Carolyn Nassimbene Obituary

On June 13, 2017, the Lord peacefully carried Carolyn and her beautiful smile, home with Him.-

Carolyn was born in Denver to Elmer and Blanche Anderson. She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Donald, William and sister Duane and a son David Lee.

Carolyn attended South High School in Denver and then Colorado Springs High School for her junior and senior years. She was on the cabinet, president of the SOS club, and a member of the ski club.

Upon graduation from high school she went to Steven's College in Columbia Missouri and then transferred to Denver University. She was a member of the women's ski team and was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority.

Carolyn met her future husband Leo, the love of her life, when his family moved a short block away from her home when she was five years old and he was seven. In High School they enjoyed sock hops, square dancing, skating and skiing.

Carolyn and Leo were married on August 6, 1950 and lived in Kansas City, Missouri where Leo started his hospital residency at the University of Missouri. Upon completion of his residency in 1953, Leo joined the Army during the Korean War. They were stationed at Fort Bliss and William Beaumont Army Hospital in El Paso, Texas. In 1955, on completion of Leo's army service, they moved to Colorado Springs where Leo established his surgical practice. Carolyn was his first receptionist and surgical assistant.

Carolyn and Leo adopted four children as infants- Cathy Ann, Daniel Lee, David Lee, Carrie Sue and later a foster daughter Diana Lynn.

Carolyn was always involved in Colorado Springs organizations from PTAs to the Junior League. In the Junior League she headed many projects including a year-long study on adolescent substance abuse in the Pike's Peak region. That then resulted in the formation of the Pike's Peak C.A.R.E Coalition (Chemical Abuse Resource and Education) of which she was the first executive director. During the same period, she was a deputy sheriff with a narcotics unit. She started the in-school education programs which were later replaced by the D.A.R.E. program.

Carolyn always had a special heart for children. She was a strong supporter of Hope & Home, the Dale House, and Compassion International. She also had a concern for the homeless and the disadvantaged and was a volunteer at the Marion House soup kitchen for many years.

A lover of the outdoors, Carolyn was a ski instructor and a member of the Pike's Peak ski patrol. She also loved her horses and their Table Mountain Ranch. She was a founding member of the Colorado Springs Racquet Club and a tournament tennis player. Carolyn loved to travel throughout the world and sail their sailboats both locally and in the Caribbean.

Carolyn was a devout Christian and a 45 year member of the First Presbyterian Church and the Pathfinder Sunday school class.

Carolyn is survived by her husband, Leo, and their children Cathy Nassimbene, Daniel Nassimbene (wife Robin), daughter Carrie Hall (husband Brad), Diana Lynn, and eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Carolyn's memorial service will be at the First Presbyterian Church on Friday, July 7 at 1pm.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Hope and Home.