Alice Ann Longstreth Hughes

A tribute to Gooch:

Alice Ann Longstreth Hughes of Viroqua, WI, formerly of Fairfield, CT, New York, NY, Aspen, CO, Stowe VT, Fort Collins, CO, and several locations in Savannah, Georgia, among other places (Ann wasn’t one to sit still) is a dead person; Death, a necessary end has come. Though not a religious person, she felt it was time for the requiem, to commence a dirge and such rest to her as to peace-parted souls.

That we shall die we know; 'tis but the time, she drifted off leaving this mortal coil Thursday May 6, 2021, a beautiful spring morning, in Wisconsin. Her irrepressible spirit is released and is now looking for a new home in the universe (she’s pretty sure it will be as a dog).

Known as Ann (not Alice), Annzie, Muff, or Gooch, she loved to plan, and spent her last few weeks and days on earth busily reaching out via facetime and phone to her many friends and family across the country. She had no fear of death but knew it would be hard saying goodbye to those she loved.

She was surrounded at her time of death by her dogs Finn and Gracie (for all the friends she had it’s no secret that she loved the dogs even more), her children, Lakin Shostak and Tripp Hughes, and a few friends. Ann is survived by her son Tripp and his wife Missy and kids Emma, Harry and George Tucker; and her daughter Lakin and her husband Jack and kids Jackson, Will and Phoebe and her brothers George (aka Chip) and Jack (aka Juanito Lindo) and their families.

Ann was born in Bridgeport, CT., April 9,1941 at 12:15 am, keeping her mother Alice Lakin Pullman Longstreth up well past her bedtime. She was the apple of her father, George Brown Longstreth 2nd’s eye. She was a lifetime contributor to the “The Pullman Saga” as a core member of the “Clan.” She loved spending time with her family, both immediate and extended, and her close network of friends. Whether elaborately entertaining at her homes (nobody did up Christmas quite like Ann) or getting away with them to some her favorite spots – Fairfield Beach Club, Lake Mansfield Trout Club in Stowe and 7D Ranch in Sunlight Basin WY.

Ann had what many might consider a sketchy relationship with schooling, including staging a coup with her classmates at “Miss Bolton’s Upper School for Girl’s” (now Greens Farms Academy). This led her to being shipped off to boarding school at Emma Willard in Troy, NY. There she was “encouraged to develop fully in all areas of her life.” Which for Ann, unlike her schoolmates like Jane Fonda and Sara Lee Schupf (that Sarah Lee), meant more opportunity to further rebel against the system. She rounded out her education at Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill MA.

In her early years Ann enjoyed the company of men in her life – there was the almost too handsome Alberto Ronca whom she fell madly for while exploring Italy with her cousins, or the young Peter Fonda with whom she enjoyed a couple of dates on the back of his motorcycle (true story), or Paul Hughes the oh-so athletic ski instructor from Stowe (she married him, for almost 40 years). But in the end, her experiences led to her swearing off men altogether and devoting herself furthermore to her dogs. As she said, the more she learned about men, the more she loved her dogs. She was fond of the saying, the only family member you can pick is your dog.  She loved dogs for the simple reasons - dogs mean it when they kiss you, middle-aged dogs don’t feel the need to abandon you for a younger owner, and dogs always miss you when you are gone. In the end her dogs were her whole life, and they made her life whole.

Over her lifetime Ann was the human mother to soooo many dogs, birds, snakes, guinea pigs, skunks (you name it) that it’s hard to keep track of them all. She was personally responsible for sending many veterinarians’ kids through college. It all started when for her 7th birthday and again for her 8th all Gooch wanted was a chimpanzee. Instead all she got was a canary named Eli. She was especially fond of her dogs Jingo, Chloe, Bridgie, Barney (it was Barney who got up on the alter at St. Pius and ate all of the sacramental wafers), Banjo, Max & Bear, Schweppes, Tucker, Mendon (and her 3 huge litters), Faux Pas, Higley, Millie, Sadie, Baxter, Chocolat, Doodle, and her current babies Finn & Gracie. Sometimes known as “The Crazy Bird-lady of Savannah” (at least by her kids and grandkids) there were many favorites from her menagerie of birds over the years: George & Alice (the parrot and cockateel named after her parents, much to their horror), Zeke, Judge on the Old Post Road, JoJo the talking African Grey, Bo the Yellow Naped Amazon who loved to sing showtunes for her, and Powder the dancing Cockatoo.

For all who know Ann, they’ll know her 3 Noble Truths – 1) her dogs were well behaved, 2) she was an excellent driver, 3) she had perfect hearing. Recently she’s been mastering a 4th truth –becoming an on-line shopping shark. The real Truth though is that Ann was an amazing creator – whether applying her green thumb to her beautiful gardens; designing distinctive yet cozy homes and renovations for herself, her friends and clients; or later in life creating and building amazing “Miniature” worlds, many of which are in private collections and museums. Family and friends will remember her at gatherings always with a piece of handwork in her lap – knitting and needlepoint were her specialties.

There will be no viewing since Ann opted for a quick cremation with the hopes that the final remains of her physical human shield are spread back to the earth.

While Gooch didn’t drink (though she did try Sheila’s pot cookies once, but we’ll save that for another time), she’d hope that her friends and family, at least those who still remember her, will take a moment at some point in the not too distant future to celebrate her life in their own way; either by raising a glass of their favorite drink in her memory or remembering her with some act of kindness or provide words of encouragement, praise, love or comfort for another in need.

Ann, Lakin and Tripp are so grateful to her caregivers over the years, the kids across the street who mowed and shoveled, St. Croix Hospice, and Susan, her amazeballs death-doula, from the Threshold Care Circle. 

Instead of flowers, please consider making a donation to a cause Gooch held dear: Threshold Care Circle (https://www.thresholdcarecircle.org/home/donations/); Heifer International  (https://www.heifer.org/ ) ; or your local animal rescue/shelter.

At some future point, when her family and dear friends can all gather, we’ll host a celebration of Gooch back in Connecticut to honor her intrepid spirit, so stay tuned.

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