ANNE MARIE SPITZER

1954 - 2021

SPITZER, Anne Marie Anne was born in Stamford, CT in 1954 to Katharine and Robert Selle. She was the oldest daughter of six children, three girls and three boys. Robert's work took the Selle family to Milwaukee for a few years before returning to Brookline, MA where they settled in Katharine's childhood home. Anne was a voracious reader with an appetite for world geography and history. She graduated from the Brimmer and May School, attended Bradford College for two years before transferring to Scripps College in California where she majored in Asian studies with a focus on Japanese art. Her love of books steered her to the retail book business after graduating, working for Brentano's in the Prudential Center, before migrating to the publishing business as a sales representative covering parts of New England and New York State for Avon Books, a division of Hearst. She quickly demonstrated a skill for not only selling books but identifying potential bestsellers. Upper management recognized her potential, moving her to Chicago where she covered major accounts in the Midwest. She became a regional manager and won the respect of those reporting to her almost immediately. After three years in the Midwest, she transferred to New England as a regional manager. In the fall of 1978, she and another book rep, Michel Spitzer, met while waiting for their respective appointments with the owner of the Ben Franklin Bookstore in Worcester, MA. They later confirmed that they knew instantly their interests in one another was more than a flirtation. Five years later, in 1982, they married at Anne's childhood home. Michel was 13 years older, divorced and had two children, Geoff and Kate, and Anne was struck by his devotion to them. Five years later, in 1987, Anne was able to appreciate and experience that devotion when she gave birth to Henry Francis Spitzer, a son who would become the center of her life. Henry grew up to be exactly the kind of principled and compassionate person that she was, and there was nothing she wouldn't do for him to keep him on the right track. Henry met the love of his life, Marlene O'Hara, who was a student at Boston Latin while he was attending BC High. Marlene and Anne became fast friends. Henry and Marlene married in 2014 and welcomed their first daughter, Camille Athena, into the world in 2019. Anne's world was truly complete despite the diagnosis of Cancer in 2020. She never let Cancer get between her and her Millie. Anne's love grew further when Henry and Marlene welcomed their second daughter, Vivienne Inés Spitzer, born just five weeks ago. Throughout her professional career, first in the book business and then as an events coordinator and fundraiser for two local independent schools, she gained the love and respect of her co-workers for her willingness to do the heavy lifting. Her family, friends, and neighbors sought her out regularly for solid, caring, and helpful advice. Anne had an ability to instantly connect with people on a deep level. She was always considerate of those with less or in distress and her full and charitable heart compelled her to help them. Anne had a keen eye for design and would not hesitate to offer ideas to her friends if asked. She would even change your living room around and transform it into something more comfortable and pleasing to the eye… but only if asked. She loved music, singing with her family, especially her sisters & brothers and cousins at their many gatherings. She loved her family and was an intrepid matriarch, leading the charge for family vacations, gatherings, and the annual Christmas Eve party for the extended family with her signature flair and biting sense of humor. She was a deeply devoted daughter, and principal caretaker for her parents in their final years. She was a beloved Auntie to her nieces and nephews, to them she was brilliant, often outrageous, and so kind. She traveled in style and was able to enjoy trips to Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, and Canada. Anne died on Wednesday, July 28 after valiantly fighting what is one of the most difficult of cancers. She would be the first to acknowledge her sister, Janet, and niece, Nelly, for their extraordinary love, care,and comfort during the most difficult stage of her disease - the final days. Along with Michel, Henry, Marlene, Millie, Vivienne, Geoff and Kate, she leaves her adoring siblings & their spouses, eight nieces, six nephews, and an enormous network of friends and relatives who were there to support and remind her how much she meant to them. As one close friend put it, "she was remarkable and bigger than life." Donations to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation in her honor are encouraged. https://cholangiocarcinoma.org/donate/.

View the online memorial for Anne Marie SPITZER