Ann Sargent

Born on May 19, 1926, in Gardner, Massachusetts, Ann lived most of her life in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, where she built a life defined by creativity, generosity, and a deep love for both people and animals.

Ann was truly ahead of her time. She first owned a music and bookstore in Boston before embarking on the career that made her a legend in Boston society. After the owner of the Sheraton Hotels learned of the extraordinary parties she hosted—events that drew many of Boston's most prominent residents—he offered her the position of Director of Special Events at the Copley Plaza Hotel.

Ann often modestly described her work as simply helping charities develop ideas for fundraising events and making those events special. In reality, "special" hardly begins to describe her creations. For a fundraiser benefiting the Cerebral Palsy Association with an Oriental theme, guests were escorted to their tables by pedicabs and rickshaws, while a pond filled with mandarin ducks graced the ballroom. For a circus-themed gala, she brought live animals into the lobby of the Copley Plaza. Her imaginative productions quickly earned her a reputation as Boston's foremost event planner. Boston Magazine famously called her "the hostess with the mostest."

While Ann's professional accomplishments were extraordinary, her greatest passion was protecting animals. She devoted countless hours to organizations ranging from a gibbon rescue in South Carolina to gorilla conservation efforts and dog and cat rescue groups throughout Massachusetts. Never one to shy away from advocating for animals, she became known for quietly slipping cards into the pockets of fur coats in restaurant coatrooms, encouraging their owners to choose faux fur and explaining the cruelty behind real fur.

Ann was also an accomplished athlete. Along with her close friend Neal Holland, she became a familiar and admired presence at the Skating Club of Boston, where the pair delighted audiences with their ice dancing exhibitions. Beyond skating, Ann was an avid skier and tennis player, remaining active well into her nineties.

Although Ann was an only child and is survived only by distant relatives, she created families wherever she went. Her warmth, generosity, and unwavering friendship touched countless lives, and people from across the United States mourn her passing.

A graveside service will be held on July 28 at 12:00 noon at Woodside Cemetery in Westminster, Massachusetts.

Ann will be remembered for her boundless imagination, her generous spirit, her tireless advocacy for animals, and the joy she brought to everyone fortunate enough to know her. Her legacy lives on in the hearts of the many friends whose lives she enriched.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to an organization dedicated to the protection and welfare of animals.