VIRGINIA BEACH – Carole Lee Gutterman, born on October 2, 1943, passed away on March 18 in Virginia Beach. She was 80 years old.
Carole was born and raised in Miami Beach, Florida, and graduated from Miami Beach High School in 1961. She moved with her family to Virginia Beach in 1976, where she earned her BA in Fine Arts from Virginia Wesleyan University and earned her Master’s in Education in Fine Arts from ODU in 1994. She spent 19 and a half years as an art teacher, mostly at Kempsville High School, where her passion for art and teaching inspired countless students over her tenure, many of whom she kept in touch with over the years.
Later in her life, she returned to Florida, dedicating her passion for all things art at The Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, writing and developing art-education curriculum, before finally retiring in 2014 and moving back to Virginia Beach. She spent a great deal of time later in her life working with multiple art organizations and serving on various boards, while continuing her own artistic pursuits as an artist herself. She also was an avid dog lover and rescued multiple dogs over her lifetime.
Carole is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Epstein Wolff and grandchildren Mason Lindsay Wolff and Ethan Riley Wolff of Virginia Beach, and her son, Oliver Epstein and wife Jonna, and grandchildren Evelyn Renee Epstein and Eli Julius Epstein, of Jacksonville, Florida. She is also survived by her two brothers, Robert Emery of Miami Beach, Florida, and Larry Lipsky, of St John, USVI.
Carole was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Evalyn Lipsky, and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. Donations in Carole’s name can be made to: ESRA (English Springer Rescue America), a 100% volunteer organization, or the Virginia Beach SPCA. The family plans to hold a Celebration of Life for Carole at a later date.