Anne Ellsworth Dickinson was born on January 1, 1931 in Buffalo, New York. Anne was a resident of StoneRidge in Mystic, Connecticut. She died on December 18, 2015 in New London, Connecticut after a long illness. She is survived by her husband, Monroe Miller Dickinson; a daughter, Elizabeth Anne Dickinson of Brooklyn, New York; a son, Mark Ellsworth Dickinson and his wife of Wake Forest, North Carolina; a second daughter, Caroline Dickinson Morrison and her husband of Brooklyn, New York, as well as six grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and three nieces.
Anne received a BA in Economics at Mount Holyoke College and an MA in Social Sciences at Binghamton University. Prior to marriage she was employed as office manager at Nichols School in Buffalo.
After marriage she was an active volunteer providing support to many causes including church local mission ministry, girl scout leadership, Planned Parenthood (board member), St. Luck’s House (board and emeritus board member of an organization supporting persons with significant and persistent mental health problems.), a Maryland coalition for mental health that she co-founded, and many others.
For some fifteen years before her retirement, Anne was a refugee caseworker and resettlement manager with both the American Civic Association and International Rescue Committee. Hundreds of legal refugees sponsored by the US State Department from Laos, Africa, and Eastern Europe were supported with housing, education, job acquisition, health problem resolution, and literacy. Special interest refugees were coordinated with the CIA.
Anne was a longtime summer resident of Block Island where she resided at the family residence on Peckham Farm.
Anne was always found with a ready smile and displayed the ability to effectively interface with persons at all stations in life. Her concern for humanity was a strong component of her being, and she was compassionate, friendly, efficient, and gracious. Her love of music remained with her to the end of her life and she listened to Beethoven symphonies while awaiting death.
A Service of Celebration for Anne will be held on Saturday, January 16, 2016 at 3:00pm in the auditorium at StoneRidge, 186 Jerry Browne Road, Mystic. A memorial reception will immediately follow. Burial will be private for the family in St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Memorial Garden.
A Memorial Service will also be scheduled for a later date at St. Ann’s-By-The-Sea Church on Block Island.
In lieu of flowers please consider donations in Anne’s memory for the upkeep and enhancement of the St. Mark’s Memorial Garden where Anne will be laid to rest. Checks can be made to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church” with “Anne Dickinson Memorial” on the memo line and mailed to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 15 Pearl Street, Mystic CT 06355.
To share a message of condolence or remembrance with her family, please click the link below.