VOORHEESVILLE — David Picard was caring man who was “dedicated to his family,” his brother Buddy Picard said.

David Earnest Picard died on Saturday, May 11, 2019. He was 79.

He was born on March 9, 1940, to Herman William Picard and Alice Erie Chesbro Picard. The couple were farmers, caterers, and ran Picard’s Grove in New Scotland, Buddy Picard said.

David graduated from Voorheesville’s high school in 1958.

After graduating, Mr. Picard joined the United States Navy, where he spent two years aboard the USS Forrestal, working as a yeoman, or clerk.

Mr. Picard left the Navy and returned home to work in his family’s business, Picard’s Grove, where he smiled as he “served many a cold beer and perfectly grilled steak to many loyal guests of the spot to have a clambake and steak roast at the base of the Helderberg Mountains,” his family wrote in a tribute.

Mr. Picard was the third generation of his family to work at the grove, his brother said. In addition, Mr. Picard worked for many years at Agway Oil Company, eventually becoming assistant terminal manager.

“His favorite ‘late in life’ career was as a bus driver for the Bethlehem School District,” Mr. Picard’s family wrote.

Greg Picard, Mr. Picard’s son, recalled a highlight from when he was growing up. As Greg was throwing a 63-yard pass to win the state championship for Voorheesville, he said, his father was cheering him on in the stands — then he wasn’t.

“My dad fell off the bleachers,” Greg Picard said as he laughed.

Mr. Picard met his companion, Anne Foster, about five-and-a-half years ago.

The couple’s first date, she said, “It’s etched in my mind.”

“We met at 8 a.m., for breakfast at the Ravena Diner; we ended the day at 8 p.m.,” Ms. Foster recalled.

In between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., were trips to an antiques shop, the Livingston Flea Market, and the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, where the couple was able to sit in the bleachers of Doubleday Field, Ms. Foster said.

“That was something special,” Ms. Foster said of her first date with Mr. Picard. He was quiet and had a wonderful smile, she said.

He enjoyed the nice things in life, Ms. Foster said of Mr. Picard. He was always well dressed and enjoyed going out to dinner. “One of the things that he did at the bus company,” Ms. Foster said, was to find a restaurant for a group of 18 “friends” to meet at once every six months.

“One of David’s favorite pastimes that brought him great joy was as a NASCAR and modified dirt-car racing fan,” Mr. Picard’s family wrote. He spent many Friday and Saturday nights at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway in Malta and Fonda Speedway “as a ‘pit crew’ member, selling tires and gas to the drivers, just to be part of the ‘thrill’ of racing.”

Mr. Picard was also a member of the New Salem Volunteer Fire Department for 50 years. “At every fish-fry fundraiser, Dave was in the kitchen, dipping the fish in extra batter,” Ms. Foster said.

Mr. Picard also spent many years contributing to the fire department’s fundraiser, the annual Punkintown Fair.

Mr. Picard’s father was an honorary member of the New Salem department, Ms. Foster said. “So, it’s been a long family tradition.”

“He wanted to be a fireman,” Buddy Picard said, “just like he wanted to go into the military and serve his country — plain and simple, some people want to help.”

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David Earnest Picard is survived by his companion, Anne Foster, of Climax, New York; the mother of his children, Judith Picard, of Albany; his children, Julie Russell of Kennebunkport Maine, Gregory and his wife, Sandra, of Orlando, Florida, Geoffrey and his wife, Jessica, of Chicopee, Massachusetts; and by his seven very adored grandchildren and their spouses.

He is also survived by his brother, Herman William “Buddy” Picard III and his sister, Jeanne Fish, both of Voorheesville.

A private memorial will take place at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Voorheesville, followed by a celebration of Mr. Picard’s life at the New Salem Volunteer Fire Department function hall at 694 New Salem Rd. in New Scotland on Saturday, May 18, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the New Salem Fireman’s Fund, 694 New Salem Rd., Voorheesville, New York 12186.

— Sean Mulkerrin