Camille Alexandra Ohlson

Camille was born at Lennox Hill Hospital in New York City to Carolyn Smith and Albert D'Annibale. Following Carolyn and Albert's divorce, Carolyn and Camille moved to Tacoma, Washington, Carolyn's hometown. Carolyn reconnected with and married her High School sweetheart, Richard W. Ohlson. Richard adored Camille and soon adopted her as his own daughter.

Camille grew up in the North End of Tacoma and was soon joined by sister Alexandra and brother Wesley. The family eventually moved to Lakewood where Camille attended Charles Wright Academy and was an active tennis player, basketball player and a downhill ski racer for the CMAC Club at Crystal Mountain.

On December 27, 1973, at the age of 15 Camille was the frontrunner during a downhill race at Crystal Mountain when she got into a horrific crash on the course. As a result of the accident, she suffered a severe spinal injury causing her to be paralyzed. She was flown off the mountain by Fort Lewis helicopter pilots to Tacoma General Hospital. After her initial recovery, Camille moved to the University of Washington Medical Center's Department of Rehabilitation Medicine for longer term care and treatment.

While using an electric wheelchair Camille graduated from Wilson High School in Tacoma and then began studies at the University of Washington where she met the love of her life, Rick Smith.

In 1979, tiring of the rain of Seattle, Camille and Rick moved to the warmth and sunshine of San Diego. Camille graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Telecommunications and Film and a minor in Broadcast Journalism. After college she began work in election campaigns, then with a civil engineering firm, and eventually a public jobs training program. She finished her work career as a contractor to the Centre City Development Corp. during the construction of PETCO Park and redevelopment efforts in downtown San Diego.

After her retirement, Camille became an Information Volunteer for the San Diego Zoo and was an active participant during many San Diego science and technology events. She enjoyed trips to Santa Barbara to visit Rick's family and to Palm Desert where her Ohlson family often gathered. She visited museums wherever she went, and had a tremendous thirst for knowledge. But her favorite thing to do in San Diego was to stroll the sidewalks along La Jolla Cove. She made friends with many of the shopkeepers she visited over the years.

Once, after Camille left a dinner with friends in Coronado, someone with knowledge of US skiing came up to her dining companions and asked, "Was that Camille Ohlson? She would have been good."

Camille lived her life with such grace and compassion for others that you couldn't help but feel lucky to be around her. She brought joy to everyone who knew her. And boy, was she always impeccably dressed! She had an incredible sense of style and wore Ralph Lauren's Collection like no other.

Sadly, on December 19 Camille suffered a heart event and passed away on the afternoon of December 20. It was nearly 49 years after her paralyzing ski accident.

Camille is predeceased by her parents, Richard and Carolyn Ohlson. She is survived by her companion and best friend of 44 years, Rick Smith, sister Alexandra Page (Tom) of Portland, bother Wesley Ohlson (Kim) of Tacoma, Doug Smith (Angela) of Culver City, CA, Judy Milam (Steve) of Goleta, CA and her New York family of Stefan, Christopher, and Juliet D'Annibale, as well as numerous Aunts, Cousins, Nieces, and Nephews.

The family intends to establish a gift fund in memory of Camille at University of Washington Medicine to support spinal cord injury research. If you would like to contribute to the fund, please send checks payable to 'UW Foundation' to UW Gift Processing, Box 358045, Seattle, WA, 98195-8045. Please note that the gift is 'For the Camille Ohlson Fund' in the check memo or accompanying correspondence.

A Celebration of Life for Camille will be held at the Tacoma Country and Golf Club on May 20, 2023.