It is with great sadness that the family of Anna E. (Ann) Brandt, announce her passing on July 12, 2018.
Kind, gentle and dedicated, she would greet her neighbors with a smile and a helping hand. But Ann waged a war with cancer for almost 30 years. She triumphed twice, winning two major battles with it, but lost the last. Ann died peacefully at her home in Woodstock, with her husband by her side. She was 78.
Ann was born Anna Elizabeth McQueeney in Ossining, NY on September 11, 1939, the daughter of the late Joseph and Anna McQueeney. Ann grew up in Ossining and graduated from Ossining High School in 1957. After high school, she attended Auburn College, and then went on to work briefly for American Airlines. In 1960 she started with IBM where she worked for 13 years, becoming a Senior Executive Administrative Professional, and where she met her husband, William (Bill) Brandt.
Ann and Bill were married October 24, 1970 in Garrison, NY. When Bill was transferred to IBM Kingston in 1973, they moved together to Woodstock. IBM Kingston could not offer a position with a high enough rank for Ann, and so she retired from IBM and focused on raising their three children, Willy, Ed and Marilyn. When her children were older she began work again, first with Markertek of Saugerties, and then as a Secretary for the Woodstock Zoning Board of Appeals.
Ann was an enthusiastic and passionate volunteer, investing her time and energy into causes she loved, including children, the arts, and the environment. She was a den mother for the Boy Scouts and cookie mom for the Girl Scouts, and she volunteered for and served on the Board of the Catskill Ballet Theatre.
Ann served her community with dedication, common sense and grace. She was an active member of the Woodstock Environmental Commission (WEC) for an amazing 31 years, serving as Chair and Vice Chair, and contributing right up until her passing. The Commission’s accomplishments were many and far reaching during her tenure, when it was responsible for developing the Woodstock Environmental Quality Review Law and an Aerial Spraying Law. She was also project manager of an EPA grant to delineate the wellhead protection area of the Town as well as the author of the Best Management Practices brochure for that wellhead protection project.
She also coordinated the NYCDEP Land Acquisition and Stewardship Program for Woodstock and helped to organize WEC’s annual Earth Day exhibits.
Ann was also a member of the Ulster County’s Environmental Management Commission Oversight Committee that updated the County Open Spaces and Parks Plan, a Region 3 Director of the NYS Association of Conservation Commissions, and was a member of the Board of Directors of that Association. In 2005, Ann received the Margery Sachs Service Award for “Life-Long Environmental Concern and Service.”
She is survived by her husband Bill, her son Edward (Ed) and daughter-in-law Kelly of White Plains; her daughter Marilyn, son-in-law Tyler, grandson William (Liam), and granddaughter Hazel of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and daughter-in-law Mandy of Saugerties. Her son William (Willy) preceded her in death in 2011.
The family would like to extend its sincere thanks to Ulster County Hospice and Ms. Rosalee Archibald for Ann’s end of life care.
A funeral service was held Wednesday, July 18 at Lasher’s Funeral Home, Woodstock, followed by burial at the Woodstock cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Ann’s name can be made to the Catskill Ballet Theatre, 795 Broadway Kingston, NY, 12401, or the Woodstock Chamber Orchestra, P.O. Box 711, Woodstock NY 12498.
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