Jack Carpenter - Builder
Jack Carpenter
An Inspirational and Hands-On Person
“He did everything well”
Written by Rad Joseph
Radjoseph23@gmail.com
If fortunate, sometimes by chance, sometimes by invitation, a lacrosse organization has the good luck of having an exceptional volunteer become part of their organization. Such was the situation for the Peterborough lacrosse community in the mid-1970s when Jack Carpenter joined Peterborough lacrosse.
Working in Toronto as a police officer, Jack had been involved with the Rexdale Junior “A” lacrosse organization prior to moving to Peterborough. When he arrived in Peterborough, he opened a business dealing in the sale of new and used tires. It did not take long for Jack Carpenter to become involved in Peterborough particularly with sports and lacrosse became his favorite. It was then, Jack became involved with the Peterborough Junior “A” team beginning in 1976.
While attending a local sports banquet in 1977 (he helped organize the banquet) was the beginning of when some discussion of establishing a Peterborough sports hall of fame took place. Nothing substantive, but a seed had been planted. Shortly thereafter, Jack Carpenter help to spearhead the return of Senior “A” lacrosse back to Peterborough in 1978. It had been three years since Peterborough had floored a Senior club. Of note, the Peterborough Red Oaks (named after the Red Oak Inn) with Jack serving as the General Manager, won the Mann Cup in 1978.
At an evening to honour the Mann Cup team, the seriousness of the idea of a Peterborough Sports Hall of Fame was discussed. A group which included the original six person organizing committee for the establishment of a Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame in 1979 included Jack Carpenter (Founder and First Chairperson), Gerry O’Conner, Bob Delpellaro, Paul Epping, Mollie Cartnell, and Bobby Allan. Jack initiated the first official meeting and is recognized as the driving force behind the creation of the Hall of Fame. Don Barrie who is another accomplished Peterborough lacrosse person has written plenty on Peterborough lacrosse, commented upon how Jack Carpenter was able to quickly become part of the Peterborough sports community, “Jack had the ability to get the right people into the right place. Certainly, the Peterborough Sports Hall of Fame would not have started without the initiative and background of Jack Carpenter” .
Unfortunately, Jack Carpenter suffered a stroke which left him in a wheelchair for the last three decades of his life. But he remained a fan of Peterborough lacrosse. You could see him at every game and stop and have a chat with him. Jack fell and broke his hip last year and it made life even more difficult for him.
His friend Ted Higgins deeply mourned the loss of his close friend Jack Carpenter. He noted, “Jack suffered a stroke over thirty years ago, which obviously impacted his life immensely. Jack was a great lacrosse man who did so much for the game and whatever he did, he did well. He did everything properly. He knew how to acquire sponsorships and to run the team. I will miss him so much”.
Mark Vitarelli of the current Lakers regime speaks highly of Jack Carpenter stating, “Jack left Toronto to get out of the rat race and we were fortunate to have him land in our lap. He helped revive the Lakers and was instrumental in getting the Peterborough Sports Hall of Fame established. Jack was an outstanding individual. He was just a really, really nice man. He stepped into Peterborough and became part of the circle right away. He had a huge positive impact immediately when he came to town. He leaves a legacy which will not be forgotten”.
If you were lucky enough to know Jack Carpenter, you quickly learned he had a wonderful sense of humor and was quietly, a generous person which he used to impact the lives of many others. Over the course of his life in Peterborough Jack was recognized for his dedication to lacrosse and hockey and as a founder of the sports hall of fame. Quite appropriately, Jack Carpenter is known as the Founding Father of the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame.
Married for 62 years to his devoted wife Marilyn, Jack Carpenter passed away on October 9, 2024 at the age of 82. No doubt he is in Lacrosse Heaven having already volunteered to organize and help in any way he can. If your lacrosse community is blessed, you too, have a Jack Carpenter in your lacrosse organization.