New York, New York
Painter Who Cared
They called him Pete the Painter. Pete Carroll was really a firefighter, but he painted apartments to make ends meet. He walked into ToniAnn's life eight years ago and laid two coats of beige paint.
He had 19 years in the Fire Department. One more, and they were off to retire in California. They depended on each other, but last January, Ms. Carroll came to depend on him in very profound ways. She fell ill with a neurological disorder with no cure. It is a rapid, ravaging affliction that attacks the soft tissues.
Mr. Carroll, 42, started to cook for his wife. He carried her to bed. Sometimes he washed her back. This summer, on the hottest day of the year, he came home to Staten Island from the Squad 1 firehouse in Brooklyn to see her in the backyard, frozen in a chair in the blazing sun. He saw that and wept. "I had a beautiful fireman to rescue me," Ms. Carroll said. "Now I don't want to move at all."
In a contorted way, Mr. Carroll's wife is one of the lucky survivors. She has his ashes and his wedding band.
Pete you were a really good friend to us and such a funny guy always with the jokes hope your making them laugh up there I heard your Dad passed and your sister Pat So you have plenty of company. Think of you often and what could have been you had such dreams for the future
Linda Bradley
September 11, 2025
What a great sense of humor and very hard worker in the department but also as a painter and a great friend Miss you so much we had great plans for when you retired Always in our prayers The Bradley´s
Linda Bradley
September 10, 2024 | Friend
From my heart, this message is for all of Peter Carroll´s family. I recently participated in a Tunnels2Towers 5k in Tomball, Texas. Each runner/walker received a badge of a fallen hero on 9/11. My badge had Peter´s picture with his Squad number and identified him as a firefighter. As a retired teacher, I like to know about the person I am honored to represent. I believe Peter and I would have gotten along famously! He was so brave and caring. His sacrifice will never be forgotten. My prayers...
Holly Strapulos
May 22, 2022
20 Years and it still hurts. Most days pass by and life must go on. But not one week will go by when I don’t think about that Horrific day and all the Lives that were lost. You will always be my Brother-in-Law, my Friend and in my thoughts Peter! RIP
Beth Battista
September 04, 2021 | West Babylon, NY | Family
Remembering Peter on the 20th anniversary of 9/11...
Cindy Roe
September 03, 2021
Thank you so much Del for checking on our friend
Linda Bradley
November 30, 2019 | Staten Island | Friend
I vowed to never forget and I read one of these obits every day. Today I came upon the story of 'Pete the Painter'. First off, thank you for your service, but more than that, thank you for showing us all how to be kind, considerate human beings. May we all honor your legacy by paying it forward and helping others. Much love from Texas,
Del Newberry
November 29, 2019 | Garland, TX
oh my can't believe it's been 15 years already where does the time go we talk about you all the time you are in our prayers daily we finally got a chance this summer to make that trip to Alaska that we talked about 20 years ago. It was beautiful.
Linda & Dennis Bradley
September 12, 2016 | Staten Island, NY
You and your family will always be in my daily thoughts and prayers. Gone but never forgotten....
SGM ANTHONY J CARROLL (U.S. ARMY - RETIRED)
April 23, 2016 | NARBERTH, PA