Daniel W. Bickerstaffe, 74

ALTON — Daniel W. Bickerstaffe, 74, of Downing Drive Alton Bay, N.H., passed away on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester. He was born in Newton, Mass. on June 1, 1940, the youngest of six children of Robert and Marguerite (Berry) Bickerstaffe.

Dan graduated from St. Andrews School in Barrington, R.I. in 1959. He worked for many years at Janco and later for J-Pac in Rollinsford. The friends he made there were like a second family to him.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Mary E. (O'Brien) Bickerstaffe and four of the most wonderful children in the world; a son David and a daughter Tammy of Ohio (with his first wife Connie); a daughter Dena and a son, Daniel of California (with his current wife Mary); his grandchildren, Lee, Natalie, Cole, Megan and Holden; his step-grandchildren, Katie and Victoria and many dear friends.

Besides his parents, he is predeceased by his siblings, Robert Bickerstaffe of Clearwater, Fla., Marguerite (Peggy) Lewis of Delmar, N.Y., Carol Hilton of Glastonbury, Conn., Ruth (Dede) Bickerstaffe of Newton, Mass. and David Bickerstaffe of Newton, Mass.

Some of the happiest years of his life were spent with the Alton Bay Water Ski Club. Dan was one of the first in the Bay to barefoot ski. He also loved downhill skiing at Gunstock as well as Sunday River. Even when it was 10 degrees below zero, it was the "best day yet."

Memorial contributions may be made in Dan's name to the Cocheco Valley Humane Society, 262 County Farm Road, Dover, NH 03820 or to the Alton Fire Dept., 65 Frank C Gilman Hwy, Alton, NH 03809.

Arrangements are under the direction of Wiggin-Purdy-McCooey-Dion Funeral home, 655 Central Ave., Dover, NH. A private service with burial at the New Riverside Cemetery in Alton will be held at the convenience of the family. To sign our online guestbook, please go to www.purdyfuneralservice.com