Class: 1967
Major: History
Residence: Northfield, MN
Deceased: November 21, 2016
Alumni survivors: Robert D. Aby, M.D. ’67 W67 (Widow/Widower)
Anne Jansen Aby 1945–2016 Northfield—Aby, Anne J. age 71 of Northfield, MN. Anne was a history and political science professor for over 30 years at MN West Community College in Worthington, MN and the editor of The North Star State: A Minnesota History Reader. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Robert Aby, her children, Meredith Aby-Keirstead and Martha Aby, her granddaughter, Audrey Keirstead, and her sister Catherine Jansen. The Memorial service will be at 10:30 AM Sat Nov 26 at First United Church of Christ, 300 Union St, Northfield. Private burial at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis. Memorials are preferred to the Steen Fellowship at St. Olaf College and the Professor Roy F Grow Fellowship at Carleton.
——————————————————
While teaching at Minnesota West Community and Technical College, Anne attended an oral history meeting in Jackson, MS in 1988 entitled ” Landmarks in American Democracy From Freedom Summer to the Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike.” There she met many who had first hand experience with poverty, segregation, the civil rights movement and the continuing struggle against racism. She kept in contact with some of them and with a fellow professor from Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall, MN one of the veterans was invited to visit Minnesota and speak to the students in their classes. It is difficult to know if hearing first hand about the civil rights movement opened any eyes but it as an opportunity for them to begin to develop social consciousness.
Bob Aby ’67
—————————————————–
So many warm memories of Anne, from freshman year in Nourse and sophomore year in Gridley to working with her for many years on the Alumni Annual Fund and most recently on our 50th Reunion Committee. Anne was a joy to work with – always positive and willing to help wherever needed. Her most recent accomplishment for our 50th was taking a major role in creating our excellent ’67 look-back issue of the Carletonian (note the photo from 3rd Gridley in the photo spread!). For several years, she took on the task of writing personal snail mail thank you notes to Annual Fund donors. After she and Bob moved to Northfield, they were always willing to be our ‘in person’ representatives at many Carleton events. Many thanks from our class to both Bob and Anne.
It was such a shock to hear of her sudden passing. Anne will be terribly missed as we continue to prepare for Reunion and, most especially, at Reunion next June.
Chris Leininger Furlanetto ’67
—————————————————-
I will miss Anne at so many times–Carleton Breakfasts, alumni gatherings, and almost anything relating to our class. We were floor mates, I think, freshman year. She has always been delightful–thoughtful , engaging, funny. Her memorial service was lovely.
Liisa Jalonen ’67
—————————————————-
Every reunion I have attended has yielded at least one delightful surprise and Anne was one from ’07. I hadn’t known her in college but I sat next to her at the alumni book signing and was thoroughly captivated by her great and warm sense of humor. A shock to learn of her passing… My sincere condolences especially to Bob as well as to all who knew her.
Pete Schwei ’67
Comments
So many warm memories of Anne, from freshman year in Nourse and sophomore year in Gridley to working with her for many years on the Alumni Annual Fund and most recently on our 50th Reunion Committee. Anne was a joy to work with - always positive and willing to help wherever needed. Her most recent accomplishment for our 50th was taking a major role in creating our excellent '67 look-back issue of the Carletonian (note the photo from 3rd Gridley in the photo spread!). For several years, she took on the task of writing personal snail mail thank you notes to Annual Fund donors. After she and Bob moved to Northfield, they were always willing to be our 'in person' representatives at many Carleton events. Many thanks from our class to both Bob and Anne.
It was such a shock to hear of her sudden passing. Anne will be terribly missed as we continue to prepare for Reunion and, most especially, at Reunion next June.
Anne and I roomed together on the Carleton in Japan summer of '65 with Tetsuo Najita. We had each started with an interest in math, and then went on in Asian history, she in Japanese (where her uncle Marius Jansen was a pillar of the field) and I in Chinese. But she was so much better at keeping in touch than I was. Eventually I came to look forward to her call each year for the Alumni Annual Fund, when we would catch up. We visited together at the 2012 reunion, and then we visited in the Cities when I brought my granddaughter to the Concordia Chinese Village. She was responsible for that, too, because she had told me about the Concordia Villages 30 years earlier. I delighted in hearing about her family, about doings in Northfield, receiving her cards. I am grateful for her friendship and for the way she kept me connected. I sorely miss her. I am so sorry she will not be able to join us for the Reunion.
While teaching at Minnesota West Community and Technical College, Anne attended an oral history meeting in Jackson, MS in 1988 entitled " Landmarks in American Democracy From Freedom Summer to the Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike." There she met many who had first hand experience with poverty, segregation, the civil rights movement and the continuing struggle against racism. She kept in contact with some of them and with a fellow professor from Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall, MN one of the veterans was invited to visit Minnesota and speak to the students in their classes. It is difficult to know if hearing first hand about the civil rights movement opened any eyes but it as an opportunity for them to begin to develop social consciousness.
I will miss Anne at so many times--Carleton Breakfasts, alumni gatherings, and almost anything relating to our class. We were floor mates, I think, freshman year. She has always been delightful--thoughtful , engaging, funny. Her memorial service was lovely.
Every reunion I have attended has yielded at least one delightful surprise and Anne was one from '07. I hadn't known her in college but I sat next to her at the alumni book signing and was thoroughly captivated by her great and warm sense of humor. A shock to learn of her passing... My sincere condolences especially to Bob as well as to all who knew her.