Alan Lee Carroll, M.D

Alan Lee Carroll, M.D., who returned to his Maker on Thursday, May 17, was the second son and third of eight children, born in Washington, D.C. on October 25, 1946.

Married to Rita and father of Sarah, John, Eric, Brendan, Peter, Amelia and Ruth. Bonus father to Colleen, Keri, Heather, Kendall and Justin. Grandfather of eight: Liam and Rees; Noah and Emma; Mackenzie, Darby and Finn; and John. He was the bonus son of Ruth Kemple and Rita’s Mom. Sibling to Eric, Martha, Linda, Mary, Claire, Barbara and Betsey; and bonus brother-in-law to Dianne, Wylie, Ernie, John, Phil and Warren and uncle to all their children. Godfather to niece Jennifer, Phil and Mark.

He graduated from the University of Maryland Medical School in 1974 and completed a residency in Family Medicine there in 1977. He practiced family medicine for over forty years in his well-loved community of Emmitsburg, having joined the practice of his mentor and teacher, George L. Morningstar, in 1977.
A faith-filled member of St. Joseph Parish, Emmitsburg, his life will be celebrated there on Saturday, May 26, 2018. Visitation with his family and friends will be from 9:30 to 11am, followed by his final mass. The church address is 47 Depaul Street, Emmitsburg, MD 21727.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Stauffer Funeral Homes, P.A., Thurmont.
Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.staufferfuneralhome.com

Remembering Dr. Carroll

Mary Adelsberger, DVM

I want everyone to know how extraordinary Dr. Carroll was. With his humble, reachable, laid-back demeanor you would never guess how much this man knew and how much he could do. He was a rare diagnostician. He was able make a diagnosis purely on your symptoms and didn't need to send you to a specialist or do the full gamut of testing unless truly necessary. He had same day appointments for those of us in need, did small procedures in office, and you could even talk to him on the phone! He saved so many of us from urgent care, emergency, and specialist visits. This is rare. Some of us are already finding this out as we are seeing our new family doctors.

He was there for me from birth through adulthood and at least a half of a dozen after-hours emergencies in between ranging from head lacerations to asthma attacks. I remember one incident when I was playing soccer on the weekend at The Mount and I collided with the keeper causing laceration. I wanted to get back into the game so badly that my parents called Dr. Carroll, and he sewed me right back up. I was back in the game at the start of the second half.

So many of us will remember his boisterous laugh, jovial radiating voice, gum chewing smile, kind heart, humble confidence, extraordinary patience, and 70's office decor that gave you familiarity and comfort.

He was a simple man with so much to give and was a doctor for two reasons alone; one, because he cared about people and two, because he wanted those people to have a happy, healthy life. Never once did I feel rushed or unheard. We would talk about my family and my life at every visit. He would remember what was going on in my life, my family's lives, and I'm sure, many other patients' lives as well. He was a friend.

He dedicated his life to his patients in our little town of Emmitsburg. He was like an extension of our own families. He will be sadly missed, as we will never have another doctor like him.

It should also be remembered that his work would not have been possible without the support and generosity of his wife, Rita, and their children. Thank you, Rita and all of your children, for allowing him to share so much of his time here on earth with all of us. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten.

I can only hope that one day I will be a fraction of a doctor he was.