Carol Tucker Trelease

Carol Tucker Trelease, 77, passed away suddenly on December 9, 2020 of causes unrelated to the Covid-19 pandemic. She was known for her happy disposition, kindness to others, her unwavering drive to fight for social justice and reproductive rights, and polite honesty. Carol had a smile for everyone she saw at Coronado Villas Independent Living where she relocated in 2019 after many years in Sandia Heights. She loved her daily walks, playing bean bag baseball, and being involved with the many activities her community offered. When she wasn’t reading, she was visiting with the staff, promptly responding to email, or doing something to keep her curious mind active.  

Born in Santa Cruz, California in March of 1943, Carol grew up in Northern California. The first in her family to go to college, she earned her Bachelors of Arts in Spanish from Mills College in 1965, graduating 7th in her class and Phi Beta Kappa. She was selected as a Fulbright scholar and spent a year studying literature at the University of Cordoba in Argentina. She moved to Colorado where her first husband, Robin Tuchler, was in medical school, and she taught high school Spanish. In order for her husband to fulfill his military obligations, they moved to the Navajo reservation in Crownpoint, New Mexico where he served with the Public Health Service. They subsequently relocated to Albuquerque in 1974 with their 3 daughters.  

Carol was passionate about fighting for equality and helping people help themselves. This brought her to focus on reproductive rights and social justice. She was the CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Rio Grande for over 20 years, working to ensure women could plan their families and control their own destinies. She retired early as a promise to her second husband, Richard Trelease, and they traveled the globe as planned. When he passed away in 2005, Carol was given an incredible opportunity to continue supporting her passions and making a difference in the world as the Executive Director of the Nirvana Manana Institute. NMI was a foundation that made grants to support a sustainable population and for which the founder said Carol was the true heartbeat. She also traveled with Albuquerque International Association and other local groups, and continued her civic involvement as an active board member, volunteer, and tireless advocate for Planned Parenthood, the League of Women Voters, Popejoy Hall, the Senior Citizens’ Law Office, St. John’s Cathedral, the St. John’s Thrift Shop, and many others.  She was respected as an effective fundraiser and lobbyist at the legislature.  Friends have called her “a legend” and remarked on her effective leadership style. She cared a lot about others, and gave so much to so many. 

She is survived by her daughters and their partners: Ann Tuchler and David Davis of Phoenix, AZ; Sarah Tuchler McElvaney and Jason McElvaney of Austin, TX; and Ada Tuchler Portman and Greg Portman of Albuquerque; and her grandchildren: Taylor and Addison Portman of Albuquerque and Will and Avery McElvaney of Austin, TX. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard M. Trelease, Jr., and her parents, Arthur L. Tucker and Thelma Rose (Greer) Tucker.

Virtual services will be live streamed at 3pm Mountain Time on Monday, December 21. Links to the live steam may be found at the St. John’s website https://stjohnsabq.org/our-worship/. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Carol’s memory to Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains or your local affiliate, St. John’s Cathedral Music Program, Mills College, or any organization of your choice that would honor her legacy.