DAVID CARROLL

David Carroll

David Carroll was like my brother, certainly my closest comrade, and he could’ve been that to so many people. We were all a part of his family in his eyes. If you ever met him, then you knew him -simple as that. A heart so big, it encroached on the outside of his body for everyone to see. He did not understand the concept of a stranger and if one’s path was unclear to him he would tirelessly investigate. Dave had a sensitivity to our burdens and the humility to always treat each conversation as if it were his first day in class. It was not an act.

Dave as “Gary Harris”

But maybe you were lucky enough to get to see Dave act out his absurdist alter-ego as the mustachioed, chain-smoking, Tony Clifton-esque, used yacht captain, squat real estate hocking, barreling buffoon that was “Gary Harris” during the early 2000’s while drumming for another late comrade, Billy Boloby. Gary was the only one that could make Boloby appear the straight man. So brilliant and unashamed that one might even miss its perfection amidst Boloby’s unmatched, yet NOT unparalleled, stage presence. Dave was that parallel. Our troupe would’ve been exponentially less without Dave’s hijinks. His clowning was his way of thumbing his nose at all the suffering and seriousness that he saw and felt like a vise on our heads. It was his art. And the importance of his art was to make us feel that discomfort and work through it together by laughing at him and forgetting all our woes.

Billy Boloby

I never knew Dave to claim to be an expert at anything. My older little brother -always looking up- for clues as how to flesh out more happiness and success, whether in his family life or as a drummer. Even though he gazed upwards, he was also looked up to by many in our community for his commitment to his family as the first of his two daughters arrived nearly a decade ago. Forgoing any selfish aspirations to be Steve Adler or your weekly jester, instead I witnessed a man focus that innocent and insistent wonderment and foolishness into creating a domain for his daughters to never be anything less than the untarnished little sprouts of joy and silly laughter that their DNA had provided.

Dave’s stamina for all that he loved was rare. What Dave lacked in knowledge or talent he made up for with interest and work. We spoke often about what it takes to reach your goals and why we could never apologize for dynamiting our way into the mines of liberation. Liberation through earning those happy moments; earning those skills; earning those human connections; earning the chance to look anyone in the eye and tell them that you love them. Something that I was glad I was able to do this past Thanksgiving before his flag was lowered forever, not a week later, on St. Andrew’s Day.
~ Stephen McKean

“If you are in a position to assist his wife and two daughters during this time, please consider donating to the David Carroll Memorial Fund. With the holidays approaching, it is also important to try and provide Olivia and Julia with a wonderful Christmas and maybe even a trip to be with the rest of their family in Maryland. Many people have reached out to us asking how the family can be helped during this time and there is an immediate need for help covering the unexpected expenses of David’s passing along with future needs for the children in the coming months while Adrianna works through all of the changes in their lives. It is with a humble heart that we ask for help to support the Carroll Family as they begin this new journey in life without the man they loved so much.”