Priscilla Dickson

The daughter of Carl M. and Edith S. Nye, Polly was born in St. Paul, MN in 1927, the middle of three sisters. Polly graduated from the Summit School in 1945 and went on to earn a BA in Physiological Chemistry from Smith College in 1949, a Masters in Social Work from Simmons College in 1952, and a Doctorate in Ministry from Episcopal Divinity School in 1992.

Polly worked as a social worker for ten years in Boston, MA, and Denver, CO, before marrying Edward M. Dickson in 1960 and moving to Weston, MA. Polly volunteered for many organizations, including the Boston Center for Blind Children (serving as Board Chair), METCO, and St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, where she served as Warden and worked as Coordinator of Lay Ministry. She served on the Anti-Racism Task Force of the Diocese of Massachusetts, co-wrote the Episcopal Church’s first anti-racism manual, and led anti-racism workshops across the country. Polly also served on the board of the Episcopal City Mission and worked with the Hispanic Ministries of the Diocese. She was a founding member and organizer of the Weston/Wayland Interfaith Action Group. When she moved to Chatham, she became an active member of St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, helping implement anti-racism curriculum there also.

Polly’s social activism took many forms, from anti-apartheid marches in the 1980’s to holding an anti-war sign weekly at an intersection in Weston in the 2000’s. As part of her opposition to U.S. involvement in Nicaragua, in 1986 she went to the war zone for two weeks with Witness for Peace. In June 2020, at the age of 93, she participated in a Black Lives Matter march on Cape Cod.

Polly focused much of her efforts on affordable housing. She and Ed donated 11 acres of land to build an 18-unit mixed income housing complex. After Dickson Meadows was completed in 2002, Polly co-founded the Weston Affordable Housing Foundation. In 2004, Polly was recognized by the Episcopal City Mission with the Bishop Morris F. Arnold Award for her social justice work and for Dickson Meadows: “Polly Dickson has been a perennial, gentle, loving presence, reminding her faith community of the prophetic call to ‘do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.’” In 2013 as part of the town of Weston’s 300th Commemoration, Polly and Ed were honored together as recipients of a J. Ward Carter Civic Award. The award’s text recognized Polly’s passion for “making Weston a more inclusive community” and described her as the” social conscience of the town,” especially for her “keen interest in building community by promoting greater understanding of religious, individual and cultural differences.”

Polly spent summers on Pleasant Bay on Cape Cod since 1941. She loved sailing and was an active member of Chatham Yacht Club, helping to run the races and winning the CYC Regatta Sportsmanship Award in 2021 for her years of dedication. She was also an avid supporter of Pleasant Bay Community Boating. Polly loved music and sang in the church choir for many decades. She played tennis well into her 80’s.

Polly was predeceased by her husband, Edward, and her sister Elizabeth Nye Suter. She is survived by her sister, Edith Nye MacMullen, of Amherst, MA, and her four children: Ted (Melissa) of Matthews, NC, Carol (Bruce Howlett) of East Montpelier, VT, Carl (Judith Jackson) of Madison, WI, and John (Bridget) of Brewster, MA. She is also survived by seven grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 12 noon at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Weston, MA, on Saturday, June 25, with reception to follow. A celebration of her life is also planned for this summer in Chatham.

In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Polly’s commitment to social justice may be made to the Episcopal City Mission (www.episcopalcitymission.org), Roxbury Weston Programs (www.roxwes.org), or WATCH (Waltham Alliance for Teaching, Community Organizing and Housing, www.watchcdc.org). For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com.