Woodsville, NH – Alfred "Fred" A. Garofalo, 77, passed away on Sunday July 9, 2023. He was born June 13, 1946, in Lawrence, MA, to Rose (Tennerella) and Salvatore Garofalo.  Fred Attended Holy Rosary School and graduated from Central Catholic High School, Lawrence, MA, in 1963. He earned an Associate Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Wentworth Institute in 1970, and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree (Summa Cum Laude) in Technical Management from DeVry University in 2007 at the age of 61.

He was first married on December 18, 1966, to the late Sharon (Fair) Garofalo, in Lawrence, MA, but found love again and was married Kristi (Strycker) Garofalo on June 5, 2009, in Fennville, MI.

Fred raised four children with Sharon. They encouraged the adventurous, artistic, scientific, and bold, and together they raised adults that embody those qualities. Summers at a cottage on the beach, camping in the woods, and holidays filled with good Italian food, cannoli's and toto's, and many close relatives and friends framed the backdrop of life. A strong Roman Catholic faith saw the family through some hard times, including the loss of Sharon after 40 years of marriage.

Fred's long career in the paper mill industry took the family away from their New England roots, from Massachusetts and New Hampshire to Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, and Indiana. After retiring as a plant engineer, and in 2008 found a connection with fellow adventurous soul, Kristi; the two married and set off on New Year's Eve 2011 for Northern New Hampshire with two dogs and three cats to explore life in the mountains.

Fred loved the White Mountains and spent the past eleven years living in the place that had always called to him with his wife, Kristi, who joined this calling with equal enthusiasm.  Fred loved his home, family, hiking, great food, especially Italian, and woodworking. He loved waking up every day to the view of mountains and lakes, and sharing this life with his wife/partner/friend/accomplice/companion/fellow adventurer.

He loved his new chosen community and the people who welcomed him. In his retirement, he managed the transfer station for the Town of Lisbon, NH, and also served his community on the Haverhill Select Board from 2017 to 2023. He served St. Joseph's Church in Woodsville as a lector until the pandemic hit, and maintained the church's website until earlier this year.

He was exceptionally gifted with carpentry and could be found in his workshop crafting and making the most amazing, creative gifts for family and friends that will forever be treasured. He had a great love for pets, dogs especially, and was never long without man's best four-legged friend. Dogs were known to seek him out, recognizing this space in his heart reserved for them. He leaves behind Brady, his beagle mix, in the loving care of his wife. He will by now have been greeted by Xena and all the loving pups that precede him in death.

Between the people who preceded him in death and those who survive him, the dates and locations and jobs, is a life-long legacy of a man, who upon meeting, you can't ever forget, who lived his principles, who never hesitated in trying to achieve his dreams, who taught his children, grandchildren, and anyone who asked or were paying attention, how to live well:  Don't give up. You know what you gotta do, so go do it. Family, friends, people, matter. You can change a person's life without knowing it, so know your words matter.

He had one hell of a life and his last years were one hell of an adventure.

He talked loud. He laughed loud. He lived loud. He lived until he couldn't.

He loved the loudest and that love is still heard and felt in all the hearts of all the names listed and unlisted whose lives he touched.

In his own words, those who knew him must '...go on keeping the memory of our loved ones in our hearts and be thankful their suffering is over'.

Fred is survived by his wife, Kristi (Strycker) Garofalo of Woodsville, NH, along with four children with the late Sharon (Fair) Garofalo: Anthony (Ria) Garofalo of Plaistow, NH.; Lisa (Erik) Krebs of Longmont, CO; Kim (Adam) Glaser of Tualatin, OR, and Nick (Stephanie) Garofalo of Atlanta, GA; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; sister Connie (Bill) Baillargeon of Salem, NH; and two nieces and three nephews. He is also preceded in death by his parents, Rose and Salvatore Garofalo.

Fred will be cremated, and we will be having a Celebration of Life on Saturday, September 9 at the Mountain Lakes District Lodge with details to be announced later.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Cottage Hospital Auxiliary, PO Box 143, Woodsville, NH 03785, in great appreciation of the Cottage Hospital staff who were amazing in their care of Fred.

The family sends special thanks to Dr. Dehart and nurses Karen, Angie, Jason, and Marie at Cottage Hospital; and to all the amazing people who supported Fred and his family through this time.