Ann Litsas' Obituary
Ann E Litsas, known as Betsy, peacefully passed away on September 16th at her home in Tucson Arizona. Born on June 16, 1946 in New York City and raised in New Canaan, Connecticut, she attended New Canaan High School, graduated from Skidmore College, furthered her education at Bellevue Hospital, became a home care nurse and .entered hospital administration in New York City.
She lived in the city for years, became enamored of the world famous Zabar’s Deli, The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, catalog and retailer gift shopping, art galleries, museums, good hamburgers, Starbucks, mashed potatoes, chocolate, fried chicken, classical music, walks in the city, and forsook her dog loving childhood for cats.
All the above came with her when she discovered Tucson, the desert, the dry clean air, Mexican food, and moved out there in 2006. Even The Times, the Journal and The New Yorker came with her, and she was quick to add local Tucson papers to her frequent letters to editors. Best you be well informed if you ever took on current events over a cup of tea. Native American culture soon entered the mix, and southwestern art became a significant presence in her condo.
She became treasurer of the condo board, kept it honest and focused, worked on several other committees, and chaired the Pima County Sheriff's Neighborhood Watch committee. No minor detail or fellow board member could escape her scrutiny or her dry sense of humor. She enjoyed watching children play, always had a bag full of Jellybeans, became a rabid University of Arizona basketball season ticketholder, was a generous volunteer of time and resources to animal shelters, the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, and the Saguaro National Park.
She is survived by her sister Frances Gaines of Milford, Connecticut and her three brothers Walter Poor of Pittsford, Vermont, Roger Poor of Georgetown, Maine, David Poor of White Salmon, Washington, and her cat Lukie, of Tucson.
A Celebration of Betsy and her life will be held at Canyon View at Ventana west clubhouse, 6655 N Canyon Crest Drive, Tucson, AZ 85750, 4:00 PM, Thursday, October 17, 2024.
Donations should be made in her name to an animal related charity of your choice.
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