Carol (Ann) Cotant Edsall, 68, died peacefully from complications of prolonged illness on April 6, 2020. Carol was born January 24, 1952, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. She was the oldest of five children (and the only daughter) born to Byron William Cotant and Margaret Joan Larson. She grew up in Fort Dodge, and, early in her childhood, developed a love of reading and the outdoors. She enjoyed scouting and collected many Girl Scout merit badges. She watched over her younger siblings and cousins protectively, and they looked up to her, even if she could be "bossy" at times. Carol attended Corpus Christi Elementary School and graduated from St Edmonds High School in 1970, where she excelled academically and won several scholastic achievement awards. She might have been proudest of her Betty Crocker Homemaker award -- the skills she honed in winning that prize remained with her for life, as those who have eaten her her famous frozen yogurt Cool Whip dessert pie or tossed frozen pea tortellini pasta salad can attest!
After high school, she attended the University of Iowa. She graduated from Iowa in 1973 with a B.S. degree, and then moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan. Carol took a job with the U.S. Department of the Interior as a research fisheries biologist. She received several commendations for her work, and her peers selected her for the James W. Moffett award for an article she co-authored on the effects of contaminants on lake trout. It was there she met her future husband, Thomas A. ("Tom") Edsall. They dated for a few years, married in 1978 and welcomed their son, Paul, the following summer. Carol enjoyed being a mother and found great joy in watching Paul grow up. She was proud of his academic, artistic, and athletic successes, and even after he finished college, she liked to speak of his work and travel.
Carol enjoyed cross-country skiing and fly fishing with her husband. She and Tom owned a cabin in northern Michigan with a few other families, and they spent a lot of time there during Paul’s childhood. Summers were spent visiting national parks and fishing or at the beach with family. Carol liked to read and could always be counted upon to join a competitive board game or a game of bridge -- win or lose, she would play with equanimity and always come back for more. She had a life-long sweet tooth, but also loved good food generally: she loved to try new dishes and enjoyed finding new restaurants to frequent. She was a diehard Iowa Hawkeyes fan and liked watching most sports. She stayed abreast of current affairs and politics, supported environmental and other progressive causes, and gave generously to a number of non-profit organizations.
Carol joined her husband in retirement in 2002. They continued to travel to both coasts to visit family, and they usually made a trip to Florida for the sunshine and the fishing in the late winter. Carol also took a few trips on her own with a college-affiliated tour group to the UK and other countries in Europe. At home, she became a regular in several local bridge groups, enjoying her status as the youngest player, and took up solitary puzzles (crossword, Sudoku and others) with a passion. She enjoyed her home and neighbors and watching the seasons change, and she was overjoyed to see her son Paul marry his long-time love Vivi Nguyen in 2017. While she and Tom were unable to attend the wedding in England, they celebrated with Paul and Vivi at the wedding reception held in Ann Arbor some months later.
Carol's husband of 39 years, Tom, died in 2018. He had been ill for several years preceding his death and his illness and passing took its toll on her. After his death, her own health continued to decline over several months until she finally entered hospice care and passed away peacefully and comfortably on April 6th. Carol was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her brother, Michael. She is survived by her son and his wife, three brothers (Chris, Matthew, and Peter), four step-children from Tom’s first marriage (Michael, Kathleen, Sheila, and Patrick), their spouses (Lorri, Alice, and Lisa) and their children (Bailey, Emery, Kate, Jackson, Ruby, Riley, Maxine, Martin, Gigi, Marcus, and Malijah). At her request, Carol was cremated without ceremony; a memorial celebration will be planned for a later date. Contributions in Carol's memory may be made to The Nature Conservancy.
To plant a memorial tree in honor of Carol Ann Edsall (Cotant), please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
Barbara Lyman (Lyman-Kluck)
Carol Edsall
January 24, 1952 – April 6, 2020
Obituary for Carol Ann Edsall (Cotant)
Carol (Ann) Cotant Edsall, 68, died peacefully from complications of prolonged illness on April 6, 2020. Carol was born January 24, 1952, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. She was the oldest of five children (and the only daughter) born to Byron William Cotant and Margaret Joan Larson. She grew up in Fort Dodge, and, early in her childhood, developed a love of reading and the outdoors. She enjoyed scouting and collected many Girl Scout merit badges. She watched over her younger siblings and cousins protectively, and they looked up to her, even if she could be "bossy" at times. Carol attended Corpus Christi Elementary School and graduated from St Edmonds High School in 1970, where she excelled academically and won several scholastic achievement awards. She might have been proudest of her Betty Crocker Homemaker award -- the skills she honed in winning that prize remained with her for life, as those who have eaten her her famous frozen yogurt Cool Whip dessert pie or tossed frozen pea tortellini pasta salad can attest!
After high school, she attended the University of Iowa. She graduated from Iowa in 1973 with a B.S. degree, and then moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan. Carol took a job with the U.S. Department of the Interior as a research fisheries biologist. She received several commendations for her work, and her peers selected her for the James W. Moffett award for an article she co-authored on the effects of contaminants on lake trout. It was there she met her future husband, Thomas A. ("Tom") Edsall. They dated for a few years, married in 1978 and welcomed their son, Paul, the following summer. Carol enjoyed being a mother and found great joy in watching Paul grow up. She was proud of his academic, artistic, and athletic successes, and even after he finished college, she liked to speak of his work and travel.
Carol enjoyed cross-country skiing and fly fishing with her husband. She and Tom owned a cabin in northern Michigan with a few other families, and they spent a lot of time there during Paul’s childhood. Summers were spent visiting national parks and fishing or at the beach with family. Carol liked to read and could always be counted upon to join a competitive board game or a game of bridge -- win or lose, she would play with equanimity and always come back for more. She had a life-long sweet tooth, but also loved good food generally: she loved to try new dishes and enjoyed finding new restaurants to frequent. She was a diehard Iowa Hawkeyes fan and liked watching most sports. She stayed abreast of current affairs and politics, supported environmental and other progressive causes, and gave generously to a number of non-profit organizations.
Carol joined her husband in retirement in 2002. They continued to travel to both coasts to visit family, and they usually made a trip to Florida for the sunshine and the fishing in the late winter. Carol also took a few trips on her own with a college-affiliated tour group to the UK and other countries in Europe. At home, she became a regular in several local bridge groups, enjoying her status as the youngest player, and took up solitary puzzles (crossword, Sudoku and others) with a passion. She enjoyed her home and neighbors and watching the seasons change, and she was overjoyed to see her son Paul marry his long-time love Vivi Nguyen in 2017. While she and Tom were unable to attend the wedding in England, they celebrated with Paul and Vivi at the wedding reception held in Ann Arbor some months later.
Carol's husband of 39 years, Tom, died in 2018. He had been ill for several years preceding his death and his illness and passing took its toll on her. After his death, her own health continued to decline over several months until she finally entered hospice care and passed away peacefully and comfortably on April 6th. Carol was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her brother, Michael. She is survived by her son and his wife, three brothers (Chris, Matthew, and Peter), four step-children from Tom’s first marriage (Michael, Kathleen, Sheila, and Patrick), their spouses (Lorri, Alice, and Lisa) and their children (Bailey, Emery, Kate, Jackson, Ruby, Riley, Maxine, Martin, Gigi, Marcus, and Malijah). At her request, Carol was cremated without ceremony; a memorial celebration will be planned for a later date. Contributions in Carol's memory may be made to The Nature Conservancy.
To plant a memorial tree in honor of Carol Ann Edsall (Cotant), please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.