Michael Alan Carroll

Michael Alan Carroll died Saturday, December 11, 2021 in Fort Myers, Florida after a short battle with lung cancer.  He was 70 years young.

Mike was born in Ithaca, NY, son of Wilmar and Verna Ford Carroll.  He graduated from Ithaca High School (Class of 1969) as a National Merit Scholarship winner where he was on the wrestling and track teams.  He graduated from Kent State University in 1973 with a B.A degree, completing his freshman year off-campus due to the May 4 shootings.  He was a free-spirit, attending Woodstock, and following his love of music.

Mike was a hard working individual, starting with a paper route in the Fall Creek area, repairing vehicles at his family’s tire store, and continuing in adulthood as an antique dealer, Pepperidge Farm franchise owner, taxi driver, and restorer of his home (the former Rawson Hollow Inn in Berkshire/Speedsville).  He repaired/repurposed whatever he could, even driving his well by hand for his home.  Mike was an avid reader, rarely missing a Jeopardy question; he had a love of poker.

The true love of his life was sailing, inherited from his grandfather, Pete Ford of Trumansburg.  He started on Cayuga Lake with his sailing vessel “Sturdy Logic”.  He had sailed on many solo trips to Columbia, The Bahamas, Jamaica, Guatemala, Dominican Republic (Luperon), Panama, and Florida Keys and eventually became a resident of the open water, living on his boat full time for the last 10 years.  During COVID, he spent much of the time in Cape Coral, Florida with his family.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother Steve. 

He is survived by his heart-broken sister, Pat Howard; dedicated brother-in-law, Neal Howard; nieces and their spouses, Tracy and Dan Lorenzini and Alicia and Mike Turner; great nephews and nieces, Austin, Sierra, Dominic and Vanessa; lifelong friends to whom he was fiercely loyal:  Jay, Priscilla, Derick, Sharene, Karen, Carol, Len, Mary, and Dillya. 

Private services will be celebrated with family and friends on the water, returning him to the sea, while playing his favorite song, “Free Bird”. 

Memorial Contributions in memory of Michael Alan Carroll are suggested to The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 4550 Montgomery Ave., Suite 1100 N., Bethesda, MD 20814.

Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.