Festival of Arts Board Member Ann Webster passed away on Friday, September 16, 2016 at her home in Laguna Beach with her family by her side. Ann was born in York, Pennsylvania on February 22, 1925. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a Masters in Art History from George Washington University.
In 1946, Ann married her first husband Lewis Street, a marine pilot, with whom she had three children: Kathy, John and Nancy. She did a wonderful job raising her children while stationed in several different locations: Tustin, California; Annendale, Virginia and Honolulu, Hawaii. As a marine aviator’s wife, Ann received a special medal because her husband served in three wars: World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
Ann married her second husband, Roland C. Webster, in 1971. They lived on their yacht the “Mahi Mahi” and traveled to many tropical islands. In 1975 they bought their home in Laguna Beach, where she fell in love with the Pageant of the Masters. Ann was affiliated with the Pageant for over 40 years, including 28 years as Supervisor of Make-Up backstage and 15 years as an elected member of the Festival of Arts Board of Directors. Ann was an avid world traveler and on her journeys would research artwork that could possibly be re-created in the Pageant. Her favorite destinations were Paris, France and Zermatt, Switzerland. She loved serving on the Pageant’s Research Committee and marching in the Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade. She was also passionate about works by Pierre-Auguste Renoir and took a trip to see “The Last Supper” during its restoration in Milan, Italy. In addition to her involvement with the Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters, Ann was a member of the Pacific Symphony League.
Ann served on the Festival of Arts Scholarship committee for 14 years. It was her greatest joy to recognize and award students with art scholarships. Beloved by her Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters family, Ann will be sorely missed.
Ann is survived by her daughter Nancy James; grandchildren Becky Gates, Annika James, Genevieve Buegel, Jaime Blickenstaff, Wendy Boslet, Brandy Jefferson, Jack Boslet and Campbell Boslet; and great grandchildren Kenneth Showe, Amelie Hart, Luther Buegel, Samantha and Tatum Jefferson. Ann was preceded in death by her husbands and her children Kathy and John.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 1 at 10 am at the Laguna Beach Presbyterian Church, located at 415 Forest Ave, Laguna Beach, California. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ann’s name to the Glenn E. Vedder Scholarship Fund at the Festival of Arts.
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Photo: Ann Webster
Submitted By:
Meghan Perez
Marketing/PR Coordinator
