Carpenter, Jr., David E.
AGAWAM – David E. Carpenter, Jr., 81, devoted husband of 54 years to the late Billie Ann (Brewer) Carpenter, passed away peacefully May 21, 2022. Born July 9, 1940 in Springfield, MA, he was the son of the late David E.
Carpenter, Sr. and Polly (Morison) Carpenter. David attended Springfield Technical High School, and worked at Hertz, and at the Springfield Armory. He served our country proudly with the US Army from 1963-1965, stationed at
Sandia Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (He credited any marksmanship awards with being familiar with the guns, as he had assembled them at the Armory.) He was later employed with Hamilton Standard in Windsor Locks for many years, retiring from there as a computer analyst. David was a member of Old First Church in Springfield, MA until it closed in 2007, serving as a deacon, and on several search committees.
David loved spending time on the water, especially fishing and boating. He was a proud member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary for almost 45 years. On Zip Code One, a Coast Guard facility, Dave spent hundreds of hours patrolling Long Island Sound and training Auxiliary members. Also active in other Auxiliary programs, one of Dave's favorites was representing the Coast Guard at sport and boating shows in Connecticut where he was a big hit with the kids. He was a Connecticut DEP (now DEEP) Boating Safety Instructor for years, teaching hundreds of people over the years how to be safe and keep others safe on the water.
He and his wife were active with the Agawam High School Band Parents, helping out at everything from band practice to any and all events and trips – Dave's familiar maroon pickup truck always available to haul gear. They were also active in AFS (American Field Service) international student exchange program, hosting exchange students, Heidrun from Germany, Martin from Sweden and Erika from Mexico. Dave ran the Big E parking lot fundraiser for AFS for years and had a whole system for getting in as many cars in as possible!
Dave most looked forward to vacationing at Hawk's Nest Beach in Old Lyme, CT every year - the beach he had been going to since he was two months old. Around January he would start asking, ‘Is it time for the Beach yet'?
David leaves a daughter and son-in-law, Diane and Brian Lee of New Britain, CT; and several far-flung loving cousins and friends. There will be a gathering of family and friends on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 from 12:30-1:30PM at Colonial Forastiere Funeral Home, 985 Main St., Agawam, MA. A committal service with military honors will follow at 2PM in the Massachusetts Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, Agawam. Memorial
contributions may be made in David's name to the Coast Guard Foundation https://coastguardfoundation. salsalabs.org/donate/ 394 Taugwonk Road, Stonington, CT 06378 860-535-0786
For online condolences please visit www.forastiere.
com.