Ann Gretchen (Waterman) Kaye

Our beloved mother, Ann Gretchen (Waterman) Kaye, passed away peacefully on February 13th, 2024. Ann is survived by her three sons and their spouses, Jonathan and Lynn of Middletown, RI, Andrew and Debra of Sudbury, MA and David and Kari of Sharon, MA. She was especially proud of her four grandchildren, Jackson, Ava, Maia and Max, her daughter-in-law, Allison and her two great grandchildren, Wes and Henry.

Born on October 30, 1933, in Brookline, MA, daughter of the late Natalie (Laven) and Benjamin Waterman, Ann was our warrior queen, master of her domain. She always loved where she lived; the suburb of Weston, the south end of Boston in a renovated schoolhouse, the family Vineyard house in Aquinnah.

and her elegant Boston apartment with her 2nd husband, the late Morgan Levine. Ann cherished her final years living at Waterstone at the Circle, an independent living community in Boston where she remained active and developed a warm circle of friends among both residents and staff.

When the nest in Weston emptied, Ann set her sights on an MS in Human Services at Brandeis University’s Heller School of Management, after which she contributed in a variety of non-profit organizations including McLean Hospital and UMass Medical Center. She worked tirelessly on any task before her. Her taste was flawless, her sense of humor sharp, and her lemon meringue unmatched. She loved a good party and would be the first to the dance floor or first to laugh. Some of her best times were when she could simultaneously throw back a shot of tequila under a Hawaiian palm tree or devour a two- pound lobster on Menemsha Beach while gazing at her grown sons and their families she so adored.

Our earliest memories of our mother are of her on the beach in Ogunquit Maine. It was there she met our father, Richard Irwin Kaye. She was glamorous, smart and determined to live a life without regret. She loved us with all her heart, protected and cared for us. Meticulous in all her choices and pursuits, she traveled widely, studied international policy, read extensively and mastered bridge late in life. She enjoyed tennis well into her 70’s and was well known as a notorious poacher at net.

Mom did not suffer fools, never for a moment, and many a fool made the mistake of underestimating our mother. Until her last weeks, she could have entertained Blinken with her foreign policy views, beguiled Bocelli, or taken the "god awful" Trump to task.

As a teenager while lying in bed with a fever I remember she would come and sit on the edge of the bed, stroke my hair and tell me I would feel better in the morning. A mom’s touch made me feel better instantly. Well into my teens, people thought that maybe she was my sister. Her beauty sublime. Her hair coiffed by the legendary stylist, Dean Mellen, until just weeks ago. A timeless style, a warriors’ bearing. She loved us, she nurtured us, she helped us all become the best we could be. Mission accomplished Mom. Onto your next adventure.

Jonathan

A celebratory service will be announced in the spring of 2024.

Good Shepherd Community Care
The Parlin Residence
10 Green Way 
Wayland, MA  01778
Attention:  
Donations - Nancy McEwan
Hospice Residence Director

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ann Gretchen (Waterman) Kaye, please visit our floral store.