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Tom Carroll Obituary
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Michael F. Miller
September 28, 2013
Tom was a special member of the MSU community - a person of extraordinary dignity, fairness, and concern for others. These traits seem to becoming increasingly more rare as time goes on, though, hopefully, I am wrong. It was my privilege to meet him early in my time at MSU and to learn much from him. He cannot be forgotten. - Michael F. Miller, Okemos MI
Larry Busch
August 14, 2013
It was my pleasure to know Tom when he occupied an office in Berkey Hall. Although I hardly knew him well, he was always someone who expressed great concern over issues of international development and who was a pleasant, intellectually upright colleague. He will be sorely missed. Please accept my sincere condolences.
Kenneth David
August 13, 2013
Tom was one of the good guys at MSU: a man of effective action, dignity, and kindness. I wish his family strength during this tough time.
Nona Anderson
August 2, 2013
Professor Carroll will be missed by many of his Michigan State friends. I appreciated the opportunity to work with him over the years.
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Fayyaz Hussain
July 31, 2013
IN MEMORY OF TOM CARROLL
(December 10, 1937-July 24, 2013)
It was 1986 when I met with Tom Carroll as a student. My relationship with Tom progressed over time from a student- faculty relation to a close friend. He was an excellent mentor, caring teacher, very organized and disciplined professional, and a wonderful friend. Tom was one of those who belong to the great generation of 1960s who fought for Civil Rights and human dignity in this nation. Tom was a living proof of all of those slogans used in that movement.
He used to chat with me in our basement office and always shared his wisdom and experience with me. We used to talk about our classroom experiences and learned from each other. It was like our informal seminars on teaching.
After his retirement, we became close friends. We were regular visitors to Brody Complex and Snyder Hall for dinners. Whenever he came for dinner, he looked for me and would come over to my table with his tray. These were our rewinding dinner sessions. Politics, stocks, MSU events, movies, Broadway shows, Basketball and football were some of the topics during these dinner sessions.
I love travelling and so did he. I travelled with him to Las Vegas, Florida, Washington DC, California, Death Valley, Mojave Desert, Hollywood, and many other places. When you travel you really know a person in all details. Every time I travelled with him I was impressed by him in so many ways. Once we were eating lunch in a park near Ever Glades. The family who ate lunch before us left their paper plates and other garbage under the table. After the lunch Tom picked up all of that garbage and cleaned the table. Why, "these are public parks and we need to take care of them". Once I was driving my car and answered my cell phone when driving. He said "our lives are more important than the phone calls. Phones can wait. Remember when we did not have cell phones". And there are so many other lessons I learned from him.
Last time I saw him was three weeks before he passed away. He was so excited about her daughter Amy and her new born baby. He talked about them and his sister Abbie for a long time. I did not realize it was our last dinner together. He looked frail and I asked him "Tom please feel free to call me if you need any help at any time". He never called. Even though we were close friends he still was a private man who did not want to have sympathy. He never told me how serious his condition was. That night we said usual good bye and then I never saw him. It appears to me he came over for dinner that night just to say last good bye.
Fayyaz Hussain, Ph.D
Center for Integrative Studies
Michigan State University
Helen Farr
July 29, 2013
Amy, my condolences to you and your family. Tom and I worked together in CASID. I will miss him!
Gaye Tuttle
July 28, 2013
To Tom Carroll's family. I am so sorry to hear of the loss of Dr. Carroll. I worked for Dr. Carroll in CASID. He was a kind considerate man.
July 28, 2013
Dear Amy and all of Tom's family. My husband Hank (passed on in 2011) and I have had many pleasent memories with Ann and Tom over the years thru church activities and social activities. And the last few years have enjoyed his company with a group of us who attended all the Boarshead plays together with fun dinners beforehand. Now, not only do we miss the Boarshead Theater, but we miss dear Tom. Aren't we all grateful that we have happy memories to remember he and Ann by. Grateful that you Amy, and your hubby and dear Ry, were here for Tom to enjoy you and his little grandson. He was a great friend. Thanks for sharing him with us. Betsy Bowers and family
Mary Winter
July 28, 2013
Dear Amy, Please accept our condolences. Your father was a very interesting guy. We have memories of dinners with your parents, as well as many pleasant memories of you and Harriet together.
Mary Winter
July 28, 2013
I had professor Carroll back in 2006-2007. He had a vast knowledge and interesting view on many social and global topics. He was the first professor to assign books that were actually interesting, relevant, and applicable. I'm very sorry for your loss; he was a well liked professor and I was honored to be in his classes.
Marcelo & Susana Siles
July 26, 2013
Our condolences for the loss in your family. Dr. Carroll will be remembered as an excellent leader and friend at CASID.
Sincerely,
Shrikumar Poddar
July 25, 2013
Tom was a great teacher and a visionary. He was always very thoughtful and reflective. We will miss our friend Tom very much.
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