Final Salute

Blaine Andrews Pickett, 80, of Nashville passed away peacefully at home in Nashville on July 2, 2026, after a three-year battle with cancer.

Blaine was born in Rochester, NH, November 18, 1945, the son of Robert and Edith (Chadbourne) Pickett.  He grew up in North Berwick on Wells Street in the old homestead built by his ancestors in 1763.  Every summer, Blaine and the family moved to his grandmother’s cottage at Wells Beah.  Blaine loved the beach and had many summer jobs there, including driving the Wells Beach Garbage Truck.

Blaine was a Boy Scout and attended the First Congregational Church of North Berwick, where he last sang in the fall of 2025.  He was a 1964 graduate of North Berwick High School, where he participated in football, baseball and basketball.  He also played the bass drums and cymbals in the high school band.

He attended the Leland Powers School of Radio, Television and Theatre in Boston, MA.  While there, he was lead singer in a folk group called, “The Midnight Walkers”.

After Leland Powers, he entered the United States Navy, serving with the U.S. Navy Construction Battalion (Seabees), including two tours in Vietnam.  Blaine made many Navy friendships that lasted throughout his lifetime.  He was a member of the NMCB40 organization; planning and attending many reunions and the Editor of their “Mud and Thunder” newsletter for ten years.  Blaine was very proud of his military service and was a member of the American Legion, Quint Cheney Post #87 in North Berwick.  For many years, he gave the Memorial Day address and marched in the town parade.

Following his military service, Blaine was accepted at the American Academy of Dramatic Art in New York City.  He always enjoyed performing and honed his craft at the academy.  After graduation, he lived and worked in NYC for several years.

Blaine performed at many venues from Maine to California, but his favorite was Hackmatack Playhouse in Berwick, ME.  He spent over thirty summers there, performing in their Summer Stock program.  Some of his favorite roles were Don Quixote in “Man of LaMancha”, King Arthur in “Camelot”, and the “Master of Ceremonies in “Cabaret”.  Blaine was instrumental in the early days and his humor and talent entertained countless crowds.  He returned to Hackmatack for its 40th Anniversary in 2011.   His spirit left a beautiful mark on the world.

While performing in Memphis, TN, he met his future wife, Carole Helm, at Playhouse on the Square.  They lived in Memphis for ten years while he performed at Playhouse, Theatre Memphis, Gaslight Dinner Theatre, and Circuit Playhouse.  They were married in 1987 and their first son, Matthew Webster Pickett, was born in Memphis in 1989.

They moved to Nashville in 1992 and Blaine kept busy making commercials, working at Chaffin’s Barn Dinner Theatre and Pull-Tight Players, where he won “Best Featured Performer” for his performance in, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”.  Their second son Andrew Blaine Pickett was born in 1994.

During his battle with cancer, he always kept an upbeat attitude and kept all the doctors and nurses at Vanderbilt laughing with his stories and songs.  He was known to everyone as “Blaine from Maine”.  Blaine took so much joy in life, and he enriched so many lives with his engaging personality.  He was a devout Christian and served the Lord daily.

Blaine is survived by his wife Carole (Helm) Pickett and two sons Matthew and Andrew of Tennessee; sister, Andrea Lovell and husband Joe of Somersworth, NH; brother, Spencer Pickett and wife Gloria of Wells; five nieces and nephews, several great-nieces and nephews and cousins.

A Celebration of Blaine’s life will be held Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 1pm at the First Congregational Church, 15 High Street, North Berwick, ME with Pastor Jeff Pelkey officiating.  Blaine will be laid to rest in two places he loved; with his parents in Hillside Cemetery, North Berwick and in the Sea.

Memorial Donations in Blaine’s memory may be made to The First Congregational Church, P.O. Box 565, North Berwick, ME or American Legion, Quint Cheney Post #87, P. O. Box 57, North Berwick, ME 03906.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Blaine Andrews Pickett, please visit our floral store.