Ann V Michalski

Ann was born to Andrew and Anna Oross on her mother’s birthday July 16, 1923 in Manhattan, New York City on the upper West Side several blocks from Central Park. She grew up and was educated in Chicago during Prohibition and the Great Depression. Ann graduated from Wells High School at age 16 and received a full scholarship to Chicago Teacher’s College.

While a full time college student, Ann worked part-time as a clerk at Neisner Bros. 5 and 10 cent store, as a designer’s model in the Chicago garment district, and as a quality control inspector in a defense plant.

Ann and the love of her life Eugene (Gene) Michalski were married in St. Augustine’s Church on Waikiki Beach, Honolulu on February 3, 1944.

Ann worked seven days a week with every eighth day off in the Radio Materials Laboratory for the U.S. Navy as a Safety Officer assigned to Pearl Harbor where testing of early sonar was being done. The islands were under military control with black-out and a 6 p.m. curfew. She and Eugene had earned leave in the fall of 1945 and were waiting for transportation when the A-Bomb was dropped ending the war. They were on the first troop carrier to get back to San Francisco, the Lurline. On board was the Hour Glass Army Division, the most decorated group having served in Africa, Europe and the Pacific.

Back in Chicago their daughters Monica and Michele were born starting the Baby Boomers. As soon as the girls were old enough for nursery school, Ann was back to work as a kindergarten teacher and then as assistant to the vice-president of James Davis & Co. By 1950 they had had enough of Chicago winters. Gene remembered Ojai where, as a seventeen year old he had served in the Civilian Conservation Corps and so they moved to Ojai, California, making their home at Matilija Hot Springs.

Ann was hired as a social worker for the Department of Social Welfare and within a year was promoted to Social Work Supervisor. Ann helped plan and implement Aged, Blind and Disabled programs; arranged for Ethel Percy Andrews founder of Grey Gables in Ojai for retired teachers (the forerunner for AARP) to train social worker staff; started a program in 1958 to get welfare mothers to work that later resulted in a State program called “Time for Change”; helped implement MediCal when the Federal program began in the county; analyzed State legislation for welfare programs.

Ann and Gene’s youngest daughter Maryann was born in Ojai in 1961 completing their family. In 1967 they moved to the hillside in Ventura where Ann was to spend the rest of her life overlooking the gorgeous city of Ventura, the Channel Islands, and the great Pacific Ocean.

Ending her career with the County of Ventura as Chief of Children’s Social Services Ann retired in February 1984.

Forever a cruise gypsy, Ann organized cruise travel groups for over ten years, and also taught a cruise travel class at Ventura College. Ann and Gene cruised all over the world making sure to visit every museum in every city. The Mediterranean and the Greek Islands were their favorite cruise destinations.

Ann continued and expanded her volunteer activities. She served for three terms as President of the Retired Employees Association, also as Member and Director. Ann was a member of the Ventura County Transportation Commission serving on the Citizens Transportation Advisory Council, served on the Ventura County Area on Aging Advisory Council, was Chairman of the Ventura Senior Coordinating Council, a delegate for the California Retired County Employees Association and the State Association of County Retirement Systems.

She was an active member in the Ventura County Maritime Museum; National Maritime Historical Society; SOAR; Hillside Conservatory; a Life Member Community Memorial Hospital Auxiliary (Pink Ladies); Grand Dame Rubicon Theatre; Camerata Pacifica; Ojai Music Festival; Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera; Los Angeles County Museum; Keep the Sespe Wild; San Buenaventura Women’s Club; Altrusa International. Ann received an invitation from President Obama to attend his Inauguration.

Ann is survived by her daughters Monica McKay (Richard McKay), Michele Ramirez

(Thomas Ramirez), Maryann Michalski Cord (Michael Cord); Grandchildren Andrew McKay ( Karen McKay), Matthew McKay (Tamara McKay), Amy McKay, Victoria McCraw (Tom McCraw); Great grandchildren Ryland McKay, Mason McKay, Cameron McKay; Nephews John Mick Michalski & family, Jeff Michalski & family, Mark Michalski, Daniel Michalski, David Smolik & family; sisters Pat Oross and Katie Veasie, brother John Oross, sister-in-law Joyce Oross, and many more nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews scatter across the States.

The last thing Ann wrote in her journal was: “The world is deep and rich and full of color and miracles. My life is an adventure!!! All is right with the world!!!”

A visitation will be held Monday, April 25, 2011, from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Rd., Ventura. Burial will take place, Tuesday, April 26, 2011, 11:00 A.M. at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, Ventura.

Arrangements are under the directions of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura. Condolences may be left at TedMayrFuneralHome.com.