Robert Norman Carpenter

Robert Norman Carpenter, a longtime resident of Plandome, died March 1 at North Shore Hospital in Manhasset.
“Bob” Carpenter, as he was known by friends, family and co-workers, was born April 14, 1922, in Brooklyn, NY, to banker James Norman Carpenter and Mary Josephine Story, his mother and a fine artist. The second oldest of four, he graduated from Brooklyn Poly Prep, attended Princeton University where he majored in economics and left as a graduate of the Class of 1943 to serve as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps as the commander of an anti-aircraft battery at Yamitan Airfield during the Battle of Okinawa during the Spring of 1945. He returned as a 1st Lieutenant and on discharge in 1946, worked in advertising as a copy writer at Fairchild Publications, a writer at Grey Advertising, for four years was the proprietor of first a bakery distributor concern and then a plastic manufacturing venture, inventor of the “Floss Bow.”
He married Betts Lee Slingluff, a professional dancer and later teacher of first and second grade in the Manhasset Public Schools and second graders at Munsey Park School, on April 14, 1949 in Manhattan, NY. They had three children, James Tyler, Lee Slingluf and Robin Gaylord, after which he joined the American Management Association, initially as a section head of management research and on retirement on May 1, 1987, as director of the Information Department. In their retirement, “Bob and Betts” were both active cruisers (Euphrosyne, a Pearson 424, sailed to Maine 11 times and the Caribbean 1500 in 11/1994 and the Pusser’s Cup 5/1995. Euphrosyne is currently in commission in the family tradition under the skipper and photographer Robert Carpenter Shook) with the Manhasset Bay Yacht Club. Bob was also active in the Plandome Fire Department, served a term as president of the Plandome Field and Marine Club, was an active member of the racing and cruising committees at MBYC, and Sunday School superintendent at Christ Church, Manhasset, where he and Betts were active for their entire tenure in Plandome.
He was predeceased two years ago by his wife Betts of 65 years, survived by his younger sister Ruth S. Carpenter of Seattle; his son Dr. James Tyler Carpenter (psychologist), daughter-in-law Karen Bondoronek-Carpenter (RN) and granddaughter Ariel Bell Carpenter, of Milton and Boston, MA; his daughter Dr. Lee Slingluff Carpenter and son-in-law Dr. Richard Shook (veterinarians) and grandson Robert Carpenter Shook (photographer) and granddaughter Carson Carpenter Shook (HS Science Education intern and graduate student) of Niantic, CT; and daughter Robin Carpenter (artist) of Sonoma, CA.
A service will be held at Christ Church Manhasset, 1351 Northern Blvd., Manhasset, Saturday, March 11, at 2 p.m., followed by internment at the church and a reception afterwards in church Parish House. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Crosby Fund for Education in Haiti at www.crosbyfund.org.