Rev. Herbert Elmer Pickett Jr.

1917 - 2014

Rev. Herbert Elmer Pickett Jr., 97, passed away peacefully Wednesay, Nov. 26, 2014, at Havenwood-Heritage Heights Retirement Community, in Concord, after a period of declining health.

He was born on May 15, 1917, in Baltimore, the son of Herbert E. Pickett Sr. and Emily Ames Pickett. He attended Gilman Country School, in Baltimore, where his father was an instructor. He graduated Yale University in 1939, and obtained his Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City in 1942. In his prep school and college years, he excelled in athletics, especially wrestling for which he won multiple intercollegiate medals. He also spent his summers as counselor at Hyde Bay Camp, Cooperstown, N.Y., which his father owned and directed.

In 1942, he married his love, Sarah (Sally) Alice Geer. In 62 years of marriage together, they raised five children who all survive him. They are, Herbert (Mac) and wife, Nancy of Rollinsford, Emily K. Grice of Bainbridge Island, Wash., S. Alice Pickett and husband, RP Hale of Concord, David G. and wife, Donna of Vineland, N.J. and Paul J. and wife, Autumn of Olympia, Wash.

Herb showed his children his compassion for the disadvantaged, pride in doing your best, joy of the earth, and a quirky sense of humor. From the early '50s he took his family on extended camping trips, and passed on to his children a love of nature and a rugged adaptability. He was a hard worker, deep thinker, and a man dedicated to peace. His children went on to raise families, giving him 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren (with one more on the way!).

In a Pastoral career of over 30 years, he served with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and United Church of Christ with many communities – Baltimore, Old Forge, N.Y., Rochester, N.Y., Kingston, Pa., Thompson, Conn., and New Preston, Conn. Through his work as a church leader and spiritual counselor, he touched innumerable lives. Herb and Sally retired to Old Saybrook, Conn. in 1979 and then Chester, Conn. in 1992, where they enjoyed hiking and sailing along the coast. They continued extended travel seeing the country and visiting their children as well as their many acquaintances from college and past parishes. They traveled in every continental state and Canadian Province except Kentucky and Newfoundland.

After his wife's passing in 2003, he moved to Havenwood-Heritage Heights in Concord to be near one of his children. He was a self-described "compulsive shutter bug," and shared that love with family and friends. It is a joy to see all the archives of the family, his many travels, activities with friends, and his love of flowers. Herb had a life-long love of history, volunteering for local historical societies and collecting family history and genealogy. He was a part-time as Curator at Gunn Memorial Historical Museum, Washington, Conn. from 1975-77, he volunteered at the Chester Historical Society and NH Historical Museum, and was a longtime member of the Abbot-Downing Historical Society in Hopkinton.

Although he outlived his wife, Sally and his two younger brothers, Lawrence K. and Robert A, their wives, Pauline in Ithaca, N.Y. and Betty in Ocala, Fla. are still alive. In his final years, although limited in mobility, he still enjoyed reading history and watching public affairs TV shows and Patriots football. He will be remembered as a good man, who made a difference in many lives.

There are no calling hours.

A Memorial service will be held Friday, Dec. 19, at 1:30 p.m. at Havenwood Auditorium, 33 Christian Avenue, Concord.

Interment will be in the spring in Williamstown, Mass.

For those who wish to make a gift in Herb's name please make a donation to the NH Food Bank, 700 East Industrial Park Drive, Manchester, NH or to a charity of your choice.