Longtime Ridgefield Resident, RHS Class of 1945, Ann Elizabeth Principi has Died

Ann Elizabeth Principi

Ann Elizabeth Principi, 91, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at her home in Ridgefield, CT.

Ann was born to John and Agnes McGlynn on February 27, 1928 in Danbury, CT. A life-long resident of Ridgefield, she attended Ridgefield High School and graduated as valedictorian of her class in 1945. She served as legal secretary clerk and teacher’s aide at the East Ridge Middle School and Ridgefield High School for 20 years.

Ann was predeceased in 2006 by the love of her life, James Principi, who she married on January 27, 1951.

She was a devoted, life-long St. Mary’s parishioner and in her later years, volunteered countless hours for Adoration.

Ann was an avid Yankee and UCONN Women’s hoops fan, loved playing golf, and won Ridgefield Ladies’ Senior League Championship twice. She enjoyed all ballgames from Little League, Babe Ruth, Red Raiders to High School basketball, baseball, football and cheerleading and she was always found in the stands as her children’s biggest fan. She was super competitive when it came to athletics and, by her example, her children and grandchildren learned good sportsmanship.

When she wasn’t competing or cheering her family on in sports, Ann loved to play board games and constantly challenged herself with Scrabble, Yahtzee and Go to the Head of the Class. Most Thursdays, she was a fixture at Founders Hall, playing Pinochle with the ladies. She was also an avid reader who instilled a great appreciation of literature in her children.

Ann enjoyed family summer picnics, all holidays, horseshoes, family vacations in Old Lyme and Guilford, CT., reunions in Cape May, NJ and Candlewood Lake Brookfield, CT.

Ann made her children strong and instilled in them an unwavering sense of family values.

Mrs. Principi is survived her sister, Mary Belle Frattini of Ridgefield; a daughter, Terry Principi of Milwaukee, WI, seven sons, James Principi of Bethel, CT, Michael Principi of Ridgefield, Thomas Principi (Ann-Marie) of New Milford, Paul Principi (Lorraine) of Braintree, MA, Steven Principi (Kim) of West Roxbury, MA, Mark Principi (Valerie) of Newtown, CT, John Principi (Patty) of Sandy Hook, CT.  Fourteen grandchildren, Jimmy and Scott (Nina) Principi, Michael (Chrissy) Principi, Julie(Zach) Klann, Jacqueline Principi, Beth(Joe) O’Riordan, Steven and Michelle Principi, Jason, Keleigh, and Nicholas Principi, Sara, Jessica, and Matthew Principi, and 4 great-grandchildren, Lucas, Levi and Isla Principi and Gracelyn Klann.

In addition to her parents, Ann was predeceased by a son in law, Greg Reschel and by three brothers, Robert, Francis and Jack McGlynn.

A special thank you is extended to Yasmin Clarke for her loyalty, love and dedication to Ann for the past five years.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 23, 2019 at St. Mary Church, 55 Catoonah St., Ridgefield.

Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, Ridgefield.

The family will receive friends at the Kane Funeral Home, 25 Catoonah St., Ridgefield on Monday, April 22, 2019 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary’s Church, 55 Catoonah St., of Ridgefield, CT 06877 or Regional Hospice and Palliative Care of Western CT, 30 Milestone Rd., Danbury, CT 06810.