Carolyn Shah, 76, of Elk Rapids passed away peacefully at her beloved Wandawood Resort on September 25, 2020 while surrounded by family. She lost her decade long battle with “Al” Zeimers (Alzheimer’s), which robbed her of her identity and lastly her life. Carolyn’s life accomplishments and legacy live on.
Carolyn, the daughter of Emily and Carlos Palmer, grew up in Ann Arbor. She graduated from Ann Arbor High School and subsequently earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English and a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning from the University of Michigan. It was at U of M where Carolyn met and married Navin Shah, the father of her children. Carolyn began her career at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), then worked at Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) and later began her own market analysis consulting business where she specialized in low income housing.
Carolyn was a warrior in life and in death. She was fearlessly determined to fight for what she believed in. She was a vocal advocate for women’s rights, racial and economic equality and the preservation of historic landmarks and natural resources.
In 1978, Carolyn spear headed a gift to the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy of 2000 feet of pristine Lake Michigan frontage that had been in the family for generations. Her mother was so grateful that the Wilcox-Palmer-Shah Preserve “became a reality, ensuring future generations of a natural resource which was ignored and exploited by the “past”, too often prostituted by the “present”, and could well have been denied to the “future”.
Upon her mother’s death in 1979, Carolyn took over Wandawood, the historic family resort, located on the shores of Elk Lake on land homesteaded by her great grandfather, Moses Fish Gates, in the mid-1800s. Wandawood continues to be a place where generations of families share the treasured land. Long time Wandawood resorter, Jean Hildreth, wrote in a letter, “I cannot imagine our lives without our yearly sojourns at Wandawood these past 30+ years… the zenith of each year, marked with family and friends in a place we sincerely love and have come to call home… there is no place else that can hold a candle to the soul and beauty of Wandawood. Thank you for sharing this magnificent piece of heaven!”
In 1983, Carolyn made Elk Rapids her permanent residence. She obtained her Michigan general contractor’s license and spent endless hours around the resort fixing cottages, maintaining the grounds and greeting her beloved resorters. Carolyn was also very active in the community. In the 1980’s she purchased and renovated two historic buildings: Odd Fellows Hall and Longfellow School. In 1988, soon after completing those endeavors, Carolyn was awarded “Business Person of the Year” from the Elk Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce and “Woman of the Year” from Elk Rapids Business and Professional Woman’s Club. Her family coined the term “super woman” when talking about Carolyn’s hardworking ethic. One of her friends remembers “her amazing industriousness. Is there anything she couldn’t build, remodel or fix? She could make things happen.” Another friend stated, “She was creative, strong, generous, intelligent and multi-skilled…. you couldn’t help but look up to her.”
Through all of Carolyn’s many undertakings she remained loyal to “her” Wandawood. In 1999, with the ever increasing traffic on Cairn Highway, which intersected the resort, it “was becoming apparent that the road was going to be the death of Wandawood”. She put her energy into the daunting task of saving Wandawood by re-aligning Cairn Highway. Bill Sholton, an employee of the Michigan Police Department at the time was quoted in the 2006 book, “How Moving a Road Saved a Resort in Northern Michigan”, “I want to compliment you (Carolyn) for your tenacity and your vision on this project. It took a unique combination of those things to get this accomplished”… It was thought by many that there was very little that could be done to eliminate the increasing hazard on the straight away. “Until… some crazy lady with a harebrained idea says, “Let’s move the road!” Her hard work and perseverance paid off. In 2000, Cairn Highway was re-routed.
Carolyn enjoyed spending time with her friends, many of whom commented how they valued their time with her - whether working, traveling or just having an insightful conversation. Carolyn also loved music and dancing. One of her favorite songs was “Tapestry” by Carol King. While listening to the song next to Carolyn during her final days, her family recognized the irony in the lyrics: “My life has been a tapestry of rich and royal hue. An everlasting vision of the ever-changing view. A wondrous woven magic in bits of blue and gold. A tapestry to feel and see; impossible to hold…”
Carolyn is survived by her daughters Chandra Shah (Mike Nye) of Denver, CO and Kamala Huron (Steve Huron) of Elk Rapids, Michigan; grandchildren Jeff, Lisa and Sonya Huron; great granddaughter Ava, her former husband, Navin and numerous cousins who considered Carolyn their ‘sister’. Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, her partner Rod Adkison, her brother David Palmer and sister-in-law Jean Lathrop.
Condolences can be expressed at: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/elk-rapids-mi/carolyn-shah-9378643
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in memory of Carolyn Shah to the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, the Alzheimer’s Association or Doctors Without Borders.
A celebration of life will be held next spring.
The family thanks the staff of Cherry Hill Haven, Eden and Heartland Hospice for the care and love they gave to Carolyn.
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