Marblehead…..

Carl R. Pierce, age 91, husband for 72 years of Barbara (Jackson) Pierce of Marblehead died Thursday morning in the Aviv Center for Living, Swampscott following a brief illness.

A "Header" he was born in Marblehead the son of the late Alden and Elsa (Nyberg) Pierce. Mr. Pierce was educated in the local schools and had graduated from St. John's Prep in the Class of 1938. He then became employed by Sylvania Lighting in its early years in Ipswich and also attended Northeastern University until being drafted to the Army at the outbreak of World War II.

An honorably discharged veteran, he had served in the Pacific theater of operation including the Invasion of Okinawa and later in Hawaii.

Following his discharge, Mr. Pierce returned to Marblehead and worked with his brother and brother in the Alden Pierce Painting Company. He and his brother, Harold later became known as Pierce Brothers Painting, a company they owned and operated for many years until retiring.

One of Mr. Pierce's many passions was boating. He loved sailing and in the 1930's he began racing in the Town Class Fleet, quickly establishing himself as a competent and competitive racer. He was a past Commodore of the Marblehead Yacht Club, and also enjoyed his motorboats and later his catboat.


An avid golf and people person, he enjoyed his family and friends. Mr. Pierce, was a skilled craftsman, he would lose himself in many of his woodworking projects. Whether it was puttering around the house, making a table for home, or creating a piece of furniture for a family member, he enjoyed sharing the fruits of his labors with others.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Pierce is survived by four children Cynthia Costello of Delray Beach, FL, Rit Pierce, Suzanne Fiore, and Nancy Smith all of Marblehead; a brother Harold G. Pierce of Marblehead; 9 grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by a brother Rev. Alden L. Pierce, M.M.

His funeral will be held on Tuesday, July 5, 2011 at 10:00 AM in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Marblehead, 81 Atlantic Ave., Marblehead. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. At the family's request there are no visiting hours. Internment will be at Waterside Cemetery. Please omit flowers. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to a charity of one's choice or in keeping in Mr. Pierce's spirit, extend a random act of kindness to another person. For online guest book or additional information, please contact the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal St., Salem., 781 631 8885 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com.