Alice E Corcoran (Bee)

Alice E. Corcoran (née Bee), a longtime resident of Guilderland, passed away peacefully at Kingsway Arms Nursing Home in Schenectady on July 4, 2021 at the age of 101. Born on January 20, 1920 in Lebanon Springs, NY, Alice was the third of Charles and Helen Bee’s seven children; her family also lived in Howe’s Cave and on a farm in Homer, NY during her childhood. Early on Alice demonstrated an interest in reading and writing poetry, as well as drawing and painting. As a farm girl, she always had her own horse and her own cow, except during the time in high school that she accompanied her father as he spent a year in Santa Barbara, CA due to a health condition. She hoped to return to California some day.

Alice received her high school diploma from Homer Academy in 1937, subsequently graduating from Bucknell University in 1941 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, majoring in mathematics. She played guard on both her high school and college basketball teams. The US entered World War II shortly after Alice graduated from college. She was recruited to join a group performing mathematical calculations for the military at the Ballistics Research Lab at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Philadelphia, initially supporting ballistics research, but this eventually led to her working on the development of the first programmable, electronic, general-purpose digital computer, known as ENIAC. After the war ended, Alice made her way to Southern California, finding employment at North American Aviation and Northrop Aircraft, where she worked directly with engineers on advanced calculations and formulas in airplane design. She met her future husband, James Corcoran, an aeronautical engineer, at Northrop. They married in 1950. Once they started their family, which grew to three sons and a daughter, Alice stayed home to raise them. In 1968, Alice and the children moved back east, settling in Guilderland. She held a series of positions within the New York State Education Department for over twenty years before retiring in 1991.

Sports were a lifelong passion for Alice. After retirement she enjoyed tennis, bowling and golf, which she continued to play until hanging up the clubs at 97. She also loved to hike, joining an all-female hiking group called the Gnomes, whose travels ranged from local day hikes to longer trips to the American Southwest and even Europe.

Alice’s faith was important to her. She joined Lynnwood Reformed Church in 1970, and over the years was an active volunteer in many of its activities and developed close friendships with many members of the congregation. Alice lived near Lynnwood Elementary School and volunteered there for decades, reading to students and hosting Mrs. Zimmerman's class at her home over the years.

Alice was an accomplished artist, devoting her talents to charcoal drawing and watercolor and oil painting. She took advanced art courses at SUNY Albany and exhibited in juried shows and galleries in the area. Her lifelong interests in reading and writing poetry continued in retirement - she said her poems were based on her observations of nature. Alice’s fondness for nature also took the form of a love of gardening, which she enjoyed greatly. Paintings of her flowers became one of her specialties.

Another retirement activity of Alice’s was her “bear ministry.” She found a pattern for a knitted teddy bear, and made it her business to knit hundreds of them over the years for donation to children, often through emergency responders or shelters. She finished her last bear only a few weeks prior to her passing.

Alice had a relentlessly positive attitude, always finding the sliver lining in any cloud. She had no enemies, she was kind, patient and refused to speak ill of anyone. She had an amazing ability to put others needs before her own. She was devoted to her four children and supportive of their dreams. She took a special delight in her great-grandson Holden, even though she only met him once. Alice led a full life and touched the hearts of many people. She leaves behind an incredible legacy and will be greatly missed by so many.

Alice was predeceased by her brothers William, Robert, Edward, and David, and her sister Marion. She is survived by her sister Frances Carleton of Salem, VA; children Michael Corcoran (Dao) of Juneau, AK, Grace Thedinga of Guilderland, Brian Corcoran of Anchorage, AK, and James Corcoran of Las Vegas, NV; grandsons Blake Thedinga (Nicole) of Chimacum, WA, and Hans Thedinga of Anchorage; great-grandson Holden Thedinga of Chimacum, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Special thanks to Dr. Howard Terry for the many years he provided compassionate care to Alice.

Funeral Services for Alice will be Thursday July 15, 2021 at 2PM at Lynnwood Reformed Church Reformed Church 3714 Carman Road Guilderland. A Visitation will be from 1-2PM at the church prior to the service.

Interment will follow in Parkview Cemetery in Schenectady.

Contributions can be made in Alice’s memory to the Lynnwood Reformed Church 3714 Carman Road Schenectady, NY 12303.

Arrangements are by the Bond Funeral Home 1614 Guilderland Avenue Schenectady.