After a lengthy battle with prostate cancer–national benefactor Richard V. Carolan passed away at the age of 75 at New York’s Memorial Sloon-Kettering Hospital.
Born on September 2–1926–Carolan served in the United States military during World War II. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Rutgers University in 1968. He would move on to become the Chairman and CEO of Martindale-Hubbell Publishing Company. After his retirement in 1990–he formed the Tina and Richard V. Carolan Foundation–which is dedicated to cancer research and humanitarian relief.
Richard was held in high esteem by the Armenian community for his honesty and willingness to assist in their time of need. He had donated $1,000,000 dollars to the Armenian Cultural Foundation–alongside his generous contribution of $300,000 to Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School. In honor of his work in the Armenian community and–in particular–the Armenian Church–Catholicos of All Armenia’s Karekin I and Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia Aram I had bestowed upon Richard honorary medals on behalf of each Catholicosate.
In a letter of condolence addressed to Tina Carolan–Catholicos Aram I wrote: "I have always admired the simplicity–the straightforwardness and faithfulness of Richard. These virtues have characterized his person as husband–father and devoted member of our community. His fatherly attitude towards our community–his form attachment to our church and our personal friendship have acquired tangible manifestations through his various donations to our Catholicosate–to the Prelacy and several community activities. Indeed–the name Richard together with the Carolan family will remain uneraseable in the life and witness of our church and community."
"We know that the loss of the head of the family is irreversible–especially of the departed one is a devoted husband–a loving father and a caring grandfather such as Richard. Moreover–we have known Richard as a great friend of the Armenian Community and as exemplary philanthropist–who generosity has been inscribed with formidable gratitude in the annals of our Prelacy and Armenian organizations. He will always be remembered a s a man who had an open heart for just causes and an equally open hand for benevolence," wrote Prelate Bishop Mousegh Mardirossian in his letter addressed to the Carolan family."
A private funeral service was held on July 30 in the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Torrytown–NY. Richard is survived by his wife Tina–son Richard–daughter Kimberly and four grandchildren.
Condolences:
The ARF Bureau expresses its deep condolences to Mrs. Tina Carolan and the entire Carolan family–on the sad news of the passing of national benefactor and ardent supporter of Armenian issues Richard Carolan.
The ARF Central Committee of the Western United States expresses its deep condolences to Mrs. Tina Peschekerian-Carolan and the Carolan family–on the sad news of the passing of ardent supporter of Armenian-American institutions Richard Carolan.
In this time of sorrow–we join our dear friend Tina Carolan and the Carolan family in mourning the loss of a great man and a great supporter of our organization. Richard Carolan was a philanthropist–who adopted a cause and gave wholeheartedly. Ours was one. His name and the name of the Carolan family will always remain engraved in our hearts and in the life of our organization.
-Armenian Cultural Foundation
The Armenian National Committee of the Western Region expresses its deep condolences to the entire Carolan family on the sad news of national benefactor and committee supporter Richard Carolan’s death.
Prelate Bishop Mousegh Mardirossian of the Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of the Western United States–the Church Delegates–the Religious Council–the Executive Board–the Board of Trustees of the Churches and its committees express their deep condolences to Mrs. Tina Carolan–the children and the relatives of national benefactor Richard Carolan on the sad news of his death.