Josephine Benz 'Nicky' Carpenter

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Carpenter, Josephine Benz "Nicky" born on June 29, 1935, to George W. and Louise Bremer Benz, in St. Paul, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on August 14, 2017, in Plymouth, Minnesota. Nicky graduated from The St. Paul Academy and Summit School in 1953, Vassar College in 1957 and attended the University of Munich and Goethe Institute in Germany. Married Thomas K. Carpenter on January 23, 1970. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Tom and sons, James K. and George T. Carpenter. Nicky is survived by her daughter, Virginia E. Carpenter; daughters-in-law, Janet E. Carpenter and Joan M. Carpenter (Sheridan, WY); grandchildren, Susan E. Jara (Diego), Theresa M. Carson (Donovan), Josephine G. Carpenter (Bellevue, WA), Thomas K. Carpenter II, William J. Carpenter (Sheridan, WY) and Catherine H. Carpenter, as well as a sister, Louise B. Plank, of Buffalo, WY, and brother, George B. Benz (Karen) of Scottsdale, Arizona. Recently retired from her Educational Consulting business (since 1977 in Wayzata) Nicky assisted students with their college admissions process. Along with her love of helping students, she was active in many local and national professional associations. Her background includes positions as Associate Dean of Admissions at Barnard and Pembroke Colleges, Brown University and the Villa Merced in Florence, Italy. Nicky joined the Minnesota Orchestra Board in 1977 and co-chaired the Symphony Ball in 1978. She served multiple terms before being elected a Life Director in 1999. Her Board positions included Secretary (1981-85), Vice President (1985-89 and 1998-99) and Chair (1990-95). She was a committed volunteer and a staunch supporter of the Minnesota Orchestra, carrying on a long-standing Carpenter family tradition. Nicky served as a Regent at Saint John's University in Collegeville, MN (1984 to 1993). She also served on the University's Capital Campaign Committee. In 1994 she began her service on the Board of the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library (HMML) at Saint John's University. After serving as Board Chair (1994-2005) she became a life time board member emeritus. In 1994 Nicky embraced an exciting new project at Saint John's Abbey encompassing all the things Nicky believed were necessary for living an enriched life; art, faith, beauty and culture. She was an early donor and proponent of the project and worked tirelessly to bring The Saint John's Bible to new and diverse audiences. A stalwart for her alma mater, Vassar College, she served nine years on the AAVC Board and six years as a Vassar Trustee. Nicky used her wide range of volunteer experiences on Vassar's Trustee Development Committee and Chair of the Annual Fund Advisory Council during the recently completed Vassar 150 World Changing Campaign, setting a new fund-raising record. Her community service centered around education and music; including Board positions at Macalester College, Twin Cities Public Television, Minnesota Opera, University of Minnesota Foundation, MacPhail Center for the Arts, Minnesota International Center, League of American Orchestras, Minnesota Education Radio Inc. (MPR), and St. Thomas Academy. In 2007 Nicky received the Twin Cities Outstanding Individual Philanthropist of the Year Award. Nicky was on the Board of the Holy Family Hospital Foundation of Bethlehem and a Dame of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, September 7, 2017, at 11 a.m., Church of St. Bartholomew, 630 East Wayzata Boulevard, Wayzata. Interment at St John's Abbey Cemetery, Collegeville. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer memorials to the Minnesota Orchestral Association, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403, Hill Museum and Manuscript Library, 2835 Abbey Plaza, Collegeville, Minnesota 56321, Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners, 1605 County Road 101 North, Plymouth, Minnesota 55447, Holy Family Hospital Foundation of Bethlehem, 2000 P Street, N.W., Suite 310, Washington, D.C. 20036 or to donor's choice. David Lee Funeral Home Wayzata 952-473-5577 davidleefuneralhome.com

Published on September 3, 2017