In Memoriam: Anna Sie - A Life of Resilience, Love, and Philanthropy
Anna Sie, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cherished friend, mentor, and dedicated philanthropist, peacefully passed away at her home surrounded by her family on September 20, 2023, at the age of 78.
Anna's remarkable journey began on July 21, 1955, when she and her family disembarked from the MS Vulcania ocean liner in New York City. Like countless immigrants of her time, they carried meager belongings in small suitcases and uncertain futures. With no immediate job prospects, they relied on distant relatives for shelter. Their ten-day voyage from Napoli, Italy marked the start of Anna's remarkable "Cinderella" story. At the tender age of 10, Anna took on responsibilities well beyond her years, cooking, cleaning, and acting as the family's translator for over two years until the arrival of her mother, older sister, and two younger brothers.
Photo Credits: Global Down Syndrome Foundation
Anna was a woman of exceptional beauty, intelligence, charisma, and athleticism. She possessed a quick wit and the voice of an angel. Anna graduated from Watchung Hills Regional High School in New Jersey, where she formed lifelong friendships that spanned over five decades, celebrating milestones and holidays around the world.
While Anna was not afforded the opportunity to attend college, fate intervened when she found employment as a switchboard operator at Microstate Electronics. It was here that she met the love of her life, John J. Sie, who had immigrated from China in 1950 and spent his high school years in a New York City orphanage. Together for 56 years, they raised five wonderful children and, against all odds, lived the quintessential American Dream.
The Sie family experienced frequent relocations as John ventured into various entrepreneurial pursuits. Though the process of uprooting was challenging, Anna remained the unwavering caregiver. She skillfully managed a bustling household of children and their numerous friends, hosting traditional Italian holidays for her father and brothers' families. Anna expertly presided over business dinners and gatherings, offering guidance and support to the countless wives of executives who worked under John's leadership. She was an inspiration and a motherly figure to all who crossed her path.
Photo Credits: Global Down Syndrome Foundation
Anna had an immense passion for movies and played an influential role in John's endeavors when he helped build Showtime and later launched the Starz and Encore channels. Thanks to the collaboration with Dr. John Malone and Peter Barton, Anna and John made substantial contributions to the cable TV industry in the United States, ultimately leading to a comfortable retirement. Her life was replete with travel, culinary pursuits, shopping, house decorating, a love for music, indulging in TV series, and a deep appreciation for movies. She took immense pride in her grandchildren and dedicated herself to a multitude of philanthropic endeavors.
Anna's philanthropic efforts extended to the endowment of the Anna Maglione-Sie Chair in Italian Language & Literature at the University of Denver and the establishment of the prestigious annual Italian Filmmaker Award at the Denver Film Festival. She also endowed the Dan & Boyce Sher Chair at the College of Music at the University of Colorado Boulder, providing support to some of the finest Italian opera singers, many of whom hailed from China.
However, Anna's most significant legacy undoubtedly pertains to her granddaughter, Sophia, who happens to have Down syndrome. Drawing upon her own experiences of being treated differently as an immigrant and navigating an interracial marriage, Anna was determined to ensure that Sophia and all individuals with Down syndrome would lead longer, healthier, happier, and more fulfilling lives.
Photo Credits: Global Down Syndrome Foundation
Anna co-founded several affiliated organizations dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with Down syndrome, including the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, the Alzheimer's & Cognition Center at the Anschutz Medical Campus, the Anna & John J. Sie Center for Down Syndrome at Children's Hospital Colorado, and the groundbreaking GLOBAL Inclusive Program. This program marked the first post-secondary opportunity for students with intellectual disabilities at a Jesuit University and the second at a Catholic University in the United States.
Anna received numerous awards for her philanthropic work, including Honorary Doctorates in Higher Education from the University of Denver and Humane Letters from the University of Colorado, as well as an Honorary Doctorate from Regis University.
In December of 2013, Anna was diagnosed with stage IV endometrial cancer. With the unwavering support of her loving husband, children, and a dedicated team of scientists and compassionate medical professionals, Anna lived another remarkable decade, filled with an exceptional quality of life. During this time, she created countless moments of happiness and cherished memories for her family and the multitude of individuals whose lives she touched. Anna Sie's legacy will forever shine as a testament to resilience, love, and the transformative power of philanthropy.
