Peter Carmichael

Peter Edwards Carmichael, 74, of Mendon, passed away Friday, January 22, 2016. Born in Plainfield, New Jersey, he was the son of the late John Carmichael and Catherine (Corley) Carmichael. Pete was the husband to Elaine (Timm) Carmichael of Mendon. Pete grew up in Plainfield, NJ and attended Montclair State College, where he played football. After graduating, Pete took a job coaching football at Watchung Hills (N.J.) High School. Pete would spend the next 40 years coaching the game he loved. He took his first college coaching job in 1965 at the Virginia Military Institute. He then went on to coach at several institutions, including UNH, Boston College, Trenton State, Columbia, Merchant Marine Academy, Louisiana Tech, University of Pittsburgh and Tufts. In 1994, Pete joined the staff of the NFL expansion Jacksonville Jaguars. Pete would spend the next ten years coaching in the NFL with the Jaguars, Browns and Bears. In his over forty years of coaching, Pete greatly influenced the lives of thousands of young student athletes, many of whom kept in touch with him well after their football careers had ended. Pete made everyone he met feel important and always found a way to make a connection with them. The only thing Pete loved more than football was his family. After finishing coaching, Pete was a regular at all ten of his grandchildrens sporting events. Besides his wife, Pete is survived by his children, Layni Ratcliffe and her husband John of Holliston, Kathy Hight and her husband Doug of Shrewsbury, and Pete Carmichael and his wife Tina (Hartman) of Destrehan, Louisiana. He also leaves behind his 10 grandchildren, Maddie, Sam and Teddy Ratcliffe, Lizzie, Jessica, Abby, and Hannah Hight, and Peter, Allie, and John Carmichael. Pete also leaves behind many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by 4 siblings. A memorial mass will be held on Friday, April 1st at 1:00p.m. at St. Mary's Church of Holliston. Arrangements are under the care of the Chesmore Funeral Home of Holliston, www.ChesmoreFuneralHome.com. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Joslin Diabetes Center, Friends of Holliston Football or Shrewsbury Youth Football Association.