Carole Jeanne Banfield, née Michaels, passed away peacefully on June 10, 2026, at the age of 86. Born on December 15, 1939, and raised in Albany, New York, Carole lived a remarkable life defined by intellect, generosity, devotion to family, and a deep appreciation for the arts and community. She was a longtime resident of Warren, New Jersey, from 1991 until 2024, and spent the past two years living in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.

Carole was the daughter of Ulysses and Carolyn Michaels. From an early age, her brilliance and determination were evident. She graduated as Valedictorian of St. Joseph’s Academy in Albany before attending Fordham University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. During her time at Fordham, she was one of only two women in the mathematics program, an extraordinary accomplishment during that era. It was also there that she met her future husband, Joseph Henry Banfield. The two began as college lab partners, building a partnership that would grow into a loving marriage and lifelong companionship.

Carole enjoyed a distinguished and highly respected career in the insurance industry spanning more than six decades. Through her intelligence, leadership, and dedication, she rose through the ranks from assistant actuary to become Executive Vice President of Verisk Analytics, formerly ISO, a position she assumed in 1996. Widely admired throughout the industry for her expertise and professionalism, Carole played an instrumental role in the development of insurance data management and actuarial services nationwide. She led ISO’s Government Relations Department, worked closely with state and federal regulators, and was deeply involved in the development and implementation of many of the organization’s principal insurance programs. Following the events of September 11, 2001, she spearheaded efforts to obtain regulatory approval for terrorism-related insurance policy language and testified at numerous regulatory hearings throughout her career.

A trailblazer for women in business, Carole was recognized as a mentor and role model to countless colleagues throughout her life. In 2010, she was honored as the Association of Professional Insurance Women’s “Insurance Woman of the Year,” recognizing her exceptional accomplishments, leadership, and commitment to advancing women within the profession. She was also the recipient of the Donald T. DeCarlo Legends Award from the American Society of Workers’ Compensation Professionals and the Helen M. Garvin Outstanding Achiever Award from the National Association of Insurance Women. Carole additionally served on numerous professional boards and committees and was highly respected throughout the insurance industry for her intellect, integrity, and leadership.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Carole was deeply committed to philanthropy and charitable work. Alongside her husband, she co-founded the Banfield Family Foundation, which supported numerous organizations and causes close to her heart. She was especially passionate about helping women battling breast cancer through initiatives such as Dance for the Cure. Through the foundation, she and her family generously supported Overlook Medical Center, Morristown Medical Center, and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, among many others.

Carole’s Catholic faith remained an important part of her life throughout the years. She was a longtime and devoted parishioner of Our Lady of the Mount Church in Warren, New Jersey, where she quietly supported numerous charitable and parish initiatives. Through her philanthropic efforts, she played a significant role in helping establish the church’s Prayer Garden, a place that continues to offer peace, reflection, and comfort to parishioners and visitors alike.

Carole also possessed a lifelong love for the performing arts. She was a devoted supporter of the New Jersey State Theatre and Paper Mill Playhouse. An avid theatergoer and passionate ballet enthusiast, she maintained the same treasured seats at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts for more than fifty years, where countless cherished memories were made with family and friends.

At home, Carole found joy in life’s simple and meaningful pleasures. She loved collecting Disney figurines and collectibles, and Christmas was unquestionably her favorite season. Her home became a gathering place filled with warmth, laughter, decorations, and elaborate celebrations that brought together family, friends, and company employees alike. Her parties were legendary among those who knew her.

Above all else, Carole’s greatest joy was her family. She was predeceased by her loving husband, Joseph Henry Banfield, in 2012. She was a loving and devoted mother to Michael Banfield and his wife, Michelle, and to Deborah Banfield Rebetje and her husband, Joseph. She cherished her role as grandmother and great-grandmother and leaves behind her beloved grandchildren, Kyle Banfield, Kaitlyn Banfield, Sarah Rebetje, Jeremy Rebetje, and Nicholas Rebetje, as well as her adored great-grandchildren, Lucas Banfield and Daisy Banfield. She is also survived by her sisters, Patricia Michaels and Mary Vroman, and her husband, John, and her sister-in-law, Janice Banfield.

Carole will be remembered for her extraordinary intelligence, generosity, elegance, warmth, and unwavering love for those around her. Her legacy lives on through the countless lives she touched, both personally and through her philanthropic work.

A visitation will be held on Monday, June 22, 2026, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Higgins Home For Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung, NJ 07069. A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of the Mount Chapel, 167 Mount Bethel Rd., Warren, NJ 07059. Cremation will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Carole’s memory to Dance for the Cure, 5 Davis Lane, Hillsborough, NJ 08844; Overlook Atlantic Health - Multiple Sclerosis, 99 Beauvoir Avenue, Summit, NJ 07901; or Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset – Steeplechase Cancer Center Oncology, Somerset Health Care Foundation 110 Rehill Avenue, Somerville, NJ 08876.

***LIVE-STREAM FUNERAL MASS***