I can't believe it's been a year.  Anne is remembered with much love by all who were fortunate enough to know her I'm certain. 

As I reminisce about you, I think of the first time we met.  We were in your warehouse and the impact of your vision and kindness made a lasting impression.  As our friendship grew your knowledge and generosity because more evident.  I remember a special time when we were in New York, we ran out of cheese samples and it was you we were able to call upon to save the day; via bike.  There is a quote that goes something like, “If tears could build a stairway…” well, there would be a highway for you, Anne.  You made a difference in our company, and especially my life.  And for that, I will be forever grateful.

Marieke


We are heartbroken.  Anne was our first babysitter when we moved to Wineberry.  She showed such patience and understanding with our little ones and bonded with our eldest.  She was always so creative and  interesting, once sharing with me how she was traveling with her dad and wanted to learn about cheese. The world lost someone very caring, talented and giving and so very special.  Our love and deepest sympathy go out to her beautiful family, siblings and our friends, her parents who are dealing with this unimaginable reality.

Melissa and Craig Reiff

Saddened to hear of the passing of your sweet sister, Anne. Sending sincere condolences to Bill, Megan and the entire Saxelby family. 

From your Ovington avenue neighbors.

Anne's bright smile and calm manner would stand out at my Granddaughter's birthday parties in our yard.  You couldn't help being drawn to her - she had a sweet and gentle way about her. Hearing of her accomplishments as an entrepreneur made me admire her character and her drive.   My heart goes out to Patrick and their children and all of the Saxelby and Martins families.  Anne made a deep impression on people; she was special.  

I lived very close to the Essex Market for a long time in my 30s and got to know Anne through her first shop there as well as at parties and holidays over many years. I send my condolences to her family. Her memory and contributions will continue to live on.

I was always a bit in awe of Anne, as I saw her in NYC throughout the years as her career continued to adapt and grow. My in-laws run Cato Corner, so I would help out at the Union Sq Greenmarket, back when Anne would pedal to and pick up the cheese. She always had time for a hello, even when Essex was busy. We ran into her with her young children at the airport several yrs ago and there was still time for that hello. Our hearts go out to her family, she was certainly a part of the Cato Corner Cheese family. 
- Heidi Curtiss
(sister-in-law of Mark Gillman)

I met Anne in 2006 when I moved from the upper west to the lower east of Manhattan. She was so warm and welcoming,  Her presence at the Essex Street Market began my love for the place and it's vendors. I learned from her, I admired her knowledge and leadership and I truly looked forward to chatting with her and buying cheese and yoghurt almost every day. I send love to her family  and friends.  She was a true light in this world of ours.
Amy Robinson

All my love and prayers for husband Patrick and children, parents Bill and Pam, and all of her family.  

Cousin Donna

We are still shocked by the news of Anne's passing, and our heart aches for her family. We first knew Anne in the early 2000s when we were starting our cheese business. She was one of the first to believe in us! She brought our cheese into her shop, and she also curated an art show called "The Milk is the Medium", exhibiting my and my husband's paintings next to her original shop. Anne and I bonded over our love of food, of art, and of being tall! She was one of the most stunningly gorgeous people I've ever met.

Twenty years later I still looked forward to her cheese order and exchanging pleasantries, updates, conversation via email and the occasional phone call, twice a month. Anne was so upbeat, so genuine in her love and support of others. So sad that she is gone so soon-- being only 5 years older than her,  I thought we would make and sell cheese together into old age. We will carry on telling our story, the story behind the food, because that is what Anne believed in and was so good at. We miss her so, and we thank her for all that she had done for us.

Huge love from Vermont.
Greg & Hannah, Blue Ledge Farm

There are things in life that we both cherish and that we come to expect to be there every day - for us, it was seeing Anne’s bright smile in the morning and afternoon, usually with bike in hand and three children clinging to her. Whatever the circumstance, whatever the latest challenge, from zoom school to a terrifying rainstorm, Anne’s sure-fire smile and friendly hello could pull you out of the darkest of slumps with a reminder that life can be - must be - joyous. We will miss Anne dearly and hold her generous spirit in our hearts forever. We love you Patrick, Max, Josie, and Reggie. 
-The Bressmans

Anne was my roommate at NYU and we had so much fun. Anne taught me how to make a cappuccino (because she brought an espresso machine to college) and Anne’s parents introduced me to the Soho Grand, where I eventually began my career in the travel industry. I loved seeing Anne behind the counter at Murray’s and then at Essex Street Market. We had not been in touch for many years but I thought of her often; whenever I heard Erykah Badu, bought a wheel of La Tur, walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. I hope memories of Anne can bring her family some small measure of peace as they move through this impossibly heavy time. Sending love and light and pockets of tiny joy. 

