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Carl Carlson Obituary
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Carl's most treasured accomplishments included being a Varsity athlete at Memorial High School in Cedar Grove, becoming an Eagle Scout and serving as a Philmont Ranger, demonstrating his affinity for nature and commitment to community service. He held a bachelors degree from Upsala College and a masters degree from Rutgers University in toxicology. Carl's unconditional love for all creatures, from dogs and cats to birds, was one of his most defining traits.
Carl is survived by his brother Eric, his uncle Clif and aunt Ellen. He was preceded in death by his loving parents, Erika Carlson and Henry Jr., who instilled in him the values of faith, resilience, and kindness that remained with him all his life.
As we remember Carl, we remember the words of the Christ from John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
In honor of Carl's life, we invite all who knew him to share their memories and upload photos to his memorial page.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Robert Weissbach
June 17, 2025
It is with a heavy heart that I write this note honoring Carl Carlson. I have known Carl for most of his life, having first met him in the kindergarten class we both attended. Carl was talented in school, a great soccer player and gifted academically. His mild manner belied a strong intellectual curiosity that eventually led him to graduate from Upsala College and Rutgers University. He was passionate about toxicology and I remember him in college periodically driving to some lake in New Jersey with a canoe on the roof. He would then paddle the canoe into the middle of the lake to collect water samples and determine any detrimental effects on the lake water from runoff coming from neighboring buildings.
As we grew up, I was there for many important moments in his life. I sat next to him in sixth grade, when he returned from missing school due to the death of his father. It´s hard to fathom what he must have been going through during that time. But we also sat at the same table during prom our senior year, with Carl looking so dapper in his tuxedo. After Rutgers, Carl headed to Philadelphia with his then wife Cindy to pursue his doctorate. He and I attended the Rolling Stones concert when they were in Philadelphia touring for their Steel Wheels album, the second show on the tour!
We lost touch in the early 1990s as our lives trended in different directions. But in the early 2000s Carl reached out to reconnect with me. When we first spoke after so many years, I expected him to tell me that he completed his doctorate, started a family, obtained an academic position at a university, and was living an idyllic life. But his physical body had not been kind to him, upending everything. Yet, somehow, his spirit, kindness, and compassion remained. When we would talk on the phone, he would always tell me about a neighbor´s dog that he would walk and help take care of, or something that he did to support another neighbor in the building where he lived his last years.
Just before his passing, he upgraded to a smart phone and was now sending text messages. "Texting is fun!" he wrote on May 15th. I never imagined that the last text I would get from him would be on the morning of his passing.
One time in school, there was a very tiny bug crawling around on a piece of paper. Carl took a pen and drew a circle on the paper around the bug. Next thing we know, the bug is continuously running into the ink circle and bouncing off it like it was in a cage, and we had a good laugh. Then Carl let the little bug escape. Who would have thought to do that? But that was Carl, creative, funny in his own unique way, and thoughtful.
Bless you, Carl.
Carol Flippin Colavita
June 7, 2025
When I was new at First Montclair House I would go down in the morning for breakfast and sit with Carl Carlson and Ron Dalbero. They always made me feel welcome and acted glad to see me. Sometimes we would talk about silly things and laugh and laugh. Other times we would have serious discussions about religion, among other things. I always looked forward to these morning meetings. We always had a wonderful time. I do not think I would have adjusted properly to First House without the kindness and acceptance of these two gentlemen. Carl was always so pleasant to be around and never said anything bad about anyone. I was encouraged to keep talk positive and to not bring up negative ideas or subjects. Carl will always be a very happy memory of my experience at First House and I am so privileged to have known this wonderful, kind man. ----- Carol Flippin Colavita
Kelly Dickson
June 3, 2025
Janet Paduhovich
June 3, 2025
His understated delight and humor were/are endearing. His unique presence will be missed and ever cheished.
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Grange Rutan Habermann
May 30, 2025
To the Family of our dear beloved Friend Carl Carlson,
It is with a very heavy heart, and I take this moment in time to share a few words about Carl who truly made a difference in this world.
In February 2024, I had a stroke which affected my peripheral vision and somehow I wasn´t me anymore. Through rain and snow and old principalities my good friend Carl every day brought me a cup of coffee and a copy of the New York Post; like clockwork, I would hear his knock on my door and by the time I got there, the newspaper would be sitting out there with a cup of coffee. It was my lifeline in my world that had crashed, and I in turn bought coffee for Carl every day.
At one point in time, he wanted to write a book about a little dog that he took care of And I tried very hard to try to find a PUBLISHER but to no avail - Carl did not give up and he asked me to type up his words written on yellow legal paper and I did. I am so glad we had that little journey together his kindness overflowed
There is a great sadness at First Montclair House without his smiling face. Carl was always doing things for other people and he especially loved Jack Benny, and when he looked rather dapper and his hair was combed a certain way, he would ask, "Does my hair look like Jack Benny ?" And I would tell him, " you look better than Jack - you look like Carl Carlson!"
rest in peace, dear Neighbor, our hearts are heavy without you.
Two days before he passed he was calling his aunt and someone said, "You already talked to her today!" and he replied " She likes to hear my voice, so I´m calling her again. He loved her dearly.
Ron Dalbero
May 30, 2025
Carl and I are pals, having breakfast together discussing theology, science and music. I have learned a lot about his Lutheran faith and Carl has been attending mass at my Catholic church. I love Carl's dry sense of humor. Hysterical. Carl, myself and a lovely lady named Carol at First Montclair House where we live are the official elves at our holiday festivities (see photo). Most importantly, Carl is a serene, peaceful and loving man of deep faith. This is precisely why I speak of him in the present tense. He is very much alive in me and I have experienced a deep sense of peace since his transition.
Regina Beasley
May 30, 2025
Carl was my neighbor he loved animals and walked a previous tenant's dog mr kii a few years ago I went away for a weekend he watched chipper my parakeet I trusted him completely. Carl was very quiet and minded his own business. He will be missed condolences to his family. In deepest prayers Regina Beasley first Montclair house resident
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