Dewey D. Whitney, 81
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - Dewey Dexter Whitney, 81, of 85 Eagle St., St. Joseph's Court, died Friday, May 24, 2013, at his home. He had been a longtime resident and volunteer firefighter in Stamford, Vt.
Born in North Adams on Oct. 18, 1931, a son of Ira Dexter and Anna Mae Fouchard Whitney, he attended Drury High School and Burr & Burton Academy in Manchester, Vt., winning awards in varsity baseball and football at both.
After graduating high school, he enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Texas.
Mr. Whitney worked with his father to grow the Whitney Dairy Farm on East Road in Stamford into a processor and bottler of local farmers' milk. He was one of the last of the era's milkmen.
When his father retired and closed the milk business, he and his brother-in-law started Whitney & Dubreuil Excavating and were contracted for many private and public construction projects. The business grew to include to a large gravel mining and processing plant in Stamford utilized by friends who drove dump trucks from many miles around. He took great pride in mentoring other young heavy equipment operators.
Mr. Whitney concluded his excavation career working as a union heavy equipment operator with International Union of Operating Engineers Local 98 for companies including Maxymillian Construction and Lane Construction. He enjoyed working with his many friends on road projects throughout the Northeast including the myriad challenges in creating a stable road into the Pine Cobble development in Williamstown.
Winters found him operating mountain equipment at the former Dutch Hill Ski Area in Heartwellville, Vt., and surprising unsuspecting snowcat passengers and future snowcat operators with grooming runs straight down the super-steep Windmill and Christiana trails. He occasionally illuminated midnight skiing episodes by the light of his snowcat.
At the direction of his friends, the Lawrence family, Mr. Whitney provided much of the earthwork for the fairways and greens of the Stamford Valley Golf Course and later offered land purchased toward growing the course from 9 to 18 holes.
A sportsman and hunter, he spent hunting seasons for decades with lifelong friends primarily at a hunting camp he helped develop in Rupert and Pawlet, Vt.
He was an avid fan of traditional country and western music and saw Johnny Cash several times including the historic night in 1988 at the Mohawk Theater. He enjoyed Willie Nelson's "Roadhouse" channel on satellite radio every day.
He joined the Stamford Volunteer Fire Department in 1968, rising to deputy chief in 1976, and was instrumental in the organization and operation of the town's former July 4th festivals. His parents ran the event's chicken barbecue from start to finish.
Mr. Whitney lost his home in 2011 because of damage from Hurricane Irene and happily relocated to St. Joseph's Court, where he made many memories with new friends.
He leaves his former wife, Shirley Dubreuil Whitney; two daughters, Marie Kelly Whitney and Leanne Briggs and her husband, Robert, all of Stamford; a son, Bruce Whitney of Williamstown; a sister Betty Bolognani of Readsboro, Vt.; five grandchildren, Julia Whitney, Emma Whitney, David Kelly Whitney, Jonah Kelly Whitney and Amanda Chapman, and several nieces and nephews.
FUNERAL NOTICE - Calling hours, stories and prayers will be shared at Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home For Funerals, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams, on Saturday, June 1, from 4 to 6. A brief service will be held at approximately 4:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests and encourages donations through the funeral home to be shared between the Stamford Volunteer Fire Department and local Teen Alcoholics Anonymous group.