Anne Woolf dies at 94, very active at Beacon Hill Village
Anne Woolf passed away peacefully on October 26 at the Christopher House in Worcester, Massachusetts surrounded by her family.
She was 94 years old.
Anne leaves her children, Diane, Robert, and Ron, and their spouses Bob, Imelda and Jeanine. “Bubbie Anne” will always be fondly remembered by her grandchildren, Serenity, her husband Vinnie, Justin, Corvus, Tommy, his wife Janelle, Gabriel, Nicholas, and Daniel; and her three great grandchildren, Isaiah, Luciana, and Lydia.
Anne was born and raised in Boston, the daughter of Russian immigrants. As a young adult, Anne became an excellent ballroom dancer, and would maintain her love of dancing throughout her lifetime. Her youth was not always light-hearted — World War II began when Anne was 19, and after her brother, Sumner, enlisted in the army, Anne aided the war effort by selling war bonds. She later moved to Washington DC to work at the Pentagon.
Shortly after the war, Anne married her husband, Samuel. Ahead of her time, Anne was a proud working mother. Despite never having the opportunity to attend college, she progressed from secretary to saleswoman, and then finally to regional sales manager for World Airways, where she ran the company’s Boston office.
Refusing to slow down after retirement, Anne volunteered for the Council on Aging, where she taught computer literacy to senior citizens. She was also involved with Beacon Hill Village, a grassroots senior citizen organization. Additionally, Anne participated in scientific research studies, such as the Diabetes Prevention Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, and took college classes at Suffolk University.
At the age of 72, Anne joined Community Boating, a non-profit sailing center in Boston, and achieved a lifelong goal of learning to sail. She loved telling her grandchildren about the time she capsized in the Charles River. Unsurprisingly, Anne made many close friends through the center, and spent much of her time either sailing or hobnobbing on the dock with passionate sailors who were often half her age. Anne was known to enjoy dancing and drinking a cocktail with her younger compatriots.
In addition to all these achievements and adventures, Anne remained a loving and present mother and grandmother. She spent much time and effort helping to raise her grandchildren who resided in Massachusetts, and periodically took trips to Alaska to visit her other grandchildren.
Anne’s vivacity continued well into her eighties, and she could even be found in these more advanced years bodysurfing waves at Revere Beach. In the words of a close friend, Anne had “spunk.” To all those who had the good fortune to know her, Anne served as an example of a life well lived. Her energy and enthusiasm will be missed by many.
A memorial service celebrating Anne Woolf’s life was held in Worcester, MA on Monday, October 30 at the Chapel in the Jewish Healthcare Center, 629 Salisbury Street, Worcester. A subsequent gathering to honor Anne’s life will be held on Saturday, November 18 at 4 p.m. at Church on the Hill, 140 Bowdoin St., Boston, MA 02108. For information, please call 413-668-8033.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Anne’s memory may be made to Community Boating, 21 David G Mugar Way, Boston, MA 02114, or to Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, 110 East 42nd St, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10017.