By Lynne Koplof
From ‘an off the grid’ geodesic dome built by friends and family without electricity or telephone, Annie not only raised her 3 remarkable children but created a haven for dozens of others. Her home was always open. She could most often be found in her kitchen creating exquisite and comforting meals for all who showed up, delighting everyone from culinary elitists to fussy 7 year olds.
A gifted artist, best known for ceramics, she created a bit of magic with everything she touched. She could turn an empty sardine can into an altar, a gourd into a gnome house, scraps of material into couture hats, and old plastic bags into chicken sculptures. Her hand built hobby horses have likely let many a kid pretend they were riding far and wide. While never a commercial artist, her works raised 10s of thousands of dollars for local charities.
Annie taught ceramics at Nonesuch School for 23 years, but she was so much more than a teacher. She was an alchemist who created a welcoming, enchanting environment filled with wild and imaginative projects, unbound creativity, wondrous stories, uproarious laughter and invaluable life skills; such as how to park your father’s car after you borrowed it without permission and brought it home dented.
Annie was one of the warmest, friendliest, funniest people on the planet. If one were to mention all the babies she helped deliver, the weddings she decorated, the food she took to people in need, the organizations she volunteered with, the torn clothes she mended and the people who she made feel happy and loved, it would fill a whole newspaper, front to back, and take too long for anyone to read, so I will leave it at this. Rather than an obituary, this is a letter of love for the person who gave so much to so many.
Her marriage to the kind and gentle John Roberts was forged with great love, genuine friendship and commitment to community. Together they created, instigated and shared so many good times with all.
She is survived by her three children, Jan Stickney, Jeannie Terhune, and Rafter Roberts, and her two grandchildren, Jesenia Garcia, and Rulian Roberts
Annie’s smile and her infectious cackling laugh will never be far away. Her last words were, “Remember, we had more fun than anyone.”