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Lydia Leftcoast

(48,225 posts)
Mon May 11, 2026, 02:54 PM 9 hrs ago

Ulysses, another long-time DUer gone

I'm not on DU very often these days, but I checked the In Memoriam section and noted that one passing had not been listed.

Those of you who have been on this site for several years will remember John Carle, who posted under the name of Ulysses. Aside from astute political comments, he shared with us the story of adopting his son.

He was one of the DUers who became a Facebook friend, and I learned about his experiences as a dedicated teacher, including starting an after-school club aimed at getting boys to enjoy reading, and becoming a stepfather to his second wife Jennifer's children. However, this past fall, I began seeing posts about him having cancer. Then he passed away in November.

Jennifer posted the following in April 2026:

"It has been five months since John died and somehow i am still on my feet, still moving forward. Chris [John's son] came over today, we finished his FAFSA and I got to mother-hen him a bit. I filled his car up with gas and bought him frozen custard.
Time is so weird. Sometimes it seems like only yesterday that John and I were enjoying the mundane tasks of life,hand-in-hand. And sometimes our entire relationship seems like it existed in a dream from long ago. Time will tell, time heals all wounds, time is money, it's all in the timing. Time is the one precious commodity that we can never get back. And I will always cherish the time I had with him.
I will tell all of you this: don't waste time, don't lose one single moment, because you never know when your time will be up. Pursue that dream, take that leap of faith, and hold on to the people you love for all the time you can."


I'm sure that all long-time DUers will join in expressing their condolences to Ulysses' family and friends.

45 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Ulysses, another long-time DUer gone (Original Post) Lydia Leftcoast 9 hrs ago OP
🕯️ underpants 9 hrs ago #1
... SheltieLover 9 hrs ago #2
My deepest condolences. greatauntoftriplets 9 hrs ago #3
Tears in my eyes and not an onion within miles... chouchou 9 hrs ago #4
🫂 mwmisses4289 9 hrs ago #5
Deepest sympathy to all his family and friends malaise 9 hrs ago #6
I miss him proud patriot 9 hrs ago #7
So sorry to hear about Ulysses. sdfernando 9 hrs ago #8
I am so very sorry. StarryNite 8 hrs ago #9
I am so sorry to hear this. My condolences to his family and friends. LoisB 8 hrs ago #10
My condolences to the family and our community... Moostache 8 hrs ago #11
Sincerest sympathies to Ulysses' family. Thank You Lydia Leftcoast for posting. George McGovern 8 hrs ago #12
So sorry to see this. mountain grammy 8 hrs ago #13
My condolences on another DU loss Niagara 8 hrs ago #14
... 2naSalit 8 hrs ago #15
... stage left 8 hrs ago #16
He sure left a wise legacy - of which you remind us: calimary 8 hrs ago #17
I am sorry for your loss. H2O Man 8 hrs ago #18
That really struck me to the core--both Ulysses' passing and the poignant message of his wife hlthe2b 8 hrs ago #19
My heartfelt condolences to all of those who loved him and called him friend. chowder66 8 hrs ago #20
Thank you, Lydia, for sharing Laurelin 7 hrs ago #21
The circle is broken orangecrush 7 hrs ago #22
May Ulysses RIP Chicagogrl1 7 hrs ago #23
last post ironically in a haven't-seen-these-DUers-in-a-while thread, 2014 Kali 7 hrs ago #24
I was thinking about him the other day. Some comment I read, and I knew exactly what Ulysses would have said. Solly Mack 7 hrs ago #25
Oh man... Lithos 7 hrs ago #26
Thank you for posting. FemDemERA 7 hrs ago #27
If you could forward your post to Admin.with a request Ulysses be added to In Memoriam page Dixiegrrrl 7 hrs ago #28
That's quite a profound post. patphil 7 hrs ago #29
Rest well, John UpInArms 7 hrs ago #30
So Sorry IbogaProject 7 hrs ago #31
Condolences to the family leftstreet 7 hrs ago #32
So very sorry... CaptainTruth 7 hrs ago #33
My sympathy bdamomma 6 hrs ago #34
... ancianita 6 hrs ago #35
Ulysses hosted a DU gathering years ago SCantiGOP 6 hrs ago #36
🙏RIP TommieMommy 6 hrs ago #37
I'm truly sad to learn this. RIP, Uly. enki23 5 hrs ago #38
Oh dear. blm 5 hrs ago #39
My condolences to his family and friends. brer cat 4 hrs ago #40
Aw fuck CatWoman 4 hrs ago #41
My heartfelt condolences to John's family and friends. Greybnk48 4 hrs ago #42
Thank you for sharing. tavernier 2 hrs ago #43
Another great DU contributor down. OAITW r.2.0 1 hr ago #44
I read his obituary.....tears! young_at_heart 54 min ago #45

sdfernando

(6,096 posts)
8. So sorry to hear about Ulysses.
Mon May 11, 2026, 03:21 PM
9 hrs ago

Rest in Peace good man!

