JOHN T. CARPENTER

JOHN T. CARPENTER BURLINGTON - John Taggard Carpenter, 94, died June 23, 2014, peacefully, surrounded by family in Fletcher Allen Health Care. John was born Oct. 29, 1919, in Burlington, the son of Professor Fred D. Carpenter and Gwendolyn Blodgett Carpenter. He attended Adams Elementary School and Burlington Junior and Senior High Schools. John received his Bachelors of Arts Degree from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. After graduation, John taught school in Arizona before joining the US Marine Corps. From 19421946, during World War II, he served in the 6th Regiment, 2nd Marine Division at Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian and received the Presidential Unit Citation. After his service in the Marines, John served as the Executive Director of the Vermont Tuberculosis and Health Association for five years. In 1951, John went to work for the Eastern Magnesia Talc Company, where eventually, he became Manager of Sales. In 1967, John joined the Chittenden Trust Company as Director of Marketing and Community Affairs. He retired in 1988 as Senior Vice President for Marketing at the Chittenden Corporation. John was active in the Vermont Bankers Association, American Institute for Banking and the Bank Marketing Association. In 1985, John received the "Outstanding Community Service Banker Award" from the Vermont Bankers Association. John married Cornelia "Connie" Smith, a childhood friend and neighbor, on June 14, 1947. They raised their family in Essex Junction, Johnson, and then Burlington for many years. From 19502004, their Oakledge "camp" on Lake Champlain became a very special place to live and visit for four generations of Carpenters. In 2004, John and Connie moved to Wake Robin in Shelburne. John and Connie were active and longtime members of the College Street Congregational Church where he served as its President and as a Deacon. John was President of the Burlington Rotary Club as well as its Secretary. He was a Paul Harris Fellow. John was also President of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce; Vice President and founding member of the Burlington Junior Chamber of Commerce; Vice President of the Mary Fletcher Hospital Associates; Director of the Vermont State YMCA; Vermont Chapter, Arthritis Foundation; the Burlington Boys Club; the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce; the United Community Service of Chittenden County; and the United Way of Chittenden County; as well as the Friends of UVM. John was a Trustee for the Josephine Baird Children's Center, the Vermont Childcare Foundation, the Greater Burlington YMCA, and the Burlington International Games. John was a co-founder, President, Treasurer and a Director of the Burlington Tennis Club, and received the Bert Kusserow Sportsmanship Award from the club. He was President of the Ethan Allen Club, and served on the Board of Governors of the Ethan Allen Club. He was a member of the Lake Mansfield Trout Club, the Burlington Country Club, and proudly, the 70-plus Ski Club. Friends, the community, sports, outdoor recreation and travel were all important to John. He played tennis and hockey in high school, and tennis and soccer in college. He was a lifelong tennis player, enjoyed swimming and boating on Lake Champlain, skiing, special time at the Lake Mansfield Trout Club, and later in life, golf. He and Connie traveled and visited over 25 countries and 40 states, often with his brother, Torrey, and sister-in-law, Dorothy. Those who knew John also knew that Connie and his family were at the center of his life; that he loved to talk and engage in conversation with almost anyone; that he was active in his church for all of his 94 years, and that he was a true World War II hero, fighting in and surviving five South Pacific campaigns. John is survived by his five children and their families, Christopher Carpenter and wife, Claire, Debra Wood, Kim Stege and husband, Kurt, John "Tag" Carpenter Jr. and wife, Nancy, and Scott Carpenter and wife, Lisa; 12 grandchildren, Catherine (Sam) Smith, and Conor (Aubrey) Carpenter, Amanda (Jim) Snow, and Rachel (Nathan) Perkins, Hope and Hans Stege, Hallie, John III and Hannah Carpenter, Caroline, Hayden and Reed Carpenter; six greatgrandchildren, Everett and Declan Snow, Henry and Colin Perkins, Finn and Stella Smith; and sister-inlaw, Dorothy Carpenter. John was predeceased by his wife, Connie, of 65 years; brothers, Donald and Torrey; son-in-law, Robert "Woody" Wood; and granddaughter, Elizabeth Carpenter. The family would like to convey a special thank you to those who cared for John, including Drs. Mark Pitcher and Chris Hebert, and the wonderful and the caring staff at Wake Robin. They would also like to express their appreciation to the care given by the McClure 6 nursing, physicians and palliative care team at Fletcher Allen. A memorial service will be held at the College Street Congregational Church at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 28, 2014. Extra parking is available at the Corbin and Palmer Funeral Home, 71 S. Union St. A reception will follow immediately after at the Burlington Country Club, 568 S. Prospect St. Arrangements are in care of the Corbin and Palmer Funeral Home, Shelburne. In lieu of flowers, gifts in John's memory may be sent to The College Street Congregational Church Steeple Fund, 265 College St., Burlington, VT 05401.