By the family

April 11, 2025: Leah Ann Kooluris, age 56, died at her home in Yonkers, New York, on April 6. A leader in the real estate profession, locally and state-wide, she was married to Douglas J. Kooluris and mother of Joseph Caro Kooluris.

Leah Ann Caro and her twin Richard Gregory Caro arrived on Dec. 2, 1968, in Delmar, New York, the children of Saul M. Caro and the former Edythe Ann Caro, now Dr. Edythe Ann Quinn. As children of an IBM Dad, they moved frequently, motivating Leah to readily make friends and take advantage of new opportunities. Starting in 1980 and through her teen years, the family resided in White Plains, where she and Richard attended White Plains High School, making lasting friendships. As an anthropology major, Leah graduated from SUNY-Purchase and could be found weekends at the White Plains Ice Skating Rink, working as a guard. She and her brother spent long vacations with their family at Ticonderoga on Lake George and collected memories of encounters in Nature at Cranberry Lake Preserve, Westchester County.

Being in Nature as often as possible was essential to Leah, whether hiking and birding with family and friends, being ever in awe when sighting eagles, and, memorably, discovering mating rattlesnakes in the Hudson Valley’s Shawangunk Ridge.  Her love of critters included her childhood dog Jake, most especially, her beloved Bernese Mountain companion, Daisy, several rabbits and guinea pigs residing in her Yonkers home with Doug and Joe, and every squirrel who came to her yard looking for a peanut. For over a decade, Leah and friends completed the Great Saunter circumnavigating Manhattan.

Leah’s love burst forth in all its grandeur when she married Douglas J. Kooluris on May 24, 2003, and gave birth to their son, Joseph Caro Kooluris on Oct. 15, 2004. Leah introduced Joe to the adventures and awe found in Nature and to the cultural dynamics of international traveling. She supported Doug in introducing Joe to the dynamic world of car shows which he enthusiastically embraced.

Leah’s real estate career began with the late Joan Spencer of Bronxville-Ley Real Estate. Leah eventually became the Broker Owner of the firm, and it was renamed Park Sterling Realty in May 2001.

Leah was a natural leader and during her decades of volunteerism she served as President of the local Realtor Association, the local Multiple Listing Service, and served as Chair of the Regional MLS, OneKey MLS.  She was named Realtor of Year in 2011 and was the recipient of the first President’s Award in 2013. She served as Co-Chair of Westchester Residential Opportunities Inc. and was a member of WRO’s Board since 2011. She was also a multi-term President of the Bronxville Chamber of Commerce.

While she thrived in her real estate career, family and nature were the treasured pillars of her life. Foremost in her heart were Doug, Joe, her immediate family and devoted circle of friends.   

Leah is survived by her husband, Douglas J. Kooluris and son, Joseph Caro Kooluris, her mother, Dr. Edythe Ann Quinn of upstate New York, and father and stepmother, Saul M. and Corris Caro of Florida, twin brother, Richard Gregory Caro and his sons, Elijah and Jesse, all of Black Mountain, NC., mother and father-in-law, Florence (Restivo) and George Kooluris of Bronxville, maternal nieces and nephews, and multiple friends and colleagues.

A Public Memorial Service is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m., at Fred H. McGrath & Son, Inc., 20 Cedar Street, Bronxville, N.Y. (914 337-6770). Following the Memorial Service, Leah’s family hosts an informal celebration of Leah’s life at Pete’s Park Place Tavern, 18-20 Park Place, Bronxville, N.Y. from 4:00pm – Close. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions toward a bench or tree, in Leah Ann Kooluris’s name at the Untermyer Gardens Conservancy are suggested. Donations may be made online at www.untermyergardens.org or by check payable to the Untermyer Gardens Conservancy.