraq.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — City leaders last week held a ceremony marking the city as a Purple Heart Community to honor local military service members wounded or killed in combat.

 

"This designation is much more than a sign that will stand at the entrances to our city," said Kurtis Durocher, Northern Berkshire veterans service officer at City Hall on Friday. "It is a lasting commitment and a promise to this community. We'll never forget the sacrifices made by those who are wounded or killed while serving our nation. It is a public declaration of the courage and sacrifices of combat wounded. Veterans will always have a place of honor here in North Adams."

 

As a Purple Heart Community, North Adams will place signs throughout the city acknowledging the designation. The city will also hold a ceremony every Aug. 7 on National Purple Heart Day.

 

During the inaugural ceremony, Durocher said he was asked by the Military Order of the Purple Heart to find a keynote speaker for the event, preferably a Purple Heart recipient. But he was unable to find someone willing to speak. With the date approaching, he decided to tell his own story.

 

"I don't like standing up and telling my own personal story ... But I realized, in my position as a VSO, I get so many ... children of veterans who will say, 'I didn't know anything about my father until after he passed because he just didn't talk about it,'" Durocher said. "... I have been that way until I've gotten into this position, and so, now, I try to tell my story as much as I can when it is brought to me."

 

Durocher served in the Army for 20 years and retired as a master sergeant. On Friday, he recalled a time early in his career while serving in the 82nd Airborne Division deploying to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. On Sept. 12, 2003, his squad was conducting a patrol on Route Irish in Baghdad. He was serving as a gunner on an LMTV when it was struck by a 155-millimeter artillery shell. He said the explosive had been hidden behind a guardrail and detonated using nothing more than a washing machine timer.

 

"In an instant, everything changed. The blast knocked me unconscious. When I regained consciousness, I instinctively was removing my helmet," he said. "Almost immediately my training took over. We had been taught repeatedly that attacks like this were often followed by a secondary attack or an ambush. I quickly put my helmet back on and began searching for my machine gun."