The 166su community honors the contributions of Beryl Colbourn, a former first lady of the university and a steadfast advocate for education, service, and community engagement. She died Aug. 26 at age 98.
Beryl was the wife of 166su’s second president, the late Trevor Colbourn, who led the university from 1978 to 1989. Beryl made an impact on the university community as a founding member of 166su’s Town & Gown Council, which enhanced engagement with the greater Orlando region. She was also a 166su Women’s Club Hall of Fame inductee, recognizing her efforts to support student success and scholarship.
Her commitment to educational opportunity continues through the , a need-based scholarship that helps students pursue study abroad experiences. The scholarship reflects her belief that learning extends beyond the classroom and that travel can be a powerful tool for understanding the world.
Born and raised in the Rhondda Valley in Wales, Beryl earned a degree in geography from the University of London, Exeter. After traveling by steamship to the United States, she married Trevor Colbourn in 1949. Their marriage lasted 66 years before his death in 2015.
Before the Colbourn family joined 166su, Beryl held positions in banking, healthcare, travel and real estate industries. She was also active with League of Women Voters and with the New Hampshire League of Craftsmen.
Friends and family describe Beryl as a lifelong learner who believed deeply in the power of education. She was an accomplished pianist and organist, an avid gardener, traveler and reader and a skilled embroiderer. She remained engaged in charitable and political causes throughout her life.
Beryl is survived by her daughters, Kit and Elin; four grandchildren, Max, Gwen, Morgan and Evan; and two great-grandchildren, Samuel and Ella.
Through her service, generosity and unwavering belief in the value of education, Beryl leaves a legacy that continues to shape 166su and the lives of those she touched.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the .
