Lester E. Carpenter

Lester E. Les Carpenter, 82, of 21 Baldwin Road, Middletown, died on Sunday, November 23, 2008 after an illness. He was the husband of Laraine B. Carpenter. Born in Providence, RI, he was the son of the late Lester Carpenter, Sr. and Lila Elora Hopkins. He had a varied, extensive career in marketing and manufacturing, and was a well known musician.Mr. Carpenter was a Navy Veteran of WWII serving aboard L.S.D. Donner. He was a graduate of Brown University, Class of 1950. His business career included posts with Sunbeam Corporation, Chicago; Rockwell Mfg., Pittsburg; Callahan Mining Corporation, NYC; and American Tourister, Warren, RI. During the mid-60s, he was Nation Sales Mgr. of Avica Corporation, a division of Callahan Mining Corporation in Middletown serving the aircraft and aerospace industries. At American Tourister, in addition to developing and managing factories in RI, during the 1980s, he set up a luggage factory and marketing complex in India, innovating proprietary tooling and equipment.Les was an accomplished pianist, singer, and songwriter in a lifetime vocation that began in the early 1940s. At age 15, he was a baritone soloist with a coral group entertaining the SeaBees at Quonset as well as playing piano with dance bands. Over the years, he played with society bands from Boston to New York City; show bands, jazz groups, and solo piano for Newport society.He was a member of Wanumetonomy Golf and Country Club, Treasurer of the Newport Musicians Association, a member of the Newport Historical Society, and former treasurer of Aquidneck Island Development Corporation.Besides his beloved wife, Laraine, he leaves his twin sister, Phyllis Armitage of Greenville, SC; a son Robert L. Carpenter of Middletown, RI; a daughter, Cynthia L. Brophy and her husband Patric of Farmington, ME; four grandchildren: Dustin, Kelly, Brianne, and Patric Brophy; and a great-granddaughter, Jayce A. Brophy.A memorial service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Aquidneck Land Trust, 790 Aquidneck Avenue, Middletown, RI 02842.