Obituary of Anne Perkins Latham
Anne Perkins Latham passed away peacefully at home on June 19th, in the presence of her devoted family.
She is survived by her husband, Thomas Oliver Latham of Eastford, CT, and her brother, Robert (Joanne) Utley, Jr. of Wake Forest, NC. She leaves behind three sons: Randall (Yolanta) Perkins of Forest Hills, NY, Brian Perkins (Chris Staats) of Burlington, VT, and Scott (Ginger) Perkins of Roanoke, VA. She also leaves six cherished grandchildren: Isabella, Mark, Michael, Eli, Connor, and Kai.
She is survived by her beloved nieces, Jill and Ashley Waring, whom she embraced as her own after the passing of her sister, Nancy.
Anne was born in San Antonio, Texas, to Helen Dashiell Utley and Colonel Robert Lashlee Utley. As the daughter of a career U.S. Army officer, she grew up on military bases across the US and in Germany.
She attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, where she met her first husband, Richard Perkins. They raised their three sons in Huntington, NY, and Madison, CT.
Anne graduated with an accounting degree from Quinnipiac College in 1982 and went on to become a CPA, building a successful 22-year career in the field. She was actively involved in several professional organizations.
Family meant everything to Anne. For 30 years, she cherished the annual week-long reunions that forged deep and lasting bonds among relatives.
Anne’s life took a joyful turn in 1994 when she met Tom through the Appalachian Mountain Club while biking and hiking. That same year, she completed the Tiverton, RI Century, a 100-mile bike ride. They married on May 10, 1997, in Littleton, MA, and she was lovingly embraced by Tom’s extended family, who deeply admired her.
Anne and Tom hiked locally and around the world. Their hiking adventures included 27 National Parks, China, New Zealand, Europe, and Canada. Anne especially enjoyed identifying and taking pictures of flowers on their hikes. They created beautiful memories on each journey.
After retiring in 2005, Anne became a Master Gardener. For the next 15 years, she volunteered at Peoples Harvest, raising vegetables for community kitchens and helping maintain wildflower gardens at Goodwin State Forest. She curated flower gardens in every direction around her home and also planted vegetable gardens. She was an active member of the Quiet Corner Garden Club.
Anne shared her time with organizations she was passionate about. She was treasurer for the CT Appalachian Mountain Club, on the Board of Directors at the Mercy Centre in Madison, the Eastford Conservation Commission, and the Eastford Library Board. Anne was a voracious reader, regularly borrowing books from libraries throughout her life.
She was an avid knitter, attending several local knitting clubs, helping struggling knitters along the way. Anne regularly attended Christ Church Pomfret, where she knit for their prayer shawl ministry and Christmas fair. She also knit many gifts for her family and friends.
Anne and Tom shared a relationship rooted in respect, compassion, and profound love. Anne treasured the independence their unique bond gave her to nurture friendships and explore her many interests.
Anne’s life was defined by her love for others. In her final act of love, she donated her brain to Frontotemporal Dementia research, hoping to help those facing these rare and devastating neurodegenerative diseases.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit Anne’s family from 7:00 to 9:00 pm on Friday, July 18, 2025, at the Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St, Putnam, CT. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at Christ Church Pomfret, 527 Pomfret Street, Pomfret, CT. Immediately following the service, everyone is invited back to her home for a reception and to tour Anne’s gardens. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either:
Dr. Dickerson’s Dementia Research Program in the Massachusetts General Hospital Frontotemporal Disorders Unit. Your gift supports the clinical care and research efforts for individuals living with Frontotemporal Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, and related disorders.
Please send a check made payable to: “MGH Dr. Dickerson’s Lab”
and add a memo to let them know you would like the gift to be listed in memory of Anne Latham.
Dr. Dickerson’s Dementia Research Program
Mass General Development Office
125 Nashua Street, Ste 540
Boston, MA 02114
Donations can also be made online at:
https://tinyurl.com/AnneLatham
Or
The Connecticut Teen Wilderness Fund makes it possible for disadvantaged teenagers from Connecticut to attend an Appalachian Mountain Club summer Teen Wilderness Adventure program. Please send a check made payable to:
Appalachian Mountain Club
Al Puches, Treasurer,
32 Highland Ave, Redding, CT 06896
Please add a memo to the check: “Connecticut Teen Wilderness Fund in memory of Anne Latham”