Anne Henderson

Anne Henderson, PhD, 98, passed away on April 19, 2023, at North Hill, Needham, MA, with loving nieces at her side.

Anne was born in Taegu, Korea in 1924 where her parents were serving as missionaries.  She and her 6 brothers and sisters lived in Korea until 1940, at which time the family returned to the US and settled in Berkeley, CA. 

Anne attended UC-Berkeley and then USC, where she got her BA degree. After working in several occupational therapy positions, including at a hospital in Mexico, with post-polio patients, Anne returned to school at the University of Pennsylvania where she earned her masters degree in 1963, and continued there as an instructor in OT. In 1971, she earned her Doctoral degree at UPenn,  and then went on to the University of New Hampshire, where she served as Chair of the Occupational Therapy Department at UNH. Later at Boston University, she was the founder of one of the first post-professional master of science and doctoral programs in occupational therapy in the world. She co-authored a book, Hand Function in the Child: Foundations for Remediation. She was a cherished professor and mentor to many students. After retiring in 1989, she remained in touch with a number of her students who became close friends for the remainder of her life.

Anne resided at North Hill in Needham, MA for 25 years.  Anne loved doing jigsaw puzzles and also became a prolific painter, a passion she also nurtured in several of her nieces.  She owned a small cabin in Maine near her sister’s family where she spent many happy summers,   planning treasure hunts (complete with poetic clues) for adoring nieces and nephews, showing them how to make origami birds on rainy days and teaching the fine art of rock tumbling. She was the one who took nieces and nephews to the bookstore for a birthday treat, or to special birthday dinners.  Her amazing toy cupboard had the most unique items and was a museum unto itself. She loved a good mystery novel as well as science fiction novels and the Dr. Who television series. She and her niece, Joanne Weaver spent countless hours researching the family genealogy back to the 1700’s.

A pioneering professional woman and a loving, fun aunt who we knew as “Auntie Anne”—she will be so missed!

She is survived by her half-sister, Deborah Berryere of Vernon, VT, and her half-brother, David Henderson, of Swoope, VA, and numerous loving nieces and nephews, and many close friends who were like family to her.

A private memorial service will be held in Maine. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in her name to: AOTF (American Occupational Therapy Foundation) 12300 Twinbrook Parkway Suite 520, Rockville, MD 20852

http://www.aotf.org/support

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