Remembering Howard Carroll–one of the states 'true heroes'

The Honorable Howard W. Carroll was sworn into the Illinois House in 1971 and, two years later, to the State Senate–where he served for 26 years. He also was elected Committeeman for the 50th Ward, serving for 20 years. Carroll–a Chicago native, who settled in Highland Park–died on Oct. 1. He was 79.

Carroll, familiarly known as “Howie,” served as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee for 16 years, making him the longest-serving budget chair in Illinois history. As a state legislator, Carroll authored numerous human rights bills including the first hate crimes bill in the U.S., and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, known as CHIP. Carroll was the first to include sexuality in the Human Rights Act, he helped stop the Nazis from marching in Skokie in the late 1970s, and he made Illinois the first state to buy Israel bonds.

“Howie was a brilliant public servant who knew how government can be an instrument of good, and who cared deeply about improving the lives of the people of Illinois,” said JUF President Lonnie Nasatir. “In addition, Howie was a trusted friend and confidant who was so proud of his Jewish heritage and committed to our community throughout his illustrious career.”

As consuming as his career was, Carroll was also a family man, married to Eda, his wife of nearly 48 years. Together, they had two daughters and two granddaughters.

Carroll’s family called him a raconteur “with a keen wit and contagious laugh.” They came to think of him as “the Forrest Gump of politics,” as he had met presidents, prime ministers, and even Mother Teresa.

“All of us in the legislature, especially members of the Jewish caucus, owe Senator Carroll huge kudos. We lost one of our state’s true heroes,” said his cousin, State Rep. Jonathan Carroll. “He remains a role model on how to be a great legislator, as well as proud of our Jewish heritage. He ensured the state of Illinois would always be supportive of Israel.”

Zionism was a major value her father passed down to his children, said Barbara Carroll Delano, one of Carroll’s two daughters. It was important for him that they love and protect Israel, she explained. But in a larger sense, “the representation of the Jewish community in local, state, and federal government was important to my father,” Delano said. “He wanted to make sure we had a seat at the table.”

Carroll served on the Board of Directors of JUF and other philanthropies. He was a trustee of Michael Reese Health Trust and an officer of the Weiss Memorial Hospital Foundation, and lectured in the Master’s Program of Health Administration at Rush College. Additionally, Carroll helped create the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, and was Vice Chairman of its foundation.

At the first case that cited his hate crimes bill, which involved vandalism of a synagogue, the defendant was convicted. As a result of her father’s testimony at the trial, Delano recalled, he was put on the “top five hit list” of the Ku Klux Klan, and her family was protected by state police for several years of her childhood.

But that only strengthened her father’s resolve, she said: “It only proved the need for that voice that said we must not allow hate and fear to win.”

His other daughter, Jacqueline B. Carroll, recalls that her father “had a photographic memory. He remembered everyone’s names, and stories about them. After he passed, people I ran into would tell me how he’d helped them; people sent me messages about his mentoring them.”

A practicing attorney, Carroll was Of Counsel to the law firm of Kamensky Rubinstein Hochman & Delott, LLP, and a member of the Decalogue Society.

“He was happy, joyful, always cracking jokes,” Jacqueline added. “And he came to everything I did–it was important for him to be there. We traveled… he introduced us to prime ministers and presidents. We also shared some quiet moments. We had an amazing life.”

Carroll was the son of the late Barney and Lyla Carroll. The beloved husband of Eda (nee Stagman), he was the father of Jacqueline (Louis Bernstein) Carroll and Barbara Carroll (Dan) Delano, and grandfather of Lillian and Alyssa. He was predeceased by his brothers, Ira L. and Earl A. Carroll. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Ezra Habonim Niles Township Jewish Congregation. The funeral was held at Weinstein & Piser Funeral Home.