Frank Carroll has passed away
- Thread starter Minz
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2012
So sorry to hear about Frank Carroll's death. For most of my time watching this sport, I tended not to pay attention to coaches. But Frank Carroll was one coach that did stand out for me.
Neither did I. But Frank and his family are entitled to their privacy.
And at 85 years old, he had a good innings.
The word "legend" gets bandied about a lot nowadays, most of the time in a way that belittles the term. But this is one occasion where it is the correct usage. Frank Carroll truly was a legend of the sport.
I have been trying to find videos of Frank when he was competing, but to no avail. HOWEVER, I did find one video of him from his time with the Ice Follies. Here he is with Lee Carroll (is she Frank's sister?) and Bill Thomas in 1963:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26-IRCtBj18
Incidentally, that user has uploaded a whole treasure trove of clips from old shows. For example, here is a video of Lee Carroll on her own, from the same show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkJIryXjS4Y
[Both of those clips originated from this longer video]
With the length of time Frank has been in the business, he will have met and worked with so many people. And I'm sure he will be coming across a lot of familiar faces now that he has reached that big ice rink in the sky.
My thoughts go out to Frank's family, friends, students and fans.
CaroLiza_fan
Oh my, I didn't even know he had cancer.My condolences to his loved ones and friends.
Neither did I. But Frank and his family are entitled to their privacy.
And at 85 years old, he had a good innings.
The word "legend" gets bandied about a lot nowadays, most of the time in a way that belittles the term. But this is one occasion where it is the correct usage. Frank Carroll truly was a legend of the sport.
And how good of US figure skating to use a photo from his dapper younger days. (and he continued to be dapper in his later years as well). Quite the looker.
I have been trying to find videos of Frank when he was competing, but to no avail. HOWEVER, I did find one video of him from his time with the Ice Follies. Here he is with Lee Carroll (is she Frank's sister?) and Bill Thomas in 1963:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26-IRCtBj18
Incidentally, that user has uploaded a whole treasure trove of clips from old shows. For example, here is a video of Lee Carroll on her own, from the same show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkJIryXjS4Y
[Both of those clips originated from this longer video]
With the length of time Frank has been in the business, he will have met and worked with so many people. And I'm sure he will be coming across a lot of familiar faces now that he has reached that big ice rink in the sky.
And Denis Ten.
My thoughts go out to Frank's family, friends, students and fans.
CaroLiza_fan
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- Joined
- Jun 26, 2012
ISU obituary
isu.org
Obituary – Frank Carroll (USA) - International Skating Union
It is with regret and sorrow that the ISU learned of the passing of legendary Figure Skating coach Mr. Francis (Frank) M. Carroll who passed away at age 85 on June 9, 2024.
isu.org
I was fortunate to skate for a while at the rink where Frank coached. I was able to watch him in action with elite skaters--Evan Lysacek, Tim Goebel, Angela Nikodinov, Yebin Mok, Dani Kahle--and his non-competitive skaters (he was my coach's coach). He was the same with them all: steady, even, pleasant but firm. He could be silly--I remember him dancing a little jig once when some Irish music came on--but mostly he was remarkably placid. My coach always said we should get me a lesson with him, but it never panned out, so my one "coaching" moment came when I fell on a back spin right in front of him. "Are you alright?" he asked. I was. "Well then," he said good naturedly, "get up and try it again."
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2012
This is sad to lose a legend but what a legacy. Oddly he will not be remembered so much for coaching OGM Evan but rather dealing with Gracie Gold, Nicole Bobek and Christopher Bowman. He dealt with some very strong willed / personalities in skating. And such talent - I am not just talking Michelle Kwan but wild children Nicole and Christopher were two perhaps of the most naturally giften skaters with huge personalities that transcended the ice. I will remember believe it or not, not Evan winning OGM but Frank dealing with Christopher Bowman and trying to control him and get him to be disciplined in front of the cameras making sarcastic comments about planned or unplanned choreography. Or who can forget the jacket incident involving Gracie Gold. Gone but not forgotten. What an icon!
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2014
That depends on who is doing the remembering. I will remember Frank as Evan Lysacek's coach ... and how much Evan revered him and wanted to win Olympic gold as much for Frank as himself. And what a great guy and splendid competitor Evan is/was ... check out his medal records, IIRC, as a senior he either had to withdraw because of injury or he won a medal. (Phil Hersh wrote that in an article.)
