Annie Louise Furrer

1929 - 2022

Annie Louise Furrer obituary, 1929-2022, Vero Beach, FL

BORN

1929

DIED

2022

Annie Furrer Obituary

Annie Louise Furrer
1929-2022
Annie Louise Furrer, a benefactor of the arts, proud conservationist, and wildlife advocate, died peacefully at her home in Vero Beach, Fla., on January 6th, surrounded by family.
Born February 20, 1929, Mrs. Furrer grew up in Fairfield, Conn., the elder daughter of George Curtis Waldo and Ethel Donaldson Waldo. Mr. Waldo was President of the Post Publishing Company in Connecticut and Editor-in-Chief of The Bridgeport Post, The Bridgeport Telegram, and the Bridgeport Sunday Post.
The occasion of Mrs. Furrer's birth became breaking news when William Pape, owner of The Waterbury Republican, Mr. Waldo's largest competitor at the time, signaled her arrival with front-page headlines that ran, "George Waldo Has A Baby Girl."
Annie Louise was known affectionately as "Lou Lou" to family, "Lou" to friends, and occasionally "The Queen" to those apt to pick up the royal similarities. In her youth, she frequented her father's dinner parties hosted at her family home in Fairfield, Shackleton House, where she honed her revered skills as a hostess. Mrs. Furrer was known for her charming disposition among both friends and strangers alike, entertaining guests of every profession, background, and age. Throughout her life, she graciously strove to remain in touch with extended family and friends scattered across the globe, becoming a loved and admired matriarch to many.
"There was never an occasion where she was not greeted by a room of smiling faces all hungry for her next fantastical story," remembers her granddaughter Charlotte Van Nortwick.
Growing up, Mrs. Furrer attended the Unquowa School in Fairfield and Ashley Hall in Charleston, South Carolina. In 1947, following her graduation from Briarcliff Junior College, Mrs. Furrer pursued a teaching career. She met her future husband, John R. Furrer, then an equestrian and executive with American Car and Foundry.
When her husband was named Vice President of Corporate Development at FMC, the Furrers moved to Chicago and settled in suburban Winnetka, Ill. Mrs. Furrer lent her organizational talents to various non-profit institutions. She served on the board of trustees of the North Shore Country Day School in Winnetka, the women's board of Chicago's Brookfield Zoo, and the Winnetka Garden Club, which led to becoming a delegate to the national convention of the Garden Club of America in 1980. She also recorded books for the blind under the auspices of the Hadley School for the Blind. Other passions included needlepoint, frequent rounds of tennis and daily crossword puzzles. She was a diehard football fan, in particular the Chicago Bears.
Mrs. Furrer inherited her lifelong interest in conservation and wildlife from her parents. Her mother's garden was a stop on garden club tours in Connecticut; as chairman of the Connecticut State Forest Commission for many years, George Waldo labored to develop state parks as recreational centers for the public.
A fitness enthusiast long before it became fashionable, Mrs. Furrer attended weekly classes in yoga, ballet and tap dancing, the latter an activity she pursued well into her sixties.
The couple divided their time in retirement among residences in Chicago, Ill., Jackson Hole, Wyo. and Vero Beach, Fla. A supporter of the Chicago Symphony and Lyric Opera of Chicago, in Vero Beach Mrs. Furrer sponsored projects at the Riverside Theater and McKee Jungle Garden. She was a patron of the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, actively volunteered with the Grand Teton Music Festival Women's Auxiliary, and a benefactor of Earthfire Institute for Wildlife Rehabilitation.
Mrs. Furrer is remembered for her hearty laugh, radiant smile, and sharp wit, in addition to her beloved dogs and Himalayan cats that were always present in her home.
She is survived by her husband of sixty-eight years; a son, Blake Furrer (Tania Zlatoff Mirsky) and daughter Kimberly Van Nortwick (James); five grandchildren: Anika Furrer, Graham Normann, John Tyler Normann, Charlotte Van Nortwick; and great-granddaughter, Olivia Normann. She. was 92. A private family service will be held at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Vero Beach, Fla. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Earthfire Institute in Driggs, Idaho.

Published by Connecticut Post on Jan. 20, 2022.
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