William Kirk ‘Wick’ Doggett Jr., 92
William Kirk “Wick” Doggett Jr., 92, passed away August 20, 2026, at his home at Newbury Court in Acton. Wick had been in hospice care for six months. He was predeceased by his wife of 68 years, Cynthia Walz Doggett, on January 10, 2026.
The son of Eleanor Franklin Bicknell and William Kirk Doggett, Wick was born June 11, 1934, in Englewood, New Jersey, the first of three boys. The family lived in Englewood and spent their summers in Chatham, starting in 1941. It was in Chatham that Wick discovered his love of the ocean. He was an avid sailor, boater, fisherman, and bird-watcher, spending many hours on Pleasant Bay and the Atlantic with his brothers Gene and Kim. At the peak of his sailing prowess, Wick competed in the open-ocean Sunfish world championship regatta in Bermuda in February 1972.
Wick graduated from The Englewood School for Boys in 1948 and Phillips Academy in 1952. He attended Yale University, earning a bachelor of science and graduating in 1956 from the ROTC program. Wick served in the U.S. Navy as an ensign on the destroyer Benham, achieving the rank of lieutenant before being honorably discharged in 1958. Wick earned his MBA from Babson College in 1970.
After the Navy, Wick started his career in manufacturing, initially with Alcoa Corp., and then moved to Gillette Co. in Boston. He had a long career at Gillette, working in manufacturing plants in Boston, Chicago, and Andover, and he later ran the St. Paul, Minnesota, plant. Wick finished his career with Gillette back in Boston in management, overseeing product distribution.
In 1957, Wick married his high school sweetheart, Cynthia, beginning a partnership that would span nearly seven decades. The couple lived in Alpine, New Jersey, before settling in Cohasset and later Wellesley. He enthusiastically introduced Cynthia to many of his passions, including fishing, boating, running, cross country skiing, and birding. After many moves as they raised their family, Wick and Cynthia retired to Acton and Chatham, where they enjoyed gardening and walking.
Wick continued to fish on his beloved boat “Skimmer,” always inviting grandchildren, friends, and cousins out to the rips to join him. Generally known as a somewhat impatient man, he tirelessly and always patiently passed on his fishing knowledge to his children, grandchildren, sons-in-law, and any friend willing to make it promptly out to the dock by 6 a.m. — because if you arrived late, you risked facing an empty boat slip.
Known as “Woohoo” to his grandchildren, Wick was a devoted grandfather, father, husband, and friend who valued family, hard work, forward planning, and spending time outdoors. He always held himself and those around him to a high standard, encouraging his family and others to give their best, take pride in their efforts, and do things with care. He lived by the simple belief that if something was worth doing, it was worth doing right — a philosophy evident in so many aspects of his life.
Wick is survived by his four children William (Kirk), Cynthia (Tia), John (Jeb), and Tiffany; daughters-in-law Laurel and Michelle; sons-in-law Stewart and John; brother John V. Doggett and his wife Toni Doggett; and 10 grandchildren Tucker, Dylan, Gray, Sawyer, Stetson, Jackson, Quentin, Verity, Finn, and Phoebe.
A private interment will take place at the Peoples Cemetery in Chatham at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of William K. Doggett to: Massachusetts Audubon Society, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773, massaudubon.org, or to The Friends of Chatham Waterways, P.O. Box 472, Chatham, MA 02633, chathamwaterways.org.
Arrangements are under the care of Acton Funeral Home, A Life Celebration Home, concordfuneral.com.
