Andrew O'Keefe Carpenter

June 2, 2017

Andrew O’Keefe Carpenter, 26, of West Hartford, CT passed away unexpectedly on Friday, June 2, 2017. Andrew just successfully completed his first year at Saint Louis University School of Medicine where he was the student lead for the Research and Learning Community. A graduate of Hall High School (2008), Andrew holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Union College (2013) where he was a member of the Theta Delta Chi fraternity. He also holds a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences from Tufts University School of Medicine (2015). Andrew was inquisitive and a quick learner. His passion for math and science led him to pursue a career in the medical profession. Most recently, he was one of only 52 first year medical students selected for summer research programs at SLU. He was also recently published with well–known robotic surgeon and Urologist Dr. Sameer Saddiqui for his studies of Renal Pelvic Sensory Nerve Distribution. During his undergraduate studies, Andrew was selected for the Union Scholars Program. He was also member of the National Honor Society. Andrew’s confident and easygoing nature allowed him to make friends quickly. Andrew cherished all his friendships deeply and kept in close contact with his friends from West Hartford, Union College, Boston and new friends in St. Louis. Andrew’s interests included looking sharp, food and craft beer. Andrew was a budding chef inspired by his loving Mother and he will be remembered for teaching his best friend Eli Orkin how to cook. Andrew gave back to his community throughout his life as a member of STAY (St. Thomas the Apostle Youth Group), his fraternity and volunteering in healthcare clinics during his time at Tufts and SLU. Most recently, Andrew mentored a young man through the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program in St. Louis. Andrew’s interests also included a wide range of athletic activities. During his youth, he played travel soccer, ice hockey and lacrosse. He was a member of teams that won the Connecticut State Cup in soccer (2001) and the USA Hockey Tier II New England Regional Championship in ice hockey (2002). While at Hall High School, Andrew earned Varsity letters in soccer and ice hockey. Physical fitness was extremely important to Andrew and he worked out regularly. He also enjoyed traveling, skiing, frisbee, recreational soccer, his role as the Commissioner of a fantasy football league, watching sporting events on TV and rooting for his beloved New York Giants. He will be sorely missed during family vacations to Jenny Lake, Union hockey games and the annual family gatherings at home on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve at the Siedman’s. Andrew is survived by his parents Lynne and Howard Carpenter III; brothers Nicholas and William, and his favorite Miss Puppy Libby; grandparents Rosalie and Louis Pietrocola and Deborah Carpenter; aunts and uncles Michael Pietrocola, Jennifer (Stuart) Siedman, Wesley Pietrocola, Abigail (James) Markowski, Timothy (Denise) Carpenter; and cousins Rachael Pietrocola, Noah and Isabelle Siedman, Emma, Brady and Sophie Markowski, and Jackson and Lillian Carpenter. He also leaves the love of his life and partner Dr. Olga Rabovskaya DMD, and many other special family and friends who touched him deeply. Andrew was predeceased by his great-grandfather Harvey Stonehouse, great-grandparents Beatrice and Howard Carpenter Sr., great-grandfather C. William Huntley, great-grandmother Mary Pietrocola, grandfather Howard Carpenter Jr. and cousin Benjamin Siedman. A Mass of Christian burial will be Tuesday, June 13 at 10am in St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 872 Farmington Ave, West Hartford. Calling hours will be held Monday, June 12 from 4:30-8:30pm at Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Ave, West Hartford. Interment will immediately follow the service at Fairview Cemetery. Donations may be made in Andrew's memory to Ben’s Dream to fund research to find a treatment and/or cure for Sanfilippo Syndrome, which claimed the life of his dear cousin Benjamin. Ben’s Dream: Sanfilippo Research Foundation, P.O. Box 81268, Wellesley, MA 02481 or www.bensdream.org.