Christine Nicoll Alexander

Christine Nicoll Alexander, 66, New Haven Connecticut Chris was the daughter of William (Duke) S. Nicoll and Jane W. Nicoll. She was born December 13, 1944 and passed away June 26, 2011 in New Haven Connecticut of metastatic breast cancer. Chris was an amazing woman, wife, mother, sister and friend to all who knew her. She grew up in Colorado Springs and attended Cheyenne Mountain High School. She attended Duke University where she met the love of her life, Bruce D. Alexander. They married in 1968 and become involved in VISTA, the domestic partner of the Peace Corps. She helped students in the program obtain their graduate equivalency diplomas. Chris and Bruce raised their sons in Columbia, Maryland. During that time, Chris also earned her R.N. degree and worked in pediatric asthma research. In 1998, the family moved to New Haven, CT where Bruce assumed the role of vice president for New Haven and state affairs at Yale University. Because of her love for literacy, Chris started a book bank where she gathered donations from friends and made books available for free to all who wanted them. The program grew. Soon the book bank began to offer tutoring. Chris became the unpaid director and founder of New Haven Reads. The tutoring program which began with nine youth has grown to one where 450 students, in kindergarten through 12th grade, are tutored one-on-one weekly by 350 volunteers at three sites in New Haven. The program has also distributed more than 725,000 free books since 2004. Because of her work, Chris was one of two recipients of the national United Way of America Volunteer of the Year Award in 2008, and won the youth advocate award from Youth Continuum. She and her husband received the Greater New Haven United Way DeToqueville Award in 2008 for their contributions to the community. Chris leaves behind her husband Bruce; her sons Matthew and wife Laura of California; Seth and wife Christina of Massachusetts; four wonderful grandchildren: Ben, Nolan, Natalie and Hannah; sister Justine and husband Richard of Washington. She was predeceased by her brother Phillip and her parents. A community memorial service will take place in New Haven on Saturday, September 3, 2011. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation of books be made to New Haven Reads 45 Bristol St. New Haven, CT 06511 www.newhavenreads.org .