Ann McCready (Cattell) Abruzzo of Lancaster PA passed away peacefully at her home on December 11, 2017 after a short illness. Ann was born in New York in 1930 to Raphael Caley McCready and Ben McCready. She was educated at Hunter College High School where she aced the difficult entrance exam. Then it was on to Harvard, which was then known as Radcliffe, graduating in 1952
She married Stuart Cattell of Garrison NY in 1953 and after a few years in Cambridge MA they eventually settled down in Garrison, where they raised their four children.
During those years Ann enjoyed canoeing, camping, volunteering at Aunt Bessie’s Open Door, and helping her father-in-law edit a scientific journal. After her divorce and a move to Cazenovia NY, she started to climb as many of the numerous 4,000 foot peaks in the Adirondack State Park, the White Mountains, and even Mt Katahadin. Meanwhile she worked her way up to an IT job at General Electric, giving her professional satisfaction and stability.
In the 1990s Ann re-connected with Tom Abruzzo, one of her Harvard classmates. They became a couple and eventually married. They enjoyed frequent trips to Europe, but their absolute favorite activity was exploring the east coast in their Cape Dory motor sailboat. They went down to Florida, out to the Bahamas and up to Block Island. For several years, the boat was their year-round home.
Ann was pre-deceased by her brother Rob. She is survived by her children: Tom, of Falmouth Maine, April and her husband Tim Holsapple of Bainbridge Island WA, William and his wife Mele of Hyde Park, NY and Lancaster PA, and Ian of PA, and eight grandchildren.
There will be a private family service. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to local ACLU Chapters.