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Jan. 7, 1940 - Aug. 23, 2015
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Ann Denny passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at her favorite spot on earth, her home on Swans Island, Maine, where she loved watching the sunsets and having her children and grandchildren around her.
Ann is survived by her loving husband of over 27 years, Ray Bland, her four children: Jeffrey Denny of Arcata, Calif., Jill Denny Whitcomb of Wayne, Pa., Eric Denny of Rockport, Maine, and Phillip Denny of Oakland. She is also survived by her six step-children: Julie Clavin of Roseville, Douglas Bland of San Ramon, Laura Schafer of Brentwood, Heather Frazier of Pollock Pines, Michael Bland of Hong Kong, and David Bland of Patterson, Calif. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 10 step-grandchildren, but when asked, Ann didn't differentiate between families and always told people she had 10 children and 20 grandchildren. She loved them all.
Ann is also survived by her sister June White of St. Petersburg, Fla., and her brother Bill Miller of Cincinnati, Ohio. She was pre-deceased by her father, James Miller, Sr., mother, Ida Miller and brother, James Miller, Jr.
Ann was born in Laurel County, Ky., and then moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where she graduated from Withrow High School. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Denison University in Granville, Ohio where she was president of her Chi Omega Sorority. She loved working for causes that made her communities and the world around her better. As a 27-year resident of Lafayette she served as Director of the March of Dimes in San Francisco and the American Diabetes Association prior to taking the reigns as Executive Director of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce in 1993. In 1995 she was instrumental in designing and coordinating the inaugural Lafayette Art and Wine Festival. In 2001 she was named the "Lafayette Business Person of the Year" due to her tireless efforts in promoting the unique and special qualities of the town and its businesses. Ann was a founding board member of the Lafayette Community Foundation. After retiring from the Chamber in 2005, Ann remained an active board member for the next decade, offering advice and encouragement to the community she loved and could always be found volunteering at Chamber events. She personified the spirit of "Love Lafayette."
Ann loved to travel and was fortunate to see the world with her husband Ray. Together they traveled to over 55 countries and throughout most of the United States. In the end, however, her favorite place in the world was her summer home on Swans Island, surrounded by family, the ocean, and lots of love.
A Celebration of Life for Ann will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 1035 Carol Lane in Lafayette. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ann's memory to the Lafayette Community Foundation, P.O. Box 221, Lafayette, CA, 94549.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA