In Memoriam Notices of deaths received before December 7, 2007
Alumnae Anna Stribling Taylor ’34 September 2, in Pasadena, California. She was predeceased by her sister-in-law Jane Taylor Perry ’35 and leaves a niece, Terry Taylor Elwood ’67. Mary Lanigar ’38, October 31, in Santa Rosa, California. A CPA and lawyer, she was the first woman partner in the firm Arthur Young (now Ernst & Young). She retired from the firm in 1976 to accept directorships at Wells Fargo,
Lucky Stores, the Pacific Stock Exchange, and other corporations and nonprofits. She served as a Trustee of Mills College for 17 years. Survivors include her sister, Dorothy Anderson, and niece, Susan Abbott Koster ’70. Elizabeth Loudon Steele ’38, August 13, in Seattle. She lived in Paris and Washington, D.C., before moving to Seattle, where she was on the board of the Intiman Theater and a member of the Elizabeth Fischer Guild at Children’s Hospital. She
is survived by three children and eight grandchildren. Jeanne R. Fontana Lower ’39, June 9, in Folsom, California. She was a branch president of the Alumnae Association of Mills College for many years. She was a part of the Baha’i community in Folsom and in Carmichael. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard; survivors include two children and six grandchildren. Verna Lebow Norman ’40, August 15, in Los Angeles. She
was an accomplished sculptor and painter, showing her works in a number of solo and juried exhibitions. In later years, she split her time between the U.S. and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Muriel “Tex” Johnston ’42, MA ’46, November 11, in Berkeley. She served in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a lieutenant commander, then had an extensive scientific career with the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, the Naval Radiological Defense Lab, and the Naval Biosciences Lab. She
Barbara Coleman Frey ’68, 1946–2007 Barbara “Bobby” Coleman
Governors of the Alumnae
Frey of Piedmont passed
Association of Mills College
away peacefully, surrounded
(AAMC), chaired the AAMC
by family and friends, on
Annual Fund, and started
September 28 after a lengthy
the annual fund for the
and courageous battle with
Children’s School. Her family
breast cancer.
endowed the Florence Bloch
An Oakland native, Frey
Feldman Scholarship at Mills
lived amidst vibrant Mills
in honor of her grandmother.
women all of her 61 years. Her
Bobby will be missed deeply
family included grandmother
by the Class of ’68. She was
Florence Bloch Feldman
involved in organizing every
’21; cousins Emilie Bloch
five-year Reunion and worked
Schwabacher ’25, Theresa
as class agent for many years.
Loewy Breyer ’37, Hazel-Clair
Laurel Burden ’68 says,
Cinq amies à Paris: Barbara Coleman Frey ’68 (far right) in Paris with Mills friends (left to right) Laurel Burden ’68, Nangee Warner Morrison ’63, Sandy Gregg ’68, and Patricia Abelov Demoff ’68.
courageous, took pleasure in
gardening, knitting, and
Loewy Dwoskin ’43, and Elise
“All of us will miss this quiet,
little things, and lived every
spending time at her home in
Feldman Rosenfeld ’47; and
determined person. She has
moment that she had to the
Tahoe.
sister Elinor Coleman ’71.
been a force in my life from
fullest.”
As a child, Bobby attended
the first day in Olney. We
the Mills College Children’s
have been through much in
cooking, studying locally with
Allison; parents, Joan and
School, as did her daughters
the last 43 years, both won-
Narsai David and Jack Lirio
Clarence Coleman; sister,
Allison and Charlotte. She
derful and not so wonderful,
in the 1970s. She traveled
Elinor; and an extended fam-
married David Lee Frey Jr. in
but our trip to Paris for our
extensively and as recently as
ily of Mills friends. She was
the Mills Chapel in 1969.
60th birthday celebration was
summer 2007, when she vis-
predeceased by her daughter
what it is all about: friendship
ited Santa Fe with Mills pals.
Charlotte. Gifts to Mills in
ativity and positive outlook
and love. That we will carry
Music, always a part of her
memory of Barbara will sup-
to Mills. Over the years,
with us forever.” Patti Abelov
life, was the focus of several
port the Children’s School.
she served on the Board of
Demoff ’68 adds, “Bobby was
trips. Other passions included
Bobby dedicated her cre-
36
M i l l s Q u a r t e r ly
Bobby had a passion for
Barbara is mourned by her husband, David; daughter,