Firefighter remembered by friends, co-workers Fundraiser to help young family
By Kristyne E. Demske
C & G Staff Writer
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — A local firefighter is being remembered — and his family supported — by several fundraisers just weeks after he died suddenly from heart problems.
Firefighter and paramedic Eric Carpenter, 34, who had served with the Shelby Township Fire Department for eight years, died suddenly May 19, leaving a wife, Mandy, and three sons ages 3 weeks to 3 years old: Samuel, Jack and Brady.
Carpenter was a “very active, very well-trained firefighter,” said acting Fire Chief Gene Shepherd.
Carpenter was on the Macomb County Technical Rescue Team and was “head of the rope rescue portion of that, which he taught and instructed,” Shepherd said. “He was an excellent firefighter, paramedic.”
A group of Carpenter’s friends is hosting a fundraiser June 27 at Barrister Gardens in St. Clair Shores for Carpenter’s family because they say he was always there for them.
“Eric was just the type of person who was just so giving to us,” said Augie Giordano of Chesterfield Township, a close friend of Carpenter’s. “As a group of friends, we wanted to give back to him and his family.”
Giordano said the friends wanted to help out the Shelby Township family because with Carpenter gone, there’s a financial need.
“Eric was the type of person, just so giving, and he touched so many people through his lifetime. He didn’t expect anyone to say thank you for the things that he did for you. He expected to be a good person,” Giordano said.
The fundraiser will feature a 50-50 raffle and a silent auction that will include sports memorabilia from all of Detroit’s teams.
“There’s been a huge outreach as to the business community giving us stuff,” he said. “The tickets are selling very fast.”
Township Clerk Terri Kowal also said township employees donate money each week if they want to wear blue jeans to work on Fridays. That money will all be going to Carpenter’s family for the next three months.
And Supervisor Richard Stathakis said at the June 2 Board of Trustees meeting that they will be keeping Carpenter and his family in their thoughts.
“Our hearts and prayers do go out to the Carpenter family,” he said.
Anyone who wants to donate to the Carpenter family can send money to IAFF Local 1338 in care of the Carpenter Family, 6345 23 Mile Road, Shelby Township, MI 48316.
The June 27 fundraiser at Barrister Gardens, 24225 Harper Ave., in St. Clair Shores, starts at 6 p.m.
Tickets are $35 in advance and include dinner, beer, pop, wine, a DJ and a cash bar. To purchase tickets, call Augie Giordano at (586) 854-0276. For more information or for more ways to donate, visit www.iaff1338.com.
You can reach Staff Writer Kristyne E. Demske at kdemske@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1041.
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