Fondly remembering Connie:

Beautiful, intellectually curious, dedicated to education for herself, her family and the children she taught, serious patron of the arts, - - and in her later life, an accomplished creator of art. Foremost achievement: Four talented and beautiful daughters to keep her memory alive.

Sincere condolences to all her loved ones.        Flora

To my sister:
Sisters are an unique phenomenon
They are connected by some invisible thread
Very subtle and sometimes obscured
Only to be revealed when it is late; very late
We were lucky to have each other almost ninety years
But not long enough.
When the chord is severed the pain is unbearable; too little time to be together
The loss of a sister is a hurt that never goes away...
Love always,
Your sister

I only met Connie once. A woman in her late 80’s... uberring to Laura’s house for Friendsgiving. I was struck by her willingness to embrace change (all this new technology), navigate her limitations (inability to drive) and live her life. Like her watercolors, her conversations were interesting and myriad. Truly inspirational! 

This was a note from mom's friend, Ruth Bartfeld, that Ruth asked me to share.

Dear Laura: Please give my condolences to your family. I have many happy memories of shared experiences with Connie . She was always interested in EVERYTHING and it was fun to do things together. She will be missed by many.

My best regards to you and your family,

Ruth Bartfeld

Thank you Garrett daughters for the lovely tribute to your Mother.

Connie and I were friends for the past 15 years. We had a monthly dinner with Iris, Gloria, Connie and me. We also attended the Contemporary American Theater Festival in Shepherdstown, West Va, for many years. After we lost Iris and Gloria, Connie and I had lunch the first Tuesday of each month. We had lunch and did errands or appointments. We also did much talking! So I know you much better than you know me.

Connie and I were good friends and I miss her already!

Connie was an important role model to all of us girls growing up in the Westmont Court neighborhood as a single working Mom ahead of her time. Her daughters amazed me with their resilience and independence that Connie inspired. I have so many memories of my hours spent in the vibrant Garrett household, learning from the reams of art books and magazines, and going on funky shopping expeditions or relaxing at the pool, which never seemed to happen in my family. I did not realize what a great artist Connie had become! Her beautiful pictures and our fond memories will live on.

I had met Constance only once and shortly before I visited her for a week-end in Bethesda, spending 3 months on the East Coast.
And it was amazing how quickly we get along. I felt at home at once. She was so nice, full of energy, interested in everything.
Being cousins (though distant cousins) and also of course being a friend of Laura since her stay in Paris might have helped, but still …
I remember Constance exactly as she is on the picture on top of this page, so pleasant and smiling.
Love to all the family, including those I’ve never seen but would love to meet. Come to Paris !

Dear Connie,

It’s been a long and rich friendship—47 years by my count, more than half of both our lives. During the past several days since you told me about your illness, I’ve been reflecting on the many occasions we shared, events we attended, and life experiences over which we connected. We met in Frank’s class at the University of Maryland in 1973. The girls were young then. Barbara had just returned from Cornell University and started attending the University of Maryland. Leila, the age of my son, was involved in diving and he in swimming. So there were our studies and our children.

Then there was our gallivanting. You introduced me to the world of concert music. Among the first of those performances was Jean-Pierre Rampal years ago at The Johns Hopkins. Why that sticks in my mind is hard to know. There were the many string quartet concerts that I loved and the Kennedy Center choral performances we attended. More recently there was our surprise encounter at one of the Smithsonian opera series lectures held in the Women’s Democratic Club.

In the earlier years, there were the gatherings at my apartment in Columbia. You are one of the few friends who met my father or attend a party at my brother Gil’s house in Annapolis on Swan Point. Even then we left his party early as we had tickets to see a Tennessee Williams play at Olney Theater that evening. I shall always remember the cheese fondue supper you prepared on one of my birthdays, served at your home with the girls attending. Then there were our many walks on the Canal path to Wide Water and Angler’s Inn.

I remember the night you called worried about Barbara’s accident on the Beltway one Thanksgiving Eve. You asked me to call Gil. He met Barbara at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Unit. It was a snowy night and an early morning surgery. He drove from Annapolis in his jeep, picked up his surgical nurse, made his way to the operating room where with a skeleton staff performed reconstruction surgery of Barbara’s cheek, etc. The snowstorm continued through the day. Later on I know they had a few dates on his sailboat and maybe a few other trysts.

