Beloved area musician, music-teacher and gifted carpenter, David Perkins, died Saturday, November 17th after going 13 rounds with cancer. Dave got the most of the life he had left, by filling his time with playing, creating, and recording music and going on long meandering motorcycle rides in the sunshine. He could most often be found either on the bike, puttering with his tools on a project, or cocooned in his basement recording studio.
Dave recently said that of the four most important decisions he ever made in his life, the decision to pick up a saxophone at age 11 probably shaped him more than any other. Dave started playing in Boston area clubs in high school (talent outweighing minimum legal age requirements). He attended Berklee College of music for some time in the late 80’s ever widening his circle of musical friends and influences.
Over the last 20 years, he developed a reputation around the North Shore and played at countless events, clubs, and charity functions. He was also a well-respected carpenter who applied the same standards of quality to his woodwork as he did to his horn playing. Dave had a fierce love for his family.
Pre-deceased by his father, Edward Arthur Perkins, Jr., Dave leaves his mother, Louise (MacDonald) of Methuen, MA, sisters Julie Gangemi and her husband Steve or Peabody, MA, Pam Little and her husband Jason of Marlow, NH, and Peggy Buell and her husband Mike of Haverhill, MA. Dave also says goodbye to his brother Edward Perkins and Ed’s wife, Kathy, of Medford, MA. Dave loved being “Uncle David” to his many nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces and nephews, and was so proud of each and every one.
Dave had a huge circle of friends, earned over years of shared love and loyalty. Though that circle was wide, in the end it embraced him like a close, warm hug in a demonstration of love in action. It will be difficult for Dave’s child, Dennis Charpentier, to imagine watching science shows and documentaries without Dad.
Dennis will miss the hours of discussion around the mysteries of nature and life, but Dave leaves his child with a lifelong curiosity and a scientific mind. Dave was a stay-at-home Dad for the beginning of Dennis’s life, and Dennis was there to help ease Dave into his next chapter with grace and peace. Family and friends may call from 4:00 to 8:00 PM on Friday November 23, 2018 at the Twomey, LeBlanc, & Conte Funeral Home 193 High St. Newburyport, MA 01950.
Parking available behind the Funeral Home. Services and burial will be private at a later date. In lieu of flowers, we encourage you to take in some kick-ass live music somewhere and raise a toast to a helluva sax player.
Dave- it was a privilege to care for you.
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