Kathryn (Kay) Snyder Nicholson

WINCHENDON - Kathryn (Kay) Snyder Nicholson passed away on Sunday, September 10, 2006 at her home in Winchendon. She leaves her beloved husband of 55 years, Jon Seymour Nicholson; two daughters, Inanna Arthen of Pepperell, MA and Jill Nicholson Sackett of Libertyville, IL; a sister, June Snyder of Titusville, FL; two grandchildren, Joseph and Katie Sackett of Libertyville, IL; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was born on November 29, 1930 in Pulaski, NY, the daughter of Bernard and Florence Snyder. She acquired advanced education in business and music and performed as a singer in countless musical organizations, including 14 years with the renowned Handel & Haydn Society in Boston. She was also an accomplished flutist, having taught private lessons and performed in many bands and orchestras over the years. During her lifetime she performed with the select Syracuse All-City Band, Syracuse Summer Parks Orchestra, the Vermont Symphony, the Springfield (VT) Community Players, the Springfield Community Band, the Spokane Choral Society, the Townsend Military Band, the Monadnock Chorus and the Monadnock Flute Ensemble. She served as Coordinator for Acton-Boxborough Community Education from its first day in 1971, helping to build it into the largest comprehensive community education program in Massachusetts before she retired in 1990. In Winchendon, she was a member or office-holder in the Winchendon Garden Club, the Winchendon Historical Society, Winarts, the Winchendon Springs Lake Association, the Friends of the Beals Library, the Winchendon Cultural Council, the Summer Solstice Committee, the Winchendon Democratic Committee and the Golden Agers. For 45 years she was a devoted Unitarian, singing in the choir in Winchendon, and holding positions on the Governing Board and in the Winchendon Unitarian Universalist women's organization, the Putnam Alliance. A private interment will be held at the Cathedral of the Pines. A memorial service and reception will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Winchendon, 126 Central Street, at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, September 24. Memorial contributions may be made to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Winchendon, or to a music organization of one's choice. www.snow-ladeau.com