Jan Carr

A kind, gentle and selfless soul has taken flight to dance with the angels. Janet Lee Fitzsimmons “Jan” Carr was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on December 12, 1930 to Dorothy Louise Franke Fitzsimmons and Howard Robert Fitzsimmons. At age four, following her mother’s death, she moved to Martins Ferry, Ohio where her maternal grandparents, Estelle Cook and Alfred Franke, raised her on their farm. From an early age, after school, Jan studied ballet, tap dancing, and elocution. Her grandmother was determined that Janet Lee be cultured! She graduated from Chatham College in Pittsburgh in 1952 with a B. A. Jan also attended Carnegie–Mellon University drama school, where she met and married her lifelong partner, Bob Carr. Together they settled in New York City to pursue their careers. Jan, a trained dancer, had a brief stint with the Rockettes and then became a casting director with CBS. After several years, an opportunity arose to open a new TV station, WTRF-TV in Wheeling, West Virginia (near Jan’s hometown), with a weekday TV show of their own, Calling All Carrs. Their first son, Timothy, arrived two years later. The largest city in the state, Huntington, then enticed them to join WSAZ-TV with their own shows and a much larger audience, At Home With The Carrs and Current. Tammy, their first daughter, arrived.

In 1960, Bob and Jan came to New Orleans when WWL offered them a radio show. WDSU-TV saw their TV potential, and the historic Second Cup from the roof of the Royal Orleans was born, along with a second son, Tom. This was followed through the years by Midday, a second daughter, Tiffany, The Real-Estate Home Show, The Bob & Jan Radio Show, The Al Hirt/Bob & Jan Radio Show, The Woolco Show, and more, as well as endless charitable personal appearances. Following the sale of WDSU in 1972, Jan turned her aptitude toward public service. She served as assistant director of the New Orleans Mental Health Association and R.E.A.C.H. (The Religious Ecumenical Access Channel). Jan was, for several years, the Seniors Journalist for WBYU and spokesperson for East Jefferson Hospital, representing over 40,000 members of The Elder Advantage. In 1988, The Jan Carr Show was developed and broadcast for a year on WLAE-TV. Though she never considered herself a “women’s libber,” Jan worked tirelessly at her careers and at being a homemaker. She felt blessed to travel with her husband, Bob, to nearly fifty foreign countries.

In the 1990s, Bob and Jan revived their radio career, co-edited PRIME magazine and collaborated on a popular book, Raising Our Children on Bourbon. Bob and Jan were always extremely generous in volunteering their time, their talents and their homes for charity. Jan received many honors and awards through the years but was most proud of the ones she received with her husband, Bob: The Strength in Age Honor from LSU Medical Center (2000), The Broadcasters Hall of Fame (1994), and The Press Club of New Orleans Lifetime Achievement Award (2003). She was active at Christ Church Cathedral-Episcopal for some fifty years, serving in many capacities including the vestry, Daughters of the King, numerous Cusillo weekends, and as founder of the Cathedral AA program. Bob and Jan were forever grateful to have been accepted so lovingly into the fabric of New Orleans. They retired to Christwood on the North shore four years ago, where they were asked to again revive their TV persona, broadcasting Home At Christwood With Bob And Jan. The program, airing daily, can be found on the Internet. Jan always closed the program with her cheerful proclamation, “Christwood, a blessed place to live!” Jan leaves behind Bob Carr, her husband of 71 years; four children: Timothy Carr (Christine), of St. Charles, Missouri; Tammy Richardson (Thomas), of Rome, Georgia; Tom Carr (Sabina), of Atlanta, Georgia; and Tiffany Rieveschl (David), of New Orleans; seven grandchildren: William Richardson (Carissa), Taylor Richardson, Shane Carr, Carlisle Rieveschl, Haley Rieveschl, Margot Carr, and Camilla Carr; two great-grandchildren, Thomas and Helen Richardson; and a sister, Carole Carroll (the late Jess). The family is grateful to the nursing staffs of Christwood Skilled Nursing and St. Tammany Hospice for their compassionate care. Jan’s remains will reside in the Christ Church Cathedral Columbarium. The funeral service will be held Friday Sept. 30 at 11:00 a.m. at Christ Church Cathedral, 2919 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers please send donations to The Christwood Foundation, 100 Christwood Blvd., Covington, LA 70433.