Anne Harrison, 74, of Lenox, previously of Kalamazoo, Michigan, died Sunday, Sept. 3, after a brave battle with cancer, peacefully and surrounded by family.
She lived a life inspired by her passion for justice, giving voice to the voiceless, music, humor, beauty and the power of the written word.
In Kalamazoo, she worked in the juvenile court system as a social worker and court magistrate, and volunteered for the United Way, mentoring both at-risk youth and teen mothers, as well as several other social action organizations. She enjoyed meeting friends at the Water Street Coffee Joint and frequenting the Saturday morning farmers’ market.
Since retiring and moving to the Berkshires to be close to her daughter and grandchildren, she worked part time as a child advocate for family court. She volunteered with Berkshire Women for Women, the Berkshire Immigrant Center literacy mentoring program, and donated regularly to local cultural and social justice organizations such as WAM Theatre. She was also an avid and published poet. She enjoyed Saturday morning BSO rehearsals at Tanglewood, lectures at the Mount, the friendship and fellowship of her book club, and spending lots of time with her beloved grandchildren.
She is survived by her loving daughter Dana Harrison and son-in-law, three beloved grandchildren, three sisters, five nieces and nephews, and many grandnieces and -nephews.
A service to remember her for her Berkshire County friends and family will be held at Trinity Church in Lenox on Saturday, Sept. 9, at 3 p.m. Details for a memorial celebration to be held in Kalamazoo and on the waters of her beloved Lake Michigan will be planned for next summer. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Planned Parenthood, EarthJustice and the Elizabeth Freeman Center in Pittsfield.
