OBITUARY: Wilson R. Flight

Wilson R. Flight, 65, of Concord, formerly of Pepperell, died Monday, September 30, 2013 at Emerson Hospital in Concord. He was the beloved husband for forty years of Lee (Roberts) Flight and loving father of Jennifer N. Flight of Anchorage, Alaska.

Born in Everett on November 23, 1947, he was the son of the late Eli Wilson and Grace (George) Flight. He spent his formative years in Newfoundland, Canada before returning to Everett where he graduated from Everett High School. He graduated from Northeastern University with a BS in Geology, earned a Masters in Science in Geological Oceanography from the University of New Hampshire and an MBA at Rivier College in Nashua, New Hampshire. 

Mr. Flight retired in 2004 after 32 years of teaching in Concord. From 1973 until 1978 he taught Physical and General Science, Biology and Chemistry in the Concord Middle Schools. He spent the next 26 years teaching various science courses at Concord-Carlisle High School. During his tenure at CCHS, he taught Physical Science, Chemistry, Physics and most notably, Earth Science, a class he introduced during his first year at the high school. He believed the best way to learn Geology was to get on site and directly view and experience the subject matter being studied. He led students on field trips to the Canadian Rockies, the American Southwest, Iceland, Africa, and Japan. For twenty-five years, Mr. Flight led groups of students hiking, snowshoeing, backpacking, mountain biking, camping, sailing, kayaking, and rafting to every corner of Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

From 1991 until 2000, Mr. Flight was an Adjunct Professor at Lesley College in Cambridge where he taught Earth Science, Oceanography, Astronomy and a course he introduced called New England Field Studies.         

Previously, during the 1970’s, he was a Teaching Assistant in Geology at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, and worked as an Assistant Researcher on the Oyster River Tidal Project and Chief Researcher on the geology of Jeffrey’s Basin project.

In 1992, he was a finalist for the Massachusetts Teacher of the Year Award, and was recognized by the Geological Society of America as one of the Outstanding Earth Science Educators in the United States. In 1993, he received the National Science Foundation’s Presidential Award in Teaching of Science. In 1995, he received Northeastern University’s Distinguished Graduate Award for Excellence in Teaching, a Tandy Award for the Innovative use of Technology in the Classroom, and was recognized by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most creative minds in education in America.

For many years, Mr. Flight was the co-owner and operator of the Down East Outdoor Education School, a non-profit venture based in Maine that provided educational trips during the summer months for high school students. In 1985 he and his wife, Lee purchased an old Sea Captain’s Home in Searsport, Maine which they converted into a Youth Hostel to provide students with a safe and convenient base from which to explore northern New England, especially Acadia National Park.

A Concord resident since 1997, he served as Trustee of the Concord-Carlisle Scholarship Fund.

Visiting hours at the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center will be held on Wednesday, October 9th from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 PM.

A Celebration of his Life will be held on Thursday, October 10th at 3 PM in the Trinitarian Congregational Church, 54 Walden Street, Concord Center. Officiating will be the Rev. Dr. John Lombard, Senior Minister.

Burial will be in Puritan Lawn Cemetery, Peabody.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Concord-Carlisle Scholarship Fund, (The Wilson Flight Scholarship Fund), CCSF, 34 Walden Street, Unit 217, Concord, MA 01742 or to Town of Concord, (The New Ambulance Equipment Fund), 22 Monument Square, Concord, MA 01742.

Arrangements are under the care of Charles W. Dee and Susan M. Dee, DEE FUNERAL HOME OF CONCORD.  To share a remembrance in Mr. Flight's online guest book, please visit www.deefuneralhome.com