Arthur E. Powell, Jr.

SPENCER - Arthur E. "Rusty", Powell, Jr., 71, beloved Husband, Son, Stepfather, true friend, sailed away in peaceful waters, surrounded by his loving family on December 21, 2023. He leaves behind his loving wife and partner of over twenty years, Linette "Alinora" Eleanor Powell, his mother, Norma Powell, his four cherished stepchildren, Jessica Dake, husband Justin Dake, granddaughters Olivia Eleanor and Sophia Jean Dake, of Paxton, MA; Marisa Paraschak, husband Ephrem Paraschak, grandchildren Del Rickie and Cadence Bailey Paraschak, of Naples, ME; Kerry Martin, husband John F. Martin, of Kaneohe, HI; Christopher Dolan, wife Stephanie Dolan, grandchildren Emory Nora and Caleb James Dolan, of Sterling, MA.; cousin in law, Jacqueline Giaquinto, of Ayer, MA., his cousin William Powell, of Bristol, NH, brother Alan Powell, nephew Alex Powell, and many dear, close friends from his years in Wakefield, MA., Newfound Lake in Bristol, NH., his good neighbors in Spencer, MA., many close friends and coworkers from all his years as a Construction Superintendent, working and traveling for several companies throughout New England, Washington DC, New York, and California.

Rusty was predeceased by his father, Capt. Arthur E. Powell Sr., and his beloved mother-in-law Eleanor Vincelette and her husband, Roland Vincelette.

Rusty, as he was known by to all, was born in Wakefield, MA, son of Capt. Arthur E. Powell Sr. and Norma (Thistle) Powell, and grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Capt. Harold Powell, both sea captains who served bravely in the U.S. Maritime fleet during WW II. Rusty graduated from Wakefield High, and earned his Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering degree from Northeastern University, working his way through school and the streets of Boston, as a taxi driver for several years.

He had a long, successful career in the construction industry, being a key part of many multi -million-dollar projects, from wastewater treatment facilities, waterfront projects in Naval Shipyards, bridge construction, the Burlington Mall expansion in Vermont, IBM Building in Poughkeepsie, NY, renovations for many projects both residential and commercial, in Boston, NYC, CT, NJ, CA, NH, and VT, working for several well established companies including Weitz, Pizzagalli, Peabody NE Inc., Bay Electric, J & J Contractors, Suffolk Construction, Consigli Construction, and, most recently, for C. E. Floyd in Bedford, MA.

Rusty was very proud of being an important part of many of these fine companies and projects, and enjoyed the challenges of his industry, along with the travel opportunities his career gave him. Among his favorites with Suffolk Construction were Sunrise Assisted Living in Woodland Hills, CA., then, fifteen months spent doing renovating and building the first H & M Store on the West Coast, with luxury condos above, on 150 Powell St. in San Francisco, where he would often ride the Powell St. cable car down the hill to work, right in the heart of that beautiful city by the sea. Returning for family reasons to the East Coast in 2007, he helped Suffolk construction build out the main Village Center Building at Hebrew Senior Living in Dedham, MA., then went to work with Consigli Construction. His projects included the Navel Fitness Center, Newport, RI, the Martha's Vineyard Museum, and 15 exciting months in Washington DC, building the Smithsonian National Zoo Events Pavilion. Rusty closed out his career with his current employer, CE FLOYD, working at the MITRE BLUE TECH LAB project, in Bedford, MA. Rusty was extremely respected by so many that worked with him, and he was forever grateful for their positive influences in his life, the opportunities given to him, and, in the last few months, for all the outpouring of love, heartfelt caring and support shown to him by so many coworkers during his final illness.

Throughout his years, Rusty cut a "larger than Life" figure, a character known for his bright red hair, tall, handsome presence, charm, charisma, friendliness, helpfulness, kindness, work ethic, honor, integrity, generosity, and "can do, will do" attitude, no matter what challenges came his way. He was respected and loved by family, friends, young people, and adored by his six grandchildren, well liked, and admired by workmates and new friends, wherever his interests and employment took him. He loved travel, spent time in St. Thomas, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, South America, England, and of course, two treks with his camper across the United States, with many interesting stops along the way. Rusty loved fine dining, music, writing, and embracing new experiences, at one point, deciding to test out his sea legs by teaching himself to sail, buying himself a beautiful 35 foot yacht, named Tjita Tjita, utilizing it as his temporary mobile home on water, planning to sail around the world, but settling for sailing up and down the East Coast, sometimes solo, sometimes with a group of old friends fondly known as "the Nautical Knuckleheads", many of their wayward adventures written down for posterity in Rusty's inimitable humorous writing style. He was a teller of tales both long and short, colorfully regaling all who knew him with as many life adventure stories as time and opportunity would allow, right up to his last days, always in good cheer, always with his charismatic way of keeping his listeners amused and smiling.

