Ann
Goodenough Dinse of Shelburne, Vt., died peacefully in her sleep on
August 10, 2025, age 101. She is survived by her son, Jeffrey Dinse
of Warren, Maine, and her daughter, Dede Johnston of Aspen, Colo.,
and London, England, as well as her three grandchildren and five
great-grandchildren.
Ann
was born in Rochester, N.Y., on April 21, 1924, the daughter of
Swayne Peters Goodenough and Ruth Thompson Goodenough. She earned a
degree in biochemistry from the University of Rochester in 1945.
During the war, she supported the effort by volunteering and working
in factories and was eventually employed by the Manhattan Project in
New York City as a research associate.
Ann
was extremely adventurous; at 16 she hitchhiked with a girlfriend
across the U.S., stopping at Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show to raise
funds to continue her travels.
In
1948, Ann departed on a transport ship, sailing from New York to
Beirut to help establish the first Red Cross blood bank in the Middle
East at the American University of Beirut. The two years she spent in
Lebanon were among the most formative and rewarding of her long and
productive life. There, Ann developed a deep passion for the Middle
East — its people, their generosity and courageous spirit, the
food, the mountains, and the Mediterranean Sea. She delighted in
being able to hike into the snow-capped mountains, ski down and bathe
in the sea all in one day. Ann also became a dedicated advocate for
the Palestinian people, lecturing in schools and working to support
their cause. She remained a lifelong supporter of both the American
University of Beirut and the American Farm School in Thessaloniki,
Greece.
After
returning from the Middle East, Ann married John Dinse, also of
Rochester. John, who served in World War II on the European Front,
completed his law degree at Cornell University. Together they
traveled around the U.S. to decide where they wanted to settle. They
chose Lake Champlain for its ideal setting for their shared love of
sailing and skiing. Settling in Burlington, Vt., John joined a local
law firm, where he remained for his 65-year-long distinguished
career. The firm’s name eventually became simply “Dinse,” a
tribute to John’s legacy.
Following
several years working in the biochemistry research lab at the
University of Vermont, Ann dedicated her time to her children and to
charitable causes. She was a longtime member and former president of
the Klifa Club and a volunteer at the American Red Cross. Ann was
involved with Planned Parenthood of Vermont and actively served on
the board of the Lake Champlain Committee. An early environmentalist,
she played a role in the implementation of Vermont’s billboard ban
in the 1970s, supported the bottle deposit law and championed Green
Up Day. She was also a devoted Friend of Shelburne Farms,
volunteering with its outreach committee.
A
strong advocate for higher education in Vermont, Ann served on the
Board of Champlain College and volunteered at the ECHO Center in
Burlington. She was also a longtime trustee of the Turrell Fund, a
foundation that provides financial support to organizations serving
disadvantaged children in Vermont and New Jersey.
Ann
is also survived by her sister Sally Merrill of Pittsford, N.Y. She
was predeceased by her sister Pat.
Ann
will be most remembered for her tenacious love of life and her
devotion to those around her — especially her beloved family.