Remembering Anna Mae Blanche Gotter Moinet (1908-2006)
Remembering Anna Mae Blanche Gotter Moinet (1908-2006)
by Janet Metzger, Local History Librarian
For 98 years Anna Mae Gotter Moinet lived a life rich in history and rich in family and friends. Her life and memory will be treasured by those of us who knew her not only for how long she lived, but also how she lived.
Anna Mae Gotter had history in her blood, especially the history of Louisville. Her grandparents were early settlers in Louisville. Born on March 6, 1908 to W. Edward and Amanda Gotter, she lived here her entire life. Anna Mae once said that there was a time when she knew every resident in Louisville by name. Anyone who ever came in contact with her could not help but be amazed at her phenomenal memory for people and events. She was literally a walking encyclopedia of the history of our community.
Anna Mae's own life had many stories to tell. She was a 1929 graduate of Ohio State University and a member of Theta Phi Alpha Sorority. After graduation, she taught American History (what else?) to Louisville High School juniors from 1929 to 1934, but had to give that up when she married her high school sweetheart, Vincent Moinet. Those were still the days when men were the breadwinners and a woman's place was "in the home." During WWII Anna Mae worked at the Republic Steel Chemistry Lab.
Libraries were an integral part of Anna Mae's life. She served on the Board of Trustees at the Louisville Public Library from 1935 to 1949. But she was not content to be an observer; she took a job at the Canton Public Library in 1946. Anna Mae was appointed Assistant Librarian at Louisville Public Library in 1949 and served ably in that position until 1964. By this time she had earned a Masters Degree in Library Science from Kent State University. She next worked at Rodman Library in Alliance, serving as Assistant to the Director and Head of Adult Services until her retirement in 1970. Even in retirement, Anna Mae kept her hands in books, serving as resident librarian at the St. Joseph Assisted Residence, where she had lived since 1993. Her beloved Vincent had died in 1988.
Anna Mae's other love was her church. She was an active member of St. Louis Parish and acted as their historian, genealogist and archivist right up until the time of her death on April 11, 2006. Although she and Vincent never had children, they have plenty of "family" as well as nieces and nephews to remember them. Lou Jacquet, editor of The Catholic Exponent and a Moinet relative had this to say in his May 5, 2006 column:
"The secret to her long and happy life, she once told me, was simple. 'I'm curious about everything. I always wanted to know. I hope I never stop wanting to know.'"
We miss you Anna Mae!
