WHS concert Jan. 27 will help well-known city family recover from tragedy

WOONSOCKET – Ernest ‘Pete’ Picard has been the co-owner of a popular city business for some 32 years, an active member of St. Joseph’s parish, and enthusiast supporter of local causes, from Girl Scout fundraisers to the Milk Fund.

Now, Picard and his family find themselves in need of some help of their own.

Picard suffered a traumatic brain injury after a fall from a ladder in his home garage in November of 2015, an accident that left the 63-year-old father without full mobility or cognitive function, and led to the closure of his Diamond Hill Road business, Nys Flowers. Since then, he’s gone through months of in-patient rehabilitation and has suffered from respiratory and kidney failure, severe muscle atrophy, a bed sore, and many serious infections.

It’s costly medical care, noted daughter Allyson Picard, and it’s far from over.

“It was such an absurd amount of money,” said Allyson adding that while some expenses have been covered under insurance, “There’s things that aren’t covered.”

The family is in need of a wheel chair ramp going from the street to their front door, a wheelchair accessible van, and other medical supplies for Picard’s quality of life.

And with expenses quickly adding up, Allyson has organized a fundraising effort that will include a 20-act concert with her fellow alumni from Woonsocket High School.

Picard started working at Nys Flowers in 1972 at age of 19 under original owner Bob Nys. In 1985, he and partner Eileen Faford, another longtime employee, purchased the business.

A city native and alumni of Woonsocket High School, Picard is a member of Elks Lodge 850 in Woonsocket, and is known for providing flowers whenever the organization has needed them for events, from parties and fundraisers, to funerals. He is also an active member of St. Joseph Church where, before the accident, he served as an Eucharistic minister, and ran church bingo every Tuesday night. A devoted member of church liturgical committee, Picard would also help to decorate the building for holidays each year.

He was also an avid gardener.

“My dad loved to do yard work. He was always outside planting flowers or gardening,” said Allyson. “He taught me how to garden.”

Asked how his friends and customers would describe him, Picard himself said, “outgoing.”

“I think he’s right,” said Allyson.

“As a business owner, my dad was always there for other people,” said Allyson. A member of the Buy Local community, Picard said her father also always jumped in to help others.

“My dad was always happy to contribute. He has a heart of gold. He’s the most generous, loving and kind-hearted person in my life,” she said. “I’m so thankful to have someone like him as my dad.”

Picard was in critical condition until January of 2016, and was discharged to two different rehab centers until last July. Allyson says that because of the continuous infections, her father did not receive the proper rehabilitation that he needed from the brain injury. Family members noticed that once he was discharged home last summer, he was not progressing at his top potential.

Picard was admitted into another rehab center in October, and was able to regain some of his ability to walk again.

He returned home in November, but needs constant care from a visiting nurse, physical, occupational and speech therapists, and a CNA. His wife, Mary, has had to take a year off from her job at Walmart to help with his medical care.

Allyson said insurance only covers a certain portion of the aid, and does not include a CNA, or expenses such as doctor’s visits.

“He is in need of constant care and rehabilitation – physical, occupational, speech therapy. Seeing all these bills add up, I thought a fundraiser would be a great idea,” said Allyson.

“He has a lot of friends and people who know him.”

Allyson herself graduated third in her class from WHS in 2015, after serving for several years as president of the chorus. Now a student at Rhode Island College, the 19-year-old reached out to the Woonsocket school’s active music-based community for help, starting with music directors Lisa Alves and Christopher Depot.

“They knew my dad and they knew the situation, so they were extremely willing to help,” she said.

Allyson has planned “A Night of Music for Pete’s Sake, a music-fillled night at Woonsocket High School to promote brain injury awareness while helping to raise money for her parents. The benefit will be held on Friday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m., and will include musical acts from alumni and current WHS music department and dance students. The “collage concert” will also feature a raffle with various prizes. Admission is $10, or $5 for current WHS students.

The musical and dance program will feature performances by Emily Luther, Joseph Morse, Nicholas Laroche Halar, Bianca Corriveau, Marissa Silva, Jacob Chippo, Zachary Richards, Jennifer Pierel, and Alison Pierel.

Allyson will also be part of the 20-act show, with Noel Pincince serving as master of ceremonies.

In case of inclement weather, a snow-date has been arranged for Saturday, Jan. 28.

It is a community-wide effort to raise funds for a family that has often been involved with helping others in the past.

“It was incredible that so many people were willing to help and perform,” noted Allyson. “Many of them are close friends of mine.”

Tickets for the concert are available at St. Joseph Church Rectory, Pepin Lumber, Missy’s Family Restaurant, the two Woonsocket area broadcast radio stations, The Coachmen’s Lodge, Woonsocket High School Music Department, Woonsocket Area Career and Technical Center, The Opulent Squid, Hair We Are, and The Honey Shop on Park Avenue. They will also be available at the door on the night of the fundraiser.

The family is also accepting personal donations and business sponsorships for the program. For details, email alliepicard13@gmail.com.

If you are unable to attend the event, but would like to make a donation, visit https://www.gofundme.com/ek-petes-medical-expenses .