Alice Coulombe

February 25, 1932 - September 12, 2024 Alice Helen Steere Coulombe passed away at her home in Pasadena, California at the age of 92. Born in 1932 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Alice earned her B.A. in Humanities and M.A. in Education from Stanford University, where she met her husband Joe Coulombe. Alice ardently Joe, the founder of Trader Joe's, as his vision for a new kind of grocery store evolved into the beloved brand.
Alice was known for her generosity and passion for the arts and Southern California is the beneficiary of her particular passion for opera. She co-founded Metropolitan Associates, which raised funds to support music education in schools. For many years, she co-chaired the Western Division of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. During the Olympic Arts Festival in 1984, she was a key organizer for the visit of the Royal Opera. The success of this visit garnered support for Alice's vision of a LA-based Opera Company. Many have commented that, without her drive, LA Opera would not have come into being. As the LA Opera was being established, Alice quickly recognized the need for a support group and founded the LA Opera League with her friends Carol Henry and Lorraine Saunders. To this day, the Opera League retains Alice's welcoming spirit, hosting cast dinners, musicales, and supporting artists. Alice chaired several committees as a member of the board of LA Opera, and became a Life Trustee in 2003. She was also a Director of the Colburn School where supporting emerging musicians brought her tremendous joy in her final years.
Alice was preceded in death by her husband, Joe, who passed away in 2020. They are survived by three children and six grandchildren.