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Francis Carroll, business and community leader in Worcester, has died

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Francis Carroll, business and community leader in Worcester, has died

WORCESTER — Community leaders are mourning the death of Francis R. Carroll, a leading businessman and advocate for veterans in the city.

Carroll’s pride in the city took root during his childhood on Vernon Hill. His entrepreneurial ways dated to his shoe-shining job as a young teen.

His death was announced in a Wednesday evening social media post by City Manager Eric Batista.

“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,” Batista wrote.

Also mourning Carroll is The Hanover Theatre, of which Carroll was heavily involved. A plaza outside the venue carries Carroll’s name.

“Frank’s passion for our community and his commitment to the arts will be deeply missed,” the theater wrote on social media.

He served in the Navy, deeply affected by his wartime experience. Later, in Worcester, he made sure city veterans got their due. The Korean War Memorial on Foster Street was one of his many projects.

In 2004, he received the Isaiah Thomas Award, part of the Telegram & Gazette Visions program, for his business and community contributions.

Carroll founded the Small Business Service Bureau in Worcester and was a voice for small-business owners.

He was also a collector of presidential memorabilia. His office on Main Street included a collection of historical letters and documents he acquired over the years.

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