November 27, 2018
Fleck, Ann D.
Ann Davison (Duffie) Fleck, a longtime resident of Norwood and Walpole, died Monday, November 26, 2018 at the Benchmark Senior Living Center in Franklin. She was 95. Ann was born May 13, 1923 in Dorchester, Massachusetts, one of three daughters of Harold Richard and Marion (Davison) Duffie. Her love of music expressed itself early when she played in the orchestra at the Randall G. Morris Elementary School in West Roxbury; in the school band and orchestra at the Robert Gould Shaw Junior High School in West Roxbury; and in the orchestra at Roslindale High School. In 1940 she won the “Rising Stars of Tomorrow” contest. She played in the New England Festival Orchestra and was a member of the Boston Civic Symphony. Ann earned a degree in Music Education from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and began her music career as a Music Supervisor in the Litchfield Connecticut Public School System and as an Instrumental Music Specialist for the Brookline Massachusetts Public School System. She served as the Choir Director at the First Baptist Church of Norwood, and volunteered as the Festival Chorus Conductor of the combined church choirs of Norwood; was the Conductor of the DAR Chorus in Washington, DC for eight years; and was a drummer for the Sons of the American Revolution Color Guard for 39 years. Ann marched and drummed for the Bicentennial in 1976 in Boston; at the VA Bicentennial in 1981; at the Treaty of Paris Bicentennial in 1983 in Paris, France; at the Bicentennial of the Constitution in 1987 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and at Patriots Day parades in Concord, Massachusetts. She played her drum in every state in the union as well as Washington, DC, and in Australia, England, France, Canada and Mexico. She also guest conducted the United States Army Band and the United States Air Force Band, both in Washington, DC, and President Mitterand’s own band at the American Embassy in Paris, France. She was a member of the Wellesley Symphony Orchestra for 53 years. Ann was a member of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (where she was a member of the Boston Tea Party Chapter, a State Regent of Massachusetts from 1974-1977, the Historian General of the National DAR from 1977-1980, the Recording Secretary General from 1983-1986, and the President General of the National Society DAR from 1986-1989), the National Society Daughters of the American Colonists, the National Society United States Daughters of 1812, the National Society of New England Women, the National Society of Colonial Dames XVII Century, the Order of Americans of Armorial Ancestry, the National Gavel Society, the Colonial Order of the Crown, the National Society Magna Charta Dames and Barons, the Sovereign Colonial Society Americans of Royal Descent, the Society of Descendants of Knights of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, The Plantagenet Society, and the National Association of Rudimental Drummers. Ann was predeceased by her husband of 65 years, Raymond F. Fleck, and her sisters Jean Gardner and Marcia Durfor. She is survived by her son, William Davison Fleck, and his wife Susan P., of Franklin; and her daughter, Carol A. Whetzel, and her husband Michael Dennis, of Chambersburg, PA; her six grandchildren, Melanie J. Taylor, Michael D. Whetzel, Jr., Janet E. Lundgren, Timothy W. Fleck, Joyce E. Fleck, and Diane M. Fleck; and her nine great grandchildren, Nathan and Joshua Whetzel, Malachi Taylor, Susanna, Rosalia, Zachary, and Amy Lundgren, and Zoe and Theodore Fleck. Visiting hours will be held Friday, November 30, 2018 from 3 to 7 pm at the Folsom Funeral Home, 649 High Street, Westwood. Relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral Saturday, December 1st at 10 am at the First Baptist Church of Norwood. Interment will be at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Harwichport at approximately 2:00. If desired, donations in Ann’s memory can be made to the First Baptist Church, 71 Bond Street, Norwood, MA 02062 or to the Ann D. Fleck Scholarship Fund at Hillside School, 404 Robin Hill Street, Marlborough, MA 01752.
Comments(19)
Rest in peace, dear friend. I shall miss you.
Ann was President General two of the three years of my term as Vice President General and she would call me at all hours of the night to “chat” about DAR and how things were going at the DAR buildings. She was a wonderful person and I will miss her very much.
Always happy, always smiling, always a wonderful greeting even for those she didn’t yet know!
We will miss you always at DAR.
However, your memory is engraved there in love always!
Ann Fleck was a really wonderful person, and with her husband Ray they were a great service to so many. She was always kind and hard working. I saw her doing most of those projects with the National Society – enjoyed seeing her take the baton from the French Director to lead the band at the Ambassador’s Home in Paris for Stripes Forever”. Lots of energy and now gone to rest in the Father’s House.
