James Frederick Picton

SALISBURY — James Frederick Picton, age 71, of Salisbury, died peacefully on Sept. 14 after a long struggle with medical problems. He was the loving husband of Sarah (Cooke) Picton, who predeceased him. Sarah always said “Jim, you’re the best thing that ever happened to me.” Their time together was precious to Jim.

Born Nov. 22, 1952, in Hackensack, New Jersey, Jim was the first child of Frederick James Picton and Evelyn Atkinson Picton. He grew up in Watchung, New Jersey, and graduated from Watchung Hills Regional High School. After starting at Ohio Wesleyan University, he moved to New Hampshire and became a carpenter, studied English and journalism at Keene State University, and married Jennifer MacKenzie, with whom he raised three boys. He later married Paula McGray, whom he met at Quaker meetings. Their shared interests included bluegrass and traditional shape note singing.

Jim learned the trades early and had a career as a principled, accurate, and talented builder, in New Hampshire, Alaska in the late 1970’s, then in Washington, Conn., where he built a major resort inn and many fine homes. Jim built his parents’ dream house in Roxbury, where the extended family gathered, grew up, worked, and played for 40 years. He had a long building partnership with his brother Mark, based at Washington’s old Woodruff Garage.

Bold from his early days, it was Jim who built the go-carts, tree forts, and high rope swings, and always ready to go first, led his friends in adventures and misadventures. As an adult, he became a careful and dedicated pilot, and took us on many unforgettable flights above the clouds and over our amazing world. When a heart condition took away his pilot’s license, he learned to wind surf and became a certified hang glider. Jim was an excellent cook, willing to try anything especially if wild caught or gathered, odd or obscure. We will miss him cooking and serving his chowder, fishcakes, gumbo and chili.

Jim liked to empower people and let them take charge. Gently, he would say “what do you think?” meaning “when you ask a question, have the answer ready,” or sometimes “why don’t you fly the plane?” He put people at ease. He counseled conscientious objectors. His love for literature and expressive, clear writing, thinking, and talking merged with his bright humor to make him interesting and delightful company. When someone admired a newly built space, he liked to say “well, the space has always been here.” He wrote articles for building magazines and a pilot’s magazine.

Jim’s favorite place was on Cape Cod. He would walk barefoot through the dunes to fish in the surf, day or night. He loved quahogs, the smell of fish on the water, high and low tides, the shore, shoals, and the deep blue and emerald water, still and swift. His memory was sharp and clear to the last, bringing back the details we had forgotten. So he takes part of our lives with him on this journey, but we will thrive on the life he shared with us. He loved his family and friends.

Jim is survived by three sons, Derrick James, (diane Foglizzo), Dominick David (Katie Arteagaduran), and Dustin Mark Ian (Katie Picton); grandchildren Isaac, Finley, Beatrix, Antoine, Nicolas, Jackson, Frederick, Lawrence, and Romilly; brothers Mark Edward (Cynthia Williamson) and David Alan (Emiko Hayashi), sister Glynis Houde (Michael Houde); and nieces Ariel and Leah, and two nephews Hunter and Cameron.

Friends are welcome to join family at a memorial service to be held on Saturday Nov. 30 at 10:00 a.m. at the Trinity Lime Rock Church in Lakeville, CT. For those who wish to make a memorial contribution, we suggest Northeast Public Radio, the Housatonic Valley Association, or the American Red Cross of CT.

Latest News

Allyn H. Hurlburt III

CORNWALL — It is with great sadness that I share that I lost my husband, Buddy, my best friend and soulmate in a matter of minutes with no warning, at home on March 31, 2025. Our wonderful children are a testament to who he was and what we are as a family.

Buddy was born Allyn H. Hurlburt III, but went by Buddy because his father and grandfather were both Allyns too.

Keep ReadingShow less
All are welcome at The Mahaiwe

Paquito D’Rivera performs at the Mahaiwe in Great Barrington on April 5.

Geandy Pavon

Natalia Bernal is the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center’s education and community engagement manager and is, in her own words, “the one who makes sure that Mahaiwe events are accessible to all.”

The Mahaiwe’s community engagement program is rooted in the belief that the performing arts should be for everyone. “We are committed to establishing and growing partnerships with neighboring community and arts organizations to develop pathways for overcoming social and practical barriers,” Bernal explained. “Immigrants, people of color, communities with low income, those who have traditionally been underserved in the performing arts, should feel welcomed at the Mahaiwe.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Living with the things you love:
a conversation with Mary Randolph Carter
Mary Randolph Carter teaches us to surround ourselves with what matters to live happily ever after.
Carter Berg

There is magic in a home filled with the things we love, and Mary Randolph Carter, affectionately known as “Carter,” has spent a lifetime embracing that magic. Her latest book, “Live with the Things You Love … and You’ll Live Happily Ever After,” is about storytelling, joy, and honoring life’s poetry through the objects we keep.

“This is my tenth book,” Carter said. “At the root of each is my love of collecting, the thrill of the hunt, and living surrounded by things that conjure up family, friends, and memories.”

Keep ReadingShow less