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Dolores Coolidge Obituary

Dolores (Sophia) Coolidge was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts on February 28, 1916, and she passed away just eight days short of her 93rd birthday on February 20th, 2009. She had two sisters (Eleanora and Wilhemina) and one brother (Frederick), who preceded her in death. As a young woman, she worked in the camera department of Abercrombie and Fitch in New York City. She regaled her family with stories of meeting and selling cameras to famous people, such as Salvador Dali and Malcolm Forbes. She married Paul Lawrence (Larry) Coolidge on June 25, 1939. One wintry day in NYC, she saw a poster of Miami Beach, and she told her husband, “We’re moving to Miami, Larry.� When her husband got out of the service in 1946, they moved to Miami to start their family. They had two sons, Frederick and Thomas. Dolores and her husband often vacationed in Cuba. Dolores taught English and Spanish at a private high school in Coral Gables, Florida. She became a world traveler and took her mother, sisters, and friends to Poland (the country of her parent’s birth), France, Italy, and England. Upon her husband’s retirement from the U.S. Postal Service, they moved to Indialantic, Florida in 1976 to fish and beachcomb. Dolores took up watercolor painting at the age of 60, and she received many accolades for her pictures. She was especially fond of capturing cats’ personalities and did many commissioned paintings for family, friends, and clients. Her husband died in 1994, after they celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary, and she moved to Colorado in 2000 to be with her oldest son. She remained very active, taking painting lessons and exercise classes at the Colorado Springs Senior Center, and she vacationed in Las Vegas on her 88th, 89th, and 90th birthdays (penny slot machines only). She is survived by her sons Frederick and Thomas, Frederick’s wife Patricia, five grandchildren Richard (his wife Jeannie), Christa, Ariel, Reagyn, and Susan and four greatgrandchildren Melissa, Allison, Ryan, and Ellery. Her family is planning a private ceremony in Florida. We also wish to thank the wonderful help and support of SolAmor Hospice, Dr. Weston, and all of their staff members for helping throughout and maintaining our mother in her own home.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Gazette from Feb. 24 to Feb. 25, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for Dolores Coolidge

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4 Entries

Mendy Putman

March 11, 2009

The Colorado Springs Senior Center was a place where Dolores came to have fun and keep active. Her involvement in our art and fitness classes was loyal and valuable to her and to us. I am glad she found us after moving here from Florida. We would like the family to know that we recieved a donation in her honor today. It is from John and Maxine Feldhaus. We accept this donation and will be placing it in our Gift Trust account. We use that account to help us provide special events and other programs when necessary. It means a lot to have the support in the community. Thank you. We will miss Dolores and our thoughts are with your family at this time.

Jeanne Valaska

March 4, 2009

I'm a Florida friend and we got acquainted thru the Art Museum. I recall her beautiful watercolor paintings. She had her pictures displayed at the Melbourne International Airport. After she moved to Colorado, I continued to stay in touch and sent her newspaper clippings about art in Melbourne, Florida.

Ariel Coolidge-Looney

March 2, 2009

My Nana was a spectacular woman. She taught me many things and will greatly be missed. I will always have my memories of the times we shared together and cherish them forever!

Sunni Ball

February 28, 2009

She was a special lady who loved the flea market, collecing movies, art, and cookbooks. She will be missed.

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