Amherst, Anne Mochon died at home on April 28, 2018 of multiple myeloma. She was 74 years old.
Anne was a long-time resident of Amherst and a member of diverse communities in the area.
After spending time in Germany as a Fulbright Scholar and receiving a Ph.D from Yale University, she came to Amherst to teach Art History at UMass. She served for many years as a Professor of Art History and was an integral part of the Department.
In 1980 she organized an exhibition of the work of Gabriele Munter- “Between Munich and Murnau” at the Busch-Reisinger Museaum at Harvard University. It was the first retrospective of Munter’s work mounted by an American institution.
In mid-life Anne pursued a childhood wish to become a horsewoman. She learned to ride and became a valued member of the barn community at Xenophon Farm.
She was diagnosed with multiple myeloma at the age of 57. In character, she sought treatment which, along with her fortitude, allowed her to exceed by three-fold the life expectancy of the disease.
In recent years Anne was part of a group devoted to attending “The Met:Live in HD”- transmissions from the Metropolitan Opera to cinema.
Anne is survived by her partner and husband of 40 years, Lawrence Smith with whom she shared an interest in art, a love of nature and music, sisters Katherine and Christina, and her horse, Scamp.
Donations in Anne’s name may be made to the Dakin Animal Shelter in Leverett, MA.