Richard L. Carrie '45

Our friend, Dick Carrie, proud Amherst graduate and indefatigable worker on behalf of the Class of 1945, passed away October 1, 2005 at his home in Vero Beach, FL. He was born in Toronto, Canada on January 14, 1923, son of Rev. Cyril and Evelyn Carrie. His family moved to the United States three months later. Dick prepared for college at Montclair Academy. He was active in the Montclair Academy Alumni Association for twenty-five years, becoming its third President and Trustee. Dick was a long time resident of Upper Montclair, NJ.
    
Dick entered Amherst in the fall of 1941 and graduated in 1947 after three years in the Navy, where he had a distinguished career in the service of his country. He was a member of the V-12 program at Williams and graduated on June 27, 1944 from Plattsburg Midshipmen School. Seven weeks later, he landed in the first wave in Southern France as Executive Officer of LCT 1010. He was transferred to the Pacific as Captain of LCT 785 and made the last landing in that Theatre on Okinawa where, in a tragic post-war accident, four members of his crew were killed and he was severely injured and hospitalized for six months. He received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroism when he rescued two drowning and wounded seamen.
    
In Naha, Okinawa, I met an air force captain who asked me if I ever knew a fellow at Amherst named Carrie. I said I did, and he replied he was in the Naval Hospital on the other side of the island severely wounded. I went over to see him and he was, indeed, weak, thin and pale but in good spirits. Later I saw the healed wound on his back and was reminded of what he must have gone through in that naval hospital.
    
Dick spent virtually his entire business career in advertising. He was first with Printers’ Ink magazine and then spent thirty years at Seventeen magazine where he became Home and Food Manager, then Sales Development Manager, retiring in January 1988. He had four children: Richard L. Jr. who died in infancy at the age of seven months in 1951; daughter Marybeth [Roger] Garceau; son Jeffrey [Claudia] Carrie; and Holly [John] Conti; and ten grandchildren of whom he was understandably proud: Michelle Garceau, Carrie Garceau, Katy Garceau, Stephanie Garceau, Matthew Garceau, Mark Garceau, Jessica Conrado, Christina Conrado, Christopher Joseph Conti and Megan Hess.
    
He is survived by his wife, Bette Jager Carrie, whom he married in 1991. They had no children.
    
Dick was a member of Trinity Church in Vero Beach, the Sea Oaks Beach and Tennis Club and a former member of Manasquan River Yacht Club in Manasquan, N.J. In their lovely home in Vero Beach, he and Bette entertained many members of the Class of 1945. Each year Dick put on a tennis tournament for friends, and he was extremely proud of his game. I was impressed by his improvement in a few short years of dedicated effort. After each tournament Bette would put out a delectable luncheon which was enjoyed by the participants. He also found the time to be President of the Amherst Association of the Treasure Coast as well as to maintain close friendships with Dick Snyder, Lynn Goodnough, and Bob Partenheimer, all Class of 1945 members who lived in the area. During this time, Bette and Dick traveled to many countries and went on many cruises, sometimes accompanied by Nancy and Bill Murray ’45 whose friendship they enjoyed over many years.
    
In 1973 Dick became our Class Secretary and served the role with distinction. Through his constant contact by telephone calls, trips across the country, and subsequent Class Notes in the Alumni Quarterly, he helped to bring a sense of belonging together for the Class which because of World War II had never developed its own identity. He edited a compendium of the military experiences of members of the Class of 1945, and for our 50th Reunion he prepared a book describing the lives of classmates in their own words. After each Reunion he prepared and edited with Perry Minton ’45 (Dick’s roommate at Montclair Academy) a Reunion booklet with candid pictures of the event. It was he who coined the phrase “The Illustrious Class of 1945” which made all of us feel proud of who we were and the Class of which we were a part. In recognition of his untiring efforts the Class presented him with an Amherst Chair at our 50th Reunion.
    
Dick’s enthusiasm and love for Amherst was genuine and infectious. He was always a natty dresser, and the color purple always seemed to be a focus of his apparel. He also had “Amherst” on his automobile license plate. He could be counted on for a story about some event which took place while we were in College. His description of the Amherst-Williams football game in 1942 could not be equaled!!

At the end Dick remained an optimist. He attended our 60th Reunion last May and participated in all of the activities even though it was obvious he was hurting badly. I am certain that there was no place he would have preferred to be than on the Campus with the friends he loved so well.
    
Our heartfelt condolences are extended to his wife, Bette, and to his children and grandchildren. We will miss him!

—Jack Deady ’45

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