Remembering Corinne Dame
Long time Esplanade neighbor Corinne Dame died late in December 2023 at the age of almost 100. Her neighbors remember her fondly.
The Esplanade Condominium Board of Trustees join our fellow owners and residents in expressing our condolences to Corrine Dame’s family. As a long-standing member of our Trust, she was always a beloved neighbor and friend to many as reflected in the many warm tributes being bestowed.
The Esplanade Board of Trustees
My lasting mental image of Corinne is of both of us being in the gym early in the morning, pre-Covid. She would be exercising, smiling, and talking excitedly about her work, her travels to China, or the concerts on the Esplanade, and most of all she would be encouraging the rest of us to be energetic and adventuresome. “You are only 70,” she would say, “you have lots of time to do things.” I reflect that she led her life that way, and I consider it to be a model.
It was a privilege to have known her.
Janet Aserkoff
A few years ago, Corinne gave me a copy of her autobiography, aptly titled The Extraordinary Life of Corinne Dame. It is an extraordinary memoir, with autobiographical notes complied over several years, a chronicle of her extensive travels, and a selection of her poems. And she indeed had an extraordinary life, ranging from work in the Charlestown Navy Yard and the Waterdown Arsenal during WWII to event planning and travels to 40 countries. She was an inspiration to me, and to all of us.
Mary Jo Bane
The tributes to Corinne bear apt witness to this truly unique person. I was blessed with the good fortune of meeting Corinne in the gym shortly after I relocated “back home” in 2007 (I was born and raised on the North Shore) after over forty years in New York. Although I arrived here with much life experience, it was Corinne who showed me I still had much to learn. Her non-judgmental, empathetic, yet “no nonsense” advice in conjunction with the example she set by telling me her incredible life story remains a gift I shall treasure always. May her inspiring memory remain alive!
Susan Barron
Our ECG Arts group gathered a group in February of 2020 to see Flamenco dancers in a cafe setting. It was a frigid night but Corinne was game and rode with Bill and me to see a wonderful performance (what would be one of the last in person events before the pandemic shut down everything). That was notable about Corrine. She was always ready and willing to attend a music performance, our book club, ECG get-togethers and on and on…even with her hearing challenges…and always dressed to the nines. We read her book and marveled at her promotion of women in business and her positive attitude as she sat outside drinking in the last rays of sunshine.
Nancy Crowley
Sam and Corinne were neighbors of ours. They were both optimistic, caring, and always had a friendly word for everyone. After Sam died, Corinne continued to live a full life, exercising in the gym, attending the Esplanade get-togethers, traveling to China for a business she started, belonging to a book club, and always looking terrific! She was a role model for all of us and we will miss her sunny look on life.
Fred Davis and Jane Hilburt-Davis
I felt lucky to meet Corrine. She was a force of nature and goodness. Buzz and I first met Corrine when she requested via ListServe to go along with a neighbor attending Deb Putnoi’s art exhibition, Forgotten Alliances, at Boston City Hall in February 2023 and she came with us.
Mary Lee Dunn
I had the chance to know Corinne for just ten years, but she was someone who, as a fellow Esplanade resident, it was hard not to know.
Two things especially strike me about Corinne. The first is how ageless she was. When I first found out how old she was I assumed I had mis-heard. She had energy and a freshness about her that defied her chronological age. She was someone who seemed very much to live in the present moment, keeping up on the latest news and technology and international events.
The second was how curious she was about the world around her and about finding a way to get involved in the many things that interested her. To say she was a woman ahead of her time is an understatement. I suspect that curious spirit is what enabled her to create all that she did in an amazing, inspiring life.
My thoughts are with all who knew Corinne. She made a strong positive impact in everything she did. I feel incredibly fortunate that our paths crossed. She left an indelible legacy and will remain for me an inspiring example of how to contribute to one's community and to the world at large.
Lisa Frusztajer
I shared just a few special moments with Corinne, and wish there were many more. Her zest for life inspired me, even in brief encounters –spotting and chatting with her at a summer concert across the river, briefly catching up while she exercised in the pool. In book club I appreciated her memories about the hardships of World War II or challenges encountered as she grew her business. At times she revealed a fierce determination, combined with a sharp wit, that surely inspired many young women. Corinne, I’ll treasure your memory.
Janis Gogan
As many have written, we at the Esplanade will treasure Corinne's memory and will value her wide-ranging contributions to our community over all her years here. Her grace, personal style, and elegance as she moved through our midst were always apparent, as were her keen sense of exploration and adventure, her independence, her optimism, her love of family and friends, and, most of all, her competence and dedication in all that she undertook. Always generous with her time, advice, and experience, she participated fully and thoughtfully in our Esplanade book group, our Aging in Place Group, our Esplanade Residents Group, and all our events. In her late 80’s and 90’s she was still “eager to be of service” to our community and volunteered her expertise from her life-time profession of producing social events, meetings, and short trips for companies in whatever way would be helpful. Living at the Esplanade, she also took time to enjoy and comment on the beauties of nature and our surroundings as reflected in the photos shared on our Listserv, since, to her, “nature grants us wondrous sights.” For Corinne, “this is where I live, I love, and I play!” Corinne, thank you for being you, you are missed, and you will be remembered.
Jessie and Eric von Hippel
Corrine and her husband Sam, a veteran, were our neighbors on the 8th floor for 20 years, an amazing couple! She always had a smile on her face and was ready to engage in conversation.
Corinne was an accomplished and fierce woman who until very recently worked out in the gym, traveled to China solo on business and walked to the Hatch Shell, with lawn chair in hand, for Wednesday night orchestra concerts. During the pandemic I would see her walking to Brothers Market for her groceries, no matter what the weather conditions.
She was an inspiration to so many of us and we will miss her presence in our community. Sincere condolences.
Heather Hohenthal
I regret that I did not get to know Corinne better. She was always cheerful whenever we met her and the nurse by the elevator on our floor, while in a wheelchair. Once when Stella barked at the wheelchair, she was amused and let us go ahead of her in the elevator.
Aju John
I think of the time that Corinne told me, her eyes shining, about her days as a jitterbug star in the 1940s. I could picture an eighteen year old Corinne zipping through the steps to boogie woogie or swing music, even the athletic moves with her partner. She retained that lively, headlong spirit into her 90s.
Bob Kagan
I knew her from our work out days at the gym. She reminded me of my mother-in-law as a no nonsense career woman. Her husband was a literary agent and one of his clients was the poet Maya Angelou.
Don Putnoi
This is heartbreaking, and it’s unfortunate that most of us didn’t find out in time. Corinne seems like a fierce person, what a life she had lived in-spite of the limitations women had in those days. I hope she said her goodbyes and passed away peacefully. My sincere condolences to everyone who was close to her, and hope her memory brings joy and inspiration to all. J.K. Rowling wrote “To a well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.” I hope Corinne is off to a great adventure while we celebrate her legacy.
Dipti Sharma
Dear Family of Corinne Dame: We were looking forward to planning and celebrating Corinne’s 100th birthday at the Esplanade in June, 2024 . We will think of her happy spirit and wonderful life on June 14. Please accept my sincere condolences.
Elaine Shiang, MD