You came to my aid when my husband Richard died. You were an immense help during that difficult time especially the day of Richard’s memorial service. Again, you were the first to call me after seeing the Post’s death notice of Richard’s good friend, John Wiebensen, years later. John was Richard’s long-time friend, both architects, and both died unexpectedly years apart. I spent an afternoon this past Sunday, October 4 with Abigail, John’s widow. We often meet on October 4 to remember Richard and John as they both died on October 4, yet years apart.

Our interest spread into the world of museums and gardens. There was our Georgetown Garden Tour one year when Barbara joined us. More recently we explored Hillwood Estate Museum and Gardens with another friend of yours. We retreated to garden walks together when mobility became an issue and the Canal treks became a thing of the past.

In more recent years we had all those Saturday lunches at Hunter’s Inn at Potomac Village—half price hamburgers and Bloody Mary’s. At first we met to celebrate our January birthdays, then we just met to meet up. Our conversations needed no introductions or recounting, we were in touch with each other’s lives throughout the years we shared. 

Connie, I am missing you and shall always miss you. We had a long and rich friendship.

Joanna Edwards October 10, 2020

My friendship with Connie was through the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Branch of AAUW (the American Association of University Women). I loved Connie! She had a wry sense of humor - a dose of realism along with a dose of humor. She was passionate about things that mattered to her, and she would often call me to suggest a television show or newspaper article which I might enjoy. I recall her friendship with the late Sally Dobson, who lived at the same senior center - and the fun they had together sharing stories and memories. Connie's role in our AAUW branch for many years was "time to care" - and she sent cards to our members who were ill or dealing with a loss. She cared for others, and we cared for her. We will miss Connie!

Dear Connie,
You were always a bright star in my mother's "single ladies group" which included glasses of wine in our home, and your endless outings to theatre, ballet and concerts. Not to mention the summers at Rehobeth or Bethany beach.
Of course, this beautiful and long friendship began when you, my mother and father met at Antioch college in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
I was so fortunate to meet Laura when she was working/cooking/writing in Paris and that was another adventure. You were so fortunate to have wonderful grandchildren, and ironically Laura and I both have sons named Tristan.
Your whit, interest in the arts and humor will always remain with us.
Love, Victoria

Connie, what can I say? We were friends for 71 years and first met as freshmen at Antioch College in 1949. We enjoyed each other's company trough life's stages over the years from the early days at Antioch, where she quickly a well known name on campus to meeting several years later in Bethesda as divorced mothers with children, to several years in the singles scene (she was a marvelous dancer and absolutely beautiful) to rendezvous in Paris, trips to the beach, art galleries and theatre. As we aged, Connie downsized and became my neighbor in Potomac, sharing ballet at the Kennedy Center, and lunches out. After her mobility became limited she was still always ready to go , interested in everything and knowledgeable over a wide range of subjects. She was a very intelligent, talented ,strong personality and I always valued her friendship.  I will miss her.

Connie and I first met as first-year students at Antioch in 1949 though we moved in different social circles. Our close friendship developed some years after we graduated and both moved back to Yellow Springs. Each with young children of the same ages we spent untold hours at each other’s homes, chatting over coffee, herding children around, and sharing holiday meals. Barbara and Linda may remember those days; Laura and Leila would be too young. Connie had many talents but among the most outstanding was her talent for friendship. She gladly leaped into the breach when my third daughter arrived a bit early. With my husband 60 miles away, she scooped up both my older girls and kept them while a neighbor drove me to the hospital. Some years later, after she and Chuck had moved to Virginia, I needed surgery in Washington DC and they kindly took me in and cared for me after the surgery. And will I ever forget that Christmas when the Garretts came back to Yellow Springs to spend the Christmas holidays with us, and our plumbing backed up into our several bathrooms on Christmas Eve? I think, between us, we had six little girls under eight years old at the time. I can still see us in my mind’s eye trekking across the snowy street to a neighbor’s bathroom with a trail of children straggling along behind while the plumber worked up on our roof. I cooked Christmas dinner that year while Connie scrubbed bathrooms within an inch of their lives. We saw each other only a few times in the intervening years but kept in close touch via mail . . . and then email. Connie wrote long, informative letters, full of news about her life and the lives of her girls. And full of her thoughts and feelings as well. She never seemed far away. So, goodbye dear friend. I’ll miss you.
Love, Ilse

Connie was indeed a “rare gem.” I first met her at the age of five and will never forget her. Smart, outspoken, creative, caring, and lover of classical music are what I will remember most, along with occasional pronouncements like “I believe in mothering, not smothering.” I’m sending my love to the family and am so sorry for your loss.

