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| Anne Marie Spitzer | |
Anne Marie Spitzer, a former sales rep and sales manager for Avon Books, died July 28 of cancer. She was 67.
Spitzer began her publishing career working for Brentano's in the Prudential Center in Boston, Mass., before becoming a sales rep at Avon, covering parts of New England and New York State. After demonstrating "a skill for not only selling books but identifying potential bestsellers," she was transferred to Chicago and covered major accounts in the Midwest. After three years in the Midwest, she transferred to New England as a regional manager. In the fall of 1978, she and another book rep, Michel Spitzer, met while waiting for their respective appointments with the owner of the Ben Franklin Bookstore in Worcester, Mass. They married five years later.
Her family remembered: "Throughout her professional career, first in the book business and then as an events coordinator and fundraiser for two local independent schools, she gained the love and respect of her co-workers for her willingness to do the heavy lifting. Her family, friends, and neighbors sought her out regularly for solid, caring, and helpful advice. Anne had an ability to instantly connect with people on a deep level. She was always considerate of those with less or in distress and her full and charitable heart compelled her to help them. Anne had a keen eye for design and would not hesitate to offer ideas to her friends if asked. She would even change your living room around and transform it into something more comfortable and pleasing to the eye... but only if asked. She loved music, singing with her family, especially her sisters & brothers and cousins at their many gatherings. She loved her family and was an intrepid matriarch, leading the charge for family vacations, gatherings, and the annual Christmas Eve party for the extended family with her signature flair and biting sense of humor. She was a deeply devoted daughter, and principal caretaker for her parents in their final years. She was a beloved Auntie to her nieces and nephews, to them she was brilliant, often outrageous, and so kind. She traveled in style and was able to enjoy trips to Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, and Canada." She was also a devoted mother and grandmother.
The family has suggested donations be made in her honor to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation.