Dr. Carl John Messere

Carl passed away peacefully on September 2, 2023 at Spring Arbor of Cary. He is finally free of the health challenges that he courageously endured over the past few years. Surrounded by his family and lifted up by friends, he left this earth for a new adventure.

He was preceded in death by his father Frank Messere (1943), step father Walter Pelczarski (1971), mother Loretta Messere Pelczarski (1992), and sister Janet Aquino (2006).

Carl is survived by his wife of 47 years, Trish, his daughter Michele Messere Legg and husband Bill, his son Mark Messere and wife Gina and his one and only adored grandchild, Caleigh.

Carl is also survived by extended family that resides in Paramus, NJ and includes his beloved niece Lisa Cusack, her husband Ray and their children Amanda, Raymond, Dylan, and Ashley.

Carl is also survived by his family in marriage to Trish from Gold Hill, NC including his brother-in-law Lamar Yelton and wife Jan, nephew Josh Yelton and wife Leigh and their children, Carson and Parker; his niece Jenna Ridenhour and husband Stuart and their children, Jace and Mason.

Carl had a wonderful life and tremendously successful career. He started his new path after high school with the United States Marine Corp in 1954. After proudly serving in the Marine Corp, Carl understood the importance of a college education and anxiously attended Appalachian State University where he studied accounting and played football. His football career was very successful, and he was soon given a scholarship. After completing his degree in business, Carl became a graduate assistant for the football team and continued his studies in accounting. Carl especially enjoyed playing for coach Jim Duncan and they remained friends until coach Duncan passed. He had tremendous success on the football coaching staff and excelled at both coaching and teaching in the school of business after the completion of his master’s degree in economics and business. His coaching success led him to be named head coach of the football program in 1965 where he served until 1971. He was very proud of his teams at Appalachian State University, but the lifelong relationships that his coaching career brought him were more valuable to him. Carl regularly attended football games at Appalachian State and enjoyed reunions with former players and coaches at the games. Carl often commented that he was pleased with his players’ abilities during his coaching years but was prouder of what great people they became after their football careers, and he was very happy with their successes in life in general. Carl’s football playing and coaching career success was recognized by Appalachian State University in 1991 when he was inducted into the university’s sports hall of fame.

Carl decided that he wanted to pursue his collegiate teaching career and resigned as football coach in 1971. He continued teaching at Appalachian in the school of business and held the position of Assistant Dean and Acting Dean until 1973. He also enjoyed success at teaching but decided a doctorate degree would be best for his career in collegiate academics. Carl took a sabbatical from Appalachian State to enroll into the University of South Carolina to get a doctorate degree in accounting in 1974. Carl’s personal life was also on a huge upswing when he married Trish and they began what would be a happy life together. He completed his doctoral studies in 1976 and was offered and accepted a faculty position at North Carolina State University with the bonus that he would be near his children.

Carl began a very successful teaching career with North Carolina State University in 1976. He was named head of the department of Accounting in 1982. Carl was also the recipient of the Outstanding Teacher Award in 1982. He continued to lead the newly formed school of accounting at NC State until he retired in 2001. During his tenure at NC State, Carl was the Pete Marwick Outstanding professor of the year in 1991. His career with UNC (not Chapel Hill folks) system universities spanned over 40 years. Carl often stayed in touch with former students and took great pride in helping them get started in their careers. Carl often commented that his teaching staff at NC State was the best teaching staff that he had ever worked with, and he remained in touch with many of his colleagues after his retirement.

In his retirement Carl enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He and Trish loved the beach and enjoyed hosting at their condo in Pine Knoll Shores. Fall meant football and we have no idea how many games they attended but we suspect it was well in the hundreds. They were able to visit Italy twice but did not locate any relatives. But his most memorable trip was to a cemetery in Pennsylvania to see his father’s grave for the first time and spread his sister’s ashes. We hope to do the same for him. Carl also enjoyed golf and occasionally fishing. He also loved spending time with his granddaughter and teaching her to swim in a pool and in the ocean just as he had done for his children.

Carl was the best son, brother, husband, father, uncle, and grandfather that anyone in our family could have asked for and his love and leadership in our family will be forever missed. Carl would say don’t waste time feeling sorry for yourself or mourning his passing. Keep learning and carry on. Spend quality time with your family and friends. Life is too short to drink bad bourbon. Get the good stuff.

In lieu of flowers please consider a contribution to the Dr. Carl J. Messere scholarship endowment fund at either North Carolina State University or at Appalachian State University. Carl would be most pleased that a student would be helped to attend college and learn the accounting profession in his honor.

North Carolina State University Foundation, Attention: Carl J. Messere Endowment, Campus Box 7474 Raleigh, NC 27695. Or to the ASU Foundation FBO Messere Era Athletic Scholarship, Attention: Geoff Graham, ASU Box 32156 Boone, NC 28608.

The family would also like to thank the staff at Western Wake Cary Hospital, Calyx Living of Fuquay-Varina, and Spring Arbor of Cary for all the care they gave Carl during his battle. The Amedisys Hospice staff were also very kind in comforting Carl in his last days and our family appreciates all that they did. We would also like to thank Xavier for spending nights watching over Carl.

A memorial service will be held on September 30, 2023 at 1:30 pm at the Brown-Wynne Funeral Home at 200 SE Maynard Road, Cary, NC 27511. The family will receive friends following the service till 3:00 PM

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared below for the Messere family.