Dewey Whitney

Dewey Dexter Whitney

1931-2013 Dewey Dexter Whitney of 85 Eagle St. North Adams died Friday May 24, 2013 at his home. He was born in North Adams on October 18, 1931 a son of the late Ira Dexter Whitney and Anna Mae (Fouchard) Whitney.

Mr. Whitney won awards as a varsity baseball and football player both at Drury and Burr & Burton Academy. After graduating high school, Mr. Whitney joined the US Army and was stationed in Texas. He returned to Stamford and worked together with his father to grow the Whitney Dairy Farm in Stamford which evolved from dairy cows to become a processor and bottler of local farmers' milk. He was one of the last of the era's milkmen.

When his father retired and closed the milk business, he and his brother-in-law started Whitney & Dubreuil Excavating and were contracted for many private and public construction projects. The business grew to include to a large gravel mining and processing plant in Stamford utilized by friends who drove dump trucks from many miles around. He took great pride in mentoring other young heavy equipment operators.

Mr. Whitney concluded his excavation career working as a union heavy equipment operator with International Union of Operating Engineers IUOE Local 98 for companies including Maxymillian Construction and Lane Construction He enjoyed his many friends on road projects throughout the Northeast including the myriad of challenges in creating a stable road into the Williamstown's Pine Cobble development.

Winters found him operating mountain equipment at the former Dutch Hill Ski Area in Heartwellviille VT and surprising unsuspecting snow cat passengers and future snow cat operators with grooming runs straight down the super-steep Windmill and Christiana trails. He occasionally illuminated midnight skiing episodes by the light of his snow cat.

Mr. Whitney lost his home in 2011 due to damage from Hurricane Irene and he happily relocated to St. Joseph's Court in North Adams where he made many memories with new friends.

At the direction of his friends, the Lawrence family, Mr. Whitney provided much of the earthwork for the fairways and greens of the current Stamford Valley Golf Course and later offered land purchased toward growing the course from 9 to 18 holes.

Mr. Whitney was a sportsman/hunter and spent decades of hunting season with lifelong friends primarily at a hunting camp he helped develop near hunting grounds in Rupert and Pawlet, Vermont.

Mr. Whitney was an avid fan of traditional country & western music and saw Johnny Cash several times including the historic night in 1988 at the Mohawk Theatre. He enjoyed Willie Nelson's "Roadhouse" channel on satellite radio every day.

Starting in 1968, Mr. Whitney began as a longtime firefighter with the Stamford Volunteer Fire Department and essential for the organization and operation of the town's July 4th festivals held for many years in town and his father and mother mastered the event's chicken barbecue from start to finish. Mr. Whitney rose to Deputy Chief in 1976.

Survivors include his former wife Shirley (Dubreuil) Whitney. Two daughters Marie Kelly Whitney of Stamford, VT. and Leanne Briggs and her husband Robert of Stamford,VT. One son Bruce Whitney of Williamstown, MA. Five grandchildren Julia Whitney, Emma Whitney, David Kelly Whitney, Jonah Kelly Whitney and Amanda Chapman. One sister Betty Bolognani of Readsboro, VT and several nieces and nephews.

FUNERAL NOTICE: Calling hours, stories and prayers will be shared at Flynn & Dagnoli & Montagna Home For Funerals, West Chapels 521 West Main Street, North Adams MA on Saturday, June 1st from 4:00pm until 6:00pm including a brief service at approximately 4:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests and encourages donations through the Funeral Home which will be shared between the Stamford Volunteer Fire Department and local Teen Alcoholics Anonymous group.

To send a card or a message, please visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.

This obituary was originally published in the North Adams Transcript.