Bartholomew J. "Bart" Carroll

Bartholomew J. "Bart" Carroll died on June 3, 2012, surrounded by his loving family, ending a long and courageous battle against multiple myeloma.  He was 80.  A wake will be held at the William J. Leber Funeral Home, 15 Furnace Rd., Chester, N.J., from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, June 6, 2012. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on June 7, 2012, at St. Lawrence R.C. Church, 375 Main St., Chester, N.J., followed immediately by interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover, N.J. For directions and online condolences, visit www.williamjleberfh.com

Born in Newark, N.J., on Jan. 26, 1932, Bart was the son of Patrick Carroll and Margaret Kennedy Carroll. He was predeceased by his sister, Patricia Carroll Byron.  Bart married Catherine "Cis" Carroll on May 28, 1955.  Bart and Cis met at St. Charles Borromeo High School.  Bart maintained enduring friendships with his many of his high school classmates. Bart and Cis raised a family of five at their home in Hillside, N.J., where the family attended St. Catherine of Sienna R.C. Church.  Bart and Cis raised their children in a loving, if noisy, home, and during their years in Hillside made lifelong friendships with a group of neighbors called the "Card Club." 

Bart was involved in many church activities, including St. Catherine's Holy Name Society and Parish Council. He also served as scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 90, and was a long-time member of the Knights of Columbus.  After serving in the United States Marine Corps from 1951 to 1952, Bart joined the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, serving from 1954 to 1974.  In his last 12 years on the PAPD, Bart was assigned to Newark Airport.  As a PA Police officer, Bart would often recount to his children his encounters with various celebrities, including a surprise meeting with President Kennedy. 

After his retirement from the Port Authority, Bart joined the Union County Sheriff's Department, serving as a sheriff's officer until his retirement in 1998.  In addition to his wife, Cis, Bart is survived by his sons, Daniel and his wife, Mary, of Liberty Corner, N.J., Patrick and his wife, Linda, of Lopatcong, N.J., and Michael of Chester, N.J., and his daughters, Catherine Carroll Colligan and her husband, John, of Chester N.J., and Mary Carroll Fanning and her husband, Edward, of Scotch Plains, N.J. 

After he first became ill Bart and Cis lived with their daughter, Cathy Colligan, who made extraordinary sacrifices in fighting his illness and making his last years as enjoyable as possible.  Bart was the loving "Pop-Pop" to nine grandchildren, Liam Carroll, Brendan Carroll, Katie Carroll, Meghan Carroll, Bridget Carroll, Brendan Fanning, Grace Fanning, Sean Fanning and Colin Fanning.  He educated them in the field of fine dining, particularly in the science of making proper milkshakes and meatballs.  Like many Irishmen, Bart shared a particular appreciation for Italian cuisine.  He was known to keep detailed accounts of his meals while on vacation.  Any time not spent on grandchildren was devoted to travels with Bart's brother and sister-in-law, Patricia Clarke and Jim Clarke.  The quartet traveled extensively, to Ireland, Florida, Italy and England, along with many trips to the New Jersey Shore. 

The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staffs at Morristown Medical Center, the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, and Somerset Medical Center for their care and compassion.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Multiple Myeloma Fund at Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation, 360 Essex St., Suite No. 301, Hackensack, N.J. 07601.

Published in Star-Ledger on June 5, 2012