Carroll Colby

1917 - 2016

Carroll D. Colby 99

Worcester - Carroll Durgin Colby, born June 8, 1917 in farmhouse in East Andover, NH, passed away on September 23, 2016 in Lacey, WA. He was the son of Lydia P. and Clifton D. Colby.

He was raised by his mother in the household of Joseph H. and Maria P. Perry, his grandparents, in Worcester, MA. He earned a B.A. with honors in Economics and Sociology from Clark University in 1939. He obtained his first master's degree in Social Work from Western Reserve University in 1941. In 1971 he received a second master's degree in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In June 1941, he married Betty Kelsey, the love of his life, in Northfield, MN.

In World War II he was a naval officer, serving on the U.S.S. J.R.Y. Blakely, a destroyer escort, in the Atlantic theater and the U.S.S. Hope, a hospital ship, in the Pacific theater.

After the war, he held social work positions in Indianapolis and Kansas City, Kansas. From 1948 to 1953, he was the Director of the Group Work and Recreation Division of the Community Chest of Hennepin County, MN (Minneapolis). From 1953 to 1959 he was Assistant Director, Operations Division, Community Chest of Philadelphia. From 1959 to 1969 he was the Executive Director of the Welfare Planning Council in Wilkes-Barre, PA. During that time he was also the first Executive Director of the Commission on Economic Opportunity in Luzerne County, PA. From 1971 to 1982 he was the Executive Director of the North Shore Health Planning Council in Peabody, MA. Throughout his working years he was fortunate to address issues of fairness and social justice.

In his leisure time, he loved to garden, hike, camp, canoe, and fish. He was also an avid bird watcher. He enjoyed carving and woodworking. His family remembers his wicked sense of humor, laugh, great smile, and generosity.

He is survived by his son David and his wife Susan of Princeton, NJ; his grandson Jeremy and his wife Jennifer of Edmond, OK; his granddaughter Natalie Thomas and her husband Justin of Philo, IL; and five great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife.