Carol Kates Meyer

Carol Kates Meyer, formerly of East Norwalk, Connecticut, passed away Wednesday, April 15, 2026, after a brief illness. She was 87. Her husband Edward passed 33 days later, a testament to their 67-year marriage and the enduring devotion they shared.

Carol was born on December 14, 1938 in Philadelphia, to John Samuel Kates and Agnes Scannell Kates. The eldest of five siblings, along with Suzanne (Gerald) Dowling, John (Eileen) Kates, Gerald Kates, and Rosemary (Niles) Hall, and 15 nieces and nephews.

Carol attended St. Hubert’s High School and received a scholarship to attend Gwynedd Mercy University. During her freshman year, she met Ed and the two married in 1959. They relocated to suburban Washington, D.C., where Ed, a recent graduate of Villanova University, began his career at the National Security Agency (NSA).

Ed and Carol first met at an A&P grocery store in Mayfair, Pennsylvania, where Ed worked as a cashier while attending college. One day, he spotted Carol from three checkout lines away and eagerly called her over to his line. Ed always said she immediately caught his eye in her Gwynedd Mercy uniform - a white blazer, checkered shorts, argyle socks, white shoes, and a beret cap.

Carol, however, liked to tell the story a little differently. She remembered being completely embarrassed as she made her way over to the friendly young cashier’s line. Carol’s mother also became familiar with Ed after seeing him several times on the bus and learning that he was studying at Villanova. Before long, the family had nicknamed him “Mr. Villanova.” After several months of persistence, Ed finally convinced Carol to go on a date with him — and the rest is history.

The newlyweds eventually settled in Cinnaminson, NJ and gave birth to five children in a house at 10 Purnell Ave. in a neighborhood filled with young families and wonderful memories. Carol encouraged Ed to apply for a temporary assignment with his company, RCA, in London, England and they took three kids under age five to the UK.

In the early 1970s, Carol and Ed moved to East Norwalk, Connecticut. After raising their 5 children, Carol, an avid reader, returned to her own education, enrolling at Fairfield University. She earned a master’s degree in international communications and went on to teach at Pace University in New York. Carol was always up for a debate and loved reading on topics of international affairs, history and politics.

Carol and Ed enjoyed traveling to Europe and Asia and took advantage of opportunities for Ed to work all over the US and in Latin America. They especially appreciated living in Brazil during one of his long-term work assignments.

Around the Meyer dinner table, Carol created something truly special. Meals were more than time spent together — they were filled with conversation, curiosity, laughter, and lively debate, often inspired by her thoughtful questions and deep engagement with the world. She made the table a place where ideas mattered, where everyone felt heard, and where learning and connection went hand in hand. Those moments helped shape the way her children think, communicate, and relate to others, and remain among the most lasting and meaningful gifts she leaves behind.

Carol is survived by her 5 children and 15 grandchildren: Theresa Pelletier (husband Paul; sons Nicholas (Brittany) and Andrew (Christine); Christopher Meyer (wife Rebecca; sons Jacob and Christopher, and daughter Jayna); Timothy Meyer (wife †Amy; sons Caleb and †Michael, and daughters Rachel (Nathan), Hannah, and Mary); Donan Meyer (wife Kate; daughters Michaela and MacKenzie, and son Donan James); and Bridget Chenette (husband †Michael; sons William and Jake). Her legacy lives on in the family she nurtured, the minds she shaped, and the thought-provoking discussions she inspired.

Services for Carol and her beloved husband Edward will be held jointly in the Fall of 2026 in Ocean City NJ. Details are forthcoming.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Carol’s name can be made to www.readingfoundation.org/donate c/o Terry Pelletier, 61 Coldspring Crossing, So. Glastonbury, CT 06073