John Lee Wiegand

Mr. John Lee Wiegand, late of Bernardston, MA, died in Pittsfield, MA, on Aug. 4th, 2013.
He was born June 1st, 1926 in Massachusetts, the first of five children born to Janet Lee, a one-time ballerina, and her husband, William B. Wiegand, a multiple award-winning research chemist and a "dollar-a-year" chemical consultant to the U.S. Government during the Second World War. The family bought the old Denison place in 1939 and it has been in the family since then - John Wiegand's mother, Mrs. Janet Lee Wiegand, named it "Deerspring Farm".
John attended schools in Old Greenwich, Conn., and in Toronto, Ontario (Upper Canada College) and attained a B.A. from the University of Toronto. After a variety of summer jobs including working in the Texas oil fields, and on freighters on Great Bear Lake in Canada's far north, etc., he eventually became a radio and TV announcer in Oklahoma, and elsewhere, and gained a well-earned reputation as an Editor for CBS TV News International in Manhattan where he worked for many years. At one time he served in the Canadian army and then as a Lieutenant in Korea with the U.S. Army (Infantry) where he was astonished to find out that 20% of his platoon were functionally illiterate. He taught them to read and write. He later attained a fine arts degree (M.F.A.) from Columbia University.
An extraordinarily widely read man, with a superb command of the English language, John retired to the family farm and looked after his Mother - to whom he was devoted - during her final years. He will be remembered as a sweet, sensitive and trustworthy man with an utterly delightful sense of humor. He had many interests including being an amateur jazz pianist, etc. He celebrated his 80th birthday with a much-enjoyed sky dive.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 24, 2013, at the United Church of Bernardston at 11 a.m.
The family wishes to express their profound gratitude to Mr. Tom Newton of Bernardston, to the Bernardston Senior Center, to members of the Bernardston Police Department, to Mr. Richard Bishop (Eldercare), and to the nurses and doctors at the Charlene Manor in Greenfield.
Kidder Funeral Home, 1 Parker Ave., Northfield, MA, is in charge of arrangements.