Horace Farnham Field III of Mattapoisett, MA – aka Dicky and/or Sam - passed peacefully on July 23, 2021, surrounded by his loving family. Born 1933 in Salem, MA, he was the oldest of four children to the late Horace Farnham Field, Jr. and Katherine (Fabens) Field. As a child, he spent his years residing in Northfield, MA with much time also spent in Mattapoisett, MA. He was the husband of Karen (Jorgensen) Field for 53 years.
Horace’s interests from an early age led him to aviation, and he was forever playing with wings. He earned his pilot’s license barnstorming in taildraggers at the age of sixteen. Following early education, he joined the U.S. Army and deployed to the 1st Division working on L-19/O-1 Bird Dog observation aircraft in post-war Germany. He was a veteran of the Korean War. Following military service, he returned to study at East Coast Aero Tech in Bedford, MA before embarking on a long career split between Kaman Aerospace and Sikorsky Helicopters. His early work included field service roles in Burma, Pakistan and Iran. Horace returned to the States in the mid-60s and was stationed in Lakehurst, NJ where he met his wife, Karen. The pair left together in 1969 for new assignments in Japan, The Philippines, and the Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club, where he worked closely with the Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC-7 ‘Sea Devils’) of the U.S. Navy 7th Fleet during the Vietnam War. The early 70’s Horace was assigned to Naples, Italy and then Norfolk VA. Horace moved his family to Scotland in 1978 to cover Europe and on to England in 1982 where he began managing Europe, the Middle East and Africa in the business divisions of Sikorsky. In the early 1990s he returned to the field supporting the Air National Guard in Alaska, the Pacific Fleet in California, and various operations in North Carolina. He had a brief tour in Australia before wrapping up his career at Sikorsky headquarters in Connecticut, retiring in 1999.
Upon retirement, Horace returned to Mattapoisett and attended Massachusetts Maritime Academy, completing the Harbormaster training as well as the Plymouth County Police Academy program. He proudly became Harbormaster for Mattapoisett and served a few highly enjoyable years in this capacity.
Personally, Horace was a family man who loved and cherished his family, friends, and community. He was an avid pilot, hunter and sportsman, sailor and navigator, walking stick craftsman, joke teller, and black lab companion. He donated use of family land in Northfield, MA annually for the ORR Survival Program. He was honored as 2013 Mattapoisett Man of the Year. He volunteered for Buzzards Bay Coalition, receiving the Guardian Award in 2016. He was a member of the EAA and Harmony Masonic Lodge.
Horace is survived by his wife, Karen, and their children Libby Field, Gaynor (Phillip) Frost, and Horace (Emily) F. Field IV; three grandchildren Charlotte, Horace, and Harrod, his brother James Field of Northfield, MA, and several dear extended family members. He was predeceased by his sister, Sally Patenaude, and brother, Charles Field.
Funeral services are private. Memorials can be made to Mattapoisett Harbormaster c/o Jamie McIntosh, or Helping Hands and Hooves, Mattapoisett, MA. For online condolence book, please visit: www.saundersdwyer.com.