“compiled by Elmili TK”
FREDERICTON — What began as a mysterious gurgle in the stomach has transformed into a remarkable life chapter for Gerry Carroll, an 82-year-old retired sales representative from Riverview, New Brunswick, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer late last year.
Carroll says he was blindsided by the diagnosis in December 2023, after a routine doctor’s visit revealed malignant polyps. “I honestly thought they had someone else’s report,” he recalled. Doctors gave him only months to live.
After the initial shock, Carroll set out on an unusual mission — to part ways with the mountains of belongings he had accumulated over nearly six decades. From power tools and televisions to scooters, books, cassette tapes and speakers — “so many speakers,” he jokes — Carroll admits he never met a second-hand treasure he could ignore.
“He’s a hoarder,” his wife, Mary, says with an affectionate eye-roll. “I just have an acquisition problem,” Gerry counters, laughing.
His collection even includes the full contents of a neighbour’s apartment — an inheritance of clutter that nearly ended what he jokingly calls “59 years of wedded bliss.”
But beneath the humour lies a practical concern: how his wife would cope with it all after he’s gone.
That concern led Carroll to a solution inspired by a British tradition — car boot sales. He decided to hold weekend bazaars, selling his treasures straight out of his vehicle. A Moncton property owner offered him a vacant lot to use, and Carroll took to social media to spread the word.
The response was overwhelming.
Heading into his second weekend, Carroll says he’ll keep going until he clears it all out — or runs out of weekends. “I’m not getting rid of anything personal or anything our daughter gave us,” he assures. “Just the stuff that’s been taking over the garage — and the basement — and probably parts of the attic.”
For Mary, the sales are bittersweet. While she’s long been frustrated with his collecting, she understands the deeper meaning now. “It gives him something to focus on,” she says quietly. “Something to keep his mind busy.”
Their story began back in 1965 at a dance in Bible Hill, Nova Scotia. Mary didn’t care for him at first, brushing off his offers to escort her home — not once, but twice. “I thought he was a show-off,” she says with a grin. He persisted, and eventually she said yes. They’ve been together ever since.
Now, with time growing short, Carroll says his makeshift market has become more than just a clean-out project — it’s a way to connect. “You meet people, have a few laughs, and make a little money,” he says. “It’s not about the stuff anymore.”
“I’m 82. I’ve been married 59 years, we’ve got a daughter and three beautiful grandchildren. That’s about as good as it gets.”
