Delores Ann Cole March 31, 1948 – May 05, 2019 Share this obituary Send Sympathy Gifts Upload Photo| Sign Guestbook| Send Sympathy Card| Memorial Donation Delores Ann Cole, of Amherst, Ohio, gained her wings and left her earthly bindings on May 5, 2019, during the peak of spring songbird migration. She is now soaring with the birds she loved and worked so hard for. She was born March 31, 1948 in Cleveland, Ohio, to John and Rita Ann (Tomcufcik) Kolinovsky who preceded her in death.
She is survived by her three siblings, Joanne, Marianne, and John Kolinovsky. She was once married to Michael J. Cole and they divorced. In 2013, Delores met the love of her life, Ray Stewart, and they shared six beautiful years together, volunteering, traveling, and enjoying the natural world.
Following successful careers with Stouffer Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Cole National, and KeyBank, she retired in December 2012 but slowing down was definitely not part of the equation. Delores was an organizational genius whose post-retirement volunteer work had an enormous impact on natural re conservation in Ohio. Delores loved birds and birding, and she contributed countless hours of her time and expertise to dozens of bird- and nature-focused nonprofits, including Kirtland Bird Club, Kelleys Island Audubon, Black Swamp Bird Observatory, Ohio Wetlands Association, Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association, Ohio Invasive Plant Council, and Ohio Prescribed Fire Council, to name a few.
She was instrumental in the success of Black Swamp’s Ohio Young Birders Club and the internationally recognized Biggest Week In American Birding. Although she shunned the spotlight and never cared about getting credit, she received numerous awards and accolades for her volunteer work. Delores leaves behind an immense legacy of giving that is impossible to measure.
In addition to her passion for birds and the natural world, Delores was a talented artist, enjoyed cooking and eating Mexican food, and loved traveling. She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered. There are no formal services planned at this time.
A celebration of her life will be held this summer. Memorials can be made to Ohio Wetlands Association or Black Swamp Bird Observatory’s Ohio Young Birders Club. “We abuse land because we see it as a commodity belonging to us.
When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect”. ― Aldo Leopold The Hempel Funeral Home is honored to serve the Delores Ann Cole family and has made available for the community’s convenience an on-line register book as well as additional information to help facilitate expressions of compassion. Log on at www.
hempelfuneralhome.com.
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