Diane Bouchard

Diane Bouchard of Brewster died March 16. She was born January 8th, 1923 in California; but when her mother died, she moved to New York City to live with her father. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from NYU in 1944 as an English major and wrote her thesis, which she fondly referred to as her “book,” on King Lear. Diane was a Shakespeare enthusiast from then on.

Her career was spent as an assistant to her father, photographer Thomas Bouchard, first at his studio on 40th St in NYC and later at the Chelsea Hotel. She was involved with his photo shoots

of famous people such as Martha Graham, and during the making of his movies on Miro, Leger, Helion. She delighted in her friendship with artists and scholars and maintained correspondence with many.

She had fond memories of the summer she produced plays in Brewster on the terrace of their converted cranberry barn, recruiting local residents to act and making costumes for elaborate productions of Alice in Wonderland, Henry VIII, The Player Queen and her favorite, King Lear. She proudly said it was thought to be unproduceable and hers was the first production in 50 years.

In 1974 she and her father became permanent residents of Brewster. She was active as a volunteer for The Museum of Natural History and the Brewster Ladies’ Library and continued to assist her father's photographic endeavors. When he died in 1984, she dedicated her efforts to organizing and protecting his large body of work. She was an ardent conservationist and friend of the Brewster Conservation Trust, putting most of her land under a conservation agreement.

Diane was the last of the vital artistic community in West Brewster that flourished in the mid-20th century. Her friends and neighbors will miss her quick wit and intelligent conversation.

In honor of Diane Bouchard please send donations to the Brewster Conservation Trust, Box 268, Brewster, MA, 02631 or the Brewster Ladies’ Library 1822 Main St, Brewster, MA, 02631.

For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com