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Her passion, outspoken
conviction, and wry humor are irreplaceable.
Ann's sudden death is a
shock to us. Her passion, outspoken conviction, and wry
humor are irreplaceable. She cared deeply about education
and the University, enough to speak out about its warts and
flaws and to hold people to their words and
responsibilities. She carried the same fervor into state and
national politics; Ann was the sort of honest, educated, and
demanding citizen Jefferson had in mind. And she was a friend. It
will be hard to celebrate Christmas without her. Though we
kept in touch throughout the year, going to concerts or
talking on the phone or exchanging humorous e-mails, we
never failed to gather at Jim and Elizabeth McCutcheons' for
Christmas day to talk about the old year and the new (and,
inevitably, about what's happening or not happening at the
University). And in recent years, we added a pre-Christmas
dinner at our house so that our son Jim, who has to come
early and return to the mainland before Christmas, could
share in the conversation. Ann has always been a
colorful and supportive friend and listener to our son, that
adult-besides-your-parents-who-believes-in-you-and
thinks-you're-fascinating that everyone needs growing up.
He's now in his thirties, but last Christmas, as usual, the
two of them sat together at dinner, engrossed in
conversation about his union activities and about the state
of the world. Jim joins us in mourning Ann
and sending our sympathies to her Wisconsin
family. Sue, Ced, and Jim
Cowing