Born in Jamaica in the borough of Queens in New York City, Carolyn Ann Reiff entered this world in 1935 on her father’s birthdate of August 8. Eighty-seven years later, she departed this life on September 27, 2022 in Winter Park, Florida.
After graduation from high school, Carolyn went to work for J Walter Thompson as an advertising media buyer. A few winters of commuting to work was enough for Carolyn and she escaped to the much warmer climate of Miami, Florida. Three years later on August 29, 1958, she became a proud graduate of the University of Miami with a degree in Business Administration. Carolyn met Hugh Parker Todd when they were both members of the Miami Lutheran Chorus. On September 23, 1961, they were united in marriage and settled into married life in Miami. Carolyn went to work at the corporate headquarters of Burger King and remained there until 1966. Subsequent to leaving Burger King, Carolyn was a travel writer, allowing her to indulge her passion for travel for many years. After retiring, Carolyn and Hugh continued traveling at every opportunity, visiting Germany, the Panama Canal, Mexico City, and many other locales. A favorite form of travel was cruising and there were many cruises to the Caribbean, Hawaii, and various other ports of call.
After Hugh’s retirement from the Coral Gables Police Department in 1989, they moved to Port St. Lucie, Florida. In 2009, they moved to Maple Valley, Washington. After Hugh’s death in 2013, Carolyn remained in the Maple Valley area until 2015 when she returned to Florida, settling in the Orlando area.
Carolyn was predeceased by husband Hugh, parents Emil and Marie Emma Givis Reiff, grandparents Karl Andrew and Bertha Malzahn Reiff and William and Emilie Kroll Givis, and granddaughter Autumn Grace Todd.
Left to cherish memories of Carolyn are her children, son James and daughter-in-law Kathy, and daughter Allison Gillespie and son-in-law John. Grandchildren are Michael Gillespie and Jamie Todd, and great grandson Lukan Atlas Gillespie. Additional family include brother Karl A. Reiff and sister-in-law Carol and brother-in-law C. Daniel Todd and sister-in-law Rina. Several nephews and nieces also survive.
After a private service, burial will occur at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery.