Ann Elizabeth (Powers) Leskowitz

Ann Elizabeth Leskowitz (Powers), 87, died at her home in Woodbridge on May 24, 2015, following a brief illness. She was born in Rockingham, Vermont on July 10, 1927, the daughter of Guy and Ethyl Valentine Goewey Powers. She was raised in Athens, VT, then Brattleboro, VT, and attended Colby Junior College in New Hampshire. In 1949, she went to work in Philadelphia as a secretary in the microbiology department of the University of Pennsylvania. There she met her husband of 60 years and love of her life, Irving. They married on September 2, 1950 in Brooklyn, New York, and lived in Levittown, Long Island, where their three children were born. In 1962, they moved to Bethany, CT, where Ann resided until moving to Woodbridge in 2011 after the loss of her husband. Ann worked for over 30 years as a secretary in the Department of History of Science and Medicine at Yale, where it was agreed that she kept everything running as smoothly as she did at home. A devoted wife, mother and friend, Ann was a supporter of causes to promote social progress. She participated in campaigns, picket lines, boycotts, and quietly took part in innumerable individual efforts to improve the lives of others. She loved traveling across the country on family camping trips, swimming, nature walks, visiting historical and cultural sites, theater, musical concerts, and family traditions. An avid reader, intrepid gardener, lively conversationalist and genuinely mild-mannered gentlewoman, in her later years Ann took great pleasure in reading her library books, and enjoying the company of her family, new neighbors, and friends. She leaves son Fred Leskowitz and wife Zina, stepson Jesse Fenn and granddaughter Zoe, son Joel, daughter Ruth Trudeau and husband Wayne. She is also survived by sister-in-law Myra Plotnik, many loving nieces, nephews, grandnieces/nephews and dear friends. Ann was predeceased by her beloved husband Irving, brother Wallace Powers and wife Rusty of Hinsdale, NH, sister Barbara Powers Kinoy and husband Ernest Kinoy of Williamsville VT. A memorial gathering will be held on Sunday, June 14, 2015 at 12:00 at the Quinnipiack Club, 221 Church St, New Haven, CT 06510. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her name may be made to: The Woodbridge Town Library, 10 Newton Rd., Woodbridge, CT 06525.