Carol E Thomas

Carol Elizabeth Thomas, 70, passed away peacefully on May 21, 2024, with her beloved wife Lee Ann Nixon and son Jesse Thomas by her side at her home in Bedford, NH after a recurrence of cancer. Carol left us to sing with the angels humming her favorite tunes from Leonard Cohen and Patricia Wheeler.   

She was born in Oneonta, NY, and her life and work took her around the country from New York City to Monterey, California; Columbus, Ohio to Carlsbad, New Mexico; Henniker, New Hampshire to Hawaii.  

 She was a renaissance woman and had a passion and expertise in many areas that she found great joy in sharing with others: lifelong learning, leadership, travel, spirituality, social justice, and creativity.  

 Carol spent her young adulthood devoted to the anti-Vietnam war, women’s liberation, civil rights, and labor movements. She was engaged in many demonstrations as an organizer, a songwriter, and leader. Her commitment to social justice led to her working with Angela Davis, Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta and the United Farm Workers. She was a pioneer in helping organizers use emerging technology to efficiently scale their operations and impact 

 She graduated from Oneonta High School and SUNY Oneonta with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She then went on to get her Master of Arts in Urban Affairs and Policy Analysis from the New School University in New York, NY.  

 Her work in higher education technology began in the SUNY system. She spent several years leading technology in admissions and financial aid at Dartmouth College, and as a senior executive at New England College before becoming a consultant for colleges and universities across the country, most recently with Ferrilli. She is a published author, was a frequent presenter, and had extensive experience in the physical and virtual classroom preparing the next generation of technologists.   

In her own words, Carol was uniquely designed to be a catalyst – to inspire, to see the macro and micro and discern the relationship between them quickly; to make novel connections and generate creative ideas to solve problems; to gather people and teach; to distill complex ideas into easily understandable ones; to paint vivid pictures with words. Her tenacity and determination were rarely matched, and she frequently shared with others a motto: “Can’t never did a thing in his life!” – a phrase she heard often from her mother.

 Carol’s trailblazing career in higher education technology was achieved while devoting a lifetime’s worth of love and care to her son, Jesse, whom she raised as a single mother from the very beginning of her professional journey. She instilled in him a lifelong passion for creativity, technology and social justice, and left him with many memories of being embarrassed as she beamed with pride about his achievements, from age 4 to age 40. Though nothing could make her beam brighter than bragging about her grandchildren, Izzy and Eva, who loved their “Gramma” immensely. 

Her spirituality stemmed from her commitment to community and social justice, and she would weave this into her life and work extending her belief that everyone is equal and deserves an opportunity. Through her actions, Carol achieved a stellar reputation as a thoughtful manager, innovative leader, and committed educator.  

 Her life’s work was also supported by her creative expressions. At an early age she learned to sew her own clothes and developed a lifelong love of quilting and knitting. She was known for her beautiful singing voice and would often spontaneously burst into song. She was a member of the Columbus Women’s Chorus and served as a soprano during family holiday gatherings. Cooking for family and friends, and also teaching cooking, brought her much joy and love, and her famous meals would win her many teenage visitors to the dinner table during her son’s high school years. Her creativity extended to her sense of style, and she expressed herself through her artistic clothing, funky glasses, and unique hairstyles.  

 Carol’s presence was a blessing for all those around her. She navigated change with peace and a higher understanding for all those in her path. She will be forever in our hearts.  

Carol is survived by the love of her life, her wife, Lee Ann Nixon, as well as her son Jesse Thomas and wife Brianna Keefe-Oates, and her two grandchildren, Izzy and Eva. She is also survived by her esteemed father, H. Laverne Thomas and siblings Steven Thomas (Martha), Janice Thomas (David Ackerson), Judy Thomas (Christopher Dranchek), and Sandra Thomas; along with many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. She is preceded in death by her much beloved mother, Mary Dunham Thomas.

In lieu of flowers, Carol requested before passing that donations be made to the Carol Thomas Memorial Scholarship supporting women in technology at Southeast New Mexico College, a school and community she came to love very much. Donations can be made at thecarolfund.com 

 A celebration of life will be held at a later date.