Dr. Ann Marie Orza

WILLIMANTIC

Dr. Ann Marie Orza, 88, of Washington, D.C., passed away on September 16, 2025. She was born in Ontario, Canada, to Bert and Margaret Goerk, and eventually became a U.S. citizen. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Doug.

Ann Marie was educated at Canadian and U.S. universities and at the University of Louvain in Belgium where she met her husband Arnold. She would go on to become a professor at Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU). She taught at ECSU for almost three decades, chaired the Psychology Department; developed the first course on the Psychology of Women and the Women's Studies minor; and established and supervised the Women's Center.

It would take many pages to describe all her attributes and accomplishments. In brief, she was kind, caring, funny, generous, intrepid, joyful, and touched countless lives with her unconditional love. Among many things, she was a beloved and pioneering professor of psychology; a fierce feminist and champion of human rights; a talented artist; a great cook and baker; a voracious reader; and a graceful skater, dancer, and swimmer. Above all else, she was a wonderful Mom, and nothing gave her more joy in her later years than being a devoted Nana to her granddaughters. We were fortunate to have her in our lives for as long as we did.

She is survived by Arnold, her husband of 64 years; her three children, Michele (Ed), Anthony (Leslie), and Julia; her granddaughters, Caroline and Jacqueline; her sister, Marianne Goerk; and countless students, colleagues, friends, and family who loved her greatly and will miss her unforgettable hugs and smile.

The family is planning a celebration of her life sometime in the future and kindly requests no flowers. Nonetheless, Ann Marie was an avid gardener and we are sure she would appreciate a gift of flowers to someone who was not expecting them as a way of honoring her.

Another possibility for memorializing her could be a donation to the scholarship in her name at ECSU for students either studying Women and Gender Studies or those contributing to the advancement of human rights. Donations can be made to the ECSU Foundation (on the memo line write Orza Endowed Scholarship), and mail to Eastern Connecticut State University, Development Office, 83 Windham Street, Willimantic, CT 06226, or to give online use this link and search for Ann Marie Orza:

https://alumni.easternct.edu/g/annual-giving/#ng/

Dr. Ann Marie Orza