Carol Caley

Carol B. Caley of Granby, CT, passed away peacefully at her Simsbury home at age 79 on April 8th with her children and loving aides Regine and Takaria by her side. Carol, or “Ga,” as she was known to her grandchildren, was the most loyal and dedicated friend, mother and spouse. Carol grew up in Cheshire, CT, attending Cheshire High School as a scholar, cheerleader and varsity basketball forward. After graduating from Bates College in 1965, she taught at Minnechaug Regional School in Wilbraham, MA. She then furthered her education at UConn, where she fatefully met the love of her life, her late husband, Dick Caley. Dick and Carol soon settled in Granby, where they found a plot of land and built their dream home and recreational farm. After staying home to raise her two children for several years, Carol found her place in 1984 as a science teacher at Kingswood-Oxford School in West Hartford, CT, alongside her life partner Dick. For the next 23 years of her teaching career, Dick and Carol were a team like no other, spending every day commuting to and from school together, with Carol serving as the calm balance to Dick’s sometimes overly vibrant spirit.

Carol was a dedicated teacher, accomplished tennis player and choir singer, confident equine handler, avid gardener, impassioned baker and inspirational community service leader. Carol always lived by the high standards she set, as seen through her vigorous approach to academics, athletics, friendships, and as a marriage partner to Dick and mother to Josh and Jess. She believed giving was much more important than receiving, and “waste not want not” was a phrase frequently expressed in her home. Carol was the salt of the earth and the epitome of kindness, always taking the time to sit and listen to anyone who needed an ear. She knew what was important in life, and lived her life in balance – family, career, health, and love of the Earth and all of its gifts. Her joy in life was instantly felt by those she welcomed into the home she created with Dick. She exuded warmth, sparkled with a great sense of humor, and loved her family deeply. Carol’s love went far deeper than just her bright smile; her love was tangibly felt and made known. No one left her presence without a hug and an “I love you” to follow.  

Carol is survived by her son Josh Caley of Stonington, CT; her daughter Jess Rice; her son-in-law Bob and beloved grandchildren Colby, Caley and Mikey of Needham, MA; and her brother James Bishop, of Cheshire, CT. For the last 17 years, Carol battled Alzheimer's with the grace, courage and spirit that defined her life. Carol’s legacy is manifest not only in the positive influence she had on family, friends and students left behind, but also in the thousands of supporters and over $1.5M raised by the charity she inspired, Jog Your Memory.   

To honor and remember Carol, her family will host a celebration of her life and the life of her late husband Dick at 11am on Sunday, May 21st, at Kingswood-Oxford in West Hartford, CT. If interested in attending in person or virtual, please RSVP to the evite, http://evite.me/gUZS5Mn4Uf. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Jog Your Memory 5K online to Carol and Dick’s memorial page at www.jogyourmemory5k.org/ or by mail to Jog Your Memory 5K, 56 Nichols Road, Needham, MA 02492. 

Virtual Link to Celebration of Life: https://youtube.com/live/DKv5fsgJXxA?feature=share