Ann Meeropol

ANN KARUS (KARUSAITIS) MEEROPOL - WRITER, EDUCATOR, SCHOLAR - long time Western Massachusetts resident, currently of Cold Spring died, on May 9th, after a courageous six-year fight with cancer which involved periods of remission and travel and renewal as well as periods of intense medical intervention.

Ann Meeropol was born in 1944 in New York City, the daughter of Dr. Vincent Karusaitis and Vera (McClinchy) Karusaitis.

A former resident of Springfield and Wilbraham, MA,  Ann worked in the Springfield public school system from 1972-1984 and the Longmeadow Public School system from 1986 to 2003.   Her work in Longmeadow involved teaching in the Pupil Services department of Williams Middle School until she became Chair of the Special Education Program at the High School. Previous to these positions she taught English as a Second Language and worked with disabled students.

Ann was educated at Queens College, City University of NY  where she earned  a degree in Comparative Literature .She earned a Masters Degree in Education from U. MassAmherst in 1986 and then a Doctorate in the History of Higher Education in 1992. For years she was a member of the Amherst Creative Biography group and in 2014, published the book "A Male President for Mount Holyoke College, The Failed Fight to Maintain Female Leadership, 1934-1937."

Ann acquired her love of music from her mother who regularly sang in her church choir.  For over 15 years, Ann (Annie to her husband and friends) sang in the Hampshire Choral Society.

She married Michael Meeropol in 1965 together they had two loving children, Ivy Meeropol and her husband Thomas Ambrose and her son Gregory Julian Meeropol and his wife Patricja Mikos.  Both husband and children survive her.  She is also survived by her sister Dr. Kathryn Karusaitis Basham of Northampton, a grandson, Julian Meeropol Ambrose and a granddaugther Dylan Ann Meeropol Ambrose both of Cold Spring, NY.

She loved the ocean and her time spent with family and friends in her beloved home in Truro on Cape Cod. Passionate about theater, film, music, and art, she was also deeply involved in politics. Later in life she explored more deeply her love of watercolor painting.  In 2009 she began living part time in Cold Spring, NY where her daughter and son-in-law and grandchildren live.  She and her husband relocated to Cold Spring permanently in 2014.

Friends may call on Monday May 13, 2019 from 4-8pm at Clinton Funeral Home, 21 Parrott Street, Cold Spring.  A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday May 14, 2019 at 12:00pm the Episcopal Church of St. Mary-in-the-Highlands, 1 Chestnut Street, Cold Spring, NY.  Interment will follow in Cold Spring Cemetery.

A Reception Following the Burial will be held at 2:15pm at St. Mary's Church Hall.

For Ann’s online guestbook or to send a condolence, please visit www.clintonfh.com

In Lieu of Flowers please considering a donation in Ann's name to Haldane Arts Alliance, 15 Craigside Drive, Cold Spring, NY 10516 or online at  https://www.haldanearts.org or to  The Lewin Fund to Fight Women's Cancers® 322 West 52nd Street PO Box 2303 New York, NY   10101-2303 online at https://thelewinfund.org/donate/