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Prudence Colbert Mackall Obituary

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Prudence Colbert Mackall

Bethesda, MD

May 15, 1929 - March 9, 2021

Prudence Colbert Mackall Obituary

On March 9th, 2021 Prudence Colbert Mackall, the widow of Laidler Bowie Mackall (d.2007) and Admiral Richard Gary Colbert (d.1973), decided to leave the earth at the age of 91 to go play golf in heaven and likely reach the 19th hole. Prudence, known as Prue to all, was born to Ewart and Dorothy Robertson on May 15th, 1929 in London, England. From the start, her life was a story of contrasts and an example of how a positive disposition, intrepid nature and perseverance can overcome the saddest of circumstances. Her father Ewart, known as E.J. or Robbie, was the Managing Director of the Daily Express, then the world’s largest newspaper. The youngest of three, Prue grew up in a rarified London, a member of society that was quickly consumed by the start of World War II, nightly bombings and the rationing of food and medicine. The wartime experience imbued in her a deep appreciation for frugality and for never wasting pretty much anything, including food that was past its expiration date. It also gave her the chance to be swept off her feet in London by a dashing young U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander named Dick Colbert. Within a year, when Prue was 20, they were married by special license because Dick was being transferred back to the U.S. Over the subsequent twenty-three years, as Dick ascended the Navy ladder to become a four-star admiral, Prue was his soulmate and partner, a loving mother to their four children and a charismatic, joyful hostess to all as the Colbert clan traveled and lived around the world. The eighteen moves they made during that time were all arranged and orchestrated by Prue alone, including driving a Ford Country Squire station wagon from southern England through France and over the Pyrenees in 1959 on our way to live in Barcelona, Spain. During their life together Prue and Dick met and were entertained by numerous heads of state and foreign dignitaries including the Shah of Iran and Haile Selassie. As a hostess, whether her guest was an international diplomat, Ronald and Nancy Reagan, Richard and Pat Nixon, a titan of industry or a next-door neighbor, Prue made sure all felt valued, were well fed, and left with smiles on their faces. From lavish dinner parties to backyard barbeques, she was always on her game and stylishly dressed, opting for toe rings, ribboned ponytails and haute couture knock offs found by scouring her favorite Loehmann’s or Marshalls. Her slightly ahead of its time wardrobe was a perfect manifestation of Prue: beautiful, adventurous and yet pragmatic to the core. In 1973 the wonder of her married life was sadly cut short when Dick succumbed to an eight month battle with cancer. She did what she had always done so well, she stiffened her upper lip and marched on. Suddenly widowed, Prue returned to the Washington, D.C. area and a life outside the Navy, though for more than 20 years after Dick’s death, she attended the Naval War College's annual Current Strategy Forum and awarded the Colbert Prize for the best paper written by a student of that year's class. She was also on the board of the Navy Memorial in DC during its fundraising phase. Never complaining, never slowing down, she focused on raising her youngest son while supporting her recently graduated daughter and her two other sons who were still in college. She also picked up a spatula and became one incredible cook. Tragically, in 1977, she suffered yet another loss with the accidental death of her 22 year old son, Tony. As with the war, the premature deaths of her father in 1960, Dick, her sister, Pamela, in 1965, and her son, did not cow Prue. Although emotionally devastated, she was undaunted. At 46 she had attracted the eye of one of Washington’s most perennial bachelors, Laidler Bowie “Mac” Mackall, a renowned barrister and reluctant suitor. Prue overcame that reluctance pretty quickly and they married in 1978. Since Mac was an avid golfer, Prue decided to learn the game. A few short years later she was the Chevy Chase Club champion. That was Prue. Head down, eye on the ball, in order to have a ball. She and Mac enjoyed 30 years together, even if she won most of the time. She and Mac became snowbirds after his retirement and toggled their time between Naples and Vero Beach, Florida and Chevy Chase, Maryland. In Florida they were members of the Wilderness golf club in Naples and Hawks Nest and the Moorings clubs in Vero Beach. Prue continued to play eighteen holes of golf several times a week until she was 87. She almost always walked the course. In Maryland she lived within minutes of her daughter Melissa and her son-in-law Jeff Allen and her son Gary and his wife Karen. Every now and then she’d visit Chris in Boston, because he really was her favorite. Prue leaves us all with incredible memories including her pealing contagious laughter, her marathon sneezing sessions and some damned good recipes. She will always be remembered with love and admiration by her daughter Melissa Colbert of Silver Spring, MD, her son and daughter-in-law Gary and Karen Colbert of Kure Beach, NC, her son and daughter-in-law Chris Colbert and Kate Gilbert of Boston, MA, along with her three grandchildren AJ Colbert, Emmett Colbert and Annie Colbert, all of Boston, her step-grandchildren Heather Descollonges of Menlo Park, CA, Jonas Allen of Yarmouth, ME, her step-greatgrandchildren Pascal Descollonges and Gus Solomon of Menlo Park, and the thousands of people who met her and immediately fell in love with her. A service and interment at Arlington National Cemetery with her first husband Admiral Dick Colbert will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, we encourage contributions to World Central Kitchen.

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