Ann Sinclair Gazenbeek

Ann Sinclair Freeman Gazebeek passed away in San Jose, CA, on October 26 after a long illness. Born January 10, 1945, at Wilson, NC, to Rev. Tom M. and Maisie Freeman, late of Dunn, NC, she graduated from Kenwood High School in Essex, Maryland, and Meredith College in Raleigh, NC, majoring in French and elementary education. After a year spent teaching first grade in Durham, NC, she became a flight attendant with Pan American Airways, flying across the Pacific, including troop R&R flights out of Vietnam, then the eastern routes to London and Paris from Los Angeles and New York City. During a Thanksgiving trip to Oregon in 1968 she met the love of her life, Jan Gazenbeek, who was completing his MBA at the University of Oregon.

Marrying in 1969, they spent their first two years together living in Amstelveen, Netherlands, where Jan traveled Europe as a consultant with McKinsey & Company. They then moved to Los Altos, CA, where they spent the rest of their lives. For a time Ann was a travel agent for American Express in Palo Alto. Avid birdwatchers and hikers, they often hiked and camped in the Sierra Nevadas. After their children were born Ann focused on family, though she was also a lover of gardening, including serving as president of the De Anza Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society. She also became a patron of the arts, particularly the music program at Stanford University, and she was a docent at the Aviation Museum in the San Francisco airport.

She is survived by her children, Saskia Lagergren (Eric) of San Jose, CA, and Anton Gazenbeek (Jody) of Newark, NJ; her grandchildren Emma Lagergren and Logan Lagergren of San Jose; and her siblings, William Freeman of Buies Creek, NC, Judith Freeman of Vancouver, WA, and Joy Tilley (Ken) of Charlottesville, VA. A memorial service will be held at a later date.