WORCESTER – Longtime Worcester business leader, philanthropist, and founder and CEO of the Small Business Service Bureau Francis Carroll has died at 89 years old.
Carroll provided significant involvement in the Hanover Theatre & Conservatory for the Performing Arts at 2 Southbridge St. in Worcester. The plaza outside the venue was named in his honor in July 2023.
The long-time, influential business person in Worcester grew up on Vernon Hill and served in the Korean War.
Worcester City Manager Eric Batista first announced Carroll’s death.
The City of Worcester mourns the passing of Francis R. Carroll, a champion for small business & a steward of the creative economy. Frank came from humble beginnings & spent his life working to make Worcester a better place to live. We are grateful for the gifts he left behind. pic.twitter.com/MZKN3O3EFo
— CM-Batista (@CM_Batista) October 31, 2024
Worcester Mayor Joe Petty released a statement where he called Carroll a force to be reckoned with. He added:
“He had humble beginnings on Vernon Hill and as a shoeshine boy at Union Station. Frank rose to become a leader for the City of Worcester, in business, and in the arts and veteran communities. His legacy includes helping to build “The American Hospital” in Vietnam, playing a pivotal role in building the Korean War Memorial, and creating Saint John’s Food Pantry, which feeds hundreds of people a year.”
The Hanover Theatre also released a statement:
