Maurice Dickey Drysdale

1944 - 2021

Maurice Dickey Drysdale

Randolph - Maurice Dickey Drysdale, 76, editor/publisher emeritus of the White River Valley Herald of Randolph, VT, died early Wednesday morning, April 28.

The grandson of Maurice Dickey, former editor of the Springfield Union newspaper of Springfield, MA, he was born November 10, 1944, in Concord, MA. to journalists John and Eleanor Drysdale. In 1945, the Drysdale family moved to Vermont, where John purchased the White River Valley Herald and served as its editor and publisher for 30 years.

Maurice Dickey Drysdale, who went by the name, "Dickey," graduated from Harvard University in 1966 with a major in government. He worked at the Springfield Union from 1966 to 1969 and earned his MPA from the University of Pittsburgh in 1971. He then returned home to purchase the White River Valley Herald, where he would be editor/publisher for the next 44 years.

He earned numerous awards from the Vermont Press Association for news writing, editorial writing, sports writing and music criticism. He was seven times the winner of editorial awards from the International Society of Weekly News Editors, and was inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press Association's Hall of Fame in 2015.

He was a masterful wordsmith, pianist, singer, and fiddler. He was an eloquent poet, a vigorous hiker, a man of wit, and an absolutely elegant skier. He was a beloved choral conductor who directed the Randolph Singers for 25 years.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Marjorie Balgooyen Drysdale, his sons, Robin Drysdale of Brooklyn, NY and James Drysdale of Stevensville, MT, his sister, Ellen Drysdale and husband, Bob Squires of Berlin, VT, his sister, Isobel Drysdale of Pueblo, CO, ten nieces and nephews and thirteen grand-nieces and nephews.

A celebration of his life will take place this summer. Memorial contributions in his honor can be made to the Chandler Center for the Arts, 71 N Main St, Randolph, VT 05060 (https://www.chandler-arts.org/donate-1), or to the Randolph Singers, P.O. Box 192, Randolph, VT, 05060 (http://www.randolphsingers.org/home/donate). Online condolences may be left at www.dayfunerals.com. Arrangements are by the Day Funeral Home in Randolph.