Donald A. "Don" Picard

Donald A. Picard, 98, of Shelburne, passed away peacefully on September 30, 2025 with his family at his side, at The Arbors Memory Care Facility in Shelburne, VT, under Hospice care due to heart failure.

Don was born to John and Louise (Muir) Picard on September 2, 1927, and grew up on a dairy farm in Colchester. He went to schools in Colchester and Burlington, graduating from Burlington H.S in 1945. After graduating he entered the US Army, trained as a Cryptographer, and worked in military embassies abroad. He met his future wife, Mary Nomicos, in Athens, Greece in 1948 and they were married on November 12, 1949, in Greece. He received numerous service awards while serving in the US Army.

Returning to Vermont, he went to the University of Vermont on the G.I. Bill and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Arts and Sciences (Political Science) in 1954. He worked as a Buyer for the Shelburne Museum for 20 years and purchased his first home in Shelburne, VT. He later worked for 20 years at General Electric as an Account Estimator in Burlington, VT, retiring in 1992.

He was a Shelburne Boys Scout leader, a member of the Optimist Club who constructed the first Shelburne beach house. He also coached Little League, volunteered at the voting polls with Mary during the Shelburne elections, built and painted sets for the Shelburne theater group "Korny Kapers", and was an avid blood donor for the American Red Cross.

His hobbies included volleyball, bowling, playing pool, fishing, deer hunting, golfing, gardening (Don loved his raspberry bushes and rhubarb pie), playing cards, reading, doing puzzles, and following the political news. He was a true Vermonter, always active, walking, or taking Mary for car rides as she did not drive. Most summers were spent at Shelburne or Burlington beaches where they loved to swim and soak up the sunshine. They also made many trips back to Athens, Greece to visit Mary's family and relatives.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, John and Louise (Muir) Picard, his older brother Harris Picard and wife Jessie, his sister Catherine Savoy and husband Arthur, his brother-in-law Nick Nomicos and wife Titika, his sister-in-law Aliki Xouris and husband Theodoros, and his grandson Evan Coolidge, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and many old friends.

Don is survived by his wife of 77 years Mary of Shelburne, son Keith Picard and wife Helen of Reading England, daughter Cynthia Baranski and husband Chet of Shelburne, granddaughter Marissa Coolidge and partner Will Taylor of VT, grandson David Coolidge II and partner Jill Lanpher of VT, great granddaughter Harley Coolidge, daughter Tish Chung and husband Kai of Murphys, CA, grandson Beau Knapp and partner Claudia Herbert of CA, grandson Robby Knapp and fiancée Glorymar Moreno Duque of NV, great grandson Ryan (father Robby), great granddaughter Audrianna (father Beau), and many dearly loved nieces and nephews.

The Picard family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Amelia Gennari, Hailey of Bayada Hospice, The Arbors nurses and staff and close family friend Chris Kent, Don's pool partner.

A celebration of his life will be announced for a later date in Shelburne.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, or the Alzheimer's Association.