I will always remember Ann as a sweet, caring and smart little first grade girl. My heart breaks for all of Ann’s loved ones and friends.

I remember reading about Anne while in my 20s, and thinking what an amazing thing she was doing, uplifting American cheese makers and putting a stake in the ground proclaiming American cheese was delicious and varied and a part of our country's culture. Years later, when Patrick introduced me to Anne, I was struck by here elegance and calm. She was always kind and supportive despite the million balls she was juggling, and her absence is palpable all the way over on the West Coast, to those who had the good grace to see her only a few times a year. 

The other day, a friend said "if you new Anne you loved her" and that is so true. We met at Essex Market, but I wasn't buying cheese, I was eating at Shopsin's. I think Anne was getting food as well and we became fast friends, talking cheese, food, and everything else. Somedays, she'd sit down and have breakfast with me and my mom. One of our favorite things was sharing bits and pieces of each other's dishes. Quickly, a stop at her store became a welcome ritual after breakfast and, of course, Anne always knew which cheese I would like - if I recall correctly, the first "treasure" she recommended to me was "The Dorset." I remember seeing pictures of  her wedding dress and later of pictures of her beloved kids. I'm so grateful to have known Anne. She'll be missed more than I can say. 
- John Behling & Theresa Swink

I first met Anne when I happened to go through the Essex Market in late 2006, shortly after moving to NY from Tokyo. I had never been into cheese, but the winsome girl behind the tiny counter looked approachable, & the 'all-American' concept was intriguing, so I stopped by.  Anne was kind and friendly, asked my preferences and  immediately helped me find some cheeses she thought I'd like (I loved them). Thereafter until I returned to Asia, I became a semi-regular customer, often chatting with Anne and Benoit.  These remain vivid memories. Anne was a lovely, warm and caring professional. Her enthusiasm for farmstead cheese was contagious.  I pray that she may know only eternal happiness and that her family be comforted in spite of the sadness of her early departure from this life. 

I met Anne when we were both parents at my son’s pre-school. And we saw each other frequently since we were Eastern Parkway neighbors. Eventually our kids became friends and I always admired Anne’s family, and the ease and unflappable quality she seemed to exude. What an amazing, ambitious, kind, and simply luminous woman she was. I’m so sorry for her family. But what a gift it was to know her, even from a distance. 

Andy and I are very sad to hear about Anne's passing. She and Patrick were so kind and welcoming when we were neighbors in Carrol Gardens, and we have always thought fondly of them in the years since we moved from the 4th Place apartment. Our deepest condolences to Anne's family and friends. 

We are so sorry to hear about your sweet Anne.   I will be praying for your whole family. 

Oh my. This is so difficult...I first met Anne when she was working behind the counter at Murray's Cheese Shop. I was a tour guide with Foods of New York and we stopped in for a cheese tray tasting. Anne and I would chat and she would hand me samples of some amazing cheese and talk to my group- fantastic. We followed each other through the years becoming mutual fans and I'd stop by the Essex Market stop,  and taste something spectacular- and she'd hug me over the counters or come around her in height and me a 5 foot 2 shrimp, always hugs and smiles and keeping up on our latest endeavors- and then she comes to the Chelsea Market where I'm also conducting a Food tasting tour and no matter how busy she was- she'd come around the counter envelop me with a hug and talk to my group, answering questions and patting me on the head and we were mutual admiration society. When Jill came over from Lucy'sWhey to work with Anne - we continued our chats to just a bit ago -It's so hard to make this a memory .Living close to each other in Brooklyn just added to the "Anne Magic".  My thoughts are with her family and all of us who have been lucky enough to be touched by her grace, humor, wisdom and infectious smile.

Sending sincere condolences to all of Anne's beloved family.  I spent a lot of time with her visiting at the Essex market. We went to a concert in prospect park together ❤  long time ago. I loved and appreciated her more than I can say. 

Dearest Patrick and Family, 
My deepest sympathy and prayers  
to you. Words cannot express enough the loss of such a giving, kind, soulful and loving entrepreneur, and mother. I met Anne at two events in Brooklyn at The Egg.  My very first impression of her was one of love and a kind soul. She gave an aura of peace also. Patrick, you know that I am with you even though Kentucky and New York are far apart. 
All my love to you Patrick, the children, your staff at Heritage and all of Anne’s friends and loved ones. Nancy Newsom Mahaffey, The Ham Lady and friend. 

Anne was the bright light that the local food scene needed when she opened Saxelby Cheesemongers in 2006. Meeting her opened the world of American farmstead cheeses, the missing link in the local food chain.

