Carolyn Spector was born Carolyn Gaines on May 27th, 1937, in Chicago. Raised in Highland Park and Glenco, Illinois, she attended New Trier High School, graduating in 1955. She is a graduate of Brown University with a B.A. in French and spent her junior year at the Sorbonne in Paris. That was followed by two years at the University of Chicago where she received an M.A. in Teaching. She also did postgraduate work at the University of Oregon.

Carolyn had two children, Robert Spector and Miriam Sincere by a former husband, Norman. In 1971 she taught French at a middle school operated by the University of Wisconsin in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The following year she was transferred to a similar school in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

In 1974 the family moved to Eugene. Carolyn was a substitute teacher for several school districts in the area. Beginning in 1977, she taught French for Lane Community College through the Adult Education program, continuing until her retirement in 1994. She also taught at the Looking Glass Shelter for two years.

She married John Bredesen in August, 1983. Carolyn was an avid knitter and reader. She loved to travel, with a two week wildlife photo safari to Botswana being a special highlight. She was the volunteer book reviewer for KLCC for twelve years and KLCC's Heart of the Arts Super Volunteer for 2000. She was also a volunteer with the Eugene Symphony.

Carolyn Spector died August 27, 2001, of cancer. She was 64.