Ann will be missed by the whole DAR world.
What a beautiful lady & servant to DAR! Tennessee daughters will miss her as we strive to follow her example. May you you be comforted thru all our prayers!
I was privileged to sing in the DAR National Chorus when Mrs. Fleck directed. It was a wonderful experience. I will always remember her encouragement for the group and her wonderful smile.
A truly remarkable woman, one I feel privileged to have known. All notes I ever received from her ended, “Scads to do. Must run.” Run she did and accomplished much. She has earned her rest.
We will always remember you for introducing us to the Boston Harbor Black Tea, listening to you play your drums & marimba, the Christmas/Thanksgiving dinners we shared. You will be truly missed, but I know that Pa is in his glory to have you by his side again. We know you’ll be playing music to all up there–their gain, our loss. Love, Peace, & Joy.
I remember Ann at a DAR State meeting, talking about her travels around the country setting off alarms in the airports because she traveling with a piece of pipe from the DAR buildings. She was always a strong supporter of CAR as well and always had words of encouragement for CAR members and new DAR members. As a new page in DAR, my first task was to deliver a note to Ann. For a first task, it was great because I knew who I was looking for.
Most fond memories of Mrs. Fleck. She was always there setting an example for me and showing that one could never be too elderly to “bow out” or resign from anything or anyone!
She will be so very missed by her NSDAR sisters here in North Carolina. She will never be replaced! I’m sure the angels in Heaven are truly celebrating her arrival up there.
Sincerely,
Dawn Shamel Douglas
Organizing Regent
John Shamel Chapter NSDAR
Tobaccoville, NC
I was privileged to serve as her personal page when she visited the Wisconsin DAR. She was an amazing woman – and introduced me to the wonderful flavor of macadamia nuts! I have remembered her often over the years, whenever I look at the drum pin that represented her DAR administration or view photographs of her visit. She was an easy person to love!
On behalf of the Capt. John Joslin, Jr. Chapter of Leominster, MA, I would like to express our deepest sympathies to the family of Mrs. Ann Fleck.
I know I speak for all our members that have met and enjoyed the company of Ann over the years; enjoying her humor as well as her amazing talent playing her drum at many conferences. She was an inspiration and mentor to all who met her.
Rest in peace with the Lord,
With love,
Anne Daulton Shattuck
Chapter Chaplain
Capt. John Joslin, Jr. Chapter NSDAR
Leominster, MA
Rest in peace Ann. You were one of the first ladies who spoke to me at my first Massachusetts State DAR meeting. That bit of kindness made a real difference … for myself and all the others that you touched in life.
I met Ray and Ann at AAA in Westwood. I would wave to her every year at the Memorial Day Parade in Westwood-she would always nod back to me. It was an honor to know both of them and ,now , to learn of her extraordinary life. You are a lucky family to remember her always.
I saw Ann do her wonderful drumming at a Boston Tea Party Chapter meeting at the Royall House several years ago. I am an associate member of the BTP Chapter of the NSDAR and took my grandmother-in-law tp meetings. I have so enjoyed Ann’s Christmas “cards” over the years and will miss hearing from her.
Thank you, Ann, for the opportunity to serve you in the NSDAR whether at the National level, choose you as a guest speaker at Rhode Island DAR events or local Pettaquamscutt Chapter events. You were a truly dedicated, faithful daughter, and beloved wife and mother. You are missed. It will always be my honor to be the first Rhode Island woman ever chosen to serve a President General, and that one, you.
Thank you Carol for sending me the notice of Ann’s death. I meet Ann and Ray while travelling many years ago and just enjoyed their company so much. Ann and I had corresponded every year at Christmas since then, I loved to hear about their activities and family. In later years l received a beautiful card of Ann which l cherish. A wonderful loving, caring couple who lead and extrodianary life.Rest in Peace with the Lord. Valda Mason. Australia.
Just had the chance to see her obit. The love of music came from Mrs. Fleck. 3 of us 4 th graders were allowed to join the School band at the W.H. Lincoln School in Brookline,Ma. This privilege was only for grades5-8. We picked our instruments and she taught us so patiently. What love and kindness exuded from this women , our teacher and Conductor. The end of the School year in 66 Mrs. Fleck brought me a clarinet to practice over the summer; she cane right to our apt. I was so amazed of her generosity. I payed it forward giving it to another musician. Influenced me in such a positive way❤️
She was a dear friend of mine. I got her the Zildjan jacket.
Such a wonderful person.