Camila ColaoCam, as she was known to her friends, died at her home early Monday morning, November 12th, after a short illness. She was born in Baracoa, Cuba in 1929 to William Norman McRoberts and Marta Gallano. She lived a year in Jamaica with her parents and at the age of 5 moved to Baltimore, Maryland, where she was raised by her devoted Aunt Marg.

She attended the Calvert School and Friends School in Baltimore and had many fond memories of visits to relatives in California and New York. She entered the Freshman class at Wheaton College in Norton, MA just after turning 17, graduating Cum Laude and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. A semester of her Junior year spent in Norway was a memorable experience for her.

After travelling in Europe she went to New York City and studied painting at the Art Student's League, where she met her future husband, Rudy Colao. Her commissions as a portrait painter included the writer Fanny Hurst (author of Back Street and other novels), the psychologist Theodor Reik (one of Freud's first students) and the conductor Guido Cantelli (a protege of Toscanini). In addition to painting she played violin with a trio of friends and enjoyed the ballet and her circle of friends in the city.

In the late 50s she retired from painting to raise her children and in 1971 moved with her family to the Upper Valley, dividing time between a summer home in Canaan and Hanover, NH.

She practiced and taught yoga and ballet classes in Canaan for several years. For three years in the early 1980s she directed the Children's House of Norwich, a Montessori pre-school. Later she became a licensed massage therapist. Growing a variety of plants in her greenhouse, particularly orchids and citrus, was a favorite pastime. Travelling to New Zealand twice and several times to India, she spent most of her time at her home in Canaan. In recent years she also enjoyed tending her ex-husband Rudy's flower garden in Rockport, MA. She was an avid reader, followed the news with keen interest and cared deeply about the environment, placing her land under a conservation easement. Blessed with a delightful personality she formed many lasting friendships throughout her lifetime. Most recently time spent with her grandchildren and the rest of her family was very important to her.

She was predeceased by her daughter Meg in 2000. She is survived by her ex-husband (and good friend) Rudy Colao of Rockport, MA; her son Will of Canaan, NH; her daughter Marta, son-in-law Jeff Pentland and her three grandchildren: Lilian, Henry and Camila Pentland of Hartland, VT.

There will be a private burial in Canaan, NH. In lieu of flowers any contributions may be sent to the NRDC, the Humane Society or the charity of your choice.