Wayne Mezitt

Wayne Mezitt, 81, of Hopkinton passed away peacefully on July 18, 2024, after a brief illness and surrounded by his family. Born in Boston, he was the son of the late Wally “Vallya” (Bralit) and Edmund V. Mezitt. He was the husband of 59 years to Elizabeth (Pickering) Mezitt of Hopkinton.

Wayne moved to Hopkinton from Weston and was a graduate of Hopkinton High School in the class of 1960. After high school, Wayne earned his B.A. from Cornell University and stayed on at Cornell to earn his MBA in 1966. After college, Wayne went to work at the family business, Weston Nurseries. Wayne contributed to and expanded the family business alongside his father and brother, Roger. His dedication to hybridizing and growing plants played a pivotal role in making Weston Nurseries one of New England’s largest and most successful nurseries, now in its 101st year and run by the fourth generation. Many of the plants introduced and grown by Ed and Wayne have become industry staples that have beautified landscapes all around the country.

Wayne’s horticultural legacy spans over six decades. He enjoyed being involved with many organizations and was well known throughout the industry. Wayne was a member and held positions in the American Nursery and Landscape Association (past president), the International Plant Propagators’ Association (Eastern Region fellow), the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association (past president), the New England Botanical Garden (board member), the Massachusetts Horticultural Society (past chair), the Massachusetts Invasive Plant Council (president), the Horticultural Club of Boston (past president), the Massachusetts Agricultural Club (past president), the Magnolia Society and the American Rhododendron Society.

He has received many awards recognizing his contributions to horticulture, including the Massachusetts Horticultural Society Gold Medal, the New England Botanical Garden Carey Award, the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture Gold Medal and the Massachusetts Chapter Rhododendron Society Gold Medal. He recently was named an honorary lifetime member of the Horticultural Club of Boston. He was a true leader in the sense that he brought unlimited energy to untold numbers of individuals he knew and to organizations to which he belonged.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Wayne had a fondness for skiing, golf, woodworking, traveling, reading, cooking and wine. He and Beth cherished the holidays and travel time spent with his family and friends. He especially enjoyed spending time with family and friends at the family ski house in Vermont. As an active gardener, Wayne maintained acres of land around his home filled with unusual and specimen plants and often traded plants with plant enthusiasts. He was an avid vegetable gardener who loved to share all he grew.

In addition to his wife, Wayne is survived by four children and nine grandchildren: son Peter Mezitt and wife Karen and children Nathan, Anna and Madeline; daughter Laurel Provencher and husband Bob and children Katrina and Jack; daughter Cyndy Lindeman and husband Andy and children Braden and Graham; and son Brian Mezitt and wife Cara and children William and Cullen. He is predeceased by his brother, Roger Mezitt.

Following a private family service, visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 30, from 4-7 p.m. at Chesmore Funeral Home in Hopkinton, 57 Hayden Rowe Street. A celebration of life will be held in the near future. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Massachusetts Horticultural Society (Elm Bank) at masshort.org/support/donate, Worcester Country Horticultural Society (New England Botanical Garden) at purchase.nebg.org/donation.aspx, or the Horticultural Research Institute (Edmond V. Mezitt Research Grant) at hriresearch.org or 2130 Stella Court, Columbus, OH 43215.

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