Hopedale/Northbridge—Carroll C. “Crick” Paine, 92, passed away Monday, October 27, 2025.  He was predeceased by his wife of 68 years, Shirley Pomeroy Paine, in 2022.  Crick is survived by three children: Donald and his wife April, of Glenwood Springs, CO; Julie Polucha and her husband John, of Sutton; and Douglas and his wife Cathy, of New Salem, MA.  In addition, he leaves ten grandchildren: Nathan, Josh, Trevor, and Ali, the family of Don and April; Zachary, Anna, Neil, and Katy, the family of Jule and John; Ava and Austin, the family of Doug and Cathy; as well as 13 great grandchildren.  He was predeceased by a great grandson, Sebastian, and three brothers: Roy, Clair, and Linwood Paine.

Born in Westmoreland, NH on November 20, 1932, to Cameron and Carrie (Burr) Paine, Crick graduated from Walpole High School in 1950 where he was a standout basketball and baseball player. After graduating from high school and following a gap year spent helping his parents work the farm, he went to Springfield College where, in 1955, he graduated earning a BS in Physical Education along with a minor in Mathematics. While there, he played baseball for two years until he was injured.

Following graduation from Springfield College, Crick served in the Army from 1955 to 1957, completing basic training at Fort Knox in Kentucky, and then rotating to Germany as part of the Third Armored Division out of Bremerhaven, Germany.  As a mortar squad leader, he also acted as the forward observer for the mortar crew.  His wife, Shirley, joined him in Germany allowing them an opportunity to travel together to many parts of Europe.  Upon his return to the United States, he started his teaching career in New Rochelle, NY.

Crick and Shirley moved to Northbridge in 1958 when Crick began teaching at Northbridge High School where he coached baseball, track and cross country. During this time, he took night and summer classes and earned an MEd in Secondary Education at Worcester State College.    He remained at NHS for 13 years before becoming first the Assistant Principal, then Principal at Algonquin High School.  Crick retired from being an educator after 36 years in 1993.  He was a member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association and former chair of the Northbridge School Committee. 

Crick was active in his community as well.  During summers when his children were young, he worked as a leader with the Northbridge Playgrounds, life guarded at Electric Pond and was guard at the Whitin Machine Works.  He particularly enjoyed working the polls each year as a greeter as he loved meeting people and talking with them. 

As a member of the Village Congregational Church in Whitinsville, Crick served on several committees including the Prudential Committee, Pastoral Search Committee, and was a deacon and served as the Moderator.

A Memorial Service and Celebration of Crick’s Life will be at 11AM, Monday, November 3, 2025, at the Village Congregational Church, 5 Church St., Whitinsville.  Burial will be private at a later date.   In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to either the Village Congregational Church, PO Box 217, Whitinsville, MA 01588, or to the Crick Paine Northbridge Student Education Fund, c/o Unibank, Church St., Whitinsville, MA 01588.