One of my—and Milton’s—oldest and best friends, Ann Carter, died in December in Hanover, New Hampshire. She was the wife of Ad Carter ’32, longtime faculty member and renowned mountaineer. Ann was in her 95th year, yet her death was surprising to those who knew her. She seemed ageless. Her parents lived to 100. I believe that Ann expected to reach or exceed that mark.
In her Christmas letter to family and friends, she wrote of her marvelous, active summer at her family’s place on the Cape, surrounded by her offspring, swimming in Pleasant Bay and sailing her ancient catboat. More good times followed in Jefferson, New Hampshire, at the Carter family place, so familiar to generations of Milton skiers and climbers.
After describing a magical, hot-air balloon ride with son Peter over the fall foliage, she told us in straight-up fashion: “Unfortunately, life brings its unexpected.” She had been diagnosed with advanced colon cancer. She died on December 28, 2011.
Ad and Ann arrived at Milton in 1946. They remained an integral part of the School for the rest of their lives. Ad taught French, German and Spanish until his retirement in 1979. I had the honor of presenting him with the Milton Medal in 1993.
For several generations of students, myself included, his greatest connection and contribution, in addition to having Ann as a partner, was beyond the classroom—on the mountains and cliffs and ski trails that could be reached from School, for a day or for a weekend. A smaller number of us took part in summer expeditions to the Rockies, Alaska, the Alps and the Andes.
In the early years, the forays from School were made under the banner of the Ski and Mountaineering Club, with Ad as faculty advisor, leader, guide, driver and equipment supplier, and with Ann as support. Today’s Outdoor Program, officially and appropriately the H. Adams Carter ’32 Outdoor Program, carries forward an expanded and endowed operation, thanks to the generosity of Gil Butler, Class of 1955. Through Ann’s extraordinary hospitality, the over 60-year tradition of winter weekends in the White Mountains at the Carter family home in Jefferson continued.
Ann welcomed generations of Milton students into her home in Jefferson, New Hampshire, including these outdoorsmen and women: Michael Berke ’11, Zach Perzan ’10, Caroline Owens ’11, Kate Elkind ’10, Sarah Kechejian ’11, and Sophie Bechek ’10.
That same hospitality was evident at their 361 Centre Street home, where Ann was surrogate parent to countless boarding students and foreign students with whom she remained connected throughout her life. Reflecting her practical side, and the winter-equipment requirements of her three skiing sons, she conceived of and launched Milton’s Annual Swap-It sale, to everyone’s benefit.
When three of our children attended Milton and I joined the board of trustees for a lengthy stint, I was again the beneficiary of Ann’s hospitality and friendship. The welcome mat was always out, as it was for countless others. One weekend, when the American Alpine Club’s annual meeting was held in Boston, the house was full of notables from the climbing world. At breakfast were three Carter friends who had summited Mount Everest. Heady stuff for one who’d never climbed much over 11,000 feet.
Ann’s personal convictions, reflecting her Quaker upbringing, were strong but never strident. She was exceptionally and naturally kind. She balanced Yankee thrift with personal generosity. A basket of mending was often by her chair.
After Ann’s doctor cautioned that she had little time left, she was walking with son Peter, who told, “Instead of saying ‘Woe is me’ or ‘This isn’t fair,’ she grabbed my arm and said, ‘You know what the silver lining is about this? Now I’ll never have to grow old.’ And she was serious,” said Peter. And she was right, say I.
When Betty and I visited her after Thanksgiving, she was cheered by the company of numerous grandchildren. We reminisced about many good times. She said, “I’m ready for the next adventure,” and she was.
Farewell, Ann. I thank you. And Milton thanks you.
— Harold Janeway ’54