Robert W. Carroll
June 28, 1944 ~ December 20, 2020
Born in:
Boston, MA
Resided in:
Hamden, CT
CARROLL, Robert W. –
Robert, or Bob to many, has once again set his sights skyward, leaving behind a long trail of friends and memories. Born in Boston and raised in the suburbs of every city in the Acela Corridor, Robert was educated at Calvert Hall College prep school in Baltimore and American University.
He began his 25 year career with Pan American World Airways in Washington, D.C. as a management trainee in marketing. After a brief stint as a Teamster working the ticket counter at 16th and K Streets, the land of government lobbyists and sycophants, Robert was assigned to Pan Am’s Government Desk to work with the Soviet Embassy and Aeroflot, thus entering the world of spies and vodka.
In 1968 in the midst of the Tet Offensive, Robert volunteered to go to Vietnam for the company and was dispatched via cargo plane on just twelve hours notice. While there, he bunked with a Marine unit at Da Nang Airbase and was subsequently wounded while exiting a helicopter at a forward base.
After returning stateside, Robert’s career flourished in the golden age of air travel. He flew with the likes of Andy Warhol, Muhammad Ali, and Alfred Hitchcock, dined at the Plaza with Bette Davis, helped open mainland China to western tourism, and worked to introduce the American public to adventure travel to the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.
In 1991 Delta acquired Pan Am’s trans-Atlantic routes and Robert joined Delta to help with its expansion into international markets. After ten years with the company, he retired and opened his own transportation consultancy geared toward increasing carrier service to smaller regional jet ports.
An active member of the community, Robert was an usher and Vestryman at Trinity Church on the Green and a Vestryman and Senior Warden at St. Thomas’s Episcopal Church. He also served on the boards of the International Student Center at Yale and the Elizabeth Ives School.
He is survived by his wife Suzanne of Hamden and his beloved Scottish Terriers, Piper and Hamish, numbers 9 and 10 in a long line of Scottie companions.
There will be no formal services. If you would like to honor Robert’s memory, please consider supporting The Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Rd., Branford, CT 06405, in whose superb care Robert spent his final months. Arrangements are in the care of BEECHER & BENNETT FUNERAL HOME, 2300 Whitney Avenue, Hamden.
Suzanne, Not sure you’ll remember me but I wanted to send my condolences to you. I worked with Dr. Possick and have known Bob and met you through the office. He was by far the nicest, friendliest and happy guy. I was so very sorry to read about his passing and haven’t seen him in a while since I retired a few years ago. Sending you my deepest sympathy and be safe during these very difficult times. Carol Evans
Dear Suzanne: I first met Bob in the early 1980’s when I moved to New Haven to manage the Eastern Airlines’ sales office. I believe Bob was working with Pan Am at that time and he and I would cross paths at many travel industry functions. Bob was a good man, honest and true, well respected by peers and someone that I considered a good friend. Though I’m retired now and no longer living in CT, when I think of all the special people that I met in my career in travel, Bob Carroll is at the very top of the list. My deepest condolences to you. May he rest in peace.
Dear Suzanne-
My honest and deepest sympathy to you (and “the kids”). Bob was by far my favorite sales rep whether working for Pan Am or Delta. He always had a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eyes. He would bend over backwards to help us out whether it was to help clear a waitlist for a client or to charter an entire airplane for a team during “March Madness”. He was also a well loved personal friend of of our family and will truly be missed.