OBITUARY
Carroll Wesley Bailey (88)
February 7, 1930 – April 9, 2018
Andover, MA
Carroll Wesley Bailey died peacefully after a long illness on Monday, April 9, 2018, at the Meadows Health Center at Edgewood in North Andover, MA.
He was the son of the late Blanche (Thompson) and Leon O. Bailey of McKeesport, PA, and an alumnus of McKeesport High School. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh, he went on active duty in the Air Force, teaching at the Officers’ Candidate School at Lackland Field in San Antonio, Texas. He subsequently received his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. On June 15, 1968, he married Elaine Louise Rankin of Big Stone Gap, VA.
Carroll began his lifelong career as a teacher of English in independent schools in 1957: first at Kiski School in Saltsburg, PA; then at Mount Hermon School for Boys in Gill, MA, from 1961 to 1970; and finally for 27 years at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA, until his retirement in 1997. Over the course of his lifetime, countless alumni and colleagues from all of these institutions maintained exceptionally close relationships with Carroll, acknowledging him as the rarest of mentors and friends with a lasting impact on their lives and careers.
Always a community-builder, in his first years at Andover he served as director of student activities, sponsoring positive and popular weekend activities as an antidote to the turbulent early ’70s. During his tenure in the English Department, he was the recipient of the Frederick W. Beinecke Teaching Foundation. As residential dean of the Abbot Cluster, he was instrumental, along with his wife, in the development of Phillips Academy into a coeducational school after its merger with Abbot Academy in 1973. He served for years as an advisor to one-year seniors, and he took special interest in teaching growing numbers of international students who enrolled for their senior year. For several spring trimesters, he and Elaine led the Washington (DC) Intern Program for students from both Andover and Exeter. The remarkable legacy of the Baileys is their natural presence as an indivisible, one-of-a-kind team, creating a unique climate of acceptance and support in which each person would feel valued and important.
After their retirement, Carroll and Elaine lived at historic Rose Cottage on Chestnut Street in Andover, where he loved to tend their flower gardens. In 2001, they were honored as joint recipients of the McKeen Award, given annually to members of the Phillips Academy community who exemplify “inspired and dedicated leadership in education” in the spirit of Philena McKeen, former principal of Abbot Academy. They moved to Atria Marland Place in Andover in 2012.
Carroll was predeceased by his beloved wife of 49 years; his two brothers, Donald and DJ and his wife, Peggy; and his sister, Norma, and her husband, Orison McLean. He is survived by his nephew, Orison S. McLean, Jr.; and his niece, Nancy M. Brickley, and her husband, Rick, of Rector, PA; several grand and great nephews, nieces and cousins; and untold hundreds of devoted former students throughout the world.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Carroll W. and Elaine Bailey Scholarship at Phillips Academy, Andover, MA, or to The Mentor Scholarship Fund at Northfield Mount Hermon School, Gill, MA, (established in honor of the Baileys).
Arrangements are under the care of Burke-Magliozzi Funeral Home, Andover, MA, with burial at the Chapel Cemetery at Phillips Academy. There will be a celebration of Carroll’s life at 2:30 PM on May 5, 2018, at Christ Church, 33 Central Street, Andover, MA.