Ernest Purpura, 100
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Ernest Purpura, 100, died Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010, at Williamstown Commons. He had resided for 65 years at 502 West Main St.
Born in Quincy on Aug. 30, 1909, the son of Francesco and Frances DiAndra Purpura, he graduated from Qunicy High School in 1927. He attended Franklin Institute in Boston, where he studied drafting and engineering. In later years he took courses at Hudson Valley Community in Troy, N.Y. He moved to North Adams in 1931.
Mr. Purpura was employed at the former GE in Pittsfield from 1958 until retiring in 1964. He moved to the city to join the former Sprague Electric Co., heading the drafting department and also managing the company's subsidiary, the Northern Berkshire Stamp Co.
His wife, the former Geraldine Buckley, whom he married on July 4, 1934, in the former St. Francis of Assisi Church, died in 1996.
He was a member of a number of local civic organizations and a former chairman of the North Adams Redevelopment Authority during the urban renewal project in the 1970s. A Corvette enthusiast and member of both the national and Berkshire County Corvette clubs, he first owned a 1954 model and later ones from 1959 and 1986. He took a number of awards for his cars and drove them in the annual Fall Foliage Parade. Until 2008, he had driven the mayor's car in the parade. After retirement, he and his wife spent winters in Santa Monica, Calif.
He leaves a daughter, Cynthia Conlon and her husband, Dennis, of Carlsbad, Calif.; a son, Robert Purpura and his wife, Joan, of Rome, N.Y., his granddaughter, Christine, of Rome, and nieces and nephews outside the area.
He was predeceased by five brothers and a sister.
FUNERAL NOTICE The funeral for Mr. Purpura will be Saturday, Aug. 14, at 11 from Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, 521 West Main St. Burial will follow in Southview Cemetery.
A calling hour will be held from 10 until the funeral on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Elder Services of Berkshire County in care of the funeral home.