Ann Matsner Gruenberg

CANTERBURY

HAMPTON

Ann Matsner Gruenberg, 78, dedicated educator and longtime resident of Canterbury and Hampton, passed away peacefully on November 26, 2025 due to complications of Parkinson's disease.

Ann was born in New York City in 1948, the daughter of Ernest and Lillian (Saastamoinen) Gruenberg. She spent much of her childhood on her grandparents farm in Canterbury, CT.

She was a willing friend to all who crossed her path and a tireless advocate for the welfare of children, particularly those with special needs.

Her interest in improving the lives of children started in 1963 when as a teenager she completed a summer service program with intellectually disabled children. Her first work placement through Antioch College, at Gillette Children's Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota, cemented her commitment to service, particularly to young children with challenging conditions.

Ann graduated from Antioch in 1969 with a B.S. in Elementary Education, and earned a master's degree in 1980. After years of work with children and families in the community, in 1988 she became a faculty member at Eastern Connecticut State University, serving through 2015, earning a PhD in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Connecticut and becoming a full professor along the way. She contributed extensively to her field through dozens of papers and presentations at national conferences, particularly the Early Childhood Division of the Council for Exceptional Children. She co-authored a book, A Practical Guide to Early Childhood Inclusion: Effective Reflection and published articles in journals to guide teachers in inclusive early childhood classrooms. Ann served as an expert in special education at the Center for Early Childhood Education. Within the early childhood professional circle, Ann is well known for her child-centered, inclusive approaches to teaching.

She also gave her time and expertise selflessly to many individual families and their children, consulting with them to navigate the system, to seek appropriate resources, and to recognize the strengths in themselves.

Ann was a beloved member of the Eastern community, where she made lasting friends throughout the school. Everyone remembers Ann for her deep compassion, kindness, and empathy. During her almost three decades of teaching at Eastern, Ann guided and facilitated the growth and learning of hundreds of students. So deeply connected to her students was Ann that she remembered every one of her students by their full name and could readily recall their background. She was a supportive colleague who acknowledged professional and personal milestones large and small, always staying in touch.

Ann was elected to the Hampton school board in 2001 and after retiring from Eastern in 2015, she served as president of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education.

Ann loved living in Connecticut's Quiet Corner. She was an enthusiastic supporter of local businesses and artists and the Finish American Heritage Society in Canterbury. In addition to her academic accomplishments, she was a licensed massage therapist.

Ann is survived by her brothers, Nicholas (Susan LaMont) and Matthew (Danielle Barry). Ann was, as her family continues to be, deeply grateful for the loving and compassionate care provided by the staff of Ocean Meadow Senior Living in Clinton, CT.

A Memorial Service will be held in late January at Eastern Connecticut State University. Those interested are invited to make a donation in Ann's name to the Finnish American Heritage Society Scholarship Fund at The Finnish American Heritage Society of Connecticut, 76 N Canterbury Rd, Canterbury, CT 06331 https://www.fahs-ct.org/scholarships

Ann Matsner Gruenberg