Anne Curtin

Obituary of Anne Curtin

Anne Elinor O’Grady Curtin, 87 years old, died Friday, January 10, 2025. She took her last breath surrounded by her four children who loved her dearly. She will be remembered as a mother, grandmother, sister and wife who put family first. She will be remembered for her work with the Peace Corps and in politics as a translator who strove for a better world. She will be remembered as an avid tennis player, skier and ballet dancer who enjoyed  physical activity almost as much as such intellectual pursuits as stimulating conversation and reading. She would have asked to be remembered just for herself, just as Anne.

 

Anne was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina to American parents on June 21, 1937 and she graduated from the American High School of Buenos Aires before attending Saint Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana. She studied English Literature at Saint Mary’s and graduated in 1960. After graduation, Anne worked at the University of Notre Dame and was secretary to the director of the first Peace Corps group to go to Chile from 1961-63. It was there that she met her husband, Michael Curtin, a volunteer, who was determined to make this scintillating woman his wife before even speaking to her. In a testament to their enduring bond, Anne died on the same date as Mike, twelve years apart.

 

After the Peace Corps, Anne and Mike lived in many places - among them were Staten Island, New York; Vina Del Mar Chile; Princeton, New Jersey;  Washington, DC; San Francisco, California and Naples, Florida. Anne enjoyed raising her children and was an affectionate and original mother but she yearned for more. When the family moved to Washington, DC in 1982, Anne leapt into the work force of this international city. Beginning as a volunteer for the Republican Party, Anne was quickly recognized for her talents as a superbly accurate and seamless Spanish translator for foreign dignitaries attending the RNC convention. She went on to work for the International Republican Institute and also for Pete Wilson, first in his Senate Office and later his Office of the Governor of California.

 

In later years, Anne realized one of her heart’s desires to live near the ocean. She spent the last 13 years in Naples, Florida in her dream condo overlooking the Gulf waters where she happily hosted friends and family. She often encouraged her grandchildren to visit and bring their friends - especially their boyfriends and girlfriends. Anne dearly wanted to be an accomplice in fun and a confidante of their hearts. Anne fully enjoyed the role of grandmother and she had a unique relationship with each of her grandchildren, dispensing advice freely on matters ranging from hair-cuts to careers, from a woman’s place in this world to what it means to be a good man. One of her most often repeated exhortations was to “be good to yourself”. In a touching card written not long ago to one of her grandchildren, Anne penned “Love has no bounds! So I am free to love you dearly and intensely for ever!”

 

Anne is survived by her children, Victoria and her husband Henry Karamanoukian, Theodore Curtin and his wife Pamela Coffey, Christianne and her husband Daniel McCarthy and Susan and her husband Michael Gouldin; her sisters, Virginia O’Grady Forrester, Mary O’Grady Den Dooven, Carol O’Grady Weld (William) and Patricia O’Grady Justeau (Philippe) and their families; her sister-in-law, Beverly Troxler O’Grady; as well as her cherished grandchildren, George, Elinor, Curt, Daniel, Charles, Virginia, Michael, Theodore and Theodora. She was pre-deceased by her husband, Michael Edward Curtin; her parents Victoria and Charles O’Grady; her brother, Robert O’Grady; and her granddaughter, Marie-Claire Curtin.

 

Anne was wonderful. We will forever miss our beloved mother, grandmother and sister. We will forever miss our beloved Anne. 

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