Ann W. Spaeth, volunteer, athlete

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Ann Wieland Spaeth, 79, formerly of Lafayette Hill, a community volunteer and an outstanding athlete, died June 30 at Cathedral Village in the Andorra section of Philadelphia where she had been living for the past six months.

Mrs. Spaeth had served on the boards of many Philadelphia organizations. They included Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania, what is now the Philadelphia Bach Festival, the Women’s Committee of the University Museum and Philadelphia Young Audiences, where she had been chair.

She also was a past president of the Springside School Alumnae and an ex officio member of the school’s board of trustees.

An outstanding athlete, she was selected as a member of the U.S. National Lacrosse Team four times in the 1960s and was was inducted into Springside’s Hall of Fame.

For a number of years she coached both hockey and lacrosse at Springside, where she enjoyed inspiring many young women to develop both their athletic skills and a strong sense of teamwork and fairness on the playing field.

Mrs. Spaeth also was an avid tennis player, hiker, and outstanding skier for most of her life. She was also a rower and a member of the University Barge Club. She and her family spent many summers on Squirrel Island, Maine.

Born in Philadelphia, she attended Springside School and Colby College.

She was a lifelong member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Chestnut Hill, sang in the church choir for more than 60 years, and was an active participant in the church’s various outreach ministries.

An accomplished cook, she loved music, especially opera and choral works, art and traveling, particularly to Scotland.

She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Karl H. Spaeth; sons Karl H. Spaeth Jr., E. Alexander Spaeth and Christopher P. Spaeth; a brother, D. Alexander Wieland; sisters Alice W. Harrison and Barbara Lehman; and nine grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 22 E. Chestnut Hill Ave.

Memorial donations may be made to the Music Program at St. Paul’s Church, the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, 3260 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19104, or Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, 500 W Willow Grove Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19118. – WF

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