Ann Roth Morse

A woman of understated strength, Ann Morse left a profound and lasting mark on many. The first of two children of Marty and Sadie Roth, Ann was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1937. Even in her early years, she demonstrated a keen intellect, a sharp wit, and a deep empathy that made her a natural sanctuary for others.

Ann shared a long and loving partnership with her husband, Howard. She and Howard became engaged months after their first date and were married when Ann was just twenty years old. Their brief but decisive courtship led to a 56-year marriage that flourished until Howard's death in 2013. With Howard, Ann raised a family and built a life of great substance across three states, including sixteen years in North Caldwell, N.J.; forty years in Amherst, New Hampshire; and Ann’s last fifteen years in Bristol, Rhode Island, a community she came to love deeply and in which she felt truly at home.

An alumna of Brown University and Columbia University (Barnard College), where she earned a degree in Literature, Ann’s formal education was simply one facet of her commitment to a lifetime of learning. Ann was remarkably curious, and her thirst for knowledge was insatiable. She was an avid reader, and her beloved book clubs were testimony to her devotion to the written word and the vibrant discussions it sparked. She also found great joy in the arts, from film to canvas to live theater. That same zest was reflected in her love for food and family travels, each of which she viewed as opportunities for both discovery and connection.

Ann was an early and committed advocate for social causes, which she supported generously and humbly. Her most significant impacts, however, were often private. Defined by a gentle but powerful gravitas and unwavering values, Ann was a steadying, magnetic presence. Her door and her heart were open to all, but especially to those navigating hardship. Ann was a trusted confidante to many who found in her boundless compassion, sincere respect, and counsel that was wise and non-judgmental.

To her children, Carolyn, Bill, and Nesha, as well as her daughters-in-law, Julie and Liz Beth (her "bonus daughters"), Ann was a steadfast source of wisdom and support. She nurtured a personal and deep bond with each of them, offering love that was absolute and unconditional. She established the same kind of meaningful connections with her cherished grandchildren: Sam, Eli, Hannah, and Emerson. Always the attentive grandmother, Ann found unique ways to connect with each grandchild whether it was sharing an artistic experience, cheering on the Red Sox, enduring horror movies (certainly not her favorite genre) or tucking herself away on the couch with a grandchild for an afternoon of laughter and heartfelt talk. Through example and gentle influence, Ann created a model for living that will guide her children, her grandchildren, and generations to follow.

Ann passed away comfortably and peacefully in Newport, R.I., on March 25, 2026, surrounded by many loved ones. She faced her final days with the strength, clarity and courage that defined her life. At her request, funeral services will be private. To honor Ann’s life and her commitment to a more just world or her love of reading, her family asks that, instead of flowers, donations be made in her memory to the ACLU Foundation of Rhode Island or the Rogers Free Library in Bristol, R.I.