David Leon Carr

Born in Salamanca, NY, David grew up in Red House, NY, where he attended and graduated from Randolph High School with the Class of 1949. Following high school, he worked for the Allegany State Park Commission before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1951. During his service in the Korean War, David graduated from the Army’s Ranger School at Fort Benning, GA, and was assigned to the Military Intelligence Service’s 157th Special Operations Detachment. He was discharged at Fort Carson, CO, in 1954.

Following his military service, David began a distinguished career with the New York State Police.ed After graduating from the State Police Academy, he served in Troops B and A and retired in 1976 as a Senior Investigator with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. After retiring from the force, David launched an unsuccessful bid for Chautauqua County Sheriff in 1978. He later continued his professional career as a corporate security consultant with United Refinery Company in Warren, PA.

David also continued his public service with his passion for improving the lives of residents in Westfield, where he was elected to the village board of trustees from 1997 to 2001. He also ran successfully for four two-year terms as mayor between 2005 and 2013. He loved his community.

In his youth, Dave was an accomplished skier and ski jumper, and he competed at the ski jumps of Allegany State Park and other competitions across the Northeast. He was a proud member of the Interstate Ski Club, earning local recognition for his athleticism and grace on the slopes–an early passion that reflected his lifelong love of the outdoors. Dave was also one of many founding community investors in the Eagle Ridge Ski Resort in Westfield in the early 1960s, helping to bring winter recreation opportunities to the region. He was an avid amateur photographer and enjoyed traveling the world during retirement with his wife, Beverley. Among his greatest joys was spending time with family at his in-laws’ summer cottage on Brule Lake in Ontario, Canada. David loved entertaining friends and family and was known for his good cooking, generous libations, and unforgettable practical jokes.

David is survived by his son, Bryan Carr (Doreen) of Hamburg, NY; daughter, Cynthia Carr Rodrigues (Reginaldo) of Ypsilanti, MI; grandchildren, Jason Carr (Shannon) of Penfield, NY, and Megan Carr of Aurora, CO; grandchildren, Andrew Rodrigues of Clinton, MI, and Daniela Rodrigues of Ypsilanti, MI; and great-granddaughters, Charlotte and Madeleine Carr of Penfield, NY.

In addition to his wife, David was predeceased by his parents, Leon and Helen Carr of Salamanca, NY, and his brother, James Neal Carr of East Randolph, NY.

Family and friends are invited to visit the Mason Funeral Home, 37 Clinton St., Westfield, NY, from 4 to 7 PM, Friday, June 6, followed by a celebration of life on Saturday, June 7 at 11 AM at the First United Methodist Church of Westfield.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011, or the Patterson Library, 40 S. Portage St., Westfield, NY 14787.

Condolences may be shared online at www.masonfuneral.com.