Ann Steffeld

Ann Muriel Staffeld, a former resident of Newburyport, MA for 16 years, passed away on

November 25, 2025 in Lincoln, MA at the age of 97. She has been living at Mary Immaculate

Memory Care, Lawrence, MA the last two years. Born on July 27, 1928 in Detroit, MI to parents

Muriel and Rev. John Staffeld, Congregational Minister, the family moved at regular intervals, to

Lydonville, VT, Hingham, MA, and Framingham, MA where she graduated high school. She

worked summers on farms during the war and at Sunlight Camp for the blind for her social

worker mother. She earned her Masters Degree in English Literature, minor music, Suma Cum

Laude, and Bachelors Degree (1949) from Boston University: Scarlet Key, Who's Who in

American Colleges, Girls Glee Club, Harriet E Richards House Recording Secretary, President

of the Congregational Club, VP of the Protestant Council and a lifetime member of the Phi Beta

Kappa Society.

Ann began her editorial career in book publishing at the Harvard University Press, Project

Whirlwind, MIT. She married Paul W. Mendez in 1956 at Church of the Advent, Boston. They

shared a deep appreciation for nature and the Anglican liturgy, ardently sang hymns together

which she accompanied on her pump organ. They had three daughters, whom she raised

independently since their divorce in 1964. Residing in Waltham and Lexington, MA, Ann was an

active member of Mensa, wrote poetry, held play reading groups at her home, performed in

local Gilbert & Sullivan production, played organ at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in

Bedford Center and supported her daughters’ creative arts pursuit. She worked at Little Brown

Publishing on Beacon Hill, DC Heath Waltham, and Digital Equipment Corp, Nashua NH until

she retired to Danville, and later St. Johnsbury, Vermont.

As a member of the Andrew's Episcopal Church, she worked as a church musician there and at

the First Unitarian Universalist Church and St. John the Evangelist Catholic Saturday 4 pm

mass. She was a devoted activist for peace and social justice, told her story in a theatrical

performance and subsequent film, Journey Into Courage. She took up serious study and

flourishing in Classical piano, accompanied local musicians, taught piano lessons, wrote poetry

and joined the Danville Writers Group where several of her stories of local history were

published in the Danville paper. Her poems and short stories have appeared in The Christian

Science Monitor, Christina Century, The Green Mountain Trading Post, The North Star Monthly,

The Lycon Legacy, Beacon: Greater Boston Mensa journal, Ibbetson Street #42, The Lyric and

Bostonia magazine. She was an avid walker and sacred circle dancer.

In 2007, Ann moved to the James Steam Mill, Charles Street, Newburyport MA. She was a

member of St Paul’s Episcopal Church of Newburyport and sang in the choir. She worked as a

substitute organist and choir director at First Congregational Church of Newbury UCC and

accompanied summer services at Adelynrood, the retreat center of the Companions of the Holy

Cross in Byfield for several years. She further developed her passions for writing and pianism in

numerous ways: participating in Alred Nicol’s poetry workshop, writing a memoir and detective

story, and holding both solo and trio recitals in her home. She was a peace activist who often

stood in all kinds of weather, holding silent vigil.