Ann Dutton

Ann was born December 19, 1925 in Brockton, MA to Amedeo and Mary Venti.  Her parents owned the Orange Crush bottling plant at the corner of Mason and Center St.  She had one older sister, Felicia (Phil) Venti Tabaroni of Brockton.  

She graduated from St. Patrick’s High School in Brockton, and while interested in pursuing a career in dance, she ultimately chose a career in teaching, majoring in Physical Education and graduating with her Bachelor’s degree from Bridgewater State Teacher’s College (University) in 1949, and receiving her Master’s in Education / Guidance from Springfield College in 1955.

Ann taught in various communities including Mansfield, Stoughton, Abington, MA, and Plainfield, CT where she taught Physical Education, Science, and English at Plainfield High School and gained many lifelong friends among both fellow teachers and students.  She also worked at the VA Hospital in Brockton in the 1950’s where she would meet her future husband Rod (deceased).  They married in 1956 and had one daughter.  In 1964 she took the position of Guidance Counselor at the Junior High School in Whitman, MA where among her accomplishments she developed the sexual education curriculum for the school system, and was also instrumental in the development and administration of the drug education program begun in the early 1970’s.  In the summer of 1965, she participated in the Headstart pilot program for disadvantaged children in Brockton.  She returned to the classroom in the mid-1970’s teaching Sixth Grade Science and English until her retirement from Whitman Public Schools in the late 1990’s.  Although retired, she would continue to volunteer in Whitman for several years.

Ann always took a deep interest her students’, personal and educational well-being, serving as teacher, mentor, and for many, friend.  That interest extended to all of those she met.  As one friend remarked, “I always remember her as being very thoughtful and caring.  I know I always felt so special in her presence.” 

Always inquisitive, she had a lifelong interest in learning, teaching, and mentoring.  She enjoyed the sciences, especially astronomy, dance, the arts, sports, reading, conversation, a good laugh, and possessed an understated sense of humor as witnessed by the time she and her Bridgewater classmates brought full anatomy specimen jars from class into the dining hall, arranging them on the table while they ate lunch.  She was a good cook and made a delicious marinara sauce and Italian salad dressing.  She is also remembered for the occasion when she reversed the quantities of sugar and salt in a birthday cake.

A soothing word, a hug, a kiss, and a grammatical correction, were always at the ready.  Compassionate, nurturing, and wise, she was an eternal optimist who always found the positive in all things, hope when it was needed most, and the light in the darkness.  And her light shown with a calm, gentle glow.  Thoughtful, kind, considerate, engaging, and a good listener, she was gifted with a quiet grace and determination. 

She was a wonderful mom, grand-mom to her four-legged family, wife, aunt, teacher, and friend.

While she is, and will be, deeply missed, Ann’s light is eternal and shines brightly.  She lives forever in the hearts and memories of those whom she loved and touched - those who loved her and were blessed to call her Mom, Aunt, Wife, Teacher, and Friend.

She is survived by her daughter Lynn, nephew Robert Tabaroni and wife Judy, great niece Jill Enwright and husband Rick and their children Payton ad Carter, extended family and close friends including, Betty Kizer, David and Marcia Grillo, Maria Espinola and husband Randy LaGrange, Darlene McCarthy, and four-legged grandkids Harley and Cleo.

There will be a service for friends and family on Saturday, March 27 at 1:00pm at the Downing Cottage Funeral Chapel in HIngham.

A lifelong animal lover, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your local animal shelter in Ann’s memory.

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