I'll also remember him as Michelle Kwan's coach extraordinaire and his reaction when she dropped him just before the 2002 olympics. He said, ^I thought there wasn't anything we couldn't overcome together.^ Not a quote, but the jist of it. Also, I will always think of Katarina Witt's remark that MK's withdrawal from his coaching at such a time was "cruel." It was great to read Michelle's present day quote.
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2011
wow, he dedicated around 59 years to coaching. incredible. thank you for your legendary contributions to the sport of figure skating, rest in peace. what a legacy he leaves behind.ISU obituary
Obituary – Frank Carroll (USA) - International Skating Union
It is with regret and sorrow that the ISU learned of the passing of legendary Figure Skating coach Mr. Francis (Frank) M. Carroll who passed away at age 85 on June 9, 2024.
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2012
I wish he could have lived long enough to see Gracie win a medal at worlds. She seems to have it all - grace, style, presence, amazing jumps, crisp and clean spins and even beautiul dresses. She herself is a beauty to boot. It still may happen but I just wanted to see the investment Frank put into Gracie come to fruition
- Joined
- May 25, 2014
It is. From the photo and Daisuke's comments, it sounds like he was with him very recently.
I was wondering if the other person in the third photo is Jonathan Cassar. After a quick check of his IG, I could tell it is. He also posted about Frank and had a different picture of him, Daisuke, and Frank. He mentions Frank's struggles the past few months. From all their comments, it sounds like both Daisuke and Jonathan truly supported Frank as genuine friends.
My sincere condolences to Frank Carroll's family and friends.
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2017
Frank remained sincere friends with many of his students, it's just who he was as a person, a great man.
Frank tried to keep more of a distance from his students after everything that happened with Christopher Bowman but it's obvious with the way his students talk about him he failed at that. He cared for them and they always knew it.
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2015
I noted a while back an interaction I witnessed between Gracie and Frank at Boston Worlds 2016; tho I realized in that moment he was trying to be a firm steadying influence, it was upsetting to see Gracie in such distress.
My respect for him as an icon in the sport remains high and I am sorry to hear he has passed away. We often reference in these pages that skating luminaries go virtually unnoticed by the general public so I was surprised to hear the news of his passing on our local TV News broadcast this evening including pictures of him with his well known protégés. Bless him
My respect for him as an icon in the sport remains high and I am sorry to hear he has passed away. We often reference in these pages that skating luminaries go virtually unnoticed by the general public so I was surprised to hear the news of his passing on our local TV News broadcast this evening including pictures of him with his well known protégés. Bless him
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2022
I don't remember what year he tried to coach Christopher Bowman, but I can still see the K&C shot with Frank staring straight ahead, looking grim, and Christopher clowning around as usual. The technical marks were read out and weren't good. Christopher grimaced and stood up all set to flounce off. Still stone-faced and without looking at him, Frank said, easily lip-read, "Sit. Down." Plop. Christopher sat down as if he was a robotic toy. The group of skaters with whom I was watching whatever competition it was (1990 Worlds?) all applauded.I noted a while back an interaction I witnessed between Gracie and Frank at Boston Worlds 2016; tho I realized in that moment he was trying to be a firm steadying influence, it was upsetting to see Gracie in such distress.
My respect for him as an icon in the sport remains high and I am sorry to hear he has passed away. We often reference in these pages that skating luminaries go virtually unnoticed by the general public so I was surprised to hear the news of his passing on our local TV News broadcast this evening including pictures of him with his well known protégés. Bless him
I think it's more often that a skater decides to leave a coach, but in that case it was Frank who "fired" Christopher as a pupil. If you couldn't learn from the best, he wasn't going to waste his expertise on you.
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2015
Thank you for this; that it made a deep impression is clear especially with your expert experience and knowledge of skating. I was volunteering and was not prepared for brief but intimate glimpses into the sport.. it was an experience to reflect on and cherish
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2017
It's definitely something that if you aren't expecting it, can take you by surprise. I hope you had a wonderful experience when you were volunteering. In my case, growing up in the sport and being involved in it to different degrees and roles, I don't really flinch anymore and nothing really takes me by surprise (unless it's super bad).
Frank was always so sincere and real with his students and as I said above, had the respect of many of them and kept in touch way past their active competitive careers in the sport, and this is what I'd always witnessed. The man earned and deserved all the respect in the world.
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