Heimar “Ed” Niit, founder of Door Systems Inc., Framingham, MA died on October 3, 2016 at the Leonard Morse Hospital, Natick, MA after a long, courageous battle with leukemia. Heimar was born in Saaremaa, Estonia to Marta Vält and Vladimir Niit on March 14, 1933. In 1944, Heimar and his mother Marta, escaped the island under siege by the Russians. They lived in displacement camps in Germany until 1950. At the age of 17, unable to return to his country which was now occupied by the Soviet Union, he came to the United States alone, as a sponsored displaced person. With a strong work ethic and perseverance, he taught himself English, completed his year of obligation to his sponsor at a chicken farm in Medway, MA, and attended evening classes at Northeastern University. Eventually he was employed by the former Barcol Doors of Framingham and subsequently became an installer and a salesman. By 1961, Barber-Colman Co. decided to terminate their door division in Framingham and Heimar’s enthusiasm for owning his own business prevailed. In this same year, he worked day and night, creating and building his new home on Coursebrook Road in Sherborn. This was also the year that he met his wife Beverly. They married in 1963 at the Unitarian Church in Sherborn.
Heimar was honored in 1985 by the Door Industry with the Joe Caputo Award, given in recognition of outstanding service and integrity. For ten years he served as an elected member to the International Door Association Board of Directors and as President for a two-year term, retiring in 2005. During these same years, Heimar served as a community leader, volunteering his creative skills and leadership talents in Sagamore Beach as President of the Colony Club. In Sherborn, he served on the Building Committee at Pilgrim Church, The Sherborn Community Center Board, The Town Advisory Committee, youth soccer coach for many teams, and as President of both BWL (ski league) and Boosters.
Heimar, cherished and loved by all, is survived by his wife of 53 years, Beverly, and 4 children, Brett Louis of Westboro, Heidi Niit of Hopkinton, Lars and wife, Lisa of Sherborn and Krista and husband “Pepper” Riley of Sudbury, and 10 grandchildren: Kelsey, “Jake” (John Adams), and Julia Krapf; Lexis Marsden, Erik, Abigale, and Maximus Niit; Liilia, “Chase” (Phelps Townsend), and Parker (Emilie) Riley; and many nieces and nephews.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, October 14, from 5:00 – 8:00 PM at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St., (Rt.16) Wellesley. A Funeral Service of Remembrance will be held on Sunday, October 16, 2016 at 1:00PM at the Pilgrim Church, Rt.16, Sherborn. Relatives and friends kindly invited.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to: The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, LLS, 9 Erie Drive, Suite 101, Natick, MA 01760. For an Acknowledgement Card, please note, In Memory of Heimar Niit.