.jpg)
Colleen Marie (Price) Vanderlip
9/18/2023
Those who knew and loved Colleen Marie (Price) Vanderlip would agree that the world lost an incredible person on Monday, September 18, 2023. She died at the age of 40 in Orlando, Florida while battling inflammatory breast cancer.
Colleen was born on January 31, 1983 in Riverhead, New York to Paul and Eileen (Mahon) Price. Colleen spent her childhood and school age years in Hampton Bays, New York where she excelled in both academics and athletics. In the summer and off season, the family enjoyed traveling and spending time at Paradox Lake. Some of her favorite memories about childhood include the cross-country road trip sharing a backseat with Timothy “Tim” Price (brother) and Erin (Price) Wolff (sister) as well as time spent with numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins during the holidays.
She eventually took her stellar softball skills to Siena College in Loudonville, New York. Colleen was a catcher on the D-1 team for all four years while earning a Bachelor of Science in Marketing/Management before beginning her professional career working for the New York Islanders in sales and marketing. After realizing that she hated cold calling for ticket sales, she moved to continue her education at the University of San Fransisco in California. Colleen earned a Master in Sport Management. While on the west coast she spent time training for a half marathon and single handedly putting Redbox and Netflix's DVD mail exchange programs out of business. She had a love for movies even if she would fast forward through parts she thought were not important or uninteresting.
In her career, Colleen positively impacted two college campuses, countless student employees and embraced her professional staff and colleagues. She spent five years at the University of Texas Pan American in Edinburg, Texas. Her time culminated as the Associate Director of Wellness and Recreational Sports. While in Texas, she also worked as a basketball and volleyball official in the Rio Grande Valley. Finally, she moved to Sanford to begin her career at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. At Stetson, she eventually became the longest standing director in Campus Life and Student Success Division as the Director of Wellness and Recreation since 2013. Colleen also had the opportunity to assist as the Interim Title IX Coordinator and become an adjunct faculty member for the College of Arts and Sciences (Health Sciences) and School of Business Administration (Sport Business). She continued her passion for sports and fitness by officiating volleyball, becoming a personal trainer, advising two club sports teams, and participating on the staff intramural team in multiple sports. Colleen will always be the MVP for the co-ed basketball Staff Infection team.
Colleen met Jamie Leigh Vanderlip during a trivia night at the Abbey Bar in DeLand. The conversation, adventure, and ongoing laughter continued throughout all their years together. After dating, traveling and critiquing restaurants across the US and Dominican Republic they married in July 2016 surrounded by immediate family. Their reception was the hottest, both figuratively and literally, outdoor Florida wedding with family and friends. They were overjoyed that their biggest dream of having a family became a reality in 2018, 2020, and 2021 with the births of Gilligan Price Vanderlip, Ambrose York Vanderlip, and Roark Cullinan Vanderlip.
Colleen and Jamie spent the last five years planning exciting adventures for the family and soaking up all of the quality time possible. They loved being outdoors, but their favorite indoor activity was going to see Broadway shows with Jamie’s parents, Ron and Jacalyn (Johnson) Vanderlip. They continued their quest to find the best meal ever in Central Florida. Colleen shared before her death that the life she shared with Jamie and the boys was her greatest accomplishment and the thing that gave her the most joy.
Her witty repartee and her perfect smile, as a stranger in Key West told us, were some of her best qualities. Colleen was a natural athlete and had a love of competition. Most would not know that it was never about winning for Colleen, although she won a lot, but rather the idea that competition made herself and others better. She had big dreams and was not going to let a poor plan get in the way of her accomplishing something. That is why she was the ultimate planner and loved a good plan! Above all else the love Colleen had for her family, friends and community is unmatched.
She is survived by her wife, three children, parents, in-laws, siblings with their spouses, nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was hopeful that many of these family and friends would gather to share stories and help celebrate her life on October 7 and 8, 2023 in DeLand, Florida and soon in Hampton Bays, New York. Current information about services can be found at: https://www.myfarewelling.com/memorial/colleen-vanderlip
In lieu of flowers, a donation or gift may be made to:
The Vanderlip Family (https://www.gofundme.com/f/colleen-vanderlips-fight-against-breast-cancer);
or
Stetson University in support of Wellness and Recreation using the Online Giving Form (select “Other” and type “Wellness and Recreation”) or by mail to 421 N. Woodland Blvd. | Unit 8286 DeLand, Florida 32723