Richard J Carroll

Richard J. Carroll, "Rich", a long-time resident of Jersey City and Bayonne, passed away at home surrounded by family, on September 8, 2024. He was born on February 14, 1944, in Jersey City. Rich's life was marked by dedication to his family, profession, and many beloved lifelong friends.



Rich was the youngest son of the late Harry and Anna Carroll and brother to the late Tom Carroll. He was a cherished father to his daughters, Colleen, Maribeth, and Kate Tiberio; father-in-law to the late Michael Tiberio; former husband to Jo-Anne Kelly Carroll; and a doting grandfather to Jake and Zach Tiberio, and Declan and Anna Carroll. Rich's role as the family patriarch was one he embraced with great fervor, and particularly in his later years, he found the most pride in the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren.



A great believer in the principles of a Jesuit education, he was a graduate of St. Peter's Prep, St. Peter's College and later Seton Hall Law School. Rich's pursuit of knowledge was a lifelong endeavor that spanned his formal education, his professional career and his passion for watching Jeopardy every evening at 7pm! As a young attorney, he was honored to serve a clerkship with the Honorable Justice Mountain of the NJ Supreme Court, who was a long time mentor, and Rich continued practicing law in Hudson County for the remainder of his professional career.



A lifelong Green Bay Packer fan, even before the Lombardi years, he was one of the many "owners" of the team, who could be found adorned in his favorite Packers gear, cheering them on, and even journeying to Wisconsin for a game more than once in the last 10 years. He was also a voracious reader and a lover of history, with a particular interest in learning the fundamentals of many languages, relying on more than 10 years of Latin courses throughout school. This intellectual curiosity was a hallmark of Rich's personality, one that he generously shared with others.



Rich was larger than life, not just in stature, but in his epic storytelling abilities. He could captivate an audience, and strike up a conversation with many new acquaintances, that ranged from recounting historical events to telling stories from his early days driving trucks while he was attending law school. He always had a humorous anecdote and a unique talent for making people laugh and feel at ease. As Rich's stories are remembered and retold, his legacy will endure.

He was a generous and loyal friend, who gave support not just in words but in actions, showing time and time again what true friendship meant and how to be "a man for others". This quality became strikingly evident and was repaid to him in recent months, as many who had known him for decades stood by his side, offering their love and support throughout his final weeks.

Rich dedicated much of his time in recent years to his grandchildren. He spent many miles traveling to Massachusetts for the joy of watching his older grandchildren's football and lacrosse games and hearing about their academic accomplishments. As a father of three girls, he cherished his time with his only son-in-law, who he respected and admired immensely, talking about history, democratic values and child rearing. In more recent years, he spent much time in Hoboken with his younger grandchildren as a very active and present part of their life. He took immense pride in their achievements and was a consistent source of encouragement and support.

As we bid farewell to Rich, family and friends are invited to visiting hours on September 15th, 2024, from 2:00-6:00pm, at the Keenan O'Brien's Funeral Home, 984 Avenue C, Bayonne. A funeral mass will be offered on September 16, 2024 at 11:00 am at St. Vincent de Paul Church, directly across the street.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Rich's memory to honor his beloved son-in-law, Michael Tiberio, who lost his battle with brain cancer last year. For anyone who knew Rich, you know this was a cause dear to his heart. Your contribution will help advance the critical research being done by Mike's doctor, Dr. Reardon, and his team. This research is helping to improve the lives and outcomes of those who are courageously fighting brain cancers. Donations can be directed to Dr. David Reardon's GBM Research Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284. Please write checks to Dana-Farber and include Dr. Reardon in the memo section. To give online, https://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/site/TR;jsessionid=00000000.app20005b?fr_id=1200&pg=team&team_id=3373&NONCE_TOKEN=D77D4E30864A6872CB89291DA88CAD3B