Sandy Dickson of Salem, Massachusetts and Georgetown Maine, died peacefully on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, after a long illness. He was 87 years old.
Sandy was born in Boston, the son of Brenton Dickson III and Helen Paine Dickson. He spent most of his youth in Weston, MA.
He graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy and earned his BA, from Middlebury College. He went on to receive his MBA with distinction from Boston University. In September 1964 he and Elizabeth Hammond were married.
Sandy began his professional career as a supervisory underwriter at Liberty Mutual Insurance Company before joining State Street Bank in 1967. Over the course of a distinguished career, he rose to become Senior Vice President, overseeing equity and fixed income research. A Chartered Financial Analyst and active member of The Boston Security Analysts Society, he was widely respected for his integrity and analytical insight. After retiring from State Street in 1998, he remained professionally active as a private trustee with Ganson and Company Fiduciary Services.
A long-time resident of Manchester by the Sea, Sandy was an avid sailor who learned to navigate the waters of Manchester Harbor from an early age. A former member of the Manchester Yacht Club, he was especially fond of winter “Frostbiting”, racing small Dyer Dhows, no matter how biting the cold.
He also had a deep love of the outdoors, frequently hiking in the mountains of New England with his boys.
In 1999 Sandy and Betsy bought a house in Georgetown Maine overlooking the Sheepscott Bay where they spent the next 24 summers. He relinquished sailing and used a motorboat to explore the rivers and inlets around Georgetown.
Never one to slow down, he took up new pursuits in his later years. After 70, he began practicing yoga, learned to speak Italian and took up watercolor painting and art form that connected him to his father’s legacy.
Moving to Salem in 2010 he became extremely interested in Salem History and served as president of Historic Salem Inc. in 2015.
Sandy will be remembered for his intellect, his quiet strength, his love for family and his endless curiosity.
Sandy is survived by his wife Betsy; two sons, Brenton H. Dickson V of Kennebunk, Maine and William H. Dickson of Beverly, Massachusetts and seven grandchildren, all of whom brought joy to his life.
A celebration of his life will be held in Weston Massachusetts on October 4th from 2-5. RSVP to bhd@altmails.com for details.
