Hanover, NH – Carol Aymar Armstrong, poet and artist, died on January 24, 2026 at the age of 105 at her longtime home in Hanover, NH. Carol was born to Gordon Christian Aymar, commercial and portrait artist, and Margaretta Kneass White on November 28, 1920 in New York City. She was the eldest of three children and grew up in Noroton, CT, attending The Thomas School in Rowayton, CT where she said she received “the bulk and the best” of her education. She attended Smith College (1943) and married James (“Jim”) Isbell Armstrong, the son of William Park Armstrong, Professor of New Testament Literature and Exegesis at The Princeton Theological Seminary, and Rebekah Sellers Purves of Princeton, NJ on November 1, 1942 in New Caanan, CT.
When her husband joined the Army, Carol travelled with him from one Army Camp to another while raising their first child. After WWII, they returned to Princeton University where Jim pursued graduate studies, taught in the Classics Department and served as Associate Dean of the Graduate School.
During these years, the Korean War intervened, and Jim was called back into the Army for a tour of duty in Germany. During those same years at Princeton, they had two more children and were able to spend a year in Rome at the American Academy, when Jim received a Rome Prize-a special delight for the entire family.
In 1963 Middlebury College asked Jim to be its President, a challenge they accepted together, serving for 12 ½ years.
After retirement from Middlebury in 1975, Carol and Jim made Darien, CT their home while Jim served as a Foundation President in New York City. Subsequently they moved to their much-loved “farm” in Wells, ME, now in full retirement. They lived happily there until prudence suggested they move to Kendal at Hanover, a continuing care retirement community, in 1991. There they were among the founding residents. Their life at Kendal was full and rewarding, including involvement in the establishment of the Cadbury Fund and the building of Whittier, a wing that provides memory care.
As a young woman, Carol gravitated towards the fine arts. She became a gifted poet, musician, dancer and visual artist and published three collections of poetry: Legible on Snow: and Other New England Haiku (1982) with illustrations by her dear friend Phyllis Demong and printed by her husband on an early Chandler & Price letterpress at the Tatnic Press in Wells, ME, Everything Waits to Be Noticed (2011), and Rich Remembering (2017). Also from the Tatnic Press in limited editions: A Patchwork of Days (1987), thoughts for your penny (1992), and Gifts & Bequests: On the Occasion of the Welcoming of a New Child (1996), the last appearing in three printings. In her teenage years, she studied modern dance with Hanya Holm, one of the principal teachers-along with Martha Graham-of modern dance in New York City in the 1930s. Carol also played competitive tennis from youth into her 80s, and one of her happiest memories was attending the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference in her later years with her poet sister Barbara Earle.
By Carol’s own accounting: “Most of my activities have centered around and been determined by my husband’s work . . . but there was time to do some of those things for which I was trained and which I loved. I taught Dance and worked as a free-lance graphic designer. I served on Library, Museum, and Hospital Boards. I loved producing satisfying and useful things…by quilting, rug-hooking, needlepointing, and woodworking. I’ve always delighted in making things.”
Those who knew her well have described Carol as graceful, genuine, welcoming, introspective and wise, one who in her own words “fiercely” loved life and those who surrounded her. In return she was well loved.
Carol was predeceased by her husband of 71 years and her daughter Cary A. Rothe. She is survived by her children James I. Armstrong, Jr. (Williamsburg, VA) and Elizabeth L. Armstrong (Lewisburg, PA), six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 11 at 2pm at Kendal at Hanover. Memorial donations may be made to the Cadbury Fund of Kendal at Hanover (contact Riann Chrimes, CFO, 603 643-7004, rchrimes@kah.kendal.org) or to Middlebury College. An on-line guestbook can be found at rand-wilson.com
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