- Date Of Birth: January 23, 1930
- Date Of Death: August 5, 2016
- State: Massachusetts
GROVELAND – E.D. (Don) Hebert, 86, of Groveland, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 5 with his family around him.
Born in New Jersey, Don moved his growing family to Lynn, MA where he worked for General Electric for 33 years. He retired early and spent time teaching tennis and skiing each in its season.
Don’s name followed a family trend where his grandfather, named Philibert, named his father after himself, Philibert Ernest, but called him Ernest all his life. Don received the first name Ernest, but was always called Donald, so he has been Don since January 23, 1930.
A great year was 1950 when Don received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology and married Carol, his wife of 66 years. He started a career as an engineer in the field of jet engines. He was first employed at Wright Aeronautics in Woodridge, NJ but then moved to General Electric in Lynn, where the small jet engine was making significant progress mainly in fighter aircraft. Don advanced to Main Fuel Controls and the manager of Controls Testing during his years at GE.
Don and Carol raised six children. The family has grown and now includes seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
In 1975 they made a Marriage Encounter weekend after which they were introduced to Engaged Encounter. Over the next 23 years they presented over 80 weekends. The intent of Marriage Encounter was to preserve good marriage in mid-life crisis. For Engaged Encounter, it was to ensure a firm basic beginning for those about to start their life together. These weekends were attended by about twenty-five engaged couples.
Don took great pride in his athletic endeavors including bowling, skiing, tennis and most recently, spinning! In 1975, he joined the United States Professional Tennis Association (USTA) teaching tennis to GE workers after the normal work hours. He also joined the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) allowing him to start teaching at the Bradford Ski Area which was close by for many years. Until his death, he maintained memberships in both associations.
Ten pin bowling was also one of his sporting activities. In 1966, he bowled in a tournament sponsored by the Peabody Times newspaper which they won! In 1995 he bowled two consecutive games, one a score of 289 (ten strikes), the other a
score of 259. His record also included two 700 series.
His surviving family members include his loving wife, Carol Hebert, whom they shared 66 years of marriage; six children, Tom Hebert and wife Diane of Newton, NH, Paul Hebert and wife Janet of San Jose, CA, Marie Camillieri and husband Rick of Kissimmee, FL, Valerie Riffle and husband Mark of Este Park, CO, Julie Powers and husband Kenneth of Brewster, MA and Jim Hebert and wife Sandra of Derry, NH; also survived by his cherished seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Don also enjoyed spinning and was often cheered on by much younger people in the class.
