Carl Patnode

Carl Harvey Patnode, 1932–2023

Carl Harvey Patnode, 90, of North Smithfield, RI, died on February 2, 2023 after a brief period of decline. Carl was born on October 5, 1932, to Leda (Marcoux) and Elmer Patnode, the third of their nine children. He grew up in Willsboro, NY, graduating from Willsboro High School in 1950.

During the Korean War, Carl served as an Army airplane mechanic. After his military service, he married Ethelwyn Eloise Blanchard, also of Willsboro, NY, in 1955. They moved from the Adirondacks area of New York to Boston so Carl could enroll at Northeastern University, courtesy of the GI bill. He graduated from Northeastern in 1959 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. The family lived in the Boston area for more than 20 years, eventually relocating to Rhode Island.

For all of his professional life, Carl was an entrepreneur, owning businesses in the graphic arts field. These included, most notably, JL Macintosh (die cutting) in Boston and Higgins Manufacturing (bindery) in Providence. A truly independent and self-sufficient personality, Carl preferred to work for himself and, as he often pointed out, for his true bosses—the customers.

Carl is survived by his wife of 67 years and his three daughters and their spouses: Lynne and Michael Nadeau, of Peterborough, NH; Michele and Brian Belliveau, of Cumberland, RI; and Gayle and David Valletta, of Clinton, CT. He is also survived by nine grandchildren: Julie Nadeau, of KY; Claire Nadeau (Tonje), of Norway; Kyle Belliveau (Elise), of RI; Kevin Belliveau, of MA; Molly Belliveau, of RI; Carly Goodell (Marty), of ME; Lucy Wynkoop (Jay), of CT; Abigail Valletta, of CT; and Leah Valletta (Cody), of WA. His six great-grandchildren are Aurora, Rosemary, and River Goodell; and Olive, Maxwell, and Russell Wynkoop. Carl is also survived by his sister, Elaine Cote, of CT, and his brother-in-law, Richard Blanchard, of NY.

Burial will be at the Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery in Exeter, RI. At Carl’s request, there will be no services.