Most of all, Rusty loved his Spencer life, his beautiful home sweet home, and flower filled yard that he and Linette worked so hard to build their dreams upon. He spent hours in the gardens on free weekends, making "Land Ho!" a well-known point of interest for all passersby, where he and his wife hosted their own happiest wedding, along with some very memorable, unique, happy celebrations, scattered with shipwrecks, treasure chests, gigantic orange pumpkin monsters, a howling seven foot wolfman, giant pink hearts, constant displays of colored night lights, dinosaurs, mermaids, fairies with tutus and fairies with the largest wings, laughing friends and giggling grandchildren, all parties to fondly remember. Even during his last several weeks, he took part in a Halloween Pumpkin Picking party for six little special trick or treaters, complete with Halloween decorations, donuts on a string, a baby ghost and bumpy pumpkin hunt, and of course, Grampy Rusty in his fancy Capt. Hook pirate costume. He proudly presided over his motley crew for his final Thanksgiving feast and shared his last Xmas holiday get together surrounded by the family he cherished, all of whom will forever honor his life, his love, and the joyous memories he brought into our lives.

The family would like to thank his medical providers, his oncology team at UMASS, and special thanks to Notre Dame Hospice and Worcester Home Care, for their professionalism, care, and support during his final journey, and all the wonderful coworkers at CE Floyd, and at his previous employers, who reached out with so much love and support during this time. You all made a huge difference in his final sojourn, as did so many other friends and family. Thank you all, from the bottom of our hearts.

Arrangements are private and under the care of Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden. In lieu of flowers, Rusty requests donations may be made in his memory to: NEW ENGLAND BREAST CANCER ALLIANCE, 32 Cooks Mills Road, Naples, ME, 04055, www.newenglandbreastcanceralliance.org . The family is planning a very special Celebration of Life for Rusty in early summer, for family, friends, and those he worked with throughout his career, all of whom will be notified and invited to join us for a day of remembering the wonderful man he was. And, until then...as we all have heard Rusty say many times, " No Worries...I'll see you on the other side!"

ANSWER TO THE INQUIRY OF A CHILD, ON HEAVEN, OR A LIFE BEYOND

Child, I do not know for certain…Yet, sometimes as I hold each of you tight within my arms, deep in the nights of fears and sorrows, this I feel, this I will tell to you, …I...believe…I must believe…There is a place…somewhere, free of human pain, free of tears and sorrow…A time of solace, sweet comfort, where end to end, all is bound together in understanding unity, strung like pearls in unbroken continuity, with all that came before and after, pearls of love corded eternally together, forever unbroken bonds of tenderness, laughter, affections, reassurance...compassion...understanding... pulled from the depths of bliss, risen beyond rose and silver trimmed clouds, high above the realms of what we live on earth, up, up, beyond life, to the incredible lightness of being…Nirvana, some would call this…We all knew this once, came from there, hold the sense of this remembrance deep within our souls. You will, as you proceed in what we call living, grasp the essence of this at times…in a whisper, a scent, a memory, a fleeting feeling of something you cannot quite grasp, not quite hear…but it is there as surely as the thought-touch of a loved one reaching thru light and darkness...
We all knew this once…Was it at the breast, or connected to life thru the umbilical cord of the womb, or a place before, beyond the reaching of human failings? Our sufferings, if not caused by ourselves alone, or by the decree of arbitrary false Gods, where did they begin? This fragile sense of self, distracted, altered by passage thru halls of time, by circumstances, by unknown spirits, the mysterious instruments, eternal causes of our tears, bereft of reason… where did it begin, why this tangled, painful journey, if not for a destination? There is a place, I feel it as I hold you now, as your breath falls softly on my cheek, I know it is there. Somewhere in the distance, I see there is light not blocked by shadow. There is a destination, when this uncertain voyage is done, a place to hold as our own, to know the shores and depths of love without the sorrow, without strife, pure, soft, tender, unending, as I wish this night could be with all of you held safe within my aching arms…A place where we are all bound in eternity, with understanding, acceptance, without fear…A place to rest in blissful slumber, as each star fades and dies, one upon another…to sleep in unblemished dreams of love, of hope, of peace of heart, of mind…in the somewhere birthing of newer, brighter suns…Yes child, I do believe, I have to believe…in a life beyond... where you…and I…and all those whom we love so dearly, will be, to rest, in peace, together...forever….

©
Alinora the floating poet, a.k.a. linette powell
February, 2002


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