PRISCILLA NIE DICKSON

1927 - 2022

NYE DICKSON, Priscilla "Polly" Age 95, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 5, 2022, surrounded by her family in her home in North Chatham, MA.

The daughter of Carl M. and Edith S. Nye, Polly was born in St. Paul, MN in 1927, the middle of three sisters. Polly graduated from the Summit School in 1945 and went on to earn a BA in Physiological Chemistry from Smith College in 1949, a Master in Social Work from Simmons College in 1952, and a Doctorate in Ministry from Episcopal Divinity School in 1992.

Polly worked as a social worker for ten years in Boston, MA, and Denver, CO, before marrying Edward M. Dickson in 1960 and moving to Weston, MA. Polly volunteered for many organizations, including the Boston Center for Blind Children, METCO, and St. Peter's Episcopal Church. She served on the Anti-Racism Task Force of the Diocese of Massachusetts and the board of the Episcopal City Mission, and also worked with the Hispanic Ministries of the Diocese. She was a founding member and organizer of the Weston/Wayland Interfaith Action Group. As part of her opposition to U.S. involvement in Nicaragua, in 1986 she went to the war zone for two weeks with Witness for Peace.

Polly focused much of her efforts on affordable housing. She and Ed donated 11 acres of land to build an 18-unit mixed income housing complex. After Dickson Meadows was completed in 2002, Polly co-founded the Weston Affordable Housing Foundation.

Polly was predeceased by her husband, Edward; and her sister Elizabeth Nye Suter. She is survived by her sister, Edith Nye MacMullen, of Amherst, MA; and her four children, Ted (Melissa) of Matthews, NC, Carol (Bruce Howlett) of East Montpelier, VT, Carl (Judith Jackson) of Madison, WI, and John (Bridget) of Brewster, MA. She is also survived by seven grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held at 12 noon at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Weston, MA, on Saturday, June 25, with reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Polly's commitment to social justice may be made to the Episcopal City Mission (www.episcopalcitymission.org), Roxbury Weston Programs (www.roxwes.org), or WATCH (Waltham Alliance for Teaching, Community Organizing and Housing, www.watchcdc.org). For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com