Miriam Wilde Poole

Miriam Wilde Poole, age 88 of Fort Collins, CO passed away peacefully on March 15, 2025, at Pathways Hospice after a month-long illness. She was born on August 31, 1936, in the New York City borough of Manhattan to Douglas and Dorothy Browne and grew up in Greenwich Village.

Miriam was the second of four children and loved to share stories of her childhood and summers spent with her brothers at the family’s Old Stone House in upstate New York. Although baptized in the Episcopal church, she was raised as a Quaker, converted to Catholicism in marriage and later discovered the United Church of Christ. She graduated in 1956 from Friends Seminary in Manhattan. Descriptive words under her yearbook photo included “playing tag among the tombstones…spine-tingling comps…. zookeeper…. terrifying sense of humor…catchall for leftovers…. Wilde brothers…Academy of Dramatic Arts”. Her school years were enhanced by her mother's celebrity guests and exotic pets she boarded. Her wit and writing skills may have come from her mother’s first cousin, the famed Irish writer, Oscar Wilde.

Miriam’s greatest joy in life was family. She was always late for family get togethers, but was so happy when she would finally arrive, usually bearing little gifts or trinkets of remembrance she would find around the house. She will always be remembered as a giving person. Miriam loved all creatures great and small, often adopting older animals that were passed over by others.

Miriam was known for her keen and often dark sense of humor. Her daughter Carol describes her as Erma Bombeck meets Edgar Allan Poe. Oldest son Fritz recalled being in a busy department store with Mom yelling in a loud voice “Fritz… take that out of your pocket” falsely implying to those around him that he was shoplifting. Her son Peter remembers Mom and her creative ways of persuasion “If I left a green bean on my dinner plate, she would go on and on about how sad that green bean would be if it couldn’t join it’s little green bean friends”. Before you ask, the answer is yes. It worked on all of us.

A favorite story about Miriam and her sense of humor. She had some people over for dinner. When the meal was through, she collected the plates, set them on the floor for the dogs to lick off then put them away in the cabinet. All to see the reaction of her guests, who were rightfully horrified. Exactly what she hoped for. The prank brought both laughter and relief.

Miriams youngest son Matthew has cerebral palsy and was the light of her life. She cared for him in a way no one else could. Matt probably has some stories in his head he would love to share. For now, they will remain their little secrets.

Miriam was married to James K. Poole, whom she met as a blind date at an Army-Navy game in Philadelphia. She enjoyed traveling, and during her years in Colorado visited both coasts to keep in touch with family members. Miriam and Jim made numerous trips to the Rocky Mountains to deliver Matthew to special summer camps. Other trips involved reunions at the Naval Academy and for ships on which Jim had served.

Miriam was a romantic and an artist at heart. Her thoughts were often whimsical, and she had a sense of creative fun which delighted others. Miriam enjoyed writing and completed numerous extension courses on a variety of topics. The Civil War era was of particular interest to her. She was a co-founder of an informal Civil War Round Table which has lasted for over twenty years. She was a life-long learner. Miriam took many classes at the Fort Collins Senior Center and enjoyed discussions with her Retired Officers Wives group. She was a member of the Plymouth Congregation Church and enjoyed Sunday services with Jim and Matt, followed by pancakes at Perkins, IHOP or home. Miriam always found joy in life’s simple pleasures.

Miriam was the epitome of the word survivor. Scarlet fever, polio, ruptured appendix, breast cancer, heart valve replacement, trigeminal neuralgia, degenerative spine and deafness all tried to slow her down. She just wouldn’t have it. She wouldn’t allow her last battle to take her until she was ready, and now Jesus has her in his arms.

Miriam was preceded in death by parents Douglas and Dorothy Browne and brothers Malcolm Wilde Browne, Timothy Clews Browne and Christopher Wilde Browne.

Miriam is survived by her husband James, their son Matthew, stepson James K Poole Jr, stepdaughter Heather Poole (Larry Weatherford) former husband Frederick Groepler, son Fritz Groepler (Marietta) daughter Carol Jones (Jimmy) son Peter Groepler (Christiane) 8 Grandchildren and 5 Great Grandchildren. And of course, her dog Copper and her kitty Marcie.

Arrangements are pending. Donations to the Animal Friends Alliance in Fort Collins in honor of Miriam Poole are welcome.

“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven”