In Memory of

Carll

Alfred

Wells

Pallokat

Obituary for Carll Alfred Wells Pallokat

Carll Alfred Wells Pallokat
Lifelong Teacher & Volunteer
Harwinton, Watertown

Carll Alfred Wells Pallokat, 75, husband for 52 years of Jane (Reynolds) Pallokat died September 7, 2017 at his Harwinton home after a long battle with colon cancer. Carll was born in Queens, NY, to Alfred F and Marion (Ketcham) Pallokat and was fiercely proud that he bore his maternal grandmother’s surname: Carll with two “L’s”. At age 5 he moved with his family to Cornwall Hollow where he learned to fix up a “fixer upper” and helped with stage sets while a student at Cornwall Consolidated School and at Housatonic Valley Regional High School (Class of 1960). Carll received his B.S. in Industrial Education and M.S. from Central Connecticut State College where he was a member of the Epsilon Pi Tau honor fraternity. He taught for two years at Enfield’s Kosciuszko Junior High, followed by 38 years at Watertown High School where he was Teacher of the Year in 1999-2000. Carll founded Watertown’s F.I.R.S.T. Robotic Team #237. Carll was so proud to see Team 237 continue to this day.
Carll and his many interests included Jane and Carll purchasing their own “fixer upper” in Harwinton in 1968, when he told Jane it would take only a year to renovate and FINALLY finished a major addition in 2005! Carll also ran his own construction business, promoted solar use throughout this career and ran a small family farm.
Carll volunteered with numerous youth activities and historical education, including the Cornwall Boy Scouts, New Britain Big Brothers, Litchfield County 4-H and FFA activities. He co-chaired the first years of Early Americana at the Harwinton Fair, seeking out folks willing to demonstrate their crafts, and was a leader during the moving and restoration of Harwinton’s First District Schoolhouse. In 1976 Carll co-chaired Harwinton’s Bicentennial parade, which successfully carried out his vision of neighbors working together to create floats powered by garden tractors. Carll thoroughly enjoyed going to Quinipet Camp and Retreat Center on Shelter Island, NY to work on building improvements, giving thanks for the beauty of God’s creation, and visiting on the porch at Family Camp.
Carll loved women’s basketball, especially UCONN and his granddaughter Morgan’s various teams for which he often created funky rhyming cheers.
In addition to his wife, Carll is survived by his daughter, Ginger (Donald) Betti of Goshen and daughters Arielle and Morgan; his son Timothy (Melanie) Pallokat of Union Springs, NY, and children Talia, Taylor, Tessa, Jonathan, Tyler, Kevin, and great grandson Sawyer; sisters Nancy (John) Renzi of Lanesborough MA and Lora (Carl) Grantmeyer of Hollywood SC; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at Prospect United Methodist, 99 Summer Street, Bristol, CT on Saturday, September 16, at 11:00 a.m. Calling hours will be at Rowe Funeral Home, 283 Torrington Road, Litchfield, CT, on Friday September 15 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm.
Burial will be private.
Carll was fascinated with the collection and mission of the New Britain Industrial Museum and regretted that his illness prevented giving volunteer time to this fledging museum. His family suggests friends honor him by spending an afternoon at the museum when it reopens in October.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the New Britain Industrial Museum, 185 Main Street, New Britain, CT 06051 or to the Watertown Foundation, PO Box 117, Watertown, CT 06795 for an award to be presented to a Watertown High School Senior who has excelled in robotics or Industrial technology.