Carole Ingeborg Lundgren Currey

Carole Currey, 87, died peacefully at her Santa Monica home on July 30, 2023, surrounded by family. She succumbed to non-smoker's lung cancer.

A native of Chicago, Illinois, Carole Ingeborg Lundgren was born on March 24, 1936, the daughter of Svea and David Lundgren, and grew up with her sister, Luelle Lundgren Peavey. She received her bachelor's degree in art and French from Northwestern University, studying at the Sorbonne, Paris for a year. She earned her master's in teaching English from Columbia University Teachers College. In 1959, she married Stanley Rusk Currey. The couple moved their three kids from New York to Santa Monica in 1971, and established their permanent home. Stan passed away in 2012 after 53 years of loving marriage.

Carole was devoted to life-long education and had an academic career, beginning as a teacher then as an education advocate. She taught high school French in New York and Santa Monica, current affairs and history to older adults, and high school diploma courses in Culver City. She held many school-affiliated titles over the years, including PTA president of Franklin Elementary School and president of the Santa Monica-Malibu Board of Education. Perhaps her most significant achievement was as an award-winning member of the Santa Monica College Board of Trustees for 27 years, and president of the board for two years. Her favorite election campaign slogan was "Carole Currey Cares." That said it all.

Carole was dedicated to many civic and community organizations as well. She was president of her local PEO branch (a philanthropic organization celebrating women's achievements and providing scholarships and grants), a board member of the Santa Monica History Museum, and an advisory board member of Family Service of Santa Monica. Carole also belonged to the National Women's Political Caucus and the League of Women Voters; she was an official admissions essay reader for UCLA's Writers' Program, and a docent at the Annenberg Community Beach House Marion Davies Estate.

Personally, Carole was an avid swimmer, a long-standing student of SMC's Emeritus Shakespeare class, and an active book club member throughout life. She enjoyed discussing literature, history and politics. She was a world traveler, savoring every opportunity to splice secondary knowledge with first-hand experience. Carole was artistic in both appreciation and pursuit, skilled in painting, stained-glass, sewing, knitting and silk screen printing. Her "lost wax" bronze sculpture won first prize at the Santa Monica Art Fair, the only art competition she ever entered.

Carole Currey thrived on being a vital part of her community and cherished her family, friends and neighbors. She leaves behind her three children, Jeff, Susan and Nancy, and her six grandchildren, Heather, Harper, Sawyer, Holden, Prudence and Kiara. Carole lived a full life, enjoyed excellent health until the end, and was grateful for every day.