Diane Theresa Tucker

Diane Tucker, 77, passed away in Alexandria, Virginia on January 2nd surrounded by her family.

Diane was in every sense a daughter of Sandwich, a dedicated leader and servant of the town and its residents, a passionate advocate for its teachers and schools, and protectoress of all that makes the town so special. Those who knew Diane appreciated her strong character, her confidence and pride, her independence of mind and natural leadership, and her frank and direct way with words. They would not be surprised that she loved the wastebasket that opened on command. But those who knew her well also experienced her incredible warmth; her wickedly funny, irreverent sense of play; her knack with penny stocks, and her loving and rock-solid friendship. Diane was full of compassion, and devoted to those around her. She was always a young spirit, a lover of animals -- all shapes and sizes-- who filled her glass table lamps with popcorn.

Diane was born in Barnstable, Massachusetts to Tina and Walter Hilliard of Sandwich. She graduated from Sandwich High School, where she was an outstanding student, basketball player, and artist. Always lovely, as a senior she was selected and awarded a scholarship as the National Cranberry Association’s Cranberry Girl.

Diane began training as a nurse at Beth Israel - Deaconess Hospital in Cambridge but soon decided to return to her hometown. She worked for several years as truck dispatcher for Campanella & Cardi, a road construction company in Forestdale.

Diane met David Tucker, a sparkly blue-eyed Air Force pilot from Peoria, Illinois, when he joined the fighter squadron at Otis Air Force Base. They were married two years later and reassigned to Glasgow, Montana, where their first child, Leslie Anne was born. Diane missed the big malamute, left behind with her own parents so much that Dave fetched him back one weekend in the cockpit of his fighter jet. The family was next stationed in Germany for a short while, but Dave was called for air combat duty in Vietnam so Diane returned with Leslie to Sandwich. In 1969, son Steven Michael was born at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida. Over the next ten years the family lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Tempe, Arizona and Duluth, Minnesota. Upon Dave’s retirement in 1979, the Tuckers settled for good in Sandwich. Diane returned to work managing operations at Aggregate Industries in South Dennis.

Diane became active in the Sandwich schools system and town government during the growth of the 1980s and early 90s as the town evolved from a rural village to a “bedroom community”. She helped found and chair the first Sandwich High School Parent Advisory Council and also chaired the PTA, working to promote strong academics and more support for teachers. Later, she chaired the Sandwich School Committee and also led the School Building Committee that oversaw the construction of two new K-8th Grade schools and a new High School, all on time and under budget. For two decades she coordinated the Sandwich Town Fair, which supports athletic programs at the high school, the Knights Theater Company, Student Council, and the high school band and chorus programs. Finally, she chaired the SHS Class Reunion Committee until she moved away. From 1990-1996, Diane also served on the Sandwich Board of Selectmen, twice as chair, while volunteering her time and expertise to numerous other efforts in the community.

Several years ago Diane was diagnosed with a form of Parkinsonism and moved to Virginia to be nearer to her children, of whom she was immensely proud. She stayed in touch with friends as long as she was able.

Diane has had an impact on the lives of many who never met her. Her passing will be mourned by all those who knew her. She will be forever missed by those of us who loved her.

Diane is survived by her daughter, Leslie Tucker, of Alexandria, Virginia and son, Steven Tucker, of Fort Washington, Maryland, and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 3-7pm on Friday at Nickerson-Bourne Funeral Home, 154 Rt. 6A in Sandwich. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11am Saturday at Corpus Christi Parish, 324 Quaker Meetinghouse Road. Burial will be in St. Peter’s Cemetery in Sandwich.

In lieu of flowers, donations marked “In Memory of Diane Tucker” mailed to Spaulding Rehabilitation Center will be directed to support the therapeutic services of the Cape Cod facility.

Spaulding Rehabilitation Network

Development Office

1575 Cambridge Street

Cambridge, MA 02138