Carol Daniels

A force of nature, Carol Daniels got things done to make the world a better place for all of us. She died peacefully in her sleep on November 24, 2021.

Carol was born to Thomas and Frances Daniels of St. Paul, Minnesota on Christmas Eve 1935 and grew up there and on the north shore of Lake Superior. She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1956 and went on to work as an elementary school teacher, meeting her future mother-in-law at the Windward School. She and Michael Toombs (1935-1978) were married in August 1958, settled in Rye, NY and had three children, Amelia, John, and Polly. In 1987 she married the love of her life Richard Jacker.

Carol was preceded in death by her beloved husband Richard E. Jacker (Dick) as well as her first husband Michael Toombs, her parents and brothers John Daniels, David Daniels, and Forrest Daniels.

Her children Amelia Mitchell, John Toombs, and Polly Toombs along with grandchildren Forrest Hurley-Toombs, Emerson Hurley-Toombs and Sarah Spruill live on with hearts full of memories.

Never satisfied with the status quo, Carol was influential in creating the Rye Preschool Playschool in the early 1960’s. She was active in Rye, NY politics, the Human Rights Commission, Christ’s Church Rye and Episcopal Diocesan projects and was elected to the Rye school board for two terms. During these years she also earned her MSW from the University of Bridgeport and worked at New York Hospital.

In the early 90’s when readying for “retirement” Carol and Dick chose Captiva Island and the Fort Myers Florida area. Carol, a devoted and unwavering philanthropist became very involved in the community; personally, spearheading the effort to bring a Planned Parenthood to the area. She was instrumental in building Brightest Horizons (now The Early Learning Program at the Heights Foundation) to its current reach and scope. She was also their unofficial Santa for many years, preparing catalogs so the kids could choose what they wanted instead of receiving a more generic gift. Beyond these two passions, Carol cared deeply for the work of Habitat for Humanity, leading many successful local building campaigns, especially through one of her two spiritual homes, the Chapel by the Sea.

Carol’s final years were spent as she had planned, sheltered in the excellent care of Shell Point Village, most especially from those at the Pavilion. She lived her life by her own terms and was a mentor and advisor to many, accomplished gardener, lover of history, roses, Wales, and Cavalier King Charles spaniels.

Memorial services will be planned for Spring 2022 at St. Michael’s and All Angels, Sanibel and Chapel by the Sea, Captiva.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Planned Parenthood, Fort Myers, or to The Early Learning Program at the Heights Foundation, Fort Myers.