Ann Roberts

December 19, 1927 - October 20, 2019

Ann Cannon Roberts of Riverside, CA died Sunday, October 20, 2019 at Sunrise Canyon Crest where she had been living since March 2017. She peacefully left this world as she stepped into the loving arms of Jesus. She is now reunited with their son, Kevin Christopher Roberts, who preceded her in her journey to Heaven. 

Ann Katherine Cannon was the third of four children of Charles William Alexander and Marjorie Kelton Greene, born in Richmond Hill, NY on December 19, 1927. She married Frederick (Fred) George Roberts III at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church, Forest Hills, NY on February 12, 1950. Besides her husband, she is survived by her sister Marjorie Cannon Williams, her son Rick Roberts (Elizabeth Kennedy) of El Segundo, CA, her three daughters Susan Roberts of San Jacinto, CA, Kim Roberts (Joe Ewing) of Seattle, WA and Lisa Schmid (Dave) of Minnetonka, MN, ten grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren with two more on the way.  

Ann will be remembered for her fierce love for her husband, her family, knitting and sunbathing as well as for her mischievous pranks, signature sour cream coffee cakes, her kind and generous heart and irrepressible sense of humor. A dear friend described Ann as “a good organizer, who had the strength of her convictions and made good things happen.”   

Ann attended PS 51 in Queens, NY for grades 1-6. Her future husband (Fred) also attended PS 51 for grades 1 and 2 before moving to Hempstead, NY. Next, Ann attended PS 99 for grades 7-8 where she and her brother, Bill-- who was 11 months older-- were in the same class. From there, Ann attended Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn, NY, an all-girls school, for her high school years. Ann loved being on the tennis team throughout her time at Packer where she excitedly achieved the title of school champ in her Junior and Senior years.  After graduation, Ann attended Washington Secretarial School in New York City. Ann was a member of the Sigma Delta Theta Sorority.

             For many years, Ann was a stay-at-home mom who loved spending time with her children. Every summer, she took her children to Robert Moses State Park at Fire Island, NY, 45 min away, at least three times a week to spend the day at the ocean, building sandcastles, playing in the waves, and most importantly tanning and all the while having family time. Every year on July 4th, she sorrowfully lamented that summer was almost over. 

When her youngest entered kindergarten, Ann began what would become her vocation, improving the quality of life for the elderly through social activities. She continued this work when the family moved to CA in 1976, quickly becoming well respected in her field. Her belief that “Activity Professionals were stronger together” was a breath of fresh air, leading to the founding of the Southern California Council of Activity Coordinators (SCCAC) in 1981. Ann said if they (Activity Coordinators) wanted to be taken seriously, it was important to be known as Activity Professionals. SCCAC would become Southern California Association of Activity Professionals (SCAAP). Ann held a variety of positions on the Board including President for two terms of two years each.  She was also involved in the National Association of Activity Professionals (NAAP) where she served as Membership Director. A colleague and a dear friend said, “Ann will always be recognized as a State & National leader of the Activity Profession, mentoring those of us who will always remember her loving, caring spirit and advocacy for those needing our support and help.” 

In her retirement, Ann gathered with her family often bringing all of us together through the years. She also met with neighbors and friends over knitting, which was a loved hobby since age 7.  Ann was always knitting at home, in the movies and with her knitting groups.  With Fred, she collected and shipped over 1,000 handknit scarves to soldiers during the Iraq war. But she was never happier than when all her chicks were gathered under the family roof.

 Ann's family would like to thank her fellow residents, caregivers, neighbors, and friends for the support they so lovingly provided, especially during the last years of her life. We are very grateful for your love and care of our mother.