Ann Louise Moss was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1931, the first-born daughter of Harold Krieger Moss and Norma Bluestein Moss. The Moss family was from Bridgeport and Milford, Connecticut. The Bluestein family was from Bethel, Ohio, where Norma’s father, (Ann’s Grandfather) Simon (Si) Bluestein was the first Jewish President of the Bethel Bank. Eventually the family moved to Cincinnati.
Graduating from Walnut Hills High School, an institution she proudly supported, she went on to graduate from Wheaton College in Norton Massachusetts, Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She met her husband Leonard Meranus, a graduate of Harvard Law, shortly thereafter. They had three sons: Norman, Jim and David.
As a young married mother, Ann turned her sights to a newly-formed international organization: the Children’s International Summer Villages (CISV). Formed in 1950 by psychologist Dr. Doris Twitchell Allen, CISV was based on a belief that by creating opportunities for children of different cultures to live together and become friends, they would grow to be ambassadors for a more peaceful world. Ann immersed herself in its work for many many years, raising funds, traveling with adult groups to Norway, chairing their 1975 International Convention at Xavier University, and was actively involved in establishing a children’s village in San Jose, Costa Rica. A local chapter of CISV is still active on Montgomery Road. Loyal to the end of her life, she personally appeared at their 70th anniversary.
Ann continued, over a lifetime, to educate herself. She taught in Lynn, Massachusetts during her early marriage and continued to do so in Cincinnati in the mid- 50’s.
Through Cincinnati General Hospital, she became certified as a Mental Health Counselor, and for a decade, between 1972 and 1981, dedicated every Friday to counseling at the Central Psychiatric Clinic at General Hospital. Soon, her responsibilities extended to the Bethesda Hospital School of Nursing.
Her volunteer time continued to focus on caring for those in need. Serving on the YWCA Board for 12 years, she was actively involved in starting the Alice Paul House for Battered Women. She served for 10 years on the “Beacon Board” of the Lighthouse for Youth.
Ann wore many hats, not least of which was her deep interest in art, in design, and the creative genius of others. Early on, she recognized the uniqueness of primitive folk art and collected it with some authority. For a period of time, she represented Bantam Books and Warner Books in Cincinnati, and in a story she recently shared with Anderson Cooper (CNN), she took his father Wyatt Cooper (who had authored a book) through all the tiny art shops in this city to procure confederate soldiers for his sons.
Wanting to try her hand at the renovation of old Cincinnati housing, she obtained a real estate license to do so. She returned to the YWCA with a new hat, this time on their “arts board,” lending her hand to the creation of displays and publicity for Playhouse in the Park. She became a lecturer and docent at the Contemporary Arts Center, and from 1995–2005, sat on the Fine Arts District Board.
A yellow dog democrat and daunted by little, Ann threw herself very early behind the political career of Tom Luken, who went on to win a seat in City Council, serve as Mayor, and eventually in the House.
Ann traveled internationally and extensively. She had friends from all over the globe, many of them artists with whom she kept in touch, and they with her.
As an artist friend wrote, upon hearing of her death, “Ann was fierce in life and in death.” It aptly describes her.
Ann Moss Meranus was the beloved mother of Norman Meranus (Arthur Eisenbach), Dr. James Meranus (Meg) and David Meranus (Julie Rosin); dear sister of Mary Moss Greenebaum (John); grandmother of Kellen, Spadafore (Michael), Ariel, Jamie, Grant and Kyle Meranus; great-grandmother of Benjamin Mia and Lucy Spadafore; Aunt of Anastasia (Stacey) Greenebaum (Scott) (children: Berit Bash Decker and Henry Decker), and Elliot Moss Greenebaum.
Graveside services were held Wednesday, October 18 at the United Jewish Cemetery in Walnut Hills.
Ann, we are certain, would appreciate memorial contributions to Lighthouse Youth and Family Services, 401 East McMillan Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45206; or CISV: Children’s International Summer Villages Inc., 9200 Montgomery Rd., Cincinnati, Ohio 45242 (or online).
Remembering Ann Louise Moss Meranus (1931-2023)
