Thomas C. Carroll, 54, of Tinton Falls, N.J., died peacefully at home on Saturday, July 17, 2010, surrounded by his loving family. Tom was born in Freehold, N.J., and grew up in Asbury Park, N.J. He is a graduate of Asbury Park High School and earned his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University. He earned his master’s degree in business administration from Vanderbilt University, and his doctorate in education from the University of Pennsylvania. He was also a certified public accountant and a certified financial manager.
From 1992 until 1998, Tom operated a family-owned community newspaper, The Coaster, in Asbury Park. During that time he served on the board of trustees of the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce. After leaving The Coaster, he was hired as the budget director at Stevens Institute of Technology, where he also taught several classes. When Tom left Stevens, he was appointed vice president for finance and administration at Raritan Valley Community College.
For the past six years, Tom was Wagner College’s vice president for finance and administration. Tom also taught several graduate business classes at Wagner, and in 2008 a student poll named him top graduate professor.
Tom was an avid cyclist, runner and triathlete who competed in many races in the tri-state area. He was one of the founding members of the Sandy Hookers Triathlon Club. Tom loved spending time with his family and riding the roller coasters at amusement parks with his daughters. He also enjoyed taking vacations with his wife and daughters.
Tom could ride a bicycle 100 miles in a day, and did it several times. He cooked many family turkey dinners that rivaled mom’s, and the loaves of bread he often made with help from his daughters were delicious. Once Tom set his mind to do something, he did it.
The only thing he ever failed at was beating mesothelioma, the deadly cancer with which he was diagnosed 16 months ago.
Tom was known for his generosity, loving nature, quick wit, photographic memory, uncanny knowledge of trivia, and his affection for “The Three Stooges” TV show.
Tom is survived by his loving wife of 19 years, Cheryl, and their two daughters, Rebecca and Erin. He is also survived by his beloved parents, Robert and Doris Carroll (Asbury Park, N.J.); brothers Robert T. Carroll (Neptune, N.J.), Patrick Carroll and wife Lama (Holyoke, Mass.), and Chris Carroll and wife Carmen (Little Silver, N.J.); sisters Ellen Carroll (Neptune, N.J.), and Marianne Tantrum and husband David (Ocean Twp., N.J.); and many loving nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 21, at Buckley Funeral Home, 509 Second Ave., Asbury Park, N.J. A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 22, at Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church, 705 2nd Ave., Asbury Park. Interment will follow in Monmouth Memorial Park, 4201 State Route 33, Tinton Falls, N.J.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing to may contribute to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Rd., 2nd Floor, Bethesda, MD 20814.
IF YOU WISH to share memories of Tom Carroll with his family, friends and colleagues, please E-MAIL YOUR MEMORIES to Lee Manchester, Media Relations Director (lee.manchester@wagner.edu).
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