Rochester N.Y. March 16,2020 ,at 80 years old , Carol Naspinsky Mulligan died of heart failure. She is survived by her husband Jack, daughter Lori (Dennis) grandsons Ike and Bo, her son Patrick (Donnell) grandchildren Ella and Ben.
Carol was born in McKeesport Pa. and moved to Rochester in 1963. She enjoyed working for graphic companies but she found singing for a live audience the most rewarding job. It started in a church folk group ,which grew into a lifetime of performing.She worked with a variety of talented musicians that helped her record tapes, albums and 2 CD’s.Although her singing dates had slowed down she never lost her passion for it. Carol was also a talented artist, she enjoyed drawing and painting.
Anyone that knew Carol knew of her infectious laugh. She had a big heart and shared it with all she met, whether it was in a grocery line or blood relative. She alway had a smile and positive thing to say! Her generous spirit will be missed by all that had the privilege of knowing her .
We are planning to celebrate Carol’s life with music, stories and laughter when we can all gather safely together.
If you care to donate in her name, she volunteered time, singing, and artwork at Patrick Place, a comfort care home. Email Wendy@chapman@dor.org; www.bccr.org, as a breast cancer survivor she found them very supportive. She was an active member and volunteer at www.rochestercontemporary.org
We’ll miss you, Carol. It was always great to hear you sing. Old Dixie tunes or American classics, equally wonderful.
Jack, Carol was a positive and generous person who deeply loved you, her children and grandchildren
I am so sorry for your family’s loss of Carol. I have been a fan of her and her music since the first time I heard her beautiful voice at Center Stage in Fairport.
I introduced myself to her more than once to let her know how much her music meant to me. I have both of her CDs. Since being at home during this time of isolation, I have been playing them over and over while working on jigsaw puzzles. I had no idea she had passed. I came to the computer to see if I could send her a message to tell her how her music calmed my soul and made me feel happy. I didn’t know we were born in the same year! I always felt she was a very special person. My love to all of you!
I met Carol years ago on a train from NY City and we talked for 7 hours. then I found out my parents, followed her with Paulsen and Garvey. She was a joy and I will never forget her. Today, in Hendersonville, NC, I was listening to her CD Finally. She really made an impact on my life So sorry to hear of her death.
Dear Jack and family sending love and HUGs all away from Los Angeles we still have carols music IN our car and she will always be in our hearts love Valerie and Dick AGOSTINELLI
Oh Mrs “Mugillan” as Dad said we still talk about you and the fun we had with your family. Your songs at Our Lady of Mercy and then concerts in that big barn concert, and when you played fat our farm house. Those memories and your music formed my love of music. So thank you + hello and love to Mr Mulligan (still remember your cars), and hugs to Patrick and Lori! Xoxoxo. – Susan Agostinelli
Our deepest sympathy to the Mulligan family and grandkids on news of the loss of your wife, mother and grandmother. We just learned today that Carol has gotten wings and she is now singing in the heavenly choir. We first met Carol at a Smugtown Stompers event when we moved back to Fairport NY so that we could be closer to our families part of the time as we have lived in Hawaii most of our lives. Now retired we had so much fun listening to the beautiful Jazz and ragtime in the 1000 islands to start with and then we spent more time locally in Monroe county at the various venues where the band performed with Carol. We will miss her very much when we go back after this Covid spell is behind us but we have her music to heal our souls. She had a wonderful presence and always would come over to say hello when she saw us, and take our requests.
She will always be in your spirits and you will be guided by the wisdom she has left you, honor it. Our family thanks her for giving and sharing her voice with us at my husband
‘s 80th birthday party. It meant the world to us and we will always have these wonderful memories to last our whole life long. Matthew and Priscilla Klocek and family
Who remembers the Showboat on Lake Avenue? Joanne and I do ……….. and so fondly for our introduction to Carol Mulligan. As lifelong music lovers we were stunned by this lady with the spellbinding voice. My long time love of Dixieland jazz was punctuated that night by Carol’s singing of Hard Hearted Hannah. Could this be Rochester? We had young children so “nights out” were very rare. To hit the jackpot on one night out was surreal. But wait, our children grew and then we were out seeking musical entertainment weekly. We settled-in to the joy of Paulsen, Baker and Garvey’s very talented renderings of popular, joyful tunes of the day. Ahhh, that was the best, how could it be better? Well, PB&G discovered Carol too, that’s how. Wow! Those nights were magic, our favorite band and singers all rolled into one memorable package. Later in our lives we were reintroduced to Carol’s renditions of old Bessie Smith soulful blues tunes when she sang with the Smugtown Stompers. Traditional jazz made better. Thank you Carol for the joy and wonder you brought with your voice and charm. We will always remember the thrill of your singing and the warmth of your visits to our table.