I am sad to report that Ann Reba Broughton, the former academic coordinator in the physics department, passed away on Friday, Feb. 11, at her home in Middlebury after a prolonged illness. She was 76.
Ann worked at Middlebury College for 31 years, starting in 1972 as secretary for the physics and geology departments, and continuing with physics until her retirement in 2003.
Professor Frank Winkler remembered Ann as “a wonderful person…the glue that held our department together for all those years.”
“She was such a presence for us as faculty in the physics department,” he said, “and she was like a mother to many generations of students.”
Born in Cornwall, Ann graduated with honors from Middlebury High School in 1952. She worked at Simmonds Precision in Vergennes for about 10 years before joining the College, and lived in Addison County her entire life.
She is survived by two sons, Michael and Stephen Broughton; her mother, Lucille James; two brothers, a sister, two grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a daughter, Barbara Towne.
At Ann’s request there will be no memorial service. Gifts in lieu of flowers may be made in her memory to Addison County Home Health and Hospice, P.O. Box 754, Middlebury, VT 05753. Arrangements are under the direction of Miller and Ketcham Funeral Home in Brandon.
Ronald D. Liebowitz