NEW BEDFORD - Howard W. Nickerson, age 97, beloved husband of Joyce S. Nickerson passed away on Thursday, January 21, 2010. He had been brought into St. Luke's Hospital on Sunday from Sacred Heart with pneumonia and it was later learned that he had suffered a massive stroke at the same time. He passed away peacefully early Thursday morning. He was the son of the late Dean Nickerson and the late Jennie L. Mayhew Nickerson. He was the father of the late Barbara Sue Simmons. He is survived by his wife, daughter Jill R. Simmons, and son-in-law George G. Gray, Jr.
His life long service to the fishing industry was his passion, retiring finally at the age of 86 in 1999. He had begun his fishing career as a very young man by tub trawling in a sailing vessel, moving to commercial fishing on George's Bank as vessel engineer, and finally coming ashore. His life ashore involved a number of positions over the years. He was the Secretary/Treasurer of the Fisherman's Union in the late 50's and early 60's as well as the Port Agent for the Atlantic Fisherman's Union. He was the Chairman of the Harbor Development Commission from 1963 to1964. He served on the New Bedford Redevelopment Authority from 1961 to 1964, overseeing the construction of the Hurricane Barrier during that time. He was the New Bedford State Pier director for several years. During the 80's he was the Executive Director of the Seafood Dealers Association and president of Nickerson Associates. His last formal position, from which he retired in 1999 was as Executive Director of the Off-Shore Mariners Association.
He was a life member of the New Bedford Port Society and proudly served on the Board of Managers for many years. He was deeply concerned about the preservation of the Mariner's Home and the Seaman's Bethel on Johnny Cake Hill and its history with the city waterfront. After his retirement he was a regular guide at the Bethel talking with tourists and citizens alike about the buildings, the waterfront and its history.
Over the years he was a member of many councils and committees as a volunteer including the United Fund as director, the Labor Council, the Emergency Port Planning Committee, the Industrial Foundation, the Small Business Development Service, ONBOARD as chairman, and the Neighborhood Youth Corps. He had Governor's appointments to three committes involving the domestic seafood industry and Commonwealth Resources. He was an industry advisor to the U.S. State Department for the International Commission for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries. Working for the Congressman Hastings Keith, he went to Europe several times inspecting processing methods of Portugal, Norway, and Denmark.
He freely gave of his time and insight to anyone who wanted to learn about the industry and how to fight for that industry against those who would regulate it into oblivion. He would take classrooms full of college students around the waterfront to introduce the next generation to the industry and it's importance to the area and world economy. He took great delight in speaking with young people in schools about the industry and waterfront. He attended the endless meetings of the regulatory Fisheries Councils, always saying that if he didn't go there, then they would feel as though they could overrun the industry with impunity. Even after he no longer drove he would still attend with others to keep up the fight.
Part of that fight led him to be on the USCGC Vigilant on that fateful day of November 23, 1970, when during a fishing conference with the Russians off Menemsha Bight turned horribly wrong, making international news. Radio operator Simonas Kudirka jumped off the Russian ship Sovetskaya Litva and ended up on the cutter. That set off a series of events lasting well into the early morning hours of the next day, changing those who were there forever. The incident was later memorialized in film and print.
Fishermen and their craft were among the closest things to his heart and remained his concern until the end of his life. It was exceeded only by his love for his wife and family. He was a huge part of our lives and we will miss him very much.
Arrangements have been made, in accordance with his wishes, to have him cremated. Funeral services will be private, family only, at a later date. The arrangements are with the Wilson Chapel, 479 County Street, New Bedford (www.wilsonchapel.net).
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made in his name to the New Bedford Port Society, 15 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA 02740