James L. Carr, Jr.

James Lambert Carr Jr. ("Jamo") 73, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and CEO of H. Carr & Sons, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, July 6, 2025 after being surrounded by his loving family on Prudence Island.

Jamo was larger than life in every way. His hearty laugh, straight talk, and unshakable values made him a magnetic leader and a loyal friend. Whether closing deals in a hard hat or holding court at a family dinner, he showed up with his full self-genuine, passionate, and always with a great story to tell. He leaves behind a legacy as towering as his presence-bold, generous, and unforgettable - whose impact rippled far beyond construction sites and boardrooms, touching lives across all of New England, and beyond.

Born and raised in Rhode Island, Jamo lived a life full of purpose, laughter, and impact. His journey began in Pawtucket and later took him through Lincoln, Providence, Rumford, Holliston (MA), and ultimately to Holderness, New Hampshire, where his family gathered at Squam Lake-his most cherished place on earth.

A proud graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Jamo earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1974 and was inducted into Chi Epsilon, the National Engineering Honor Society. Immediately after college, he joined the family business that his grandfather, Harry Carr, founded in 1930. Over the next 51 years, Jamo transformed H. Carr & Sons into one of the largest and most respected interior contractors in New England, with its headquarters in Providence and offices across the region.

As President and CEO, Jamo led with a relentless drive for quality, integrity, hard work, and straightforwardness. He was a mentor to both friends and family, willing to take time to help educate and aid anyone who worked alongside him. Under his leadership, H. Carr & Sons not only thrived but became a symbol of old-school grit in the modern world. Through Jamo's stewardship, H. Carr & Sons grew from roughly 50 employees to an organization employing over 900 people at its peak. His door was always open, and he was always available to those who needed him.

Construction projects that Jamo was most proud of building included Gillette Stadium, Foxwoods Casino, Mohegan Sun Casino, MGM Springfield, Bulfinch Tower, One Congress, Boston Convention Center, Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence Place Mall, Copley Plaza, 53 State Street in addition to various schools and projects at Harvard, Yale, Brown University and WPI.

Jamo also brought that leadership to the broader construction industry, serving as Chairman of BuildRI, where he championed collaboration between labor and management to promote a proactive construction environment.

Beyond the business world, Jamo's commitment to community was profound and personal. He was a committed philanthropist and civic leader known for giving back quietly but powerfully. He served on the Board of Directors for Women & Infants Hospital for 10 years and on the Foundation Board for Brown University Health. He chaired fundraising for his alma mater, WPI, and co-chaired the Hasbro Children's Hospital Golf Invitational for over a decade, raising more than $5 million. Whether supporting local causes, mentoring young leaders, or lending a hand when no one was watching.

His civic contributions were recognized with numerous honors, including the Edward A. Iannuccilli, MD Civic Leader of the Year Award at RI Hospital; the Narragansett Council BSA Good Scout and Senator John H. Chafee Distinguished Citizen Awards, the Dr. Americo W. Petrocelli Distinguished Service Award of The College Crusade of Rhode Island and the Herbert F. Taylor Alumni Award for Distinguished Service to WPI. Jamo also served as the Grand Marshal of the Providence St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Jamo was a member of the Wannamoisett Country Club, The University Club, and the East Greenwich Yacht Club. But his proudest titles were 'Dad' and 'Grandpa.' His devotion to his family was unwavering. He celebrated their victories, shouldered their burdens, and built a family culture grounded in loyalty, love, and laughter.

He is survived by his beloved wife and partner in life and business, Mary Anne Wood, and their children James Lambert Carr III ("Jesse") and Michelle of Smithfield, RI; Tara Wood and Amanda of Arnold, MD; William MacDonald Carr ("Mac") and Helen of Seekonk, MA; Harry Fletcher Carr ("Fletch") of Rochester, NH; Emily Wood and Isaac Morin of Millville, MA; Timothy Stuart Carr ("Tim") and Marisol of St. Louis, MO. He also leaves behind his sister Regina Carr Parry and her husband Russell of Cape Coral, FL, and sister-in-law Paulette Carr and her husband Stu Krous of Bristol, RI, as well as a large, close-knit extended family, including cherished grandchildren - Remi, Emma, Edward, Myer, Claire, Xenia, Irina and Callum - who were the light of his life. He was predeceased by his parents, James Carr Sr. and Dorothy (Sullivan) Carr; his siblings Judith Carr and Harry Carr; his grandson Liam Carr; and his nephew Charles Carr.

Jamo's story is one of bold leadership, steadfast devotion, and a life lived without apology or half-measures. He leaves behind a family and a community forever shaped by his strength, spirit, and example. While his absence is immense, so too is the legacy he leaves-in the company he built, the lives he touched, and the love he gave so freely. He will be missed deeply and remembered fiercely.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, July 11, 2025 at 10:00 AM in Saint Jude Church, 301 Front Street, Lincoln, Rhode Island.  Burial will follow at Swan Point Cemetery, 585 Blackstone Boulevard, Providence, Rhode Island. A collation will follow the burial at 1:00 PM at Wannamoisett Country Club, 96 Hoyt Avenue, Rumford, Rhode Island.  Family and friends are invited.  Visiting hours are respectfully omitted.  For more information and online condolences, please visit www.bellowsfuneralchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions in his memory be made to Hasbro Children's Golf Invitational at https://giving.brownhealth.org/Hasbro/2025-golf-donate  Arrangements with Bellows Funeral Chapel, 160 River Road, Lincoln.

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