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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

EWU Hall of Famer, longtime fan Carpine dies

University community recalls generosity

Eastern Washington University Hall of Famer and super fan Tony Carpine, who died Wednesday, was all about food, whether it was food for thought or to curb an appetite.

“Food was his thing,” Marc Hughes, Eagles golf coach and athletic department special events coordinator said. “He was part of a different generation. The thought of exchanging money for food escaped him. If someone needed food, he went and got it for free. He had built up such an extensive network, he could pull that off.”

Carpine, 82, died after a long battle with cancer. Services will be on campus at Showalter Hall Auditorium at 1 p.m. Tuesday with a reception following at the Cheney Rodeo Grounds.

“He loved Eastern,” athletic department secretary Judy Crabb said. “Everything he did, he wanted to make Eastern better. He devoted a ton of time to Eastern athletics. He just made every event better, he made everything more fun. He will be sorely missed.”

Carpine, who was born in Renton, Wash., came to run track at Eastern Washington College of Education in 1947 after serving in the Army in World War II and never left. He set the school record in the 880 yards and along with his brother, Fred, helped Eastern win 43 straight dual meets for coach Red Reese.

In 1950, Carpine married his wife, Vivian, a librarian at the college for more than two decades. They had four children.

Carpine was in the construction business for more than 30 years before opening an Italian restaurant. Carpine was well known for delivering food to coaches and feeding players.

“A lot of memories,” longtime EWU football coach Paul Wulff, now the first-year head coach at Washington State, said. “He was one of those people who had great pride in his heritage. An Italian man, he had great pride in his food. He was always giving. He had the good, old-fashioned mentality of feed ya, feed ya, feed ya until you explode.

“He was just a guy who was always giving to help somebody else.”

Carpine is survived by his wife, daughters Glenda Ates and Janice Fitzgerald, sons Gary and Michael, three granddaughters and six siblings.