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Page 12 July 2018 The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com
Community news
Dr. Carroll Loved His Life in Emmitsburg
James Rada, Jr.
It only took Dr. Alan Carroll a residency in Family Medicine there Because of his work
week to realize Emmitsburg was in 1977. Part of the third year of with Dr. Morningstar, Alan
the place where he wanted to live his residency involved his working had already started to fit
and raise a family. When he died with a doctor in private practice for in.
on May 17, 2018, he had resided two months, or two doctors for one “Alan had already met
in Emmitsburg for more than forty month each. a lot of George’s patients,
years, raised his family of seven, He was recommended to Dr. and he really liked them,”
and become a part of the town. George Morningstar in Emmitsburg, Rita said.
Alan initially thought he would and Alan planned on working with They rented a house on
be a priest. He entered a seminary him for one month before moving South Seton for four years,
program and attended Loyola onto another doctor. but then had to move
University in Chicago. Sometime “After Alan had worked with when their growing family Courtesy Photo
during his years there, he began George for a week, he came home became too cramped in the
thinking life had another path for and said, ‘I hope I can work with house. They moved out to
him to walk. him for two months. It’s really Keysville Road for a while,
He graduated with a bachelor’s wonderful there,’” recalled Rita and when Dr. Morningstar
degree in philosophy, but then spent Carroll. died in 1988, Alan
another year taking science classes Dr. Morningstar allowed Alan purchased the doctor’s
so that he could apply to medical to work with him for two months home and practice. This
schools. He was accepted at the and then invited him to join his meant there was minimal
University of Maryland School of practice. When the Carrolls moved disruption for the patients.
Medicine in Baltimore. to Emmitsburg, they had to get used Alan enjoyed his work.
Before he left for Maryland, to living in a small town. He liked working with the
though, he met and fell in love with “The day we moved up here in sisters in the nursing home Dr. Alan Carroll, served Emmitsburg for forty years and
loved every minute of it.
Rita. The two were married in 1969. July, there were no street lights on across the street from his
He graduated from the South Seton,” Rita remembered. practice, and he liked living
University of Maryland School of She also remembers the town being in a small town where he got to a single doctor would want to take
Medicine in 1974 and completed a very dark and quiet at night. know everyone. over the practice.
“His dad was in the Air Force, He died on May 17 at the age of
and they moved around a lot when seventy-one. He left behind his wife
he was younger,” Rita said. “He and seven children: Sarah, John,
was looking for a quiet, good place Eric, Brendan, Peter, Amelia, and
to raise his family and do his work. Ruth.
He thought he found it here.” Emmitsburg Mayor Don Briggs
After serving Emmitsburg for called Alan a “wonderful doctor for
forty years, Alan closed his practice our town.” He said during the June
in mid-February. Rita said that he town meeting that Alan had served
felt that it was time to close, and many generations of residents in
the changing nature of medicine town. “It means so much when you
and insurance made it unlikely that lose a person like that.”
