Ann Dinse Obituary

Ann Goodenough Dinse, of Shelburne, Vermont, died peacefully in her sleep on August 10, 2025, aged 101. She is survived by her son, Jeffrey Dinse of Warren, Maine, and her daughter, Dede Johnston of Aspen, Colorado and London, England, as well as her three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Ann was born in Rochester, New York, 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 United States, 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 WWII on the European Front, completed his law degree at Cornell University. Together they traveled around the United States 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, 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 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, New York. 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.

Arrangements are in the care of the Cremation Society of Chittenden County, a division of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services.