July 22, 1956 – July 14, 2024
Craig Vickery, long-time resident of Reading, visited Yellowstone National Park last August with his wife, Linda Ananian, his daughter Ellen Vickery, her husband Tim Dyer and granddaughter, Adeline Dyer of Cambridge, and his son Glenn Vickery of Washington state. A bucket list item since he saw photographs in National Geographic as a child, it truly became a trip of a lifetime. Craig died at home on July 14th, nearly one year after a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
Craig graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a degree in Applied Physics and earned a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Craig’s first job after graduation was at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in Connecticut, where he met his wife of 43 years. When Linda decided she wanted to move back to Boston, Craig started his 36-year career at the Gillette Company where he was awarded six patents. He was pleased to tell people that if they shave with a Gillette razor, it was probably welded and inspected by equipment he designed. He took tremendous pride in identifying himself as an engineer and was always trying to improve things, whether they needed it or not.
Craig believed in the importance of family and was able to make one last trek to Eastern Standard for brunch and Opening Day game at Fenway in April. With Ellen local, he was able to see her family often, and he treasured being Geepa to his granddaughter Addie, spending time in the garden together picking strawberries and cherry tomatoes. And with Glenn on the West Coast, Craig was able to share Glenn’s experiences and discoveries in the Pacific Northwest. Craig delighted in grilling dinner and hosting his sisters-in-laws, Jan Ananian and Joyce Ananian, and brother-in-law Kevin Currie. The primary cook in the house, Craig was also home fixer, gardener, listener of NPR, golfer, bicycle rider, and friend. He saw the Berlin Wall fall, cheered the Tour de France, was at the Supreme Court when major decisions were handed out, attended an Olympic soccer game in Brazil, fathered two wonderful children, and had a loving wife. He lived a good life.
A devoted member of the First Congregational Church of Reading, Craig valued the embracing community and supported the church in many ways, especially actively contributing to its upkeep as a long-time member of the Property Committee. Having studied the trumpet in his youth, Craig resumed playing in later life, in the church orchestra, the North Reading Community Band, and proudly playing Taps from his porch each Memorial Day.
Craig had tremendous recall of poems he had learned in childhood and could recite them, along with famous movie lines, whenever a situation called them to mind. He loved retelling stories of his life so frequently that his listeners could recite them along with him.
Craig had fond memories of growing up in Sutton with his parents, Robert and Virginia, who predeceased him; he is also survived by his sisters Linda Vickery of Worcester and Barbara McGowan, her husband Dave, of Oxford, and their children.
There will be an opportunity to share many stories at a Memorial Service which will be held at 11:00am on September 7, at the First Congregational Church of Reading, 25 Woburn Street, Reading.
Donations in Craig’s memory can be made to whatever is near to your heart – for Craig that could be First Congregational Church of Reading, Mass Audubon, the Trustees of Reservation, public broadcasting, and wherever your contribution could make the world a better place.
