Sidney A. Dimond, a long-time resident of Needham, died on February 10, 2007, in Needham, after a brief illness. He was 85.
Sid led a very active life, both professionally in the fields of broadcasting and public relations, as well as through his extensive involvement in many areas of community service. He had lived in Needham since 1951.
Sid was born on March 21, 1921, in West Concord, New Hampshire. He grew up in Concord, and served in the U.S. Navy from 1942-1946 during World War II as a Lieutenant Junior Grade, and was commander of a naval landing craft in the Pacific. After the war, Sid stayed in the Navy, and was instrumental in the development of Armed Forces Radio Service while stationed in Hollywood, California. He received his B.A. from the University of New Hampshire in 1943, and following his honorable discharge from the Navy, he earned a Master’s Degree in Broadcasting from Boston University in 1950. Sid was an Assistant Professor of Broadcasting at the University of New Hampshire (1946-1947), and Associate Professor of Broadcasting and Chairman of the Department at Boston University (1947-1963). Notably, in 1948, Sid was an integral part of the team that conceived and developed WBUR, now a well-known and respected public radio station.
After leaving Boston University, Sid founded his own public relations/communications business, Sid Dimond Associates, Inc. of Boston, which he led for 13 years. He subsequently served as the Communications Director for the Massachusetts Crime Watch program for 3 years, after which he officially “retired.”
However, it is after his retirement that his passions most clearly come alive. In preparation for the country’s bicentennial celebration in 1976, Sid originated the historical character of a Town Crier/Colonial Clerk. He visited countless schools, community agencies, and nursing homes, fully outfitted in authentic colonial dress, and performed his educational, dramatic – and always entertaining – impersonation of a man from “200 years ago today.” One very memorable facet of his presentation was showing the audience what he would be having for dinner that night – a very real and very aromatic piece of dried, salted codfish. This certainly made a memorable impression on all the schoolchildren he visited!
Over the years, his dramatization of the Town Crier became very well known in Needham. In 1998, Sid was featured on the cover of the Needham Exchange Club Phone Book – in his Town Crier garb, and ringing a bell on the steps of the Needham Historical Society.
Sid was also extremely active in community service. He was Chairman of Needham’s 250th anniversary celebration in 1961, and chairman of Needham’s Bicentennial Committee in 1976. He also served many years on the Boards of Directors of the Needham YMCA, the Needham Red Cross, the Visiting Nurses’ Association, and the Needham Historical Society. Sid also served many years as the Coordinator of the Needham Historical Society. He was very active in the Congregational Church of Needham, where he served as a deacon and was an active member for over 40 years.
He received numerous awards during the course of his active professional and civic life, including 8 awards for patriotism from The Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge, PA; the Richard Patton Melick Foundation Award (1998) for outstanding community service; and Yankee Magazine’s Community Partners Award (1999) “for outstanding service to the community of Needham.”
In addition to his legacy of tireless community service, Sid will always be remembered in Needham as “the candy man.” He always had a few butterscotch or peppermint candies in hand for everyone he met, bringing a smile to the faces of children and adults alike. His wife, Joan, always said that the dentists in Needham were very grateful for Sid’s habit of distributing so much candy around town!
He is survived by his wife, Joan (Davis), of Needham; his daughter, Deborah, also of Needham; and his son, David Allen, and his wife, Lynne (Candlen) of Norfolk, MA. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Danielle Frances, Spencer Davis, and Sydnie Nicole, all of Norfolk, MA
A private burial service was held at Needham Cemetery on Friday, February 16. A memorial service in celebration of Sid’s life will be held on Saturday, March 17, 2007 at 10:00 a.m., at the Congregational Church of Needham.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Congregational Church of Needham, the Needham Historical Society, or the charity of your choice. Please see www.siddimond.com for more details. Arrangemetns by the Eaton Funeral Home 1351 Highland Avenue Needham MA