Monroe Carrell Dead at 76

Businessman and philanthropist Monroe Carrell, Jr. has died.

Carrell served in the Navy, studied at Vanderbilt University, and was chief engineer at the Duck River Electrical Membership Cooperative before going to work for his father at the family business, Central Parking. During his 40 years at the company, it grew from ten parking lots in Nashville and Atlanta to one of the largest firms in the worldwide parking industry. Carrell sold the business to private equity firms is 2007.

Carrell served on the boards at Vanderbilt, Cheekwood, the Urban Land Institute and the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. Vanderbilt named its pediatric hospital for him, and a garden ad Cheekwood bears his last name. He established scholarships at the Vanderbilt, funded building projects at Harpeth Hall school and the Domenican Sisters of St. Cecilia’s Nashville Motherhouse.

The 76 year old, who had been diagnosed with cancer, died at home today. Visitation is from 1 to 3pm Sunday at the Cathedral of the Incarnation, follwed by a public memorial service. The funeral mass and burial will be private.