Peace Love and Strength to all of his family and freinds.

Moostache

(11,265 posts)
11. My condolences to the family and our community...
Mon May 11, 2026, 03:31 PM
8 hrs ago

I hate being at the age that time is taking things I am comfortable with or have had as part of my life for a while away with alarming increases in frequency.

May his memory live on the hearts and minds he touched.

George McGovern

(12,716 posts)
12. Sincerest sympathies to Ulysses' family. Thank You Lydia Leftcoast for posting.
Mon May 11, 2026, 03:34 PM
8 hrs ago

Commiserations to all of us at DU who have lost an online friend from our caring community.
We carry on in their names.

calimary

(90,651 posts)
17. He sure left a wise legacy - of which you remind us:
Mon May 11, 2026, 04:09 PM
8 hrs ago

“… don’t waste time, don't lose one single moment, because you never know when your time will be up. Pursue that dream, take that leap of faith, and hold on to the people you love for all the time you can."
- John Carle, aka Ulysses

VERY good to remember! A blessing for sure. Thank you, Lydia Leftcoast, for letting us know.

H2O Man

(79,219 posts)
18. I am sorry for your loss.
Mon May 11, 2026, 04:17 PM
8 hrs ago

There really aren't words. I hope that Jennifer & children will know how much we liked and respected John.

hlthe2b

(114,536 posts)
19. That really struck me to the core--both Ulysses' passing and the poignant message of his wife
Mon May 11, 2026, 04:17 PM
8 hrs ago

It feels wrenching to realize he's been gone this many months but there are so many here who fondly remember him. RIP, John. You will be missed.

Laurelin

(950 posts)
21. Thank you, Lydia, for sharing
Mon May 11, 2026, 04:22 PM
7 hrs ago

I remember Ulysses
I'm so sorry to hear of his passing. He was a valued community member.

Chicagogrl1

(660 posts)
23. May Ulysses RIP
Mon May 11, 2026, 04:28 PM
7 hrs ago

Good reminder to try to live every moment as best as possible, and to let those that you know that are close to you that you love them.

Solly Mack

(97,233 posts)
25. I was thinking about him the other day. Some comment I read, and I knew exactly what Ulysses would have said.
Mon May 11, 2026, 04:33 PM
7 hrs ago

I enjoyed reading his comments and conversing with him. I have long missed seeing him around and now I'll mourn him.

I'll also celebrate him because he was one good egg.

RIP Ulysses.

Dixiegrrrl

(220 posts)
28. If you could forward your post to Admin.with a request Ulysses be added to In Memoriam page
Mon May 11, 2026, 04:43 PM
7 hrs ago

it would be helpful.

patphil

(9,201 posts)
29. That's quite a profound post.
Mon May 11, 2026, 04:48 PM
7 hrs ago

I see. That leap of faith can only be taken in the moment that is the now. Then that moment slips into the past.
All change occurs in the current moment.
Take that leap with love in your heart, and no regrets.

IbogaProject

(6,049 posts)
31. So Sorry
Mon May 11, 2026, 05:07 PM
7 hrs ago

It looks like I found his obituary relevant as they have a scholarship drive in lieu of flowers. https://www.mmsfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/john-christian-carle

He will also be mourned by the countless young people who he helped and mentored over the years. May his memory be a blessing for all of his family, friends, and colleagues.

In Lieu of flowers the family has asked for donation to be made to the RSU Foundation. Please make checks payable to RSU Foundation with John Carle Memorial Scholarship in the memo line or online donations may be made at www.rsu.edu/give.

RSU Foundation
1701 W. Will Rogers Blvd.
Claremore, OK 74017

SCantiGOP

(14,752 posts)
36. Ulysses hosted a DU gathering years ago
Mon May 11, 2026, 05:38 PM
6 hrs ago

About 25 of us met at a Tavern and then went to his house. This was early in the Bush administration. We had a great time and he was a gracious host.

blm

(114,743 posts)
39. Oh dear.
Mon May 11, 2026, 07:18 PM
5 hrs ago

Sad to hear, and also sad to say it’s becoming more difficult for some of us older DUers to keep up.

💐🕯️

CatWoman

(80,324 posts)
41. Aw fuck
Mon May 11, 2026, 07:32 PM
4 hrs ago

Last edited Mon May 11, 2026, 10:57 PM - Edit history (1)

i had no idea.

we became good friends thru DU, and he was my semi neighbor.

i was also friends with his first wife, but we got out of touch once they divorced and he moved out of state.

he had a dog named Scarlett who had allergies and also a skin condition. as I'm an allergy sufferer too, he called us Itchy and Scratchy.

the last interaction i had with him was on Twitter when i informed him my cat had died. after john moved out of my area to Douglas County, he had rescued the cat after noticing she was eating garbage and i adopted her.

young_at_heart

(4,061 posts)
45. I read his obituary.....tears!
Mon May 11, 2026, 11:27 PM
54 min ago

What an outstanding man and how sad he had to be taken so young! Lots of love to his wonderful family.

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