Olsen, Carol T.
EAST GREENBUSH
— Carol T. Olsen, 73, a daughter, sister, friend, dog rescuer and confidant, passed away and left us on Thursday, March 3, 2022, at Albany Medical Center.
Carol was born in Astoria, Queens, the daughter of the late Albert and Mary (nee Schafhuser) Olsen. In the early years, the family moved to Nassau County on Long Island. Carol’s love of medicine was the driving force behind her distinguished career as she spent many years working at Albany Medical Center in the blood lab. She later worked for the New York State Department of Health in the Wadsworth labs as a senior laboratory evaluator where in 1978, she was recognized by the Blackwell Scientific Publication for her research paper on Lupus. Later, she worked in the division of laboratory and research and retired as director of clinical evaluation, ensuring all New York residents received a specified standard for bloodwork. Carol was a caring woman who, for many years, rescued older dachshunds, many with extraordinary health problems needing special attention. Sharing her good fortune with others, both animal and human, made her a shining star we are sad to have lost.
She had an insatiable love of sports - tennis, women’s softball and basketball, the Yankees, and UConn. In her younger days, she was a member of the Albany traveling woman’s softball teams: the Stylettes and the Arborettes (coached by Clarence Brooks aka Stacks). In 1962, Carol was the coach for the Troy Savings Bank 14 and under A Tournament Team in the East Greenbush Girls Softball League. Carol is survived by her brother, Robert J. (Sue) Olsen of Kelsey Ville, Calif.; nephews, Kevin (Audrey) Olsen of Phoenix, Ariz. and Brian Olsen of Oregon; and cousins, Michael (Olga) Higbee of Phoenix, Ariz., Billy (Betsy) Higbee and Patty (Mike) Vega of Long Island. Carol was preceded in death by her great-niece, Sofia Grace and greatnephew, Quentin James, Brian’s children. Carol is alshe so survived by her Upstate family, Kathleen Irish, Amber I. Rohan, Jeannette E. Scott, Cindy Wood, Evey Ray, Lois Kerr, Ronnie Gusberti, Brenda Shield, Tony Gentile and Mark Rohan. She leaves behind many dear friends, including Valerie Kurick, Adam (Rene) Kurick, Matt (Kristin) Kurick, Roger and Nancy Laporta, Frank Sarson, Ken and Tammy Brooks, and Lesley and Bob Irish. "Life is a journey of sweetness and sorrow, of yesterday’s memories and hopes for tomorrow, of pathways we choose and detours we face with patience and humor, courage and grace, of joys that we’ve shared and of people we’ve met who touched us in ways we will never forget." Carol, we will forever remember you and the meatless stuffing! Relatives and friends are invited to attend her calling hours on April 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Wm. J. Rockefeller Funeral Home Inc., 165 Columbia Tpke., Rensselaer, with celebration of life service to begin at 4 p.m.
For those who wish to remember Carol, please make a contribution in her name to the Companion Animal Placement Program (CAPP), 279 Troy Road, Suite 9, Rensselaer, NY, 12144 or any other animal rescue group of your choosing.