 She was my dedicated cheese supplier 2006 and on,  I gladly made weekly in person pickups at her shop. Together we hosted many beer+cheese events together.

I fondly remember meeting her siblings, parents, and lovely grandmother in those early days. 

She was the connector for so many in the glory days of NYC local food movement.   New Amsterdam Market,  Dirt Cafe/ Hungry NYC , and Heritage Radio Network, stand out.
 
*Her legacy is in everything around us -  food we eat,  people we know,  memories of tastes like "Comersdale" and "Moses Sleeper". *

Much love to Patrick, Max, Josie, and Reggie and the whole Saxelby-Martins family.

I met Anne through Chris Bradley, and it was a real moment of delight when we-- Chris, Anne, Patrick and I-- realized we were all moving on to Eastern Parkway, two doors down from one another, at essentially the exact same time.

Anne and Patrick quickly became our chosen family; we cooked dinner together weekly, walked our dogs together at Mt. Prospect Park almost every morning, tag-teamed with kids, spent a memorable Thanksgiving with tiers of pies, piles of meat, and, of course, an unbeatable spread of cheese.

I looked to Anne so much for how to be, as a woman, an independent businessperson, a dreamer, a community member, a mother, a wife. She and I were often in the family mix together, but also found so many moments for quiet conversations and long dinners. I think of her as someone who had more capacity than most in almost every way, and who never became dulled or hackneyed; her light never dimmed, her warmth never cooled. She was magnetic, and beloved by so many.

My heart goes out to Patrick, Max, Josie, and Reggie and the whole Saxelby-Martins family. 

Patrick and Anne are some of the most beautiful people we have in our lives, some of the best friends we could have imagined having, and the best parents we know. We met Anne in the beginning of 2014, when Patrick and Kelly started working together thru the restaurant world. He spoke so highly of his wife Anne and son Max, we couldn’t wait to get together! The first time we met, we jived. We spent many thanksgiving dinners with them and the Martin’s/Saxleby families, cookie decorating for Christmas and random dinners. We welcomed Josie years later and our son Quinn, and knew this would be a lasting friendship. Our families continued to grow as Reg and Preston (our second son) become a part, and couldn’t wait for the days and years to come where the kids share birthdays and parents school stories, our love for the family is strong. As Anne began to truly reign as THE Cheesemonger and the kids grew older, we began to build the special bond. Kelly and Anne were planning social media and video production in and out of the shop while Patrick and I were building food truck Sprinter vans. Over the past year, time spent at the cabin doing fireworks, tube sledding and building igloos, well after Anne and I had to dig the Benz out of 5 ft of snow at 11pm without a hint of light, we planned a future together. There are no words to describe the pain in our hearts, especially for Patrick, Josie, Maxie and Reg, but we will always be here for you and Anne will ALWAYS have a place in our family. We will continue building stick houses in the woods, sledding on the snow, making mud puddles in the yard, eating cheese and champagne planning events and small business ideas, but nothing will be the same without Anne. Her legacy will go on and she will always be joined as a spirit above. Anne, we love you. Patrick, you will have us a long as you keep us ❤️ 

I cried even though I didn’t know this remarkable woman.  May her family recover.

I worked for Anne in the cave, shop, and as her radio co-host from 2011-2014. She had an incredible impact on my life and shaped much of how I've approached my career in the decade that followed. When I first met Anne, I was star struck. It was a dream of mine to work for someone as talented and dedicated to the food movement as her. I learned so much from working for her and getting to know her. Some of my fondest memories were biking together across Brooklyn to make our podcast recording on time, banding together to salvage the cheese cave and setting up the office in my tiny apartment after Hurricane Sandy, making maple syrup and visiting farms in Vermont, watching her beautiful family grow, selling lots of cheese in very tight spaces (the shop! festivals! bars!), and of course indulging in amazing meals that she and Patrick would so generously invite me to. The exposure that Anne granted very green me led to professional recognition that has followed me to every single job I've held since, even after I've switched careers completely. Everyone always wants to know about the cheese. Of course, I can't tell them anything without talking about Anne. Her dynamic spirit, generosity, ferocious energy, and deep knowledge were unmatched. She made such a huge impact and she is already deeply missed. I love you, Anne. 
My deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the Saxelby family. 
-Sophie Slesinger 
(p.s. Here's a link to one of my favorite pieces about her, photo is of us together at the shop. https://www.ediblebrooklyn.com/2012/anne-saxelby-dairy-queen/)

OBITUARY

Anne Therese Saxelby

March 25, 1981 – October 9, 2021

Joseph G. Duffy

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Past Services

Memorial Service