Obituary of Liam D. Pickett

Liam Donahue Pickett, 31, of Niskayuna, NY suddenly passed away on Tuesday, November 28, 2023.  Born on August 16, 1992 in Albany to James and Maura (Donahue) Pickett, he was the oldest of three children.  Liam was a kind, gentle, and unselfish teacher and suffered a burst aortic artery in his classroom soon after his last class of the day.

Liam graduated from Colonie Central High School in 2011 and Marist College in 2015 with a degree in biochemistry.  He played cello in the orchestras of both schools and became very interested in theater production at Marist.  He was involved in many student productions at Marist and became a member of National Theatre Honor Society Alpha Psi Omega.

Liam always wanted to be a teacher.  He was a chemistry, earth science, and drama teacher at the Doane Stuart School for 6 years where he revived the theater program and directed many shows.  He was named a NewsChannel 13 “Top Teacher” in 2019.  Since 2022, he was a beloved chemistry teacher at Amsterdam High School and for 5 years the proud founder, producer, and director of Footloose Theater Programs, a theater summer camp in Albany.  He also taught at “Mad Science” summer programs for younger children.

Liam was involved from childhood with Saratoga’s Home Made Theater in roles ranging from light hang assistant to running crew, props, assistant director, and stage manager.  He even appeared on stage in The Curious Incident of the Dog in Night-Time.  He was directing a play at Sand Lake Center for the Arts at the time of his death.  Liam loved hiking with friends, hanging out with his siblings, building sand cities on Cape Cod, and attending innumerable plays and musicals with his mother and brother, especially at Proctors and on Broadway.

He loved all and was loved by all, especially his chemistry and theater students.  In one of his last Facebook posts, he wrote that he was beginning to understand the positive impact he had on his students and the satisfaction that gave him.  He was always grateful for what his students taught him, and that made him a great teacher.  Liam touched many lives in the Capital Region during his too short life—his students, teaching and theater colleagues, and family.

Liam is survived by his parents, brother Jacob, sister Abigail, beloved godmother Dorine (Pixie) Fuller, grandmother Doris Pickett Sutherland (Plainwell, MI), aunts and uncles Tim and Linda Donahue of Mechanicville, Pixie Fuller and Jim Tansey of Valatie, Susan and Tim Lesar of Round Lake, Gail Pickett, Jerry and Dee Pickett, and Bob Pickett of Plainwell, MI as well as many cousins.  He was pre-deceased by uncle and godfather Barry Fuller of Delmar, grandparents Eugene (Dunny) and Virginia Donahue of Mechanicville and William S. Pickett of Plainwell, MI. 

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at St. John the Evangelist Church, 806 Union St., Schenectady.  Relatives and friends are invited and may also visit with Liam’s family Tuesday from 4 - 7 p.m. at the Reilly & Son Funeral Home, 1200 Central Ave., Colonie.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Liam to Home Made Theater in Saratoga Springs at  https://ci.ovationtix.com/35983/store/donations/51776 , South Colonie Dollars for Scholars theater scholarship,South Colonie Dollars for Scholars, Inc.

(https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=RLYAN3M6CMXAW  , in the note section indicate “Liam Pickett”) PO Box 12413 Albany, NY 12212-2413 Memo: Liam Pickett Scholarship or to Amsterdam High School science scholarship.