Anne Jouett Bobseine, long-time resident of Duxbury, MA, died on May 14 at the age of 88. Her husband of 65 years, her four children and many of her grandchildren were with her during her last days. Anne was a kind and gentle person who loved life, music, her writing, her friends, and, most of all, she loved her family.
She was born in Newton, graduated from Emma Willard School and then attended Smith College. She showed early talent and passion for music and theatre. At the age of 12, she played in a piano concert with Leonard Bernstein. She acted and directed at Smith and in summer stock throughout the East. She set her sights on Broadway and a career in the theatre, but with the breakout of World War II she left Smith and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. In the Navy, she first worked as a meteorologist and later in Naval Intelligence on the effort to break the Japanese code.
During the war she met a Navy pilot, Urban L. Bobseine, and they were married in 1945. Upon their discharge from the Navy, they hitchhiked from San Diego to the Pacific Northwest and then back to Boston. They both attended and graduated from Syracuse University.
Anne set aside a career in the theatre in order to raise a family. She taught piano for many years and played the organ at the Christian Science Church in Duxbury. She wrote numerous short stories. She read for the blind for 25 years and was active in Alumni Affairs at Emma Willard School.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Urban; her daughters Ellen of Vero Beach, FL; Kathie of Plymouth, MA; and Terry of Gilford, NH; her son Mark of Duxbury, MA; eight grandchildren; and her sister, Jean Jouett Hill of Newcastle, England.
A private memorial service for family and friends will be held on May 29.
Donations in her memory may be made to Disabled American Veterans, The Animal Rescue League, The Society For the Protection of NH Forests or The Home For Little Wanderers.