George E. Bickford
1931 – 2009

WEST SPRINGFIELD – George E. Bickford, 78, of West Springfield died Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at Mercy Medical Center. A lifelong resident of the Springfield area, he was preceded in death by his parents, George F. and Louise (McLellan) Bickford, and his sister, Barbara Meliti. He is survived by his longtime companion of over 20 years, Carol E. Aiken, with whom he resided, as well as Carol's family of 4 children, 6 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, who loved him dearly. He is also survived by his brother Birnie F. Bickford, and his wife Patricia of Juno Beach, FL; his sons George B. Bickford and his wife Sally Kirtley of North Granby, CT, Paul E. Bickford of Agawam, Matthew R. Bickford of Daytona Beach, FL and James F. Bickford of Northampton; a daughter Amy E. Bickford of New Gloucester, ME; as well as several grandchildren. George, a 1947 graduate of Cathedral High School, worked as a mason and contractor for 50 years as a member of the BAC Union Local #1 and then as a starter and in the pro shop at the Oak Ridge Country Club, where he was a fixture for the last 20 years. He was a longtime member and past recording secretary of the Dante Club, the first non-Italian president of the Western Mass Bocce League, and a founding father and National Commissioner of the American Cribbage Congress of the United States. He was a statistician for the former Springfield Acorns of the Atlantic Coast Football League, and subsequently for the Hartford Charter Oaks of the Continental Football League. He was inducted into the American Cribbage Congress Hall of Fame in 2006. A special thanks to Dr. James Haddad for the compassionate care he gave to George for the past year. Also thanks to Dr. Kevin Schmidt, and to Stephanie Sawyer of the Mercy Home Health Care, who saw him weekly. Thanks also to Charlie Finley who transported him every week for cribbage. The funeral will be held at the West Springfield Curran-Jones Funeral Home Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 9:00am with Liturgy in St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Church at 10:00am, followed by burial in St. Michael's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be held Friday from 4:00 – 7:00pm. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 54C Wayside Avenue, West Springfield, MA 01089.