Arthur J. Lettieri

Arthur J. Lettieri WESTMINSTER Arthur Jefferson Lettieri, 79, of Westminster , aka Art the Cart, died Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008. Born on July 3, 1929, on Clinton Avenue in Jersey City, N.J., he was the seventh of twelve children. His father was a successful druggist; however, within months of Arthur's birth, the stock market crash would usher in The Great Depression. World War II started when he was 12 and these events affected him greatly, making him the wonderful caring individual we all knew and loved. After graduating from Eastern Military School in June 1947, he enlisted in the military with the intention on making it a career. Unfortunately, while he was in officers' candidate school, it was discovered that he had a medical condition which made this path impossible. After his honorable medical discharge, he returned to Eastern Military School as an instructor and became the vice-commandant before leaving in 1955. This was the year of his marriage to Louise Adams Rice on Christmas Eve. They settled on Long Island, N.Y., where Arthur worked for Grumman and other companies until 1967. Arthur and Louise heard the call of the Green Mountain and packed up their trusty VW bug and headed to Putney. Within a short time Arthur and Louise were working at The Austine School for the Deaf, where his understanding and compassion for people made him very well liked. Arthur bought a piece of land at the top of a mountain in Westminster which has a wonderful view of the beauty of Vermont. They built a house there in 1968 and spent their weekends and vacations there until he left The Austine School in 1970. Happily living fulltime on the mountain, Arthur found his calling and opened Art's Cart in downtown Brattleboro. It was more than a place to get a hot dog with the works, it was a place where you were treated to a wonderful serving of companionship and friendship topped Art's spicy opinions. "Every day I do my part to make your frank a work of Art" was his motto. Politicians, from presidents to town councilmen, were included in his customers and more often got "extra spicy" opinions with their dogs. Art, as we all know, was a working man and, as you have often read, championed the cause of government for the people. His true calling was to enjoy and help people, which he started full time when he retired after 21 years. He was involved with so many organizations and activities, running from Disabled Veterans of America, VFW, American Legion, Brattleboro Bowling, Senior Center, the Msans, and on and on; any place he could help others. Arthur was particularly proud of his winning ways at the Senior Games and his involvement with AARP and working on government issues for the common man and woman. Even through his beloved Louise's illness, where he cared for her through most difficult years, he continued to share his opinions and himself. After Louise's death in 2001, the relationships he had made over the years sustained his spirit and his love of the people of Vermont brought joy to him each and every day. Arthur died at the home he loved; not awaking on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008. Arthur leaves his sisters, Perla Gigulin and Barbara Goglia, both of New York, Faith DeCotiis of New Jersey, and Evelyn Sally of California, and his brothers, Emil Lettieri and Wallace Lettieri, both of Florida, and Roy Lettieri of North Carolina; numerous nieces and nephews, as well as his step-children from Louise, Bob Rice of Vermont and and Patsy Cunningham of Canada. FUNERAL NOTICE: Services will be private at his home in Putney. Calling hours will be Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the KER WESTERLUND FUNERAL HOME. As per Arthur's instructions, in lieu of flowers, "Help those less fortunate, people are the only thing of importance. You want anything on that dog?" Arrangements are under the care of the Ker Westerlund Funeral Home, 57 High St., Brattleboro, VT 05301 www.kerwesterlund.com