Friday, December 18, 2009

The Eternal Ann Masters: A Passing

The photo above, taken by my wife, Christina, was Ann's favorite.^

I suppose that losing Ann Masters, as we did today, shouldn't come as a huge surprise to those of us who knew the health challenges she faced during the past few years, but, as my wife said, "Ann just seemed eternal."

Yes, eternal. Sitting here, holding forth, her court around her--as she did at a seasonal party last week at the home of Hollins President Nancy Gray. I didn't go across the room and hug Ann as I almost always have done because we work in the same building now and I could do that any time. Except that I can't now. She can't drop in on me, either, and and announce, "Smith, you're not working. You're just typing. That's not work." And she'd laugh out loud.

Ann, who spent the last number of years as the inspirational and visionary head of the Clean Valley Council, moving it from an almost ceremonial role in "beautification" to a very real environmental force, had this infectiousness about everything she believed. She believed in the environment and in the people who had the power and the resolve to improve it. She was ever pointing out this or that unlikely hero, some business that sounds filthy, but which was making herculean efforts not to be.

Every once in a while, I'd call over to her office and ask what she had in the way of good stories of businesses who were coming around to the environmental movement and she'd laugh. "You've come to the right place again," she'd say and then she'd tell me about this cement manufacturer who'd cleaned up a process, or a quarry operator who was being a little kinder to the environment or some other unlikely hero. Then I'd say the obligatory, "Ann, you're a genius. I bet you had something to do with" whatever the success was. "Sure, I did, Smith," she'd bellow, "and don't you forget it." And she'd laugh that big laugh.

Ann, who was 74 but lived and looked much younger, didn't judge the polluters; she simply worked her magic on converting them. I saw it too many times to think it was anything but her smile, her encouragement, the mother in her bringing out the best in even the worst of us. Ann was a woman of impact. She was important and she lived a life that mattered.

It's going to take a little while for me to feel really awful about the news of her death because, as Christina says, she's not somebody who'd be dying. Eternal. That's Ann. Yes. That's Ann.

10 comments:

  1. I didn't know Ann, but I am sorry to hear of her passing. From your description, Dan, she sounds like someone I would have liked and admired a lot. I wish I had met her.

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  2. Thank you Dan, Ann was my mentor and champion I will miss her dearly. However,it is up to us to carry on the flame that she bore so passionately and gracefully.

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  3. Cam and I thank you so much for honoring her. We are losing the most wonderful mother and it is breaking our hearts while we also know that Roanoke is losing their "Mother Earth". We know that her work will carry on with others via the passion she laid out there. ~ Helen

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  4. Dan, what a wonderful tribute to an amazing lady. Ann was my mentor on the art museum board in the 1990's and early 2000's along with being my neighbor for the past 10-12 years. She gave so much to our valley and will be missed.

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  5. Very sad news indeed. Ann was and remains a role model for environmental leaders in the Valley and beyond. Her quiet, dignified ability to wield the power of her intelligence and passion made her a force to be reckond with. Yet her gentleness and humor made for one of the most endearing people I have ever had the honor and pleasure of knowing. She will be dearly missed.

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  6. I knew Ann for almost 35 years. For all of that time I knew her as one of Roanoke's greatest treasures. Her accomplishments will continue to inspire us all in the future.

    Eldon Karr

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  7. My sympathies to all who are mourning the loss of Ann. I didn't know her, but I know her daughter, Sam (Helen). To raise a daughter like Sam, she had to be a great person.

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  8. Ann was truly an instrumental person in our lives. More than 13 years ago she came into our lives. Living in NJ and hoping for the opportunity to move to the Roanoke Valley to secure employment within the recycling industry, Ann helped to facilitate that. I was offered a position with the city of Roanoke and worked closely with Ann to change the recycling system as it was to a new dual stream program. Ann also was generous to endorse my wife's first childrens book about recycling, Johnny Green and the Little Green Man, where her name will live on forever. We will truly miss her and are forever grateful to have known her these past 13 years. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and those close to her.

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  9. The Ann I knew was my friend Cam's mom. She was the mom that made friends want to hang out at their house including spending time with Ann too. Ann treated us all with friendship, respect, straight up honesty, humor and genuine love. I'd like to be the kind of mother Ann was. - Robin Gregory

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  10. Just heard of Anne's passing. She was a remarkable woman, so full of encouragement. Whenever we would stop by to pick up stuff for our nature club KIVA, she would stop me and just be so complementary. There were times where I know we continued KIVA because of her kind, kind words. I will miss her voice and her beautiful spirit.

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