Violet Coffin

STRAFFORD—Violet Bodman Coffin, 87, died March 31, 2008 at her home.

She was born in New York City December 2, 1920, to Herbert Bodman and Theodora Dunham Bodman. She graduated from Smith College in 1942, summa cum laude, with a degree in history. She went on to wartime work with the Office for Strategic Services in Washington and London, England and from the OSS to Time magazine in Cairo, Egypt and Life magazine in New York City.

In 1950, she married Edmund (Ned) Coffin, an international businessman and entrepreneur. They raised five children, moving from Washington D.C. to Toledo, Ohio; Long Island, N.Y.; and, in 1974, to Strafford.

She loved politics, and in every place she lived, she poured her energy into organization and advocacy. In 1954, in Ohio, she helped to run Thomas Ludlow Ashley’s campaign for congress. In 1964, she co-chaired Robert Kennedy’s senatorial campaign on Long Island. In Vermont, she chaired, first, the Democratic town committee, next the county committee, and then the state party. She led Vermont’s delegation to the Democratic convention in Atlanta in 1988. Four years later, she led the delegation to the convention in New York City, when Bill Clinton was nominated. In 2005, she won the David W. Curtis Leadership award from the Vermont Democratic party.

She had the same passion for the arts. She worked with the Long Island Symphony Orchestra, the Vermont Council of the Humanities, and the Vermont Arts Council. Her greatest pleasure came with discovering new artists and artisans.

She loved the land, working in her garden, making cider, and riding. She organized camping trips on horseback and trained for endurance rides. She passed on her talent to her children. Her son, Tad, won a gold medal at the 1976 Olympics.

Survivors include her husband, Ned Coffin; her five children: Judy, Doug, Tad, Cris, and Andy Coffin; and 13 grandchildren.

Services will be held Saturday, April 5 at 1 p.m., at the United Church of Strafford. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Barrett Hall, South Strafford, Vt. 05070.

The Boradway & Cilley Funeral Home of Chelsea is in charge of the arrangements.

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