Anne Farrington Whitehead was born in Cleveland, Ohio on February 11, 1930, to James R. Farrington and Adelaide Lamprey Calder Farrington. She lived a long and purposeful life as a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother and was a dynamic and successful colleague, educator, business partner and community leader. Her strong values, work ethic, loyalty and love of family and friends were second to none.
Anne moved at age 2 to Annandale, NJ. She attended Annandale Grammar School and Clinton High School and then Vassar College, where she graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in 1951. She later earned an M.A. (Willam Patterson College) and a degree as an Educational Specialist (Seton Hall University).
Anne was married to David R. Whitehead (now deceased) and moved to Essex Fells, NJ in 1958. She was the mother of three girls and grandmother of five. She and David partnered in the family business, David R. Whitehead and Company. She also contributed to her community in many leadership roles. She was Essex Fells Councilwoman (1978-1997), Mayor (1998-2000), Planning Board (17 years), and Board member of the Recreation and Municipal Alliance Committees. She was on the Essex Fells Board of Education from 1968-1977 (President 1971-1977), and later, teacher, librarian and Principal of Essex Fells Elementary School. Member of the St. Peter’s Church Vestry 1977-1979. Board member of United Way of North Essex County and The Bridge Mental Health Resource Center. Treasurer and Executive Committee of the Junior League of Montclair, NJ. She very much enjoyed her Investment Club “RICH” and played a good game of bridge.
In 2005 Anne moved to the Seattle area to be near her daughters and family. She lived on Mercer Island where she joined Overlake Country Club, Emmanuel Episcopal Church and tutored young adults in several areas including literacy.
Anne was extremely close to her two sisters, Margaret John of Birmingham, MI and Jeanne Wilson of Georges Mills, NH. She is survived by her three daughters and their families: Suzy Whitehead, Russ Patterson, Riley Patterson and Clay Patterson (Seattle, WA), Betsy Seaton, Alan Wilson, Francis Daley Seaton and Margaret Seaton (Mercer Island, WA) former son in-in-law Guy Seaton, and Brooke Reed, Chris Reed and Aydan Reed (Woodinville, WA)
Anne takes her most precious possessions with her – Memories of her wonderful husband, children, grandchildren, sons-in law and her sisters and all her friends, and she offers thanks to God for giving her such a full, rich and wonderful life.
A memorial service will be held at Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Mercer Island on November 11 at 1 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.
