Another of the greatest generation has passed on July 20, 2026. Doris Lee (Gramlich) Colgan enjoyed over 100 rewarding years living a full life until her passing.
Doris was born in 1926 in Staten Island, NY, Growing up enduring the Depression and World War II, she began working late in her teens in New York City where Doris became employed by both Cunard White Star Ltd. and Sylvania Electric as an executive secretary. In the evenings she loved to go skating on top of the old Madison Square Garden as well as at Rockefeller Center, then the trek back late at night on the Staten Island Ferry and local bus to her home.
After marrying her husband naval veteran George Colgan after the War, they relocated to Morristown, NJ, and thereafter to the next town over Whippany, NJ, where George worked as a chemist and in the paper industry as they raised their two children, Sandra and Scott. Eventually, Doris went back to full-time employment and remained as an Administrator at a lovely upscale assisted living facility in Whippany while traveling back and forth to Rutland, Vt, where George had become the President of an International Company.
Doris loved her gardening, bicycling, golfing, skating, swimming, and taking her kids daily to the local town pool and on occasion to the Jersey shore. She mostly, though, liked ice cream. Doris and George retired to Cape Cod in 1996 after so many memorable vacations at Depot Pond in Eastham when their kids were young, along with Doris and George’s lifelong childhood friends from Staten Island, the Johnson family. With her husband traveling often in his successful business career, Doris truly became the matriarch of the family using her strong independent streak to always guide the family. While on Cape Cod, Doris remained an active member in the Dennis-Yarmouth Women’s Club and enjoyed outings with her Antiquers group.
The family will always treasure the good fortune of having Doris to love and enjoy time with for over 100 wonderful years and she will be forever missed but always loved.
She is survived by her children, Sandra Schmedes of Ridgeland, SC and son Scott Colgan and his wife Teri-Lynn of South Yarmouth, MA; her grandchildren William Schemes III and his wife Christina and their daughter Summer, all of Ridgland, SC; as well as grandchildren Samantha Colgan of Sarasota, Fl and Cape Cod and Benjamin Colgan of South Yarmouth, MA.
Our heartfelt thanks to the wonderful professionals at Thirwood Place in South Yarmouth where Doris spent her last three years of happiness and fulfillment, as well as the skilled healthcare provided by Maplewood at Mayflower Place.
A private service will be held at the National Cemetery in Bourne where Doris will be reunited with her husband George who predeceased her in 2009. For Doris, please treasure every moment in life while always showing undivided support to loved ones.

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