In honor of International Women’s Day, we pay tribute to our friend and champion, Anne Demarest Taft, who passed away on January 8, 2024, at age 79.
Anne’s commitment to reproductive rights began early. She often recalled that as a teenager, her mother told her that if she ever became pregnant, her parents would take her to Japan for an abortion. It was a striking acknowledgment of both the barriers women faced and her family’s determination to protect her future. That conversation stayed with her throughout her life.
Growing up in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Anne marched for choice. When she moved to the Southern Tier in 1967 to work for IBM, she continued her activism, participating in pro-choice marches and, at times, facing off against the infamous Randall Terry and Operation Rescue. She served for many years on our Honorary Board of Directors, championing high quality, affordable reproductive medical care and comprehensive sexual health education.
Anne’s generosity was transformative. In 2008, when Family Planning purchased and renovated our largest health center in Binghamton, we named it The Taft Building in her honor. At our 75th anniversary celebration in 2015, we presented her with the Family Planning Courage Award in recognition of her lifelong commitment to reproductive rights and justice.
Anne’s dedication extended far beyond our organization. She volunteered with and supported the local PBS member station WSKG, served as president and newsletter editor of Mensa of the Southern Tier of New York, served as chapter president of the National Organization for Women, and held multiple leadership roles in the League of Women Voters of Broome and Tioga Counties and the American Association of University Women. Anne also personally funded a scholarship at Earlham College to support women majoring in mathematics or physical sciences, ensuring future generations would have the same opportunities she did.
Anne spent her whole life working to make the world a better place. We are profoundly grateful to have known her, to have been supported by her, and to carry forward her legacy of courage and compassion. May her memory be a blessing.
Sources: https://www.pressconnects.com/obituaries/pnys0777257
The Advocate 2015