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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, January 5, 2002

Symphony activist Caroline Tollefson dead at 48

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

Caroline Tollefson, former chairwoman of the Miss Hawai'i scholarship pageant's scholarship committee and chairwoman of the Honolulu Symphony Ball, died Thursday in Honolulu. She was 48.

Caroline Tollefson was a key figure with the Miss Hawai'i scholarship committee and the Honolulu Symphony Ball.

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Tollefson also was the wife of James Tollefson, acting president and chief executive officer of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawai'i.

Caroline Tollefson was born April 21, 1953, in Coronado, Calif. She attended San Diego State University and the University of Hawai'i.

At 19, she got a job as a flight attendant with Pacific Southwest Airlines. Tollefson went on to serve as a manager of in-flight services and director of labor relations with the airlines.

After moving to Hawai'i, she joined United Airlines as manager of customer service.

Tollefson took part in many community activities in Hawai'i. In addition to her work with the Miss Hawai'i program and the Honolulu Symphony, Tollefson led the Hawaiian Humane Society's Tuxes and Tails fund-raiser.

Honolulu Symphony director Samuel Wong praised Tollefson for her hard work and dedication to the symphony. She is credited with helping to raise nearly $500,000 during the recent Symphony Ball. "She was a fine warrior for the symphony cause and a great pillar of our musical 'ohana," Wong said.

Tomorrow's symphony concert at the Blaisdell Concert Hall with guest conductor Anne Mason of the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra and guest pianist Jon Nakamatsu will be dedicated to Tollefson's memory.

Tollefson is survived by her husband, James; parents, James and Patricia Wilson; and nieces and nephews.

Services are pending.