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Tribute provided by William (Chip) Reynolds:
Carol Welch (1944-2016)
A life lived full ended all too soon with the passing of Carol Welch (December 14, 1944 – March 17, 2016). Carol, in partnership with surviving husband Cal, approached map collecting as a grand adventure. Their annual trips to Miami, London, New York, and other collecting centers, were as much opportunities to explore the world and rendezvous with friends as to collect maps. Carol especially enjoyed learning about different cultures through trips to Japan, Europe and the Caribbean, which led to her serving as Community Ambassador to St. Croix.
Over many years, Carol and Cal carefully built a rich collection that consists of several hundred maps and atlases. Their collecting emphasis was European/North American interaction and exploration in the 16th and 17th centuries, and, due to their interest in Dutch culture, several versions of the Leo Belgicus.
Equally rich was life at home. Carol maintained active involvement in a broad range of civic and philanthropic endeavors in her birthplace of Schenectady, and Scotia, NY. Her constructive leadership enriched a range of community organizations from the First Reformed Church (where she was a life-long member), to the Boys and Girls Club, Union College, Schenectady-Nijkerk Exchange Program, Community Maternity Service, Junior League, Ellis Hospital Foundation, Catholic Charities, and other organizations.
Carol was quite an outdoorswoman, and enjoyed snow and water skiing, boating on the Mohawk River, raising champion German Shorthaired Pointers, star gazing, and following Union College hockey.
A graduate of Niskayuna High School, Carol went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in English from Hope College in Holland, MI. After earning an ABD in Education from State University of New York in Albany, Carol served a professional career as a Special Education Teacher in Schenectady, NY, culminating with retirement from the Zoller School.
Family was at the center of Carol’s life. In addition to her husband Cal, Carol is survived by her daughter Caroline and son Christopher (Erica). Extended surviving family includes cousins Christopher (Susan) Clark and Susan (Thomas) Gillum and their children. Carol was predeceased by her father, Robert Vincent Shepherd, mother Anne Clark Shepherd Wemple, and sister Susan Elizabeth Shepherd.
The Leo Belgicus, Carol’s favorite map, is symbolic of her life, rising up to meet the world courageously. Even in passing she made an impact, donating her body to the anatomical gifts program at Albany Medical College. She would appreciate memorial gifts to be made to Boys and Girls Clubs of Schenectady and the Ellis Hospital Foundation.
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