By David Taber

Bobby “Boris” Pickett, who graduated from Somerville High School in 1956 and went on to fame as the composer and performer of the Halloween hit “Monster Mash” passed away Wednesday, April 26.

Pickett was fondly remembered by classmates for his cheerful, fun loving nature prior to his incarnation as a Boris Karloff impersonating Halloween favorite.

“He was always into acting, doing all those things, clowning around, he was a great comedian,” said Marilyn Publicover, who graduated from Somerville High School with Pickett.

Before he gained fame singing of the dancing dead, Pickett was famous locally for being the first one in his high school class to own a car.

‚ÄúWe would pile in and ride around in a way that is totally illegal,‚Äù Patricia Kilty, a classmate of Pickett‚Äôs said. 

Bruce Brown, who graduated in 1955 said his clearest memory of Pickett was when Brown came up with a slogan for Pickett’s father’s campaign for a ward alderman seat.

“I used to tell him, ‘don’t just rub your nose, Pickett for alderman’,” Brown said.

None of his classmates recalled Halloween being a particularly notable holiday for the man who would go on to make a name for himself singing songs about the pantheon of popular ghouls and goblins.

“I don’t recall that Halloween was a big deal for him, where that came from is a mystery,” Kilty said.

Pickett was 69 and died due to complications from leukemia. He was interred last week in California, and is survived by his daughter, his sister and two grandchildren, according to reports.