Albert W. Dickinson

Albert W. Dickinson, of Scituate, passed on Sept. 7, 2011 at Life Care Center, Scituate, age 99. He was husband of the late Mary (Vergona), and the late Doris (Gould). Born in Brooklyn, New York, son of the late Capt. (USN) Martin R. and Marion (Haviland) Dickinson, Mr. Dickinson had resided in Scituate since 1965. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy (1932) and Harvard Law School (1938). He served as Commander in the U.S. Navy in World War II aboard the USS Northampton and USS Oakland, and following the war, in the Department of the Navy in Washington, DC until 1947. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Silver Star Medal for conspicuous gallantry, and numerous other campaign ribbons. After his honorable discharge he served as an attorney in the U.S. Treasury Department (IRS) in Pittsburgh, PA, Buffalo, NY, and in Boston until his retirement in 1972. He also served as Chairman of the Scituate By-Law Review Commission in the mid-1970s. Mr. Dickinson was also active in the Catholic church. While living in Pittsburgh he was a participant in the Holy Name Society, a founding member of the Christian Family Movement at St. Thomas More Parish, and instructor for Pre-Cana Conference with his wife, Doris. He also taught CCD at St. Frances X. Cabrini Church in Scituate. From his late 70s to his 90s he wintered in Captiva, FL where he swam daily in the Gulf, exercised at a gym, and walked several miles each day. During his retirement he enjoyed classical music and opera, starting piano lessons in his late 70s. He even brought a keyboard with him to Captiva and listened to his lessons on tape. Albert is survived by seven children; Robert B. of Puerto Rico, Anne M. and William H. Dickinson, both of Scituate, Martin H. and his wife Phyllis Torda of Washington, DC, Mary Margaret Bird and her husband James of Orono, ME, Thomas M. and his wife Kathleen of Woonsocket, RI, Elizabeth Furlong and her husband John of Weymouth; 21 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, and former daughters in-law Susan Wierzba, Joan Gordon, Dina, and Anne Dickinson. He was brother of the late R. Dorothea Dickinson. Funeral was held from the Richardson-Gaffey Funeral Home, 382 First Parish Rd, Scituate, on Monday, Sept. 12 at 8 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian burial in Sacred Heart Church, 55 Commercial St, Weymouth at 9:30 a.m. Burial will be in St. Marys Cemetery, Scituate. Visiting hours were held Sunday from 3 p.m.-7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation in memory of Albert W. Dickinson, 1932, U.S. Naval Academy Foundation, 291 Wood Road, Beach Hall, Annapolis, MD 21402. For information, and online guest register, please visit www.richardsongaffeyfuneralhome.com. Richardson-Gaffey Funeral Home (781) 545-0196