Born 8/23/1937
Frankfurt, Germany
Died 1/22/2023
Hartford, Connecticut
Details of services
A celebration of the life of Ann Henrich is planned for Saturday, March 4th at 4 pm at Stratton Mountain School, in the Patti Kaltsas Center.
Annedore Henrich, Jamaica, died January 22nd after a brief illness, surrounded by her loving daughters, Mercedes and Christina. Ann was born August 23, 1937 in Frankfurt, Germany to parents Joseph and Anne Kramer. She was educated in Germany and moved to the United States in 1959, joining her soon to be husband Emo Henrich, in Truckee, California where the Henrichs embarked on a long and successful career in the ski and hospitality industry.
Relocating to the newly established Stratton Mountain resort in 1961, Ann and Emo built the charming Austrian inn, The Birkenhaus, and welcomed generations of guests who then became friends. Ann hosted many of the well-known Stratton visitors including the Robert F. Kennedy family, Jackie Kennedy and her children, Arnold Palmer, tennis stars: John Newcombe and Rod Laver, among others. Birkenhaus, site of many memorable Stratton parties, weddings and social gatherings was a home away from home for Stratton ski instructors, chalet owners and visitors from around the world. As hostess in her homes in Lech, Austria and Corsica, Ann always provided a warm welcome and delicious dining. The devoted Birkenhaus team became Ann’s lifelong friends. Ann was well known for hosting the annual picnic on Grizzly Trail, complete with an ice bar and sumptuous buffet and was a volunteer and chair at numerous Ski Balls, benefiting junior ski racing. Flowers at the Chapel of the Snows and gifts to many of Stratton’s non-profits were hallmarks of the Henrich generosity.
Ann was involved in the start of Stratton Mountain School in the 70s, providing meals for early ski racing students housed in the nearby Hotel Tyrol. Both of Ann and Emo’s daughters, Benzi and Tini, graduated from Stratton Mountain School and when the new campus was built in 1999, the library there was named The Henrich Library, in honor of the many contributions made by both Ann and Emo, over four decades on Stratton.
In 1997, Ann received the prestigious Emo Henrich Award, acknowledging her strong commitment to enhancing the quality of life on Stratton Mountain. Ann was pre-deceased by her husband Emo in 2009, and she relocated to their home, Haus Emo, in Austria, often hosting Stratton friends and family. Recently returning to the newly acquired Henrich family home in Jamaica, VT, The Jamaica Haus, Ann was delighted to reconnect with generations of Stratton friends, and was pleased to celebrate her 85th birthday in her beloved Vermont. Ann participated in the December 2022 re-dedication of The Henrich Library and was honored at the 2022 Emo Henrich Award ceremony.
Ann is survived by her daughters, Mercedes “Benzi” Ross and Christina “Tini” Henrich and her grandchildren, Olivia and Rory Hamilton, all of Jamaica, Vermont, as well as nephews and nieces in Austria. Contributions to the Stratton Mt School Endowment in Ann’s honor would be most welcomed. SMS 7 World Cup Circle, Stratton Mt, VT 05155
To send condolences to the family please email benzifast@gmail.com and thistledewstables@gmail.com.