Lewis H. Baumgardner

NEW BEDFORD -- Lewis H. Baumgardner, 71, of South Dartmouth died December 28, 2006, under the exceptional care given to him by the entire staff at the New Bedford Jewish Convalescent Home after a long courageous battle with Parkinson's and Lewy Body Disease. He was the husband of Concetta "Connie" (Parisi) Baumgardner; they had been married for 49 years.

Born in Huntington, West Virginia, the son of the late Virginia (Lykin) and T.C. Baumgardner, he lived in South Dartmouth most of his life.

Mr. Baumgardner was employed for 40 years at Parisi Seafood, a family owned seafood processing plant where he served as production manager before retiring as vice president.

He served in the U.S. Navy.

Mr. Baumgardner was an ardent New England Patriot and Boston Red Sox fan, and enjoyed yard work, fishing, hunting, watching boxing and raising Quarter horses and cattle. He was known for his generosity of spirit and unfailing willingness to help others, including the New England Lupus Foundation.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Lewis S. Baumgardner, and his wife Patricia, of South Dartmouth; a brother-in-law, Nickolas J. Parisi, and his wife Jean, of South Dartmouth; a brother, Thomas Baumgardner, and his wife Jean, of Kentucky; 3 sisters, Nadine Jones, and her husband John, of Mississippi, Dorothy Bradley and Karen, both of Kentucky; 2 grandchildren, Kayla and Jacob, both of South Dartmouth; and many nieces and nephews including Janet Boggs, and her husband Larry, of Kentucky.

He was the brother of the late Leon, Lois, Virginia Lee, Ave and Phyllis, and the loving uncle of the late Andrew Nolan Parisi.

Visiting hours will be on Tuesday 5-8 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. Funeral Services and burial in St. John's Cemetery will be private. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the New Bedford Jewish Convalescent Home, 200 Hawthorn St., New Bedford, MA 02740 or to Community Nurse & Hospice Care (to benefit their Alzheimer's/Dementia Respite Care program), 62 Center St., Fairhaven, MA 02719.

For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.