It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Carolyn “Cali” J. Cole, beloved Board Chair Emerita of Girls Inc. of NYC. A trailblazer in the field of finance and a fierce advocate for women and girls, Cali dedicated her life to breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations.

As our Board Chair, she brought visionary leadership, compassion, and expertise to our mission, guiding us towards transformative milestones. She was a mentor, friend, and an unwavering champion for equality.

We invite you to share your memories and tributes in the comments below as we celebrate her extraordinary life and legacy.

Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and all those whose lives she touched. May her fearless spirit live on in the lives of the countless girls she has and continues to support.

If you’d like to further honor her memory, you can plant a tree at the Symphony Store or donate to Girls Inc. of NYC.

About Cali Cole

Carolyn “Cali” J. Carolyn “Cali” J. Cole passed away on December 17, 2024. She was 81.

During the late 1960s, as a graduate of Vassar College and NYU Stern School of Business, Cali stepped onto the trading floor for the first time as one of the first women on Wall Street. By then she had already defied many expectations, coming from a very conservative family where young women were debutantes and wives, not pursuing high profile careers in finance. Back then, women were getting paid a fraction of what men were paid for doing the same job. With pure grit and determination, she worked her way up, eventually holding senior executive positions at several leading financial institutions, including Citigroup, RBC Dain, and UBS. She went on to establish the Cole Group, advising family offices and nonprofit organizations, as well as the Institute of Economics and Finance.

What meant most to Cali was bringing up other women along the way, while often gathering with her fellow pioneers, the other “first women of Wall Street.” Her motto was “what we are born into doesn’t have to be our future.”

Cali served on the boards of the Overbrook Foundation (as Chair), Girls Inc. of New York City (as Chair), and the UFT Charter Schools in New York City. She was also a member of the Economic Club of New York, the CFA Institute, and the Beatrix Farrand Garden Association.

Outside of her work as a social reformer, Cali found joy in music. She loved to sing in the Grace Church Choir and with the Vassar group, G Stringers, which she co-founded. She loved Girls Inc. of NYC, Vassar, and her Tonkinese cats. She had an infectious, overwhelming laugh, and was an avid entertainer, known for her signature parties in the Hamptons. She will leave a lasting impact on all who crossed her path.