David O. Carpenter

June 27, 2007 - EDITOR’S NOTE: The following message was read by Stratford Brakettes General Manager Bob Baird prior to the doubleheader with the Dominican Republic on Friday, June 22 at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field.


Friday morning at Bridgeport Hospital, with his wife Dorothy at his side, David Olin Carpenter, the owner/president of the Stratford Brakettes softball team, died following a lengthy and courageous battle with several ailments. For the past 12 years Dave and the Carpenter family have been the quiet and unassuming, yet very supportive sponsors of our team.

Dave’s passing is a huge loss for those of us who were fortunate enough to have made his acquaintance. I have never met anyone who truly cared about so many people and deserving causes as did Dave. Throughout his battle to regain his own health, Dave was still thinking of others and how he could help make their lives better.

You would never know that Dave was a man of means. He was a down to earth, every day guy who would eat breakfast at the diner, pay to get into the ballpark, grab a hotdog at the stand, and then watch his favorite team go out and play a doubleheader. He wouldn’t leave until he knew the game was in hand. Even on those days when he underwent dialysis, which sapped most of his energy, he made every effort to be at DeLuca Field to watch his Brakettes play. He took as much pride in his softball team as we, the management and the Brakettes players take in perpetuating this great tradition.

Dave’s last trip to DeLuca Field was Sunday morning, May 27 to see his Brakettes beat the Quebec Rebelles. He fell ill later that night and he had been hospitalized ever since. It hasn’t been easy these past few years for Dave and the Carpenter family, and our thoughts and prayers go out to Dorothy, his son Jim, and daughter Carla and their families. I ask you now to observe a moment of silence for our friend, David O. Carpenter.