OBITUARIES

CUNY French department instructor, WWII survivor Colette Coman, 90

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Colette Coman, 90, passed away on July 21, 2018, in The Allen Hospital, with her family by her side.

She was born May 18, 1928 in Bucharest, Romania, to the late Florica and Lazar Nast. She was a survivor of Nazi-occupied Romania and the post-World War II communist regime. 

She achieved high honors in the Lycee Francais in Bucharest, and then pursued studies in literature at the University of Bucharest. She then worked as a news reporter for a local television station as well as for the Romanian Historical Institute.

In 1963, she fled Romania along with her husband Alex and only child, Eugene. After a few months in Rome, they settled in Port Chester for three years, and then settled in Riverdale, where she resided for the past 50 years.

In the United States, she received her doctor of letters degree from the City University of New York in the field of 18th century French literature, and published in this area as well. She worked as an instructor in the French department at CUNY, and created teaching materials that are used in the department to this day.

She is the beloved wife of Alexander Coman, who survives, for 61 years.

She is the devoted mother of Eugene and the adoring grandmother of Benjamin, Laurence and Gregory, all of whom survive.

A private funeral service was held July 25.

Memorial donations may be made to the French Institute Alliance Francaise, New York City, in memory of Colette Coman.

Colette Coman,