PORTLAND - Carroll 'the eye', Rines, died peacefully in his sleep Saturday, March 28, 2004 at the Seaside Nursing home.
He lived an enormously productive, fulfilled and happy life of 88 years.
Carroll was an adventurer, life long learner, local sports personality, world traveler and devoted family man.
Born into a South Portland 'baseball family' Oct. 30, 1915, he was the son of Minnie M. and Alton A. Rines. His dad, Allie, was an outstanding semi-pro catcher who played for 'town teams' all over Maine. Thanks to his dad, Carol was in baseball for over 75 years as a mascot, batboy, player, coach, writer, official and just plain fan.
A graduate of Gorham State Teachers College in 1938 with a B.A., Carroll trained as an educator. He served as a member of the 19th Armored (Tiger) Division in combat duty as a 'scout' guiding truck convoys through France, Germany, Austria, Bavaria and Italy in the European Theater of War.
Carroll was a sportswriter for 38 years for the Portland Evening Express and the Maine Sunday Telegram. As well as one of New England's busiest baseball umpires having called more than 4,400 games over his 44 year umpiring career. During his long career , Carroll umpired in Babe Ruth League, Pony League, American Legion, high school, prep school, college, semi-pro and professional baseball circles. He was umpire-in-chief of the Telegram League, first umpire-in-chief and first basketball commissioner of the Cumberland County conference. He also served as Umpire-in-chief of nearly all southwestern Maine summer leagues for nearly a quarter of a century.
When he retired from the newspaper, he 'couldn't stand the inactivity' so he joined Cheverus High School as the assistant athletic director on a voluntary basis for over twenty years. He, also, served over four decades as the Sports Information Director for the Southern Maine Technical College.
Carroll had numerous honors bestowed upon him. He was inducted into the University of Southern Maine's Husky Sports Hall of Fame in 1987. In 1974, he and his dad, Allie Rines, were the first father-son duo to be named to the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame.
Perhaps Carroll's greatest legacy is the love of his family and friends. In these last days, as Carroll reviewed his life, he wondered how he would be remembered. That was an easy question to answer. He will be remembered by those who loved him as a fine, giving, humorous, accomplished gentleman whom we will dearly miss.
Carroll's is predeceased by his wife, Rose and step- son, Sam Kaklegian.
He leaves his step son, Harry Kaklegian; a grand-daughter, Kathleen; and great-grandsons, Bret Michael and Christopher Lee. He also leaves his sister, Ramona D. and brother-in-law, Neil Taliento of Portland and Spring Hill, Fla., niece and nephew, Dawn Harlor of Camden Maine and Neil C. and Victoria Taliento of Chebegue Island: grand nieces and nephew, Emilia , Leena Taliento and David Harlor.
Donations in his honor may be made to:
Cheverus High School
attention Rev. John Keegan
267 Ocean Ave.
Portland, ME 04103
and The Portland Boys and
Girls Club of Greater Portland
P.O. 7830
Portland, ME 04112
Visiting hours will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Friday at Jones Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St. Portland, where a funeral will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Burial will follow at Forest City Cemetery in South Portland.
Jones, Rich & Hutchins
Funeral Home & Cremation Service
775-3763