Family: Husband Herbert Carson, children Bill and daughter-in-law Laura; Rosalyn (Winky) and son-in-law Toby with grandchildren Anna, Emma, Isabelle, Sophie; Bryan and daughter-in-law Gayle; and grandchildren Marissa and Eric
Ada Lou Carson died of cancer early on February 3, 2007. She accepted her illness with the same grace that she used to accept degrees, compliments, honors, and other good news. She was a happy person.
Mrs. Carson died in a place that had great meaning for her—her home. During her last day, she was surrounded by her adored and adoring family.
All who knew her shared and benefited from her life and her love for us. She had a sense of humor, great wisdom, unflappable patience, true kindness, a willingness to listen. The message she left us in her day book (echoing ancient Socrates to his friends), “I love you, all of you. Take care of yourselves. Take care.”
Mrs. Carson was a member of Beth El Synagogue which awarded her the Volunteer of the Year award in 2001. Among her many contributions was using her 11 years of experience with metastasized cancer to counsel people, many of whom were strangers from all over the country. They had heard about Mrs. Carson's wisdom, kindness and understanding. She inspired many people with her scholarship, her gentle modesty, her kindness to all, her love of her religion and her amazing optimism and perseverance touring her lengthy and difficult illness.
Mrs. Carson was born March 6, 1932, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Morris and Mary Siegel. After attending Bradley University, she earned a BA in English (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) at the University of Pittsburgh, where she first met her husband. She earned her master's degree from teachers College of Columbia University and her Ph.D. in English and American literature from the University of Minnesota.
Mrs. Carson taught at Hillside, New Jersey and at the University of Minnesota. She retired in 1994 as a professor of language and literature at Ferris State University in big Rapids, Michigan she won numerous citations for excellence as a teacher, including the university’s Distinguished Professor Award. Mrs. Carson was elected to ODK, the national leadership fraternity. She was selected as a distinguished professor by the Michigan Association of University Governing Boards, and twice received teaching awards from the Michigan Legislature.
Mrs. Carson wrote numerous articles and book reviews. With her husband, she was the author of several books: The Impact of Fiction--a critical anthology of short stories; Royall Tyler--a critical biography of America's first playwright (selected by the American Library Association as in "essential book" for libraries); Domestic Tragedy in English;; and The Image of the West--a survey of ancient Greek and Roman history. Mrs. Carson influenced many generations of students by her teaching and scholarship.
Ada Lou Carson enriched many lives as wife, mother, grandmother, and always a dear friend. Numerous people will be for ever blessed by her memory. The Talmud says that for a man to be fortunate in life he must meet three people--his friend, his teacher, and his wife. Her husband said that he met all three at the same moment.