Otis Stanworth Nickerson

Otis Stanworth Nickerson, age 90, died on Saturday, December 28, 2013 in Port Charlotte, Florida. Mr. Nickerson was born on Nantucket and graduated from Nantucket High School in 1940. He was president of his class in 1938 and 1939 and editor of the school newspaper in 1930 and 1940. Mr. Nickerson was very proud of his service to his country in WWII. He joined the US Army in October 1940 and served until Oct. 1945. He attained the rank of S/Sgt. and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge while leading his infantry squad in an attack on a machine gun on Jan. 22, 1945. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, ETO campaign ribbon with six battle stars, as well as other service medals. Mr. Nickerson was active in the IOOF, serving as Noble Grand of Nantucket Lodge, # 66 in 1951, and a Secretary and Financial Secretary of Cape Cod Lodge, # 132, for many years. He was also a Past Chief Patriarch of the Encampment branch of the order in both lodges. He also served as a district deputy grand master for many years in both branches. He also was a 50-year member of Union Lodge F. & A.M., and the Congregational Church of Nantucket. He was the oldest Past Commander of Sidney and Robert Henderson Post 8608 of the VFW in Nantucket and a life member of the DAV Post No. 96 in Hyannis and VFW Post 8203 in North Port, FL. He was a printer and employed at the Cape Cod Times for 27 years, retiring in 1987. He resided in North Port, Florida, from then on, returning to the Cape in the summer. He was also a patrolman on the Nantucket Police Dept. and a spare dispatcher at the Barnstable County Sheriff's Department I the late 50's and early 60's. Mr. Nickerson was an avid golfer and was a member of Bas River Golf Club. He was 2nd Flight Champion of Lake Venice (FL) Golf club in 1997 and runner-up the following year, and had had three hole-in-ones in his career, all on the Cape. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Florence A. (Burdick) of North Port and South Yarmouth; three sons, David S. of North Port, Gary N. of South Yarmouth and Scott W. of West Yarmouth, four grandchildren; two step-sisters, Arlene Gibbs of Nantucket and Barbara Brasby of Haxtun, CO; a sister-in-law, Sybil Nickerson of Nantucket and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Willard H. Nickerson of Danvers, MA and Edwin S. Nickerson of Nantucket. He was the son of the late Mr. & Mrs. Willard E. Nickerson of Nantucket. Funeral arrangements are incomplete, but his remains will be interred in Bourne National Cemetery in Bourne, Massachusetts. Memorial donations may be made to Tidewell Hospice, Inc., 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, Florida 34238. Farley Funeral Home in North Port is handling the arrangements. To send condolences please visit www.farleyfuneralhome.com.