Stella Cottrell

Stella was born in New York City, New York, on July 9, 1950, and was raised in Wading River, New York. Her family moved to Nassau, Bahamas in 1960, but after moving to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, in 1961, she always considered Florida to be her home. She matriculated to Florida State University in the fall of 1967 and met her future husband Raymond in 1968. If you ever joined her on a walk around the FSU campus, Stella could point out the exact spots where their courtship developed (in front of the Suwanee Dining Hall) in detail that would put other “photographic memories” to shame. Stella graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in French with a minor in music in 1971. She and Raymond married on August 4, 1972, and lived in Dallas and San Antonio, Texas, in the early years of their marriage. Stella worked for the next six years as a teacher in Dallas and San Antonio as well as Gainesville, Florida, while Raymond went through medical school and residency.

Upon the family’s move to Orlando, Florida, in the early 1980’s, Stella was able to pursue one of her deepest passions: music. For over 20 years she was the chief rehearsal accompanist for the world famous Voices of Liberty singing group at Walt Disney World’s EPCOT, as well as a member of the orchestra (piano and pipe organ) for Disney’s annual Candlelight Processional Christmas concert. She served as a consultant producer on Voices of Liberty albums and her piano arrangements have been copyrighted Walt Disney World. Stella loved honoring the Lord by serving as the church pianist for First Baptist Church Orlando and Bradfordville First Baptist Church (Tallahassee). During her lifetime she played for over 1,500 weddings, funerals, parties and FSU events. Many will remember her rendition of the “Hymn to the Garnet and the Gold,” which she played at countless events and gatherings to the joy of the gathered Seminole fans. Stella and Raymond were avid travelers, and on her journeys she was often prompted by others to share her musical talents. She played the pipe organ at some of Europe’s most famous churches, including a hymn service at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, Austria, and an impromptu performance of Jean Sebelius’ Finlandia at the Rock Church, in Helsinki, Finland.

When Stella and Raymond relocated to Tallahassee in 2005, Stella was able to further deepen her involvement with FSU. She served on the boards of the College of Arts and Sciences and the FSU Foundation, participated actively in the Alumni Association and Seminole Boosters, and was a docent at the FSU President’s House. In 2015 the Alumni Association presented her the prestigious Circle of Gold Award, given to alumni who exemplify “dedication and loyalty to the University” and “the Alumni Association’s core values of tradition, leadership, family, spirit and greatness.”

Stella had a creative, curious mind, and she was always ready for the next adventure, whether that be a cruise around the Baltic, a French immersion program in Paris, or on a snowy mountain side in Breckenridge, Colorado. She accumulated stories wherever she went and delighted in telling them, especially if she got to use her incredible talents as a mimic in the process.

She is survived by her husband, Raymond; daughter, Catherine Studemeyer (J. Bradley); son, Keith Cottrell; granddaughters, Grace and Merritt Cottrell; her brother, Matthew (Sylvia); and her sister, Patricia Blumel. She was preceded in death by her brother, Horace Jr. and many dear friends. A special thank you is due to Mr. and Mrs. Lynn and Becky Keenum of Marietta, Georgia; Mrs. Mary Kay Detzner of Tallahassee, Florida; Mr. and Mrs. Tim and Lisa Snyder of Tallahassee, Florida; and the congregation of Bradfordville First Baptist Church for their support of Stella and her family during her cancer battle. The family would also like to thank Donna Roddenberry of Visiting Angels for her dedication to Stella’s comfort in the last weeks of her life. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (https://www.pancan.org) or the Shriners Hospital for Children, Tampa, Florida (https://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/tampa).

A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 27, 2021 at 11am at Bradfordville First Baptist Church, 6494 Thomasville Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32312.