Ann Davis Colton Nussbaum, 71, of Essex, wife of Robert Alan Nussbaum, died on Nov. 30. She was born on June 9, 1941 in Springfield, Massachusetts, daughter of the late Fredericka Davis and David Chapin Colton.  Raised in Westfield, Massachusetts, Ann graduated from The MacDuffie School and in 1963 from Smith College with a BA degree in art history.  That same year she married Timothy Earl Barnes, and in 1967 they moved to Hastings-on-Hudson, where they raised their three children, Morgan, Hilary, and Jason.

Ann worked in the Rare Books Department of Brentano’s in New York City, and later sold real estate in Westchester County.  In 1987, divorced and living in Grandview, New York,   Ann purchased The Bookstore in Pleasantville, New York.  She managed the business until 1993, when she met and married Robert Alan Nussbaum, a frequent customer of The Bookstore. They moved to Paris, France, where Bob served on assignment for IBM as a director in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Traveling extensively with Bob, Ann taught in an international kindergarten and wrote a monthly column for “Paris Notes,” chronicling life as an expat in France.

Returning to the U.S. in 1997, Ann and Bob divided their time between New York City and Nantucket.  In New York, Ann taught nursery school at The Brick Church School. 

The couple moved to Nantucket full time in 2002, where Ann served as a board member of the Nantucket Preservation Trust, The South Church Preservation Fund, the Nantucket Education Trust, and WNAN, Nantucket’s local NPR station, while Bob was director of the Nantucket Housing Office.

In 2006, they moved to Essex, where Ann was a member of the Essex Garden Club, serving as Yearbook editor, a member of the Essex Land Trust, and the Essex Yacht Club.  She enjoyed spending time with her family, reading, stitching needlepoint pillows, playing bridge with her friends, and walking with Bob and their dog Scout.

Besides her husband, she is survived by her children,  Morgan Barnes of Storrs, Hilary Hoopes of Bethesda, Maryland, and Jason Barnes of East Greenwich, Rhode Island; her daughters-in-law, Patricia Barnes and Amanda Barnes; her son-in-law Robert R. Hoopes, Jr.; her brother David C. Colton, Jr. and his wife Corrine of Westfield, Massachusetts; her brother-in-law Gary Nussbaum and his partner Sharon Hartline of Blacksburg, Virginia; eight grandchildren, Anna and Sam Barnes, Penelope, Riter, and Charlotte Hoopes, and Maya, Sofia, and Joe Barnes; and many dear  friends.

A private ceremony for family was held in Riverview Cemetery.  Ann’s family will celebrate her life early next year at a time and place to be announced. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Essex Land Trust, PO Box 373, Essex, CT 06426. The Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, Centerbrook, is in charge of arrangements. To share a memory or leave a condolence for Ann’s family please log on to rwwfh.com.