Obituary: Cornelia ‘Cici’ Spencer Ives
Cornelia “Cici” Spencer Ives of Boca Grande, Fla. and West Yellowstone, Montana, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019 with her sister Olivia at her side. She was 74 years old and had held cancer at bay for 35 years.
Born in Boston, Mass., Cici grew up in Middlebury, Conn. Cici attended the St. Margaret’s School of Waterbury, Conn., Ethel Walker’s School of Simsbury, Conn. and the University of Colorado in Boulder.
Cici began her professional career in New York City before moving to Boston, where she worked for the First National Bank of Boston. In 1971 she married Kenneth Appleton Ives Jr. and moved with him and his five sons to Hamilton, Mass.
During her time in the Boston area, she volunteered for a variety of nonprofit organizations, including serving as a member of the MFA Associates at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
In 1996, Cici and Ken moved to Boca Grande. She was widowed in 1999.
Cici spent her summers on the Madison Fork Ranch in West Yellowstone, Mont.
Cici loved Boca Grande. The community was exceptionally welcoming to her when she arrived and she returned that favor to many. No one could put a cocktail party together faster than Cici! She channeled that same energy and joy into the trunk shows that she created and curated with her dear friend and business partner, Mary O’Bannon (you may not have needed it, but you certainly loved it).
Cici was an active volunteer in a variety of Boca Grande organizations, and was a past president of the Planters Garden Club. She was also very involved in the Boca Grande Woman’s Club and chaired numerous committees over the years.
Cici is preceded in death by her husband. She is survived by her sisters, Olivia S. Tuttle and C. Elizabeth Spencer; her brothers, Charles E Spencer IV and Richard V. Spencer; and her stepsons, Kenneth M. Ives, Michael M. Ives, Christopher A. Ives, Edward A. Ives, and George R. Ives.
Per Cici’s instructions, there will not be a funeral or memorial service. Gifts can be made in her memory to the Boca Grande Clinic.
The family would like to thank her many friends – near and far – for their love, kindness and wonderful memories they have shared. They would also like to thank Tom Ervin, MD, Debby Hahn, LPN, and Sandy Lohnes for the exceptional care and comfort they gave to Cici and her family.
