January 12, 2020
Dear Jeff, Richard and family,
I knew Ann in 3 contexts:
First, she tutored my daughter in 8th grade. It went like this: we were ‘tearing our hair out” over our daughter’s total disregard for math, and Ann would come over for an hour, get some concepts across despite our daughter’s distracting behavior, laugh with her, and reassure us that she would pass math! Which she did! Ann was warm, kind, and understanding of the dynamics of trying to intervene with a 13 yr old who had NO interest in math.
Second, I began attending MDTC in desperation after Trump got elected, and Ann always welcomed newcomers, made sure I signed in, made me feel at home. Then as I got more involved, I saw how she was so instrumental in the scholarship choices, which she took very seriously, and even petitioned to have 2 scholarships given each year because the young democrats at the High School were so special and deserving. Also, as I began to ask to include different issues in the program, she and Renee were always very open to adding 5-10 minutes of announcements regarding issues related to the environment, and she encouraged me to run to be a delegate to the state convention in 2017, also to run to be a member of MDTC in spring 2018. She was really open to someone like me, (who had just appeared on the scene in Feb of 2017) to participate more and more fully, it really helped overcome any feeling of there being an “old guard” at MDTC.
Third, I noticed someone who looked a lot like her when I started taking a stretch class at the YMCA in early 2017, then realized it was her, then got up my courage to say hello and that I knew her from MDTC. After that, we would talk regularly, and she shared with me that she had had a spinal fusion and still found stretch very helpful, as I was very apprehensive that I would hurt myself, and didn’t find the class easy at all! She and I talked by phone when she was in the hospital after breaking her kneecap, and I was so impressed at how philosophical she was, that she was not angry at the YMCA or whoever left the mat buckled, and how fully convinced she was that she would get better, and that for now, going to Richard’s to recuperate was the best thing. She said how Richard and his family took great care of her, had a beautiful 1 floor home, and how restful the scenery of the Berkshires was for her.
Another time after stretch class, she shared with me how distressed she was about her macular degeneration, how she was trying to read the computer to call people for one of Jeff’s races, and how hard it was to read, and how frustrated she was by this. Again she was philosophical as well as frustrated, and making the best of it. At least one time, I drove her to an event so she could avoid driving at night.
So in summary, I feel that she was an amazing role model for kindness, warmth, inclusivity, persistence in the face of physical difficulties, and dedication to getting the political system to work. When I feel demoralized, I think of her, and know that she would still be working for political change no matter how discouraging a turn events might take.
She clearly lived at full tilt until her stroke, and not only “had a good life”, but lived a “good life”, an AMAZINGLY good life, generous, helping others, loving and caring for her family. I admire her so much, and will try in my remaining years to follow in her footsteps, including having joy and fun as well as incredible dedication to causes. I hope that at my passing, people will feel a little bit of the tremendous admiration that people do and did for your mother. She is truly an inspiration.
Sincerely,
Eileen Mathieu
Marblehead