James was born in Sanford, Maine on April 18, 1928. He was the first son of James Francis Pickett and Lillian Johnson Pickett. He attended St. Ignatius Grammar School and graduated from Sanford High School in 1945, where he was the recipient of the Campbell Cup. While there, he was the co-captain of the football team and captain of the baseball team. In 1945, his batting average was .618 in the Telegram League. Jim played baseball for Fordham University, the Goodall-Sanford team and Gonic Mfg. Co. of Gonic, New Hampshire. He was inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992.
After graduating from Fordham University with a B.S. degree, he was a salesman for Goodall Fabrics, Inc. covering New England. After the Goodall Sanford Mills closed, he continued as a chemical salesman for Victor Chemical Works, Stauffer Chemical Company, and the W.R. Grace Company. In 1971, he joined the Allied Chemical Corporation as an area manager. In 1986 General Chemical Corporation took over the chemical division of Allied. Jim continued to work for General Chemical Corporation covering New England and New York State. In 1998, he was inducted into the General Chemical Hall of Fame for his work in developing and marketing the use of Calcium Chloride in the reconstruction of secondary roads.
He was a 27-year member of the Portland Rotary Club; an honorary member of the Knights of Columbus; inducted into the Sanford High School Hall of Fame in 2002; an honorary member of the Asphalt recycling and Reclamation Association of Annapolis, Maryland; and a member of the Transportation Research Board of Washington, D.C.
Jim is survived by his wife, Corinne Flaherty Pickett; his daughter, Maryellen Fitzpatrick and her husband Gene of Wells, Maine; sons, Matthew and his wife Julia of Dallas, Texas, Luke and his wife, Anne of Stratham, New Hampshire, and Daniel and his wife Catherine of Albany, New York; two sisters, Mrs. Earline Sugden of Englewood, Florida and Mrs. Mary Jo Shufelt of Woodbridge, Virginia; 15 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He is pre-deceased by his parents, his brother Carlton Pickett of Smithfield, Rhode Island and a sister, Mrs. Priscilla Dacus of Bullard, Texas.
In celebration of his life, a memorial mass will take place at 10 a.m. at The Cathedral of Immaculate Conception on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen, located at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Guild Hall, 307 Congress St., Portland, ME 04101 and the Portland Chapter of the Salvation Army, 297 Cumberland Ave., Portland, Maine 04101.
To view this obituary, express sympathies or share more memories of Jim with the family, please visit www.athutchins.com.
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