Ann R. Kendall Obituary (1924 - 2013)

ST. ALBANS AND DEXTER- Ann Reiter Kendall, 88, died February 22, 2013, the way she wanted, at home with her family at her side. She was born July 12, 1924 in New Brunswick, New Jersey to Dollie Vanderbilt Reiter and Frank William Reiter. She resided in New Brunswick through her graduation from Douglas College, of Rutgers University 1945. The following two years she attended Wellesley College in Massachusetts gaining a Master of Science degree in Physics. In 1948 she moved to Boston and was employed by Baird Associates in Cambridge working on infrared spectroscopy. She shared an apartment with four other young women on the back of Beacon Hill and enjoyed the rich opportunities for singing, folk dancing, concerts and skiing outings with the post graduate social set. There she met David Kendall, a graduate student at MIT. His intent to pursue geology in the Colorado Rockies excited them both. They married in June 1949 and moved to Gilman Colorado, a New Jersey zinc mining town. Their first two children Margaret and Peter were born there in the following two years. The company then moved them to Jefferson City, Tennessee. Their third child, Douglas was born there in 1956. Ann taught introductory physics courses at the local Carson Newman College. As a member of the town recreation committee she led the drive to convert an unused junior high building into a mid-town recreation center. In 1960 when the beginning space race set up a national demand for stronger education in the sciences, David decided to turn to Earth Science teaching. The family moved to Carlisle, PA where he earned a teaching degree at Dickinson College, while starting earth science curriculum in the local schools. Again, Ann taught introductory physics at the college. An invitation to join West Hartford schools came to David in 1965. Ann joined the staff of the Capital Region Planning Agency, a 29 town effort to coordinate water, sewer, land development, and road systems. Ann also became involved in seeking better cooperation between social service systems in the Health Care systems. With David's retirement in 1982, their last exciting move was to Maine. They chose Dexter for its charm and location near their daughter Margaret of Harmony. They built a passive solar home on a hilltop in St. Albans with a view of the Dixmont hills. David started a site-evaluating business with his son-in-law Fritz Buschmann. He turned to writing and published a book on Maine geology for the layman, Glaciers and Granite. Ann turned her energy to local projects. With the Dexter Historical Society she restored the Grist Miller's House. With the congregation of the First Universalist Church, she worked for a decade to restore the church building, including the steeple and the pipe organ. While maintaining her life in Dexter she continued to manage her family home on the New Jersey shore making it available to family and friends for summer vacations which they truly cherished. Her last big project was being involved in the construction of a large aviary with her daughter who operates Siesta Sanctuary for parrots in Harmony. In her last few years she enjoyed visiting with family, gardening and landscaping her home on the hill. She was predeceased by her beloved husband David and her son Peter and daughter-in-law Leona. She is survived by her daughter Margaret and son-in-law Fritz Buschmann of Harmony, grandsons Adrian and Noel and great granddaughter Ella-marie; a son, Douglas Kendall and daughter-in-law Diane in Holderness, NH and their children Abigail, Samuel, Lillian and Aidan; and Peter's daughter Jennifer Kendall and great grandson Nicholas of Winsted, CT. A celebration of Ann's life will be scheduled in the spring. Donations can be made in her honor to the charity of your choice. Arrangements by Crosby & Neal, Dexter.