Preston C. Carlisle

BY PAUL MITCHELLNorth Country This Week

OGDENSBURG - It’s only fitting that a Celebration of Life for Preston C. Carlisle will take place at the Ogdensburg Boys and Girls Club.

The prominent Ogdensburg attorney’s legacy will live forever by simply driving by the Paterson Street club and seeing the Preston C. Carlisle Youth Athletic Center, dedicated in his honor in June 2022.

Carlisle died Saturday, Oct. 3, at his home, at the age of 96.

The Celebration of Life will be held October 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. The Frary Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

“Preston Carlisle has been a tremendous supporter of the Ogdensburg Boys and Girls Club and many other youth organizations in the community for over 60 years.  As a former member of the Board of Directors, he was one of many that realized a new facility was needed in the early 70s that included a gymnasium for club members.  Preston also realized that another gym in the community would also make pick-up basketball opportunities for adults more available and Preston was a frequent participant and loved the competition and camaraderie when the club opened in its current location in 1975. He could always be counted over the years whenever there were needs to assist local youth. He was so proud of the Preston C. Carlisle Youth Athletic Center as our new addition which was the vision of his family which will serve youth for years to come. When the facility opened in 2022, he would frequently stop in to show his friends or call to see how things were going. He will be missed greatly and his legacy will live on forever,” stated Tom Luckie Jr., recently retired director of the Boys & Girls Club.

Ogdensburg Mayor Michael Tooley also recognized Mr. Carlisle.

“It is with much sadness that I learned of the passing of Attorney Preston C. Carlisle on October 3. Preston was a pillar of the community, in the City of Ogdensburg as well as the North Country,” stated Tooley. “On behalf of the City of Ogdensburg, I offer our condolences to Preston’s wife, Joan, and other family members.”

Tooley alluded to Carlisle’s impressive career.

Preston’s service to the City of Ogdensburg and to his country is worthy of recognition. After serving four years in the U.S. Army and then obtaining his law degree from The American University, Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C., in 1961 he was admitted to the New York State Bar, and in 1962 Preston established his law firm at the historic Preston King Building at 602 State Street, where he practiced law for nearly 60 years, noted Tooley.

Preston’s service in local government included serving as Corporation Counsel for the City of Ogdensburg for a period beginning in 1963, and he served as First Assistant District Attorney in St. Lawrence County from 1967 to 1975, he added.

“Preston demonstrated his generosity in many ways in the City of Ogdensburg. He was a member of Ogdensburg Kiwanis, once serving as its President, and he was a long-time member of the Board of Directors of the Ogdensburg Boys and Girls Club. Expansion of the Club’s facilities to include construction of a new gym was envisioned and made possible in large part through the generosity of the Carlisle family, and when opened in 2022 the facility was dedicated as the Preston C. Carlisle Youth Athletic Center.”

His obituary reads can be found here.

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