Vincent Carbone

V. Vincent Carbone, 85, formerly of Feeding Hills, passed away June 13. He was the son of the late Antonio and Maria Carbone, Italian immigrants who settled in Watertown, where they raised their seven children, all of whom attended the Watertown public schools.

A gifted athlete, Vincent graduated with high honors from Watertown High School in 1955 and earned a bachelor’s degree with honors in English from Harvard University in 1959. Immediately after graduation, he was offered a teaching position in the English Department at Watertown High School. There he taught English for nine years, the latter of which he was the coordinator of English. He left to become assistant principal at Hopkinton High School, where he met his future wife, Patricia Lapan. During this time, he earned a master’s degree from Northeastern University in public administration and later earned with highest honors a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies, an advanced post-master’s program in school administration, also from Northeastern University.’

Immediately following his Harvard graduation, from September 1959 to his retirement in June 1999, Vincent devoted his entire professional life to public school education. During his professional career, he had opportunities to teach at the university level, but he instead remained dedicated to public school education. In his professional career, Vincent was assistant principal at Hopkinton High School, principal at Cromwell (Connecticut) High School, assistant superintendent of schools in Springfield, and for 18 years he was superintendent of the Monson public school system, from which he retired in June 1999. Throughout his professional career, he fostered and cultivated parent/teacher organizations, involving them in the educational process. During his years as principal, he encouraged his teachers, and later as superintendent, his principals and directors, to be innovative in the educational process and demanded accountability and results. His philosophy concerning teamwork in public school education was embraced by each of the school committees in the various communities in which he worked. In his administration of public schools, he insisted on ethical behavior in public education. Both he and his wife, Patricia, had a deep and abiding faith in their Roman Catholicism.

Vincent was predeceased by his cherished and beloved wife, Patricia (nee Lapan), who was a public school teacher in Hopkinton and then Palmer. He leaves his beloved daughter, Maria Patricia Coughlen and husband Tim, and his beloved granddaughter, Caitlin Marie Courtney, all of Feeding Hills. He was predeceased by his brothers Domenic and John. He leaves his brother, Guy and wife Mimi of Belmont, his sister, Angela of Watertown, his brother, Ben and wife Joyce of Arlington, and his sister, Maria (nee Carbone) Mauro and husband Emilio of Belmont. He leaves many beloved nephews, Anthony of Boxford, Michael of Billerica, and Emilio of Canton (and their wives), and nieces Elvira (nee Mauro) Keeley of Florida and Marie (nee Carbone) Foster of Colorado (and their husbands). He also leaves 10 grandnieces and grandnephews.

All services will be private. Arrangements are being handled by Nardone Funeral Home, Watertown. Memorial contributions in Vincent’s name may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675.

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