Louis Charpentier, Leominster's 'Mr. Christmas,' Dies At 104
LEOMINSTER (CBS) - Louis Charpentier, a Leominster man who was affectionately called "Mr. Christmas" for putting out his hand-carved Styrofoam displays for several decades for holiday onlookers to enjoy, has died at 104.
He died Wednesday morning, a city hall spokeswoman told the Sentinel Enterprise.
In his basement, Louis Charpentier made more than 250 Christmas figures and put them on display outside his home for 64 years. It is a tradition that Leominster kept alive last year, as they put his creations on display for the holiday season at city hall.
"He was a remarkable man, and he was always looking for the nice things in people," At-large City Councilor Claire Freda, who had known Charpentier for decades, told the newspaper.
"I never saw him upset. He just loved life," Freda told the Sentinel Enterprise.
Louis Charpentier, also named "Mr. Leominster" by the mayor, told WBZ-TV's David Wade in December 2012 that he started drawing at age 3 and carving at 7. He also had carved at the Smithsonian, and he received letters from the White House.
His passion is something that has been kept alive by his son, Ernie Charpentier.
"I was 10 years old when we started doing it. I would have been really sad if this thing had just gone by the wayside," then 74-year-old Ernie Charpentier told WBZ-TV's Paula Ebben in December 2014.
After his visit with WBZ in December 2014, Louis Charpentier concluded by saying "Merry Christmas to everyone, and a happy New Year, and a happy birthday to me!"
He turned 104 on Dec. 10, 2014.