Ann Curry Koster

Ann Koster passed away in her sleep at the age of 87, leaving behind a rich legacy of resilience, wit, and unwavering dedication to family. Born April 28, 1938, in Sharon, Pennsylvania, Ann lost her mother at the age of three and was raised by her paternal grandparents-stern but deeply loving figures. She later returned to live with her father and stepmother, where she became an indispensable older sister to stepsiblings Helen, Mary, and Agnes. After graduating from Sharon High School, Ann earned her degree from Carlow College in Pittsburgh and returned to her alma mater to teach English. She had taken piano lessons and to fund her education she held a job playing the organ at church weddings. Yearning for a bigger life beyond Sharon's borders and the confines of her stepmother's shadow, Ann struck out boldly for New York City. With no job, no contacts, and a suitcase of determination, she carved out a path that included roles as a tour guide at Rockefeller Center, a stewardess for Riddle Airlines, and later, a position at Time magazine.

In 1965, she took a leave of absence from Time, cashed in her savings, and embarked on a shoestring solo journey through Europe. It was in Madrid that she met her future husband, Robert. She later helped support him through medical school, even taking up teaching once again-a role she always carried with dignity and diligence. Ann raised three children while building a successful family real estate business from the ground up-juggling PTA meetings and property management with characteristic flair.

In her sixties, she faced down advanced breast cancer with grit, grace, and the care of compassionate physicians like Dr. Zeck Lieberman and Dr. Cynthia Osborn. She won that battle, as she did so many others. Theater was her lifelong passion. Ann relished the camaraderie of Dallas's amateur stage productions, always the first to learn her lines and the last to leave rehearsal. She brought to the stage-and to life-a sharp sense of timing and a deep love for story.

Ann is survived by her husband, Robert; her sisters Helen, Mary, and Agnes; and her children, Caroline and Benjamin. She will be remembered for her elegance, her intellect, her quiet courage-and for living life with the same conviction she brought to every role she played.

A memorial service will be held at Holy Trinity Church, at Gilbert and Oaklawn, on Wednesday, June 11th at 3:00 PM. Donations in her name may be made to Holy Trinity Church at https://htdallas.org/donate/.