Jacqueline Colbert

1929 - 2017

Jacqueline Colbert
September 2, 1929 - January 16, 2017
Resident of Pacific Grove, CA
Jacqueline Colbert, of Pacific Grove CA, passed away on January 16th 2017. She was 87 years old. Preceded in death by her husband, Robert L. Colbert, and her two sons, Robert J. and William D. Colbert. She is survived by son Richard Colbert (Deborah), daughter April McGuire (Calvin), and Daughter-in-law Cynthia Colbert (Robert J), 10 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She will be missed.
Born on September 2nd 1929, Jacque was a 4th generation Californian. She lived in Taft as a child and Vallejo in her high school years. She married Bob Colbert in 1947 and they settled in Santa Cruz, CA. They soon started a family, first Robert J and then William. While Bob hitchhiked from Santa Cruz to San Jose State College, Jacque kept house and cared for the boys. Bob was accepted to Stanford University Law School in 1950. The family moved to Palo Alto where third son Richard was born. Bob graduated from Stanford in 1953 and the family moved to San Jose where they settled in the Willow Glen area. Here their last child, April, was born.
Jacque always worked outside of the home. She helped Bob set up his law office in downtown San Jose and worked for him while the children were in school. In 1961, she was working as a Medical Assistant in a medical group when one of the doctors moved out on his own. Jacque helped him set up his office and stayed on as his Office Manager. She remained there until 1974.
In 1974 she became a widow, with her children out of the house, she permanently relocated to the Monterey Bay Area. She held a couple of different jobs, but she was not satisfied doing the same thing she had done for years. When Jacque was asked to help open and manage the Carmel Highlands Sculpture Galley, she was happy to accept. One day, Lucille Packard came into the Gallery to buy a couple of sculptures for a new aquarium being built on Cannery Row. Her encounter with Mrs. Packard made an impression on Jacque and in 1984 when the Monterey Bay Aquarium opened she was one of the first volunteers. It wasn't long before she was made a paid employee. Even after she retired from full time employment, she continued to volunteer at the Aquarium every week. Jacque would go on to make a long lasting impression at the Aquarium, be it greeting guests or cleaning the penguin habitat – she loved being a part of the Aquarium family.
Jacque was an avid painter, regularly donating paintings for auction at the Monterey Museum of Art and the Bach Festival. She was happiest spending time with her family, delighting in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Monterey Bay Aquarium on Friday, March 10, 2017 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations to go to: Monterey Bay Aquarium Attn: Development, 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA, 93940
Note on check: In memory of "Jacque Colbert" "Please notify family of donation".
Condolences may be written to the family at
www.bermudezfamilyfunerals.com


View the online memorial for Jacqueline Colbert