Colleen's Story
Family meant everything to Colleen. When she died unexpectedly after a very brief cancer fight, Colleen's family wanted to commemorate her beautiful life by helping others.
Colleen Scholars, Inc. was founded by Elizabeth West, Colleen's sister and CEO of EWC College Consulting. As a proud sponsor of Colleen Scholars, EWC works to realize Colleen's vision of guiding students to a college education with kindness and expertise.
Colleen was a 1984 graduate of Cortland Jr./Sr. High School in Cortland, NY. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Union College in Schenectady, NY in 1988.
Her greatest joy was her family. She was married to Rob Brockway for 33 years and a very proud mom to Bobby Brockway, graduate of Clarkson University.
About Colleen
Colleen and her husband, Rob (left), and son, Robert Brockway (right).
Colleen Brockway,
the inspiration behind
Colleen Scholars.
Colleen Carroll Adinolfi Brockway was born on St. Patrick’s Day in 1966 to a delighted Gail (Carroll) Adinolfi and David Adinolfi in Schenectady, NY. She was their firstborn, beautiful baby girl with big blue eyes. Raised in Ballston Spa and later Cortland, NY, she graduated from Cortland Jr./Sr. High School in 1984 and was an honor student as well as editor of the CHS Voice, the high school’s newspaper.
Colleen was an English major at Union College, in Schenectady, NY. She enjoyed working at the Writing Center and loved her time spent at Union — graduating in 1988. Her brother and father both graduated from Union as well.
As an avid photographer, Colleen was well known to be a shutterbug. She took all of the pictures at family events and asked for a camera every Christmas. She would frequently give her photographs as gifts to family and friends. She had many admirers of her artistry.
She was a Senior Commercial Underwriter at Acadia Insurance for several years until her illness deterred her from working. She was known as the toughest negotiator while being the kindest colleague — often offering to help wherever she was needed.
Colleen cherished her family most of all. She had two younger siblings, David Adinolfi of Raleigh, NC, and Elizabeth West of Waxhaw, NC who often would tease her relentlessly, but loved her completely.
Her husband, Rob Brockway, and her son, Bobby Brockway, were her world. She was so proud and cherished “her boys.” And, they loved her beyond measure.
She valued education, kindness, character, and family most of all.
About Colleen Scholars
Colleen Scholars is dedicated in memory of Colleen Brockway. Colleen died in September 2023 of a very rare cancer called epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE). She was only 57 years old.
Before she died, her sister Elizabeth and Colleen discussed the idea of starting a scholarship program in her name. Colleen said she would like Colleen Scholars to be avid readers, dedicated to giving back to their community, and wanted students who would "invite anyone to sit with them at lunch." She prioritized kindness as the top consideration for these scholarship recipients.
Colleen is pictured here with her sister, Elizabeth West, and her niece who was named for her, Colleen West.
