Morris T. Karol

Morris Karol died October 30, 2024 at the age of 99 soon after his only child told him he loved him one last time. If hurt people hurt people, Morris Karol is the exception. Morris was raised in an orphanage in Brooklyn, where his favorite nights of the year were those rare black and white movie nights. But if even one student broke the rules, movie night was cancelled for all. Forbidden from writing left handed, he focused his school time passion on the trumpet. In 1943 at the age of 17 he left the orphanage to join the Army; though they were willing to overlook his age, they rejected him for being underweight. He was asked, "Didn’t they feed you in there?!” To which his answer was, “not really.” So Morris went across the street to the Coast Guard, where he was probably the only person to gain weight in boot camp. They served three meals a day, but he often ate six, finishing his meal and getting right back in line. Serving on a destroyer escort in all combat theaters, he earned four medals. A destroyer escort in the 1940s was a lot like an orphanage, but with unlimited food, especially if, as Morris quickly learned, you were friends with those working in the galley. With his new found strength, Morris became the ship’s boxing champion and representative against other ships. He claims to have only lost once.

After the war, wanting to learn something meaningful about his father, he visited the bar that he had heard was his father's favorite and asked the bartender if he remembered his father. His full thoughts were, “Yes. I was sorry he died. He was a good customer.”

Having acquired a love of the sea, Morris worked on cruise ships, eventually becoming Chief Purser. On one cruise from South America, a young woman traveling with her mother caught his eye. He invited them to sit with him at the captains' table, would send complimentary lobster and caviar to their room, and would fix bingo so the mother would win much more than is statistically possible. “This is a good man” the mother told her daughter Cecilia. Morris and Cecilia were married within 5 days of debarking in New York, where his best friend made them a wonderful spaghetti and meatballs wedding dinner.

Morris and Cecilia were married 66 years. Giving up a life on the high seas to help raise his son, Morris worked many years for the Masters, Mates and Pilots Union. A three time cancer and open heart surgery survivor, a man who survived sepsis at 97 years old to live in hospice care another 18 months, he was devoted to Cecilia, not leaving her side through her ongoing now decade long struggles with dementia.

Morris had a heart of gold, determined to see the good in anyone. He is survived by his wife Cecilia, his son Peter, his daughter in law Elissa, and two granddaughters, who always had an abundance of chocolates and ice cream when he was near.

A graveside service for Morris will be held Sunday, November 3, 2024 from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM at Beth David Cemetery, 300 Elmont Rd, Elmont, NY 11003.