Noted historian and author, educator, treasured the natural world
Charlie Carroll. (Courtesy photo)
Charles Francis Carroll of Harvard died peacefully March 8, 2025, at the age of 88, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Charlie was born Oct. 5, 1936, to Margaret (Gleason) Carroll and Patrick Carroll, and grew up in Somerville. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Boston College and his Ph.D. from Brown University in American and European history.
Charlie dedicated his professional life to public higher education. He taught in UMass Lowell’s History Department for 37 years, serving as its chair for 15 years. His areas of expertise included Colonial America and the history of technology. Charlie authored the pioneering work, “The Timber Economy of Puritan New England,” one of the first books to examine the colonists and their impact on the environment, and many scholarly articles, such as “The Human Impact on the New England Landscape,” for the Thoreau Society of Concord’s jubilee work, “Thoreau’s World and Ours: A Natural Legacy.” His career culminated by serving as the dean of the Division of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at UMass Lowell from 2002 through 2009. As dean, Charlie was known as a pragmatic leader who executed his vision in a collegial and engaging manner.
Aside from his intellectual and professional pursuits, Charlie was a family man, dedicated to his wife and daughter, and ever proud of his grandson, son-in-law, and nieces. He lived in Harvard for over 50 years and found happiness in its natural beauty. Charlie had a love of the outdoors and gardening, preferring to spend his free time working outside in the yard, hiking, admiring trees and birds, and traveling to see natural wonders. He was an avid photographer, often seen behind a camera whenever there was a new baby, pet, wedding, or vacation.
In sum, Charlie lived a good life through his love for the people and natural beauty around him and his boundless intellectual curiosity about all the world had to offer.
He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Pauline Carroll; daughter, Christina Carroll; son-in-law, Joshua Rogaczewski; grandson, Patrick Carroll-Rogaczewski; sister-in-law, Carol Wilson; niece Jessica Moore Wilson and her husband, Peter Moore, parents of River Moore; niece Beth Wilson-Lampro and her husband, Erick Lampro, parents of Ryan Wilson and Evelyn Lampro; and many cousins.
The family wishes to thank Carol Wilson and John Wilson (in spirit); Deaconess Abundant Life of Concord (Margaret, Veda, Edith and Neala); VNA Care (Katie and Carolyn); Father George Roy, O.M.I.; dear neighbors, including Margot and Wade Holtzman who lived next door for over three decades; Rebecca Phillips; the Harvard Council on Aging; and other relatives, friends, and doctors for their faithful and kind assistance during his illness.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation may be made to UMass Lowell in support of the Charles Carroll Scholarship Endowment.
A Mass of Celebration of Life will be held at Saint Theresa, The Little Flower Church, 15 Still River Road, Route 110, Harvard, at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 31.