Anne B. McDonald

ANNE B. MCDONALD

74, passed away Wednesday, October 3, 2007 at her home in Stamford. She was the daughter of the late Teresa Connors Byrnes and Walter L. Byrnes, and the stepdaughter of Anna Dadey Byrnes.

Anne had a rich and exciting life. She fulfilled so many roles in our world, and pursued all of them with a sense of love, caring and dedication.

Born and raised in Syracuse, NY, Anne used to dance a jig in that city's Tipperary Hill District under its Irish stop light, where the green was always on top, and the orange was below.

Anne graduated from LeMoyne College with a B.S. in economics, and from Syracuse University with a M.S. in education. In many aspects of her life, she remained a teacher long past her days as one in the Syracuse and Ardsley, NY public schools. She enjoyed, immensely, teaching children in the public schools, as well as adults learning English as a Second Language.

She dedicated herself to working in public service. Anne served the people of Stamford in multiple capacities for almost four decades. Her public life focused on issues involving affordable housing, senior citizens, children and public health. Over the years she served on numerous appointed boards and commissions, including eight years on the City of Stamford Commission on Aging, three years on the Connecticut Advisory Board on Aging, four years on the Stamford Housing Authority, and four years on the Housing Development Fund Board. She served on multiple other boards over the years.

Anne was first elected to the Stamford Board of Education in 1979, where she served on many of its committees, as well as its President. She was twice re-elected to the board, and retired from it in 1986. She also served four years on the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education.

In 1990 she was elected to the House of Representatives in the Connecticut General Assembly, representing the 148th District, and was re-elected for five additional terms, when she retired from public life in 2003. In addition to representing the Cove, Glenbrook and East Side of Stamford in the General Assembly, she also served as the House Chairman of the Public Health Committee and the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.

First and foremost, for 47 years Anne was the beloved wife of Alex McDonald of Stamford, who survives her. She is also survived by her four children and their spouses: Peter McDonald and his wife, Nancy, of Monroe; Annie McDonald and her husband, Ted, of Rockville, MD; Walter McDonald and his wife, Narci, of Stamford; and state Sen. Andrew McDonald, and his partner, Charles, of Stamford. She is also survived by her three grandchildren, Alexandra, Melissa and Jason. She leaves her brothers, John Byrnes and his wife, Faith, of Dobbs Ferry, NY and Edmund Byrnes and his wife, Mitzi, of Mt. Vernon, NY. She was predeceased by her sister, Mary McCarty. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at the Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home, 2900 Summer Street, Friday, October 5, 2007 from 4-8 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, October 6, 2007 at 10 AM at St. Mary's Church, 563 Elm Street, Stamford. Burial will follow at Queen of Peace Cemetery, Stamford, CT. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Arthritis Foundation, CT Chapter, 35 Cold Spring Road, Rocky Hill, CT, 06067.