Anne Cowin Fahey

Anne Cowin Fahey, 64, a longtime Princeton resident, died peacefully at home on August 4.

Anne will be remembered for her remarkable selflessness, her knack for nailing the little things, her humor, and her resilience. She took a stoic, glass-half-full approach to life through the tragic death of her husband, Kevin, in a car accident in 2006 and through her courageous three-year battle with ALS. Although her life was marked by deep lows, she chose to live a life filled with gratitude for the gifts life presented her: her children, her family, her friends, travel, and the arts. Behind a modest demeanor, Anne was exuberant, loyal and loving, and determined to make the most of life. She will be deeply missed.

Born and raised in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, to Margaret and Lawrence Cowin, Anne studied French at the University of Michigan and graphic design at Pratt Institute. She lived in Detroit and New York City before settling in Princeton, New Jersey. In 1988, Anne married her high school sweetheart, Kevin, after an epic, 11-year long-distance relationship. She had met Kev at age 10, when they were castmates in a Cleveland Play House Youth Theater production. Nineteen years later, they returned to the Play House for their wedding. They had two children, Eamon and Byrne.

A talented graphic designer, Anne worked at Pentagram and later established herself as a self-employed designer, working with organizations including the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, 101: Fund, and Sustainable Princeton. Anne also brought her designer's eye to thoughtful event invitations and inventive birthday cards for friends and family. In 2022, Anne's design was proudly featured nationwide on the ALS Association's Walk to Defeat ALS shirts.

After living in Aix-en-Provence for a year during college, Anne kept up her French language through conversation groups and later took up Spanish. Anne delighted in theater, music, good quality television, and travel. She would insist on taking a photo of her tour guide following any cultural tour. She loved food and cooking and nurtured this passion through relentless study and experimentation.

Anne is survived by her children, Eamon and Byrne; her mother Margaret Cowin; her sister Elizabeth Roth (George Roth); her brothers Tom Cowin and James Cowin; and niece Olivia Anne Roth; as well as her Fahey siblings-in-law and her partner David Myers. A memorial will be held at 12 pm, Sunday, September 10 at Eno Terra in Kingston, NJ.