From the time he was born until he graduated from Seton Hall University in 1952, he would live in the same house in Irvington, New Jersey. He was the middle of three children born to James Francis Carroll, Senior and Marguerite Anna Gahr; older sister, Marilyn, and younger sister, Elaine.
St. Leo’s in Irvington was his grade school and Dad attended Irvington High School. As a senior, along with a number of friends, Dad enlisted in the Navy. He was to be a pilot and Dad understood he had to be a college graduate to qualify for flight school. One problem, however. The minimum height requirement to be a pilot in the Navy was 5’6”. Dad was 5’5”. Most pilot enlistees wanted to be fighter and attack pilots. If Dad agreed to flying seaplanes, Search and Rescue and Anti-Submarine Warfare, the Navy would make an allowance on his behalf. Dad agreed and the Navy would ultimately honor their promise.
1952 was a busy year for Dad. He graduated from Seton Hall University, entered Flight School in Pensacola, Florida, received his Navy Aviator Wings and was married to Anna Brennan from Orange, New Jersey.
Then, the first of what would become multiple visits to Corpus Christi, Texas. This first visit in 1952-53 was to train in flying seaplanes, specifically the P5M. Once certified, Dad’s first duty station was Coco Solo, Panama. There sons Robert and Richard were born, in 1955 and 1956.
In 1957, Dad was informed the Navy was going to transition out the seaplane squadrons. Given the choice, Dad elected to join the ranks of carrier aviation. The first step in that process was to relocate the Navy’s seaplane squadron from Panama to Bermuda, to be absorbed into the British Royal Air Force. A short visit of four months in Bermuda, then a short, four month transfer to Lakehurst, New Jersey to qualify for land based, multi-engine aircraft.
From Lakehurst to Hutchinson, Kansas. Why, Hutchinson for a Naval base? Dad would answer there wasn’t a whole lot of stuff to fly into in Kansas. A short seven month transfer to Monterey, California to attend the Naval Post Graduate School, then, a second visit to Corpus, where daughter, Eileen, was born in 1959.
1960 saw Dad joining the Pacific Fleet in San Diego, which would be the longest duty station of his career, four years. Dad would begin carrier flight operations that year off the USS Kitty Hawk and the USS Oriskany. In 1961, Dad’s sea-home for the next three years would become the USS Bennington. With two multiple month west-pac deployments, both to support the US effort in Viet Nam, Dad accumulated flight hours, experience and promotions.
Most significant of this period was Dad’s refinement of a technique to approach a carrier during landing when the ship was reaching the height of a sea-swell. This greatly enhanced a pilot’s opportunity for a successful “trap”, or landing. This would cast Dad’s fate in his future Naval career, as an flight instructor. This effort was perfected while training students, primarily off the coast of San Diego aboard the USS Midway.
Next stop in 1965 was a second visit to the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California where Dad received his Master’s Degree. This was followed by a two year stint at the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Arlington, Virginia. There, in 1966, son, Bill, was born.
The last east coast station would be the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island in 1968-1969. Then, back to Corpus Christi, Texas.
While in Corpus, the Carroll family would suffer a breakup as Dad and Anna’s eighteen year marriage came to an end. Dad would transfer back to San Diego in 1970 and join the West Coast Office of Personnel Management.
It would be here that Dad would meet the person who would become the love of his life. Georgia Luth.
Dad and Georgia would not only begin and nurture a personal relationship, but a real estate investment partnership as well. Employing a strategy that would prove quite successful.
1972 saw sons Robert and Richard joining the west coast family from Texas.
Dad and Georgia were married on June 9, 1973 and home would be Spring Valley.
Georgia’s daughter, Kelso, was adopted into the family in 1974, daughter Alexis born in 1975.
1975 would also see Dad’s retirement from the Navy after a 24 year career.
Son James III would be born in 1978.
While continuing to pursue real estate ventures, Dad began working for BK Dynamics. A Department of Defense contractor BK specializing in operations management analysis. Using his master degree in Business Management from the Naval Post Graduate School, Dad was invaluable in the efforts of the Navy to improve efficiencies. Dad would be employed at BK for next seven years, leaving the company in 1982.
The Oxbow Inn on Campo Road in Spring Valley become the unofficial headquarters for the unincorporated community. Dad enthusiastically unified the local businesses to pursue the formation of a local, federally chartered bank. Valle de Oro Bank emerged from that effort, opening its first branch in 1983. Dad would serve as the Chairman for the bank’s growth and tremendous success. Expanding to four branches, Valle de Oro began attracting the attention of the larger national banks. Valle de Oro was purchased by Commi8nity First bank in 1999.
In addition to serving as Chairman of Valle de Oro Bank, Dad responded to a request from a Navy contact made during his employment at BK Dynamics. Dad was approached to explore the need to fill a need requiring the efficient and cost effective manner to destroy sensitive material. This led to Dad’s formation and creation of Data Disposal, Inc., in 1984, a Department of Defense contractor dedicated to fulfilling that need.
Dad was now quite the busy man serving as Chairman of Valle de Oro Bank, building the basis of Data Disposal while still expanding his and Georgia’s real estate investments.
Life was good, but life can also throw you a curve.
In 1993, Dad was diagnosed with cancer. Regular trips to UCLA Medical Center with multiple tests and treatments. As a last resort to stem the growing disease, Dad would have major surgery in 1994. Recovery was long and tedious with continued regular visits to UCLA.
Finally, in 1995, Dad was declared cancer free. Dad also announced he was going to retire. Completely. After twenty-four years in the Navy, seven years working for BK Dynamics and fourteen years as a bank Chairman and small business owner, Dad decided to fully withdraw from the working world.
Now Dad’s life was filled with multiple golf outings and “supporting the local Indian casinos”. Dad and Georgia became frequent visitors to Bard, California having purchased a single wide trailer near the Colorado River. Days were spent fishing the canal and enjoying the company of travel friends and neighbors.
For twelve years, Dad and Georgia enjoyed the life of full retirement and all the rewards granted a lifetime of work. Grandchildren became part of their lives and embracing a more simple life became a mutual goal.
In late 2007, Georgia started feeling tired and began taking a myriad of tests to discover the reason behind her loss of energy. In 2008, Georgia was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and began chemo treatments. The prognosis was good and the family rallied in support. Georgia would gallantly battle cancer for the next twelve years.
Dad would suffer his first stroke in 2015. A second stroke the following year would permanently result in his loss of peripheral vision. Sadly, Dad had to realize his freedom would be highly curtailed as he lost his comfort level in driving. But, Georgia became his personal driver and the two become unstoppable in their local travels.
Georgia lost her courageous multiple year battle with cancer in September 2020. Dad was crushed. Now 91 years old, Dad mobility was greatly diminished both physically and spiritually with the loss of his greatest love. Mobility and safety became tantamount issues and Dad moved from his Mt. Helix home of nearly 50 years to Westmont La Mesa, an assisted living facility.
Westmont was a tough transition for Dad in the first months. Always independent and active, Dad had to realize many changes in lifestyle were in order. In time, Dad would embrace the activities offered and grew to welcome the number of fellow residents Dad could torment. But, most importantly, Dad was in a safe and controlled environment.
Dad would have seven children; Robert, Richard, Eileen, William, Kelso, Alexis and James III. He would have eleven grandchildren; Galen, Donovan, Erin, John, Mary, Paul, Elizabeth, Karsen, Logan, Rocco and Peter IV. Four great-grandchildren: Bailey, Liam, Connor and Darrah.
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