Michael Anthony Carpenter

Michael Anthony Carpenter, 81, native of Los Angeles, born on July 30, 1940 and resident of Baton Rouge, passed away on August 11, 2021. Left to mourn him are his wife Carol, his sister Linda, his son Marcus, his daughter Rachel (husband Rogelio Salinas III), and his grandchildren Jacob and Augustus Melancon and Rogelio Salinas IV. Besides his parents, Duane and Pat Carpenter, his daughter Alexandra predeceased him. Michael followed two divergent professional paths; one as an industrial developer and contractor in Los Angeles with his father’s firm, Carpenter Properties, and the other as a professor of library science at Louisiana State University. After completing a Bachelor’s degree at Occidental College, a Master’s degree in Library Science at UCLA and a Ph.D. in Library Science at the University of California Berkeley, as well as an Executive MBA at UCLA while working in the commercial and industrial construction industry in Los Angeles, he became a professor of library science at Louisiana State University. While at Carpenter Properties, he applied the use of innovative investment theories to the company’s great advantage. In his career in library science, a book flowing from his dissertation became a source of guidance on cataloguing theory to many librarians, both national and international. His astounding memory and the depth and breadth of his knowledge of humanity was extraordinary. He was a true scholar of all aspects of life as reflected by his personal library. He was not only a learned man but he also valued fellowship with everyone he met and in particular with his brother Masons, holding many offices during his years in California and Louisiana. He kept his membership in all his Masonic groups such as the Blue Lodge, Scottish Rite, and Royal Arch in good standing until the day he left this life. An author, contractor, professor, theorist, master of the camera, respecter of all persons, loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, “his life was gentle, and the Elements so mixed in him, that Nature might stand up, and say to all the world: this was a Man.” Wm. Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, Act 5. Visitation will be Sunday August 15, 2021 at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East 11000 Florida Blvd. From 12noon until Funeral Service at 2pm. Interment to follow in Liberal Cemetery.