Dick passed on peacefully at the VA Medical Center in Batavia on July 17, 2024. Born September 23, 1932 in Lockport, NY, he was the son of William G. and Veronica Ennis Dickenson and stepmother Rowena R Dickenson. He was the brother of Rose D. Mooney of Amherst, NY and Robert P. Dickenson of Nahant, Mass., and the brother of the late Kathryn D. Landrigan, William G. Dickenson Jr., John J. Dickenson, and James B. Dickenson. Dick gave his time generously to his nieces and nephews. He was the uncle of Daniel Landrigan, Patricia L. Quattrociocci, Kathleen L. Bolin, Maura L. Ruberto, Sheila L. Stoll, Tracey L. Chudzinski, Patrick J. Dickenson, Edward J. Dickenson, William P. Dickenson, Karen D. Robb, Anne D. Koniski, Mark B. Dickenson, Donna M. Simiele, the late James W. Dickenson, Daniel J. Mooney, the late Alberto Mooney, Thomas E. Dickenson, Michael R. Dickenson, Ellen T. Dickenson, and Stephen J. Dickenson. He was also survived by numerous grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Dick was the first student to be enrolled at the new DeSales High School in Lockport in 1946. After graduating, he attended Alfred University, majoring in animal husbandry. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean war, served afterward in the Reserves, and later attended Canisius College. He worked many years for Williams Brothers Department Store and later as a custodian with the Lockport City school district. He was skilled at home remodeling projects and was a great handyman.
Except for brief periods of living in Arizona, Dick was a faithful Western New Yorker. He was immersed in the history and botany of the area and, to the amazement of his siblings, he seemed to have a photographic memory for facts relating to these areas. He was a curious and enthusiastic learner and demonstrated this in all his various activities. Dick was a volunteer docent for the Buffalo Zoo and Tifft Farms, and volunteered at the Niagara County Historical Society and the Niagara Discovery Center. He gave historical tours of Glenwood and Cold Springs cemeteries, road tours of historical spots around Lockport and historical Community Forum interviews airing on LCTV. Dick had extensive knowledge of the history of the Lockport area and served as Lockport City Historian for a time. He and his late brother Jack hosted a Lockport history talk show on radio station WUSJ.
Dick was physically active and could often be seen riding his bike around Lockport. In younger years, he was active with the Lockport Ski Club and in later years with the Niagara Canalway annual bike tour. He worked with the Boy Scouts, was active with the Niagara County Democratic Party and served as its president for a time. A highlight of Dick’s life was the summer he spent in Thailand with the family of Duangrat Kathalae, a doctoral nursing student he befriended while she was studying at UB.
Dick will be buried in the Western New York National Cemetery in Corfu, NY, in a private ceremony. He is predeceased by his dogs, Mitzi and Thor, his cat, Rocky, and his bird, Elvis.
Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.mcandrewfuneralhomes.net.
ARRANGEMENTS WERE ENTRUSTED TO THE J. LEONARD McANDREW FUNERAL HOME, LLC, 2 BOGUE AVE., BATAVIA, NY 14020. RONALD KONIECZNY II, DIRECTOR.
