| DECEMBER 13, 2012 -- They say good things come in small packages and there is great truth to that when you take the case of Donald K. Peck! He was small in stature, but definitely a “good thing.”
Don, a banker from Litchfield, was a worker – for his family, the Grange, his church and community, his country and his fellowman.
My first recollection of Don was at a meeting of Litchfield Grange in the early 1950’s when my Subordinate Grange was invited to neighbor and take a number for the program. As the new young lecturer from West Hartford Grange, I used a little skit where I asked three men from the group to come on stage where I made them into kneeling flowers and proceeded to give them the “works.” I was impressed with the way one of these “draftees” got into the spirit of things and really had the audience going. When I got back to my seat I just about fainted when someone told me this nice fellow I had made into a pretty silly spectacle was the Overseer of the Connecticut State Grange. I was devastated, but later realized I had made a friend for life!
We could fill a paper about Don and his accomplishments. How many times did we have him tell the story of how he and Sherwood Berger (of Winchester Grange) stood on the bank of Park Pond in Winchester Center looking at the water and surrounding woods where Sherwood’s mother Maud Isbell Berger, had spent many hours communing with nature. They spoke of the possibility of some of the land being used to establish a camp for children. Don asked how much it would take to obtain some of the property. The reply from Sherry was “would one dollar be alright?” That was a moment Don would never forget! The State Grange paid the asking price and later purchased an adjoining parcel of land as the Camp grew. The cabins went up along with the Alta-Don Hall. Don served as State Master from 1953 to 1957. As each new Master and groups had come along everyone has worked to make the Camp what it is today.
Last month via this column we told you how Alta was appointed as Director of the National Women’s Department - a position she filled for almost twenty years. Don continued to serve National even after Alta was called to the Great Grange above.
In due time he took a new wife in the person of Ruth Gray from Litchfield. Ruth, a quiet little lady (who at the time was Marion Beecher’s babysitter) was warm and friendly and liked by everybody. She joined Don in all of his Grange work. We know Don held some kind of a record for attending the most consecutive National Conventions with well over thirty- but can’t seem to find anyone who can tell us exactly how many.
Don loved taking part or directing the backstage work of the Seventh Degree. He did everything from make-up to showing or narrating the slide program which is an important part of that beautiful degree. High Priest Emeritus, Woodrow Tucker, speaks fondly of Don and tells how fortunate he feels having had him to work with throughout his years at National.
At one time in our state we had a number of installing teams. The Peck Team was one of the best. Hundreds of officers were put into service by the well-performing teams.
Don had a nice singing voice and took his place in the back row of the Mountain County Choristers for almost as long as the group was working. There were times when you couldn’t see Don (Frank Prelli often offered to get him a box to stand on) but you could always hear that tenor. Ruth sang with the chorus as well.
One of the Peck’s favorite places was their cottage on Bantam Lake. Over the years they took a lot of kidding about their evening swims- but I won’t go any further into that.
Sometime when you are at Camp Berger and a gentle breeze is blowing through the trees- listen carefully and you might hear the humming of a very special tenor voice.
Do remember Don Peck. |
