Brooke Sunderland Obituary

Brooke Williams Sunderland, 70, of Colorado Springs died unexpectedly but peacefully Thursday March 3, 2011 of complications from a stroke, with her family at her bedside. Brooke was born December 1, 1940 in Billings Montana to Harriett Lucas Williams and Robert James Williams and attended the Santa Catalina Catholic School for Girls in Monterey California before graduating from Billings High School in 1958. Brooke received her BA in History from the University of Colorado in Boulder in 1969 and married David K. Sunderland of Colorado Springs on September 13, 1975. Creating bronze sculpture was her life's focus. Inspired by numerous one-artist shows from the Midwest to the West Coast, collectors, colleges and museums across the country claimed her work. She was master of the "lost-wax" process and taught energized sculpture classes on a regular basis. Her close personal ties to a wide range of successful artists brought forth Robiard Art Galleries in Colorado Springs, which she owned and directed from 1977 to 1987. She led fundraising for the benefit of several community organizations, including the ARC and the Gallery of Contemporary Art at UCCS. Brooke also gardened with gusto and became a televised spokesperson for Miracle Gro plant food for 7 years. Her commercial was filmed in her own garden by Miracle Gro and was shown internationally on cable and broadcast television. She became famous as the "Rose Lady" to old friends and new. Brooke sometimes spent winter months on Maui with her husband. She was an avid SCUBA diver and most enjoyed watching the seasonal return of the Humpback Whales from her patio. She is survived by her husband, David Sunderland of Colorado Springs, and her son, Matthew Sunderland, of Los Angeles, California, and step daughters Caryn Meuli (Brad) of Parker and Tracy Sunderland of London England, and Stepson Mark Sunderland (Liz) of Denver. A celebration of life memorial service will be held Wednesday March 16, 2011 at 11 AM in Remington's at Cheyenne Mountain Resort. Remarks from Brooke's friends will be welcome. A reception will follow. Brooke loved flowers, especially roses. In lieu of sending flowers, the family requests that celebrants plant a rose this spring in her memory. The rose will become part of a rose group known as "Friends Of Brooke".