I was one of the people who was saved by Virtually Wired, the first internet cafe in North America. It provided me a place to surf the internet, a place to teach computer skills for some pocket money, and provided that home away from home everyone needs.
Coralee had a feeling that all computers would be used to track purchases and opinions of anyone owning a computer. By providing anonymous internet to the under-employed, and by lobbying against serial numbered computers, she did her part in keeping the net a place of free speech and research.
During those years, she was often taken advantage of by people with a desire for power or prestige, and often had to deal with drama and politics to stay involved with her own personal project. Perhaps some things we do should be friendly dictatorships, rather than democracies run by the volunteers.
Technology is a male centred world. While she was often on television and news, the editors frequently edited out her important message, but kept her face and slender figure in the camera.
Coralee genuinely cared for the unemployed, the under-employed, the student doing well, the student having trouble (and thinking about cheating). She really was a computer professional for social responsibility.
Coralee (Lee) Lindemuth Whitcomb, 61, of Wellfleet, Massachusetts died peacefully at her beloved Wellfleet home on 2011 December 11.
A lifelong summer resident of Wellfleet, she had become a permanent resident in October of 2009 following her retirement from Bentley University in Waltham. At Bentley for more than twenty-five years as a member of the Computer Information Systems department, she both taught undergraduate computer science courses and served as Academic Integrity Coordinator for the University.
As a long time director and president of Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility, an international non-profit organization, she was actively engaged in the global debate concerning issues of internet privacy and freedom of access, among others.
In the 1990s, she directed the Boston center Virtually Wired, which provided internet access to the urban homeless population of the city, a cause she championed with determination and passion.
A graduate of Ohio University and Bentley University, she was a 1968 graduate of Chagrin Falls High School in Chagrin Falls, Ohio and maintained close connections with a large group of dear friends from those years, returning every spring for Blossom Time. In Wellfleet, she quickly became an active member of the community, volunteering at both Preservation Hall and the Wellfleet Public Library and building an ever-broadening circle of loving friends. Colorful and creative, Lee radiated energy and enthusiasm in everything she did and with everyone she loved. Her family, her students, her friends, her garden and her home all reflect the love and vitality she brought to every facet of her life. She will be remembered by all for her extraordinary generosity of spirit and dynamic presence.
She is survived by her son Tucker and his sister Sarah, her mother, Carolyn Mills Lindemuth, her sister Katherine Lindemuth and her niece and nephew Morgan Costanzo (Mike) and Benjamin Lindemuth-McRobie. A memorial gathering and celebration of her life will be held at 11 am on Thursday, 2011 December 29 at Wellfleet Preservation Hall, Main Street, Wellfleet, Massachusetts. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that those wishing to remember Lee with a gift send a contribution to Wellfleet Preservation Hall, Attn: Coralee Whitcomb Memorial, 335 Main Street, PO Box 3024, Wellfleet, MA, 02667.
Wednesday (a few days ago) we moved back into our apartment. All of the stuff came from here! But I had to discard about one third of it because it wouldn't all fit back inside. We are still seriously congested. But at least for now, the problem has resolved.
Too bad it is so cold out. I can hear little animals either inside or outside my place. That's not good. The construction makes it possible for them to come and go. Sigh.
This was Virtually Wired, now ABCD, a 2-year university in Boston.