Hudson, MA
Donald R. “Ray” Picard, 86, of Hudson, died on Thursday, Nov. 20th at Wingate of Sudbury. He leaves his beloved wife of 62 years, Florence M. (Hazen) Picard of Hudson.
Ray was born in West Warwick, RI, son of the late Wilfred and Blanche (Plante) Picard. He was raised in Cambridge where he attended local schools. He received his B.S. in Business Administration from Northeastern University and was named All American twice as a Goaltender for the Huskies. During his college hockey career, he received the “Leonard M. Fowler Award”, as New England’s most outstanding player and the “Walter A. Brown Award” for most outstanding college hockey player in New England. He was inducted into the Northeastern University Sports Hall of Fame and spent a short time as a goaltender with the Boston Bruins Farm System. He was a WWII Veteran, serving in the U.S. Marine Corps until being honorably discharged in 1948. Ray was employed as a sales manager with the Lorillard Company of New York. He spent many years working from their Worcester office until his retirement in 1989. He spent a short time residing in Burlington before moving to Hudson where he has spent the past 50 years. He was a former member of Christ the King Parish in Hudson and was a current member of Saint Michael’s Parish in Hudson.
Ray was a devoted husband and father and loving grandfather and great grandfather. He always looked forward to spending time with his family and loved to travel. He enjoyed golfing in his spare time and enjoyed sharing his passion for hockey as an instructor for local hockey clinics, specializing in goaltending. He enjoyed watching the birds come feed at his bird feeders. He will be truly missed.
Besides his wife, he is survived by his five children, James R. Picard and his wife Bonnie Jean of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Mary B. Picard of Attleboro, MA, Susan M. Picard of Seneca, SC, Cynthia A. Buchmeyer of San Antonio, TX and Denise F. Rigby and her husband Stephen of Suffield, CT. He also leaves his 12 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday November 22nd at 9:00 a.m. in Saint Michael’s Church, 21 Manning Street, Hudson. Burial will follow in Saint Michael’s Cemetery, Hudson. Family and friends may attend calling hours on Friday November 21st from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Tighe-Hamilton Funeral Home, Inc. 50 Central Street, Hudson, MA 01749.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Ray may be made to: Alzheimer’s Association, Massachusetts Chapter, 480 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472.