Old Lyme - Ann Robertson, 70, beloved wife of 17 wonderful years to husband Paul Thomson, who was her kindergarten classmate, summer friend at Hawks Nest Beach and later her husband, died at Connecticut Hospice in Branford on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2013, finally ending a three year-long battle with implacable endometrial cancer.
Besides her husband, she is survived by two brothers, William Robertson of Cromwell, and Brien Robertson and his wife, Moira, of Niantic; a sister, Elizabeth Guilford, and her husband, Timothy, of Avon; nieces, Jennifer Robertson-Motta and her husband, Steve, of South Windsor, and Elizabeth Robertson-Aiuto and her husband, Christopher, of Stratford; and a nephew, Timothy Guilford Jr.
Ann was earlier predeceased by her aunts, Pat and Peggy, who held a special place in her heart.
Ann was born in Hartford, the eldest child of William and Anna (O'Brien) Robertson. Ann loved mathematics, and was a teacher of mathematics and computer science all her life. She taught at The U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Mitchell College, the University of New Haven, but found her true home, teaching mathematics at Connecticut College. She joined the faculty there in 1998 and in 2000 was promoted to senior lecturer.
A tireless and devoted educator, Ann took great pride in helping her students to appreciate mathematics from real-world contexts and in collaborative methodologies.
She was particularly adept at assisting students who approached mathematics with some anxiety, to feel successful and competent. Her research interests involved the imagery, fractional dimensionality, and process, of Jackson Pollock's drip period, and symmetries of the Alhambra. She was concerned that young girls were being socialized to be unsuccessful at math and started a project and web site for middle school math innovation through fractal mathematics and art.
Ann was extremely interested in the craft of teaching mathematics, and presented several papers and lectures at domestic and international conferences.
Her husband and family would like to thank the tireless nurses and staff of the Center for Hospice Care Southeastern Connecticut, 227 Dunham St., Norwich, CT 06360 for extraordinary care and devotion and requests that in lieu of flowers, donations to that organization be considered.
The family welcomes all of Ann's friends and colleagues to share memories of Ann from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, at Byles-MacDougall Funeral Home, 99 Huntington St., New London. A private burial will be at the convenience of the family.
Plans are being made for a memorial service of Ann's life early next year.
Please visit www.byles.com for directions, to sign the guestbook or share a memory.
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