I was Connie's pastel instructor for the past 8 years and she was such a delight! She first came to me at the Yellow Barn after discovering my paintings and buying one at the Waverly Street Gallery. It was obvious how important art and painting was to her. Over the years she made it clear that high chroma colors were her thing and her daughters provided her with lovely sunsets for her to paint. She also attended the piano concerts that I held for my pastel students and I'm so honored to know that she watched some of my piano videos during her last hours. She was highly regarded and loved by me and her fellow students. Connie was an exceptional person who we will all miss greatly. I'm particularly thankful to Helen Wood who for many years drove Connie to her classes and was such a good friend to her. 

We were sorry to read of your Mother's passing, and we hope you have lots and lots of warm memories to comfort you. In recent years we sometimes ran into her at the Kennedy Center or a shopping center. We were always delighted to reconnect each time. We enjoyed remembering the time Linda stayed at our house while your mother was in Michigan for Laura's heart surgery. We became friends originally because Linda was a teacher of the deaf, and I was a dentist for your family. Your Mother was so friendly and capable. During her lifetime she raised 4 daughters and still was able to become a special education teacher. It always seemed that she lived life to the fullest. She certainly will be missed by her family and her many, many friends.............Linda & Mel Slan

Laura, over the years I only spent time with Connie briefly, but I remember her energy, passion for life, and generosity to me and my family. Your tribute is beautiful and the summary of your mom’s life clearly demonstrated a rich and active life. Would all our lives be so well remembered. - it seems fitting she passed around the the time of Sukkot- a time to remember the abundance of both the recent year, and all those years that have passed before- May the lord bring you peace and comfort- with love MDP

Our friend Connie had full life. Her enthusiasm for life was contagious, and I was so inspired by her. We were Arena Stage buds, enjoying many plays together. While she had seen most of the plays multiple times over the years, she nevertheless was excited to see them again. Her knowledge of the arts was impressive. I am blessed to have known Connie. She will always be in my heart.

I accompanied Connie to the Kennedy Center to see Don Giovanni towards the end of March of this year. It was truly a pleasure to be with her and around her. Not only her exuberance for music, and especially the Opera, rubbed on you, but you felt you were in the presence of true royalty when it came to appreciating the beautiful classical music she loved.

Connie loved Verdi and especially La Traviata and since I am a novice, she was ever so generous with her knowledge and I will always be profoundly grateful for her friendship.

Many, as I do, will miss her dearly. I feel so lucky to have met her even though it was for a brief 18 months. In my mind, Don Giovanni's notes will eternally be etched with her memory.

RIP Connie.

What can one say about Connie? I loved her laugh; it was contagious and always brought a smile to my face. Her smile and energy would brighten any room. And I loved seeing her passions and interests. It meant so much to me when she showed me one of her paintings that was inspired by one of my photos from my 35-day, 618-mile pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago. I was hoping I would get to see her and talk to her after my book on my Camino experiences was published. RIP, Connie! You will be missed!

Seven Autumns After

Mine is the forgotten birthday.
All the others were born in May. Grandma,
toward the end you couldn’t recall which child
arrived in Autumn, so you sent all the cards in May.

October. The season for pears is almost over.
I reach to touch, to feel the warmth
So round and ripe.
Lifting one up from damp, brown leaves
I remember my mother in a similar month
when she curved her arms around me
to tell me you were dead.

I held my head against her breast and squeezed shut my eyes
to her hushed voice fearing what she would say.
You, on whose lap I had sat for endless games of patty-cake
who bought me halvah, a treat we never had at home
who bought me trinkets in sunny Miami
who bought me birthday cards in May. 
You would not be anymore.

I listened to her heartbeat--that rhythm I knew from the womb--
and burrowed in deeper.
I was twelve, my hips still lean and hard. I needed
to breathe in her mother-smell until I was dizzy,
until I felt sure.

In an orchard today I turn twenty
The sky is pale over trees in a bony embrace.
The pear is warm in my hand.
I hold it up to my face.

                                           --Laura Garrett