Patient Council Member and former RaceTrac CEO Carl Bolch, Jr.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) mourns the loss of Carl Bolch, Jr., a passionate advocate and valued member of the Foundation's Patient Council. He passed away on Friday, December 26, 2025, at the age of 82.
Carl built a distinguished career at RaceTrac, a third-generation family enterprise operating a chain of gas stations and convenience stores across the Southern United States. Founded in 1934 by his father, Carl Sr., Carl assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer in 1967. For over 50 years, he led the Atlanta-based company, later serving as Executive Chairman until February 2024. Under his stewardship, RaceTrac grew into one of the country’s largest privately held companies, with more than 500 locations in 10 states.
Carl’s connection to Parkinson’s was deeply personal: His father lived with the disease, and Carl himself was diagnosed in 2007 at age 64. This experience fueled his advocacy, inspiring him to lend his voice to our mission to speed a cure.
In 2011, Carl spearheaded RaceTrac’s philanthropic partnership with MJFF, launching fundraising efforts that have evolved into one of our most powerful and enduring collaborations. Since then, RaceTrac has raised more than $10 million for the Foundation, engaging customers and employees across its markets in meaningful ways. Each April, RaceTrac hosts “Coffee for a Cause,” inviting guests to support Parkinson’s research through everyday purchases while raising awareness. In Atlanta, RaceTrac deepens this impact through its annual Run4Research 5K, which brings together employees, families and the broader community to run with purpose and unite around a shared goal: a future free from Parkinson’s. These initiatives reflect Carl’s idea of leveraging business as a catalyst for good — and his conviction that collective action can drive real change.
For more than a decade, Carl also served on MJFF’s Patient Council, an advisory group of individuals living with Parkinson’s disease and care partners who guide the Foundation’s work. Since its inception in 2009, the MJFF Patient Council has provided critical insights to align research and outreach with patient priorities, ensuring every step the Foundation takes reflects what matters most to the community.
“Carl was a remarkable member of The Michael J. Fox Foundation community. He was a voice for patients and a force for progress in our work to end Parkinson’s,” said Debi Brooks, CEO and Co-Founder of The Michael J. Fox Foundation. “That kind of generous leadership — grounded in personal commitment and dedication — leaves a powerful legacy. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and loved ones at this difficult time.”
Carl is survived by his wife, Susan, their five children and seven grandchildren. Melanie Isbill, Carl’s daughter and RaceTrac’s President of Convenience Retail, became a member of MJFF’s Board of Directors in 2021, continuing her father's unwavering dedication to accelerating Parkinson’s research. Our thoughts are with Carl’s entire family, and with all who knew and loved him, as we honor his extraordinary contributions and celebrate the lasting impact he made on the Parkinson’s community.