Carolina Frederika de Leeuw

Carolina Frederika de Leeuw was born on October 31, 1930 in Buffalo, NY and died on September 9, 2024 in Seattle at age 93. She was the second of four siblings (Shirrell, Johan (Fel) and Hendrik.) Her mother, Georgianna McWilliams, was from a well established Buffalo family—Vassar educated, a social worker, activist, and homemaker. Care’s father, Frederick J.G. (Fritz), was a Dutch born chemist who served in the Dutch Army in WWI. He worked at the Pasteur Institute in Paris before emigrating to the United States for a job in Buffalo where he met his future wife. Education was important to the family. Care enrolled at William Smith for a year, then transferred to Milwaukee Downer to study occupational therapy. She subsequently enrolled in the Women’s Medical Specialists Corp.

Care later worked in Texas where she met Frances Davison (Davie), her mentor, colleague and partner of 32 years. When Davie was transferred to Alabama in 1954, Care followed. Care completed her Masters in 1961 from Western Michigan University. Davie retired as a Major, and followed Care during her career, as she advanced to Colonel. Davie died in 1988. Over the decades, Care was stationed in Hawaii, Denver, San Antonio, Tacoma, and Walter Reed in D.C. Care never talked much about the accomplishments of her career. Colonel de Leeuw was awarded The Legion of Merit in 1979.

In 1977, Care help establish the American Society of Hand Therapists. She consulted, taught, presented and published articles before officially retiring in 1996.

Care’s love of turtles began as a child, she decorated walnut shells as turtles and sold them to her mother’s friends to make money. She carried her love of sea turtles into the ocean as an adult, helping numerous rescue groups.

Care had a real sense of adventure her entire life. Years before the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) began in 1966, Care took scuba diving classes from a Virginia fire company with gear she bought at Sears. She was an active scuba diver into her late 80’s.

She loved bicycling. As a young teen, Care was a camp counselor and had her younger brother escort her by bicycle for her summer job. Over the years she became a great bicycle mechanic and established the Superstitious Mountain Resort (SMR) bike lending program. Care rode on many biking adventures, well into her golden years.

She was also an avid kayaker, and helped organize trips with many of her SMR friends. Her involvement with RV-ing Women goes back to the early days, as member number 370 and she took great pride with being an active member for decades!

Care had a life long interest in birds. Her babysitter in 1935 helped instill that, and Care kept in touch with Sylvia for 80 years! The Western Bluebird project—making, maintaining and monitoring the nesting boxes on the military base in Tacoma—was something she really enjoyed, and excelled at.

Care was asked if she thought of herself as a gay woman or a lesbian. She declared, Lesbian, and knew as a young teen that she was. Her family loved her unconditionally, as well as many others. We miss her dearly. RIP and big hugs!

Care is survived by cousins, nieces, nephews and their families, plus many friends across the globe.

Donations in her memory can be made to The Nature Conservancy or the Wilderness Society.