Tamera Colgate

Tamera Zimmerman Colgate, a spirited New England “cowgirl,” departed this life on January 3, 2025.

She leaves behind her beloved husband of 25 years. Bob Colgate, and sons Harry and Bob McKelvey, and six grandchildren: Carly, Billy, Tatum, Avery, Jason, and Haley.

Tamera had numerous friends, colleagues, and clients, many of whom will miss her deeply.

Though Tamera lived in New England for decades, she was strongly shaped by her upbringing in Harrison, Nebraska.

Born on a ranch in 1941 to Lucille and Harry Zimmerman, in her early education days she rode her horse to a one-room schoolhouse miles from the ranch house. Tamera showed a strong interest in riding and herding cattle at a young age. She became a skilled and passionate rider, even competing in a rodeo in South Dakota with her hair tucked under a hat to to pass as a young man. By 1956, she was highly competitive and won a Junior Rodeo Queen contest that year! Yankee friends may recall her speaking nostalgically of those days as some of the happiest in her long life.

Determination continued to define Tamera as an adult. She left a marriage at a young age and worked several positions while raising her two boys on her own. She was the buyer and manager for The Peasant Garb in Philadelphia (which allowed her to hear premier folk singers next door at the Main Line folk venue) as well as The Lock House #11 Art Gallery in New Hope, PA, where she also taught weaving.

After moving to Alstead, New Hampshire in 1972, she enrolled at Keene State College and graduated with a major in psychology in 1976. In 1978 she earned an MA in counseling and psychology from Antioch College, and was hired by Keene State in 1980, while she pursued her CGAS from Northeastern University and started the Wellness Counseling Center at KSC. She and Amy Phile also partnered in creating the Court Street Counseling Office in the early eighties. Within a few years, she became a member of the President’s Commission on the Status of Women and was named Chair of the Task Force on Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault in 1987. 

In 1998, Tamera was named an Outstanding Woman by Keene State College. After Keene State she continued to see clients and obtained her reiki master’s license. She also founded a woman’s book club which met at Monadnock Real Log Homes.

Love for family also describes this remarkable woman. Time with her grandchildren was especially precious. She had a remarkable gift for listening and being fully present in conversation. Granddaughter Haley shared, “I will always remember the special way I felt when she talked with me.”

Bob and Tamera enjoyed the Colgate compound in Grand Lake Stream, Maine and winters in Hawaii the last twenty winters in Hawaii, where she took ukulele lessons and studied the local language and culture.

Her love of the West remained prominent, and Native American art adorns the walls of the Colgate house in Jaffrey. Tamera seldom appeared without her signature turquoise Indian jewelry or a colorful scarf.

Tamera left a loving cowgirl’s mark in the hearts of many who were lucky enough to know her.

A celebration of her life including the opportunity to share will be held at 1:00 on February 15th at Heberton Hall in the City of Keene Library. In keeping with her love of open land, donations in her honor may be made to the Down East Lakes Land Trust, 137 Milford Road, Grand Lake Stream, ME 04668, where she was on the Board of Directors.