Sackett, Herbert E.

Bristol

Herbert Ezra Sackett, 96, of Bristol passed away of natural causes on October 10, 2025 surrounded by his loving family. A lifelong Rhode Islander, he graduated from Hope High School in 1946 and from Rhode Island State College in 1950 with a degree in business administration.  Along the way, he made many lifelong friends.

His involvement in the family greeting card business began at 13 years old. Founded by his father, Morris, Sackett’s Greeting Cards was one of the first postcard and greeting card specialty stores in the Northeast. Herb predicted his career choice at Nathan Bishop Junior High School, writing he “found out by actual experience that [he liked] this type of work very much.” Taking over in 1968, he grew the business into a 60-store chain across six states. He was a trailblazing leader of the card and gift industry and was featured on the cover of the May 1991 issue of the Gift and Stationery Business magazine.

In retirement, he embraced life fully by skiing at Stratton every week until age 84, spending time with his grandchildren, collecting antique canes, cheering on the Red Sox and Patriots, and supporting causes close to his heart, including hospice care. He was a proud and active member of the Jewish communities at Temple Emanu-El, which his parents helped found, and United Brothers Synagogue in Bristol, where he served as board member and treasurer.

Herb was known for his generosity, common sense advice and wry sense of humor. His legacy lives on through his loving family, the countless lives he touched in his business and friendships, and his enduring example of a life lived with purpose, passion and compassion.

He is survived by his loving partner, Ronnee Wasserman; his children, Richard Sackett and his partner Ann Demarais of New York City, and Shelley Sackett and her partner Lenny Rotman of Swampscott, Massachusetts; his grandchildren, Alexander, Julia, and James Sackett Roseman and Taylor and Mimi Sakarett, and his great-grandchildren Leo, Sela and Kai; Ronnee’s children, Judy Matt and Steven Schwartz; her grandchildren, Alyssa, Sabrina, Daniel, Devin and Michael, and great-grandchildren, Beckham and Summer Jo. He was predeceased by his parents Morris and Evelyn (Sergy) Sackett and his sisters Shirley Helen Sackett and Edna Miriam (Sackett) Sonkin.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 16 at 11:00 AM at Shalom Memorial Chapel, 1100 New London Avenue, Cranston, Rhode Island. Contributions in his memory may be made to Hope Health, United Brothers Synagogue, or Temple Emanu-El.

Shiva will be held at Temple Emanu-El, 99 Taft Ave., Providence, RI on Thursday from 5-7 p.m., with minyan at 5:45 p.m.

To view the pre-recorded service, please click here.