If you’ve lived in Westport for any length of time, you know the name Ann Sheffer.
You may know her work with the Westport Arts Center. Or the Westport Country Playhouse. Or Westport Historical Society. Or Westport Library.
If it’s related to culture — and Westport — Ann is involved.
Last Saturday, the WAC honored her as its “Queen of Arts.” (Pretty clever: The event was their annual fundraiser, with a “Wonderland” theme.)
Ann Sheffer in her role as “Queen of Arts.” (Photo/Helen Klisser During)
The tribute included a 10-minute video, produced by Westporter Doug Tirola’s 4th Row Films. Plenty of boldface names appear, like Senators Blumenthal and Murphy, Jim Himes, Maxine Bleiweis, Miggs Burroughs and Gordon Joseloff, along with Ann’s brother, son, daughter, grandkids, and husband Bill Scheffler. (They met sitting next to each other alphabetically in a Staples homeroom, then re-connected 25 years later).
There are some great lines, including Miggs’ “her canvas is Westport, her palette is everyone in it.”
In whatever capacity you know Ann — or even if you’ve just heard her name — this video is well worth watching. It’s Westport — and Westporters — at their finest.
(If your browser does not take you directly to YouTube, click here.)
I served on the RTM with Ann…she was also my representative from Compo Beach. It was hard to believe all the other things she was involved with and the really significant contribution she has made to the arts and Westport. The best part is she does it with little fanfare. Thanks so much, Ann 🙂
I had coffee with Ann yesterday in NYC before flying back. We spoke of lots of things including you.
Joey
My calendar had an Evening Soirée fund raiser listed for last Sunday at Ann’s house — so Visiting Nurse and Hospice could be added to that long list of charitable activities she quietly tends to.
Ann, You brat for not telling me! xoc
Loved this tribute to Ann and truly enjoyed seeing familiar faces from my childhood.
Ann and her entire family were wonderful to me when I was growing up in Westport. My warmest wishes to Ann regarding this lovely honor.
Dear Ann,
this was long deserved! Congratulations and best,
Diane Cady
Congratulations to Ann! If I recall correctly (a problematic claim), she was our class (Staples ’66) Most Likely to Succeed. She definitely has lived up to that prediction!
I’ve known Ann since kindergarten at Coleytown – and even then she was “artsy”, smart and organizing things, almost always with a giggle. It is no surprise that she has contributed so much to the town. Congratulations from one “townie” to another!
Dear, dear Ann. It was my pleasure and my privilege to know you [and Bill] during our many shared years in Westport Rotary. This honor is SO well deserved. I wish you well always, my friend. Dale Eyerly Colson
Ann is one of my heroes. I can’t think of anyone who deserves this honor more.