Anna O. Soter

Anna O. Soter, age 77, passed away on Monday, October 14th, 2024 at her home in Columbus, Ohio. Anna was born near her hometown of Sulz, Austria on December 23rd, 1946. She lived her early years in the Australian outback town of Wittenoom, before pursuing an academic career and making a home in the United States. She is preceded in death by her father, Frank and twin children, Samuel and Anthea. She is survived by her son Ben, brother John, sisters Katharina, Helena, Elizabeth, and her mother Olga. 

Professor Emerita, College of Education & Human Ecology, The Ohio State University

Adjunct Professor, Columbus College of Art & Design

Founder, The Hospital Poets. OSU Medicine and the Arts

Editorial Advisor, Ether Arts

Anna was a Professor in English Education in the Department of Teaching and Learning at The Ohio State University. She earned her B.A. in English and History at the University of Western Australia, Perth, her M.A. in English Language and Literature at the University of Sydney, and her Ph.D., specializing in cross-cultural written language analysis, at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She taught courses in language learning, language methods, poetry, literary theory and young adult literature for prospective English Language teachers, graduate students, and in-service teachers.

Anna was also an award-winning poet and writer of creative fiction and founder of The Hospital Poets program in The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Her most enduring interest was the concept of language as a field of energy and the therapeutic benefits of incorporating poetry reading and writing in settings spanning education, health, and wellness and daily life.

Please join us in celebrating the life of Anna Soter.

Her memorial service will be held from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Tuesday, October 29th at Shaw-Davis Funeral Home in Clintonville. 4341 N High St, Columbus, OH 43214

This will be an open mic event, guided by Chaplain Ron Davis. The floor will be yours if you wish to share some fond memories of Anna.

The event will be live streamed, for those who would like to attend, but cannot participate in person.

We would like to invite you to join us in an informal gathering at the Park of Roses after the event.

A link will be provided on this obituary page on the day of the service which includes the live-stream for the service, prior to commencement