Francis William Carroll, Jr.

Francis William Carroll, Junior (Frank) was born 22 August 1932 to Francis W. Carroll, Senior (US mail carrier) and Rachel Ferry Carroll (phone operator) in the Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Frank died on Tuesday 30 July 2024 in Norfolk, Virginia from cardiopulmonary collapse.

Frank blossomed best in academic settings: St. Joachim primary school (1946); St. Joseph Preparatory School for Boys (“The Prep”, 1950); and St. Joseph College (BS Physics, 1954).  He was a high school cheerleader for the St. Joe’s Hawks and a cheerleader for education, the Jesuits, and the Catholic Church throughout his life.  He would dare you to try to find a more loyal fan of the Philadelphia Phillies/Eagles or Ohio State Buckeyes.  Frank planned to be a high school math teacher before Russia launched Sputnik, starting the space race.  Since the demand for science and mathematics experts soared as a result, Frank rode a Greyhound bus to West Lafayette, Indiana and began his graduate work at Purdue University (PhD, Mathematics).  He met up with his college friend Dave Dorsey’s sister, Rosemary (Rosie), while she traveled and he worked on his Fulbright scholarship in Amsterdam.  Frank proposed marriage to Rosie via a letter but told her, ‘Think about it.  Don’t tell me your answer until I return to the USA.”  Rosemary Charlotte Dorsey (nurse) agreed to change her last name to Carroll in December 1959.  Frank often teased that after Rosie’s younger sister got married, Rosie was more willing to negotiate.  Rosie remained Frank’s faithful wife until she died in 1988.  Frank continued to enjoy Rosie’s big, boisterous Dorsey clan for 3.5 more decades.
 

Frank taught countless audiences in his role as math professor at Ohio State University for nearly 40 years.  He approached teaching with dramatic flair, pairing his admiration for theater and science. One favorite story illustrates his method: Facing the blackboard with a piece of chalk in his hand and his back to his students, Frank would try to “sweat out” a solution to a hard problem.  He bluffed, blundered, drew his hand across his forehead to share his exasperation.  “This is a tough one,” he explained, as he took off his jacket, removed his tie, started to unbutton his dress shirt.  “I am bleeding sweat!”  he exclaimed as he took off his dress shirt and showed the red tee shirt underneath.  Frank then spun around to face his students. Smiling, he pointed to the math formula printed on his tee shirt, “I have found the formula!”  His students cheered and clapped at the performance.

Frank was also a dutiful servant for many missions and charities including Shamrock Club of Columbus, Gaeltacht Irish language retreats, St. Vincent DePaul Society, and St. Christopher’s Parish bingo.  Frank supported others’ interests by attending events, listening and asking encouraging questions, writing articles for community newspapers and distributing regular newsletters.   Nicknamed “the Pope” by friends in his adult discussion group, Frank drew clear lines for honor, authenticity, integrity and faith.  In 2012, he threatened to write his autobiography entitled, “Fools I have Known” with chapters for Fools in Medicare, Fools in Social Security, Fools with the Electric Company, etc.  He reported that he “looked for ways to give up fools for Lent, but I find that difficult to do in an 
election year.”  In Corinthians 2, St. Paul congratulates readers that they “bear fools gladly, because they are wise.”   Frank concluded, “Apparently, I’m not from Corinth.”

He stood tallest when reflecting on his many sacrifices to pay for private, Catholic educations for his 4 kids all the way through college.  Even though they were “poor as church mice”, Frank and Rosie raised 4 children: Brendan TM Carroll (Peggy Mason Carroll) West Jefferson, OH, Damian FX Carroll, New Castle, NH, Maria AK Carroll 
Maloney (Thomas), Salt Lake City, UT, and Siobhan AT Carroll (Patrick Morisson), Sussex, NJ.

Frank relished his role as grandfather (in Irish, “Seanathair”) and wise storyteller   to Colin and Sean Carroll, Samuel, Becka and Benji Morisson, Tatiana Haddad, Roma Jane Maloney, Brendan Declan Carroll, Brandon Mason, Rachael Bardnell, and Erika Bardnell.   Frank held many others dear including numerous relatives and chosen friends including David Dorsey, Mary Kate Garro Carroll (New Britain, CT), Sharon Swanson (Ireland), and especially Virginia-based  Jessica Habel (Wolf, Lark), Ricki Yaba (Nathan, Shepherd) and Teresa Leafe Weissman.

 A child of the Great Depression, Frank was careful with money.  When his mother sent him to the deli to buy food, he bought the cheapest brand of bologna - which annoyed his brothers. Frank saved the change to buy himself the latest Captain Marvel comic book or a Fifth Avenue chocolate bar.  Later in life, when his kids asked for a treat, Frank pulled out his wallet, opened it upside down, shook his head and moaned, "See!  There is nothing there."

Frank cast off his thread-bare mantra, “Don’t sneer at thrift, buddy!”, in 1999 when he decided to marry his old college crush, Joan M. Yates Gallagher.  They enjoyed a leisurely retirement in Virginia Beach, VA hosting family and friends at the beach, including Joan’s children – Kate, Alice, Liz, Cecilia, Germaine, Eileen, Michael and 
Ruth.  Frank offered Joan immeasurable comic relief until Joan passed away in 2016.    Frank’s parents and both brothers, Paul J and Gerald, also pre-deceased him.

We will miss his hearty laugh, his quizzical looks, his champion cross-word puzzle completing skills, and his fearless fight for justice in our troubled world.  Frank’s signature bottom line remains relevant today, “Keep the Faith.”

Funeral arrangements will be handled by HD Oliver Funeral home in Virginia Beach, VA . website: https://www.hdoliver.com/    Frank’s Funeral Mass will be at St. John the Apostle Parish, 1968 Sandbridge Road, Virginia Beach, VA  23456 on Tuesday, 6 August 2024 at 11:00 a.m.

Ohio arrangements will be handled by Egan-Ryan Funeral home, 403 E Broad Street, Columbus, OH · (614) 221-6665.  Website https://www.egan-ryan.com/    Frank’s visitation  will be held there from 10-11 a.m. on Friday 9 August 2024. 

Graveside prayers at 11:30 a.m.  on Friday 9 August 2024.   FWC will be interred in his final resting place next to Rosie at St. Joseph Cemetery in Lockbourne, OH.  Luncheon will follow in Grove City, OH.

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