Carolyn Robinson ’52 Ward

Carolyn Elizabeth Ward died on Aug. 23, 2021, in Anchorage, Alaska, from Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. She was 92 years old. Carolyn was born in Sparkill, N.Y., on June 11, 1929, to Mary and George Robinson.

She graduated from Tappan Zee High School, attended NYU and later graduated from Hope College in Holland, Mich. Carolyn taught for the DOD in Japan for two years and then made her way to Alaska in 1957. She taught at Mountain View and Turnagain Elementary schools.

In 1962, she met Frederick Ward at Alyeska Ski Resort, where she was a volunteer ski patrol. They married in Sparkill on Dec. 15, 1962. Carolyn stopped teaching to raise four children, but went back to work teaching preschool this time, at New Horizons preschool. She was a longtime very active member of First Presbyterian Church Anchorage and in later years Anchorage Reformed Presbyterian Fellowship.

Carolyn was adventurous and loved teaching children, skiing, which she did into her 70s, being a lifetime member of Arctic Valley Ski Club, gardening, berry picking and making jam. Much of her time was spent helping at church events, walking with her friends and volunteering at local schools. Carolyn never met a stranger and would smile at and start a conversation with anyone she could.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, George and Raymond Robinson; and sister, Eleanor Zoellner. She leaves behind her husband, Fred; children, Jeff Ward (Jennifer), Andrea Ward, Jenny Gay (Brady) and Katie Potton (Howard); grandchildren, Zoie, Trey, Mia and Luke Segers, Nicholas and Danielle Potton, and Elly and Sophie Neeser; great-grandchildren, Royal and Kingston Robinson; as well as many nieces and nephews.