Herbert E. Fletcher II

FLETCHER, Hebert E. II Of Washington D.C. Herbert E. Fletcher II, 84, of Washington D.C., and Palm Beach, Fl and formerly of Boston and Chelmsford, MA and Nashua, NH, passed away at The Community Hospice of Washington, on November 18, 2008 of complications from heart failure. He was the husband of Jeannine (Garstka Cusson) Fletcher and the husband of the late Elizabeth (Tennant) Fletcher who died in 1975. He was born in Lowell, MA the son of Harold H. Fletcher and Edith (Proctor) Fletcher and brother of the late Harold H. Fletcher Jr. In addition to his beloved wife, he is survived by his four loving children: Polly Fletcher of Lawrence, MA, Edie Flynn of Jamestown, RI, Hobie Fletcher of Oceanside, CA and Libby Morissette and her husband Alen Morissette of Pembroke, NH as well as four grandchildren, Meghan Michaud of Loudon, NH Virginia Lang of Manchester, NH and Elizabeth Riccitelli and Jessica Morissette of Pembroke, NH. Mr. Fletcher attended Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, NH and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Lehigh University in 1948. He served as a 1st Lt. Navigator on the B-24 in the US Army Air Corps in the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II. Until his retirement, Mr. Fletcher was the former President and Treasurer of the H.E. Fletcher Company in Westford, MA, a family business founded in 1881 and engaged in quarrying and fabricating granite for bridges and buildings in San Francisco, Denver, Washington, New York, Boston and other major cities in the Northeast. He remained involved with the industry and the company in a consulting role until his death. Other positions he held during his professional life included President of the National Building Granite Quarries Association, Director of the Union National Bank in Lowell and the Director of the Engineers Club in Boston, MA. An avid golfer, he was a member of the Vesper Country Club in Tyngsboro, MA, the Cape Arundel Golf Club in Kennebunkport, ME, the Burning Tree Golf Club in Washington DC and the Everglades Club in Palm Beach, FL. He played golf throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. He also enjoyed other sports such as tennis, skiing, fishing, and hunting. He particularly enjoyed bird shooting in North America and Europe with his friends and colleagues at Chincoteague, VA, the Pope's Island Gun Club. Mr. Fletcher will be profoundly missed by those whose lives he touched. He was a true gentleman, kind and considerate to everyone he met. He was a great communicator and story teller with a good sense of humor. An avid reader, he loved to converse on the subjects of world affairs and politics. He was a loyal and extremely generous friend, loving husband, father and grandfather. His generosity included giving a great deal of his time and energy to his family and friends. He enjoyed life to the fullest, savoring good food, fine wine, and interesting conversation and had many, many friends who enjoyed spending quality time with him. Calling hours and a brief service will be held on Friday evening from 4 to 7pm at the Blake Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., CHELMSFORD. There will be a private burial for family members the following morning at 11 o'clock at Fairview Cemetery, 55 Main St., Westford, MA. A Memorial Service will take place in Washington DC at a later date. In lieu of flowers, Mr. Fletcher had requested donations in his memory be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell, 657 Middlesex St., Lowell, MA 01852. Arrangements by Blake Funeral Home, CHELMSFORD. www.blakefuneralhome.com