Richard (Dick) Carl Hedstrom, age 82 of Hingham, MA, died with his beloved daughter at his side on Friday morning, September 28, 2018 after battling many years with Alzheimer’s disease. Born September 25, 1936, in Fitchburg MA, he was the son of the late Oscar G. Hedstrom and Ruth E. Hedstrom. Dick grew up in Gardner, MA and later attended the Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania.
While at Mercersburg, Dick enjoyed wrestling, was an active member in many school activities, and excelled academically. Dick went on to serve 4 years in the National Guard and attained his degree in Business Administration from Babson College and an accounting degree from Bentley College. In 1961, he met his beloved wife, the late Elizabeth (Bettie) Carmichael Hedstrom, on Lake Sunapee, NH.
They were happily married for 49 years. Dick’s early career began with the family business, Hedstrom Union Company (Corporation), which was founded (1915) by his grandfather, Carl H. Hedstrom, in Gardner, MA. The company manufactured a full line of juvenile products (baby carriages, changing tables, bicycles, tricycles, swing sets, etc.
) and had plants in Gardner and Fitchburg, MA and later in Dothan AL and Bedford, PA in the early 1960s. Dick served the family business well (1961-1974) as treasurer and VP and was integral in the transition of the business to Brown Group (known for Buster Brown) until 1974. He ultimately returned to Gardner in the late 1970s and worked for many years as the controller for Conant-Ball Furniture Company.
He later worked as the CFO at the American Red Cross in Boston before retiring early to help lovingly care for his aging mother. Dick and Bettie enjoyed their retirement years in Hingham. They were active in the Hingham Congregational Church and he enjoyed sailing, fishing and traveling to many parts of the world with Bettie and his family.
Dick can best be remembered for his genuine kindness and generosity to others, his fun sense of humor and strong moral character. He is survived by his daughter, Heather Hedstrom Lapham and her husband, James and their two sons, Leonard and Luke, all of Pembroke, MA, as well as his son, Richard A. Hedstrom, his wife, Jacqueline and their three sons, William, Benjamin and Alex, all of Kingston, MA. Dick is also survived by his sister, Judy Hedstrom Loomis and her husband, Peter, both of Pocasset, MA and his niece, nephew, their spouses, and three great-nieces and a great-nephew.
He also leaves behind a brother-in-law, Robert C. Carmichael, of Vermont, his two sons, and many nieces and nephews in Vermont, Maine, and North Carolina. We would like to extend a special thank you to the caring professionals of Cardigan Nursing Home in Scituate, MA for their amazing care and support of Dick throughout the years. Visiting hours will be held at the Downing Cottage Funeral Chapel, 21 Pond Street Hingham on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 from 4 to 8 p.m. A funeral service will be held at Downing Cottage Funeral Chapel on Thursday, October 4, 2018 at 10:00am with interment at the Hingham Cemetery immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Alzheimer’s Association.
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