Carl Richard Friend

Carl Friend ObituaryObituary published on Legacy.com by Sperry-McHoul-Pichi Funeral Home from Mar. 6 to Mar. 7, 2026.BOYLSTON – Carl Richard Friend, 65, of Boylston, formerly of North Attleboro, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 1, 2026 at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.Born in Providence, Rhode Island on January 10, 1961, he was the loving son of the late Richard D. Friend. Carl grew up in North Attleboro and was a graduate of North Attleboro High School. He later furthered his education by taking courses in information technology at ITT Technical Institute.Carl developed a fascination with computers at an early age. In 1973, while attending school in North Attleboro, his school acquired a Data General Nova 840 computer, an experience that sparked what would become a lifelong passion and career in the information technology field.Over the years, Carl began collecting computers and never stopped. His collection eventually grew to include medium-sized computer systems from the 1960s through the 1980s, including models such as the PDP, Digital Mini VAX, and Nova 480. His collection became so extensive that it was ultimately housed in a museum location in Providence, Rhode Island.In addition to his love of technology, Carl greatly enjoyed sailing. He spent many memorable days aboard 35-foot Beneteau sailboats departing from Boston Harbor, often taking week-long cruises to destinations such as Provincetown, Marion, Nantucket, and Martha's Vineyard. He especially enjoyed planning the voyages and navigating the often-challenging passage through Woods Hole.He is survived by his aunts, Judith Friend of North Attleboro and Elizabeth Friend and her husband James Coogan of Sandwich. He also leaves his dear friends, Dan Burns of Boston and Samad Barzegar and his wife Gail of Plainville. He was the grandson of the late Dr. Dale Friend and Harriet Friend.All services will be held privately.Arrangements are entrusted to the SPERRY-MCHOUL-PICHI FUNERAL HOME, North Attleboro.To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.