Richard N. "Dick" Carpenter

RICHARD N. ("DICK") CARPENTER Richard N. ("Dick") Carpenter, a fifty-four year resident of Santa Fe, passed away while surrounded by his family on August 6, 2016. He was 79 years old. Dick was born on February 14, 1937 in Cortland, NY. He graduated from Syracuse University and Yale Law School. From 1959-1960, he traveled and spoke extensively throughout the Indian subcontinent as Rotary Foundation Fellow for International Understanding at the University of Punjab in Lahore, Pakistan and was described by the Pakistani press as having "earnedthe unofficial title of 'goodwill ambassador'" and by the Pakistani President as "a great ambassador in spreading goodwill and understanding." Dick practiced law in Santa Fe for 40 years, specializing in natural resource and utilities law and participating in many New Mexico and United States judicial and administrative proceedings. He was a successful lobbyist who drafted, reviewed, monitored, and advocated for proposals before the New Mexico Legislature, the Governor, and the United States Congress. The many clients he represented included Plains Electric Generation and Transmission Co-op and other Rocky Mountain and southwestern rural electric co-ops, natural resource companies, commercial broadcasters, the Teachers Federation, the Navajo Nation, St. John's College, Stanford University, and various New Mexico school districts. Dick was a passionate supporter and leader of charities and civic and governmental organizations. He served on the board of trustees of St. Vincent Hospital from 1980-2001, including service as chair for many years. He served as regent of New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology from 2003-2015, including multiple terms as chair. From 2002-2012 he served on the board of directors of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe Catholic Foundation. He served many other community organizations, including the St. Vincent Hospital Foundation, Santa Fe Community Council, Santa Fe YMCA, Santa Fe Preparatory School, First Presbyterian Church, New Mexico Educational Assistance Foundation, Con Alma Health Foundation, and the Santa Fe Energy Task Force. A devout Catholic, Dick was a leader of the Saint Francis Cathedral Basilica capital campaign and was lector at the Cathedral from 2007-2012. Dick's hobbies included computing, reading, tennis, and travel to over sixty-five countries. Dick is survived by his loving wife of twenty-five years Leslie Carpenter; his son and daughter-in-law Andrew and Rebecca of Westminster, MD; his step-son and daughter-in-law Todd and Patricia Nordby; and his step-daughter and son-in-law Kari and James Armijo, all of Santa Fe; and five beloved grandchildren, Naomi Carpenter, Adam Nordby, Kayli Nordby, Henry Armijo, and Samuel Armijo. Dick is also survived by his sister Lynne Massey of Nokomis, FL; his brother and sister-in-law Peter and Marge Carpenter of State College, PA; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Lyn and Chuck Lighcap of Memphis, TN; and his nephew and nieces. Service at Cathedral Basilica of Santa Fe at 10am on Thursday August 11th and Rosary at Berardinelli funeral home Wednesday, August 10th with visitation at 6:00 pm and service at 7:00pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the Christus St. Vincent hospital foundation. The family wishes to thank Drs. Caroline Kingston, Cyrus Ali, Tim Lopez, and David Gonzales for the loving care they provided to Dick. Berardinelli Family Funeral Service 1399 Luisa Street Santa Fe, NM 87505 (505) 984-8600 Please sign our guestbook for the family at: www.berardinellifuneralhome.com