In Memoriam
Anne Van Dusen
1961 - 2008
With great sadness we mourn the unexpected death of our friend and colleague Anne Van Dusen, Senior Research Associate at the Alban Institute. Anne died on Wednesday, June 25, 2008.
Given her youth, her energy and her joy for life, her death stunned her family, friends, and her Alban colleagues.
Anne came to work for Alban late in 2003. She gave her full energies to building our Congregational Resource Guide (CRG) Web site. She made a wide variety of contributions to the CRG, improving its content, making it more user friendly, adding Wise Voices interviews, and developing many of the features that bring thousands of users to it every week. In addition, she was a consummate networker, quietly bulding relationships with content providers, resource centers, and the wider public the CRG serves. Anne traveled widely on behalf of the CRG, telling its story, demonstrating its usefulness and finding ways to make it stronger. She worked well with her colleagues in the Alban offices and in the Indianapolis Center for Congregations. Millions of American congregational members have been touched directly or indirectly by her efforts.
At times like this we are reminded of the most important things, of the deepest sources of hope and comfort, and of the special gift of friends who share our journeys. We miss Anne, give thanks for all she meant and did, and marvel at the fragility and strength of Life.
A memorial service was held for Anne at St. Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church in Blue Hill Maine on Wednesday, July 2, 2008.
After consulting with her family, Alban has created a special fund in her honor. Gifts in memory of Anne can be given to the Anne Wilbur Van Dusen Fund for Congregational Resources here at Alban. (Donation page)
The Alban Institute is an independent center of learning and leadership development with a focus on congregations. Located in greater Washington, D.C., Alban is a not-for-profit, membership organization that develops and shares knowledge through consulting, publishing, research, and education programs.