Ann Blackwell McEachran

1939 - 2024

Ann Blackwell McEachran, born on August 27,1939, in Memphis, Tennessee, to Jessie Rube Blackwell and Dr. Samuel Joseph Blackwell, passed away peacefully at the Methodist Hospice Residence in Memphis, Tennessee, on September 13th, 2024, at the age of 85. A brilliant scholar and a devoted mother and grandmother, Ann will be greatly missed and gratefully remembered by all who knew her.

Ann attended Vanderbilt University, Memphis State University, and the University of Pittsburgh, concluding her education with a doctorate in biostatistics. Over the course of her professional life, she made her mark in research at the University of Tennessee in public health and the University of Alabama, Birmingham in spinal cord injury. Finally, she was on the vanguard of research at the University of Pittsburgh, exploring newly introduced SSRIs and the relationship between depression and sleep cycles.

Perpetually open-handed and open-hearted with her family, friends, acquaintances, and employees, she showed special love and consideration for pets and young children. She treasured her role as a grandmother and attended every concert, school occasion, athletic event, dance production, and birthday party with a radiant smile and ready applause. She was readily goofy with her grandchildren, enjoyed showing them her garden of tomatoes and herbs, and teaching them to chew fresh mint leaves in the summer. She hosted numerous delicious Memphis Thanksgivings and Christmas dinners.

A devotee of The New York Times crossword puzzles, she also commanded the Bridge table with such brilliance that she was affectionately accused by her Bridge club of card trickery.

Ann planned wonderful family trips, curating restaurants, museums, tour guides, and venues with attention and care, elevating the experience of all involved. Travels to France, India, Italy, and Ireland established precious and everlasting memories for her kith and kin.

Ann loved classical music, opera, the Democratic Party, and poetry. She was always dressed beautifully and had exquisite taste in art, furnishings, cuisine, and fashion, discernments which she passed on to her surviving children (Amanda and Gib) and grandchildren (Mary Parke, Gibbs, Anna Rose, and Charlie).

In mid-October the family will gather in Asheville, North Carolina, to celebrate and remember Ann's vibrant life.

Memorial contributions for Ann McEachran will be gratefully accepted by the Association for Women in Science Scholarship Fund (awis.org) honoring Ann's passion for equitable recognition and support of women in science.