Donald Murray Dickson

COLEBROOK – Donald M. Dickson, 87, of Colebrook, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, at the Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, NH, after a brief illness and with his family by his side. He was born in Colebrook on Aug. 2, 1932, to Ina McGrath Dickson and G. Trenholme Dickson. He attended Colebrook schools and was a 1950 graduate of Colebrook Academy. He served two years in the U.S. Army and then attended Tilton Prep School and Tufts University, graduating in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and biology. Donald continued to the University of Connecticut and graduated with another degree in Pharmacy in 1960. He returned home to Colebrook to work with his dad and he became the third generation to own and operate Dickson’s Pharmacy. He sold his pharmacy to Rite Aid in 1998 and continued to work part-time in his retirement for the corporation and later Walgreens. Donald loved his work and the people he served. He had planned to fully retire at the end of this year after 59 years of work. Donald loved jazz, John Wayne, and the game of golf. He had been recently frustrated that his drive was not as good as it once was, but he was still a pretty good putter, and was happy to come home and announce that he had beaten his buddy, Woody. He loved to have a drink or two, never needing an occasion. A beer with friends in his bar, or a gin & tonic in a tall glass with plenty of ice and a twist of lime was a favorite. He was known for his generosity, and he would bend over backwards to help someone in any way that he could. Donald’s sense of humor was also known far and wide, from his musical neckties, to a joke of some sort, he always had a friendly greeting and a smile to brighten someone’s day. Donald also enjoyed skiing, both locally and out west. He and his wife loved to travel and they took several vacations all over the U.S., Ireland, and the Caribbean, with Aruba being a favorite where they enjoyed annual trips for 25 years with friends. Fishing was also a favorite pastime of his, with trips to Alaska and Montana. He loved going to Tim Pond in Maine for many years, as a young man with his father, uncles, and cousins, and later with the “Tim Pond Gang.” Every fall meant hunting and going to camp with the guys. Donald was not a serious hunter, but always had a great time. Occasionally, he and his friend Brad Brooks would even manage to shoot a partridge. Donald shot a deer only once, and then only after his wife had spotted it. Seeing trash on any roadside really annoyed him. Most of the community will always remember Donald and Joan walking for exercise around town, always with a bag, or two, or three, and usually filling all of them. He was always checking on “Kiwanis Park”, making sure the lights were on and “looking good.” For several years, with Joan’s help, he strung lights at Christmas time and tied red ribbons to the light posts. It must not be forgotten that Donald was a “betting man,” loved the New England Patriots and really enjoyed taking his friend Sam’s money. Spending time with his family was also very important to Donald, especially trips south to his daughter, Susie’s home in Kittery, Me., for a lobster feed on his birthday always being a wonderful time. Watching Donald take a hammer to a 3 lb. lobster was fun to watch for everyone. A dedicated Kiwanian, Donald served in many different ways. Even while he was recently hospitalized, he was worried that not enough ticket sellers would be found to cover all the shifts at LaPerle’s IGA for the “Keep Warm” raffle, a fund-raiser for the Colebrook club. He was known for his continuous community service. He served on the Colebrook School Board, and was a member of the Colebrook School Building Committee. He helped establish the first remedial reading program in Colebrook, and was a committee member for the purchase of a sugar orchard for the vocational agriculture department at Colebrook Academy. He raised funds for the Boy Scouts of America, and was a member of the Northern Coös Community Health Association. Donald served on the youth diversion committee, was a water and sewer commissioner for the town of Colebrook, and was on the board of directors of the Farmers & Traders Bank, now Citizens Bank. He was a member of the New Hampshire and American Pharmaceutical Associations, was a charter member of the Colebrook Jaycees and was named “outstanding young man of NH” by the Jaycees in 1967. He was a charter member and past-president of the Colebrook Kiwanis Club. He further served the Kiwanis organization as Lt. Governor, Division 20, New England District of Kiwanis International. He was a member of the Colebrook Economic Revitalization Committee, and a member and director of the Colebrook Downtown Development Assn. Donald was a very successful fundraiser for the North County Community Recreation Center, and a founding member of the Tillotson Center and served on the board of directors there. He was also a board member of the Tillotson North Country Foundation, Inc. Donald was named “Pharmacist of the Year” in 1984 by the NH Pharmaceutical Assn., and was chosen “Layperson of the Year” by Kiwanis in 1987. In 1989, he was honored by AH Robins Co. with an Outstanding Community Service in Pharmacy award, a national award. Donald was also Colebrook’s first “Citizen of the Year” in 2007. He was also surprised and pleased to have received the George F. Hixson award, with a donation made in his name to the Kiwanis Children’s Fund, and a medal was presented to him by the Colebrook club which he wore with pride. In 2018, Donald received a commendation from Governor Chris Sununu for his hard work in his hometown of Colebrook and throughout the north country. Donald was a senior warden of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church and a faithful church member. In addition to his wife of 63 years, Joan (Scott) Dickson, Donald is survived by a son, Dana and his wife Marlene Dickson of Sanbornton, NH, a daughter, Susan of Kittery, Me., a grandson, Matthew and wife Nicole of Holderness, NH, and a granddaughter Sarah of Loveland, Colo.; a nephew, Michael Roberts and wife Shelli of Lancaster, NH, nieces Shelly Roberts Stinehour and husband Jon of Lunenburg, Vt., Meg Roberts Murray and husband Ray of Lancaster, Wanda Scott of Concord, NH; great-nieces, Michaella Roberts, Lily and Annie Stinehour, Danna Hatfield, Jaycee Joy Murray, Sara Smith; and great-nephews Cole Hatfield and Tyler Hemeon. Donald recently found out that Matthew and Nicole are expecting a baby boy in January, and he was looking forward to being a great-grandfather, and so happy that a boy will keep the Dickson name going! He is preceded in death by his son, Christopher, in 2014, a sister, Peggy Roberts and brother-in-law, Erling “Butch” Roberts, and a nephew, Douglas Scott. There will be no public calling hours. A graveside interment service will be held on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019, at 11 a.m. in the Colebrook Village Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Donald may be made to the Colebrook Kiwanis Foundation, P.O. Box 241, Colebrook, NH 03576, or to St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, c/o L. Biron, 77 Titus Hill Rd., Colebrook, NH 03576. Condolences may be offered to the family on-line by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home, Colebrook, NH.

Donald Murray Dickson

August 2, 1932 - September 24, 2019