Anne Elizabeth Tyler

Anne Tyler, an active supporter of the local arts community, died on June 8 at her home in Victoria. She was 76. The cause was multiple myeloma. Born to Genevieve and William Schmitt in Medina, NY, on December 12, 1935, Anne attended Nazareth College in Rochester, NY prior to joining the US Department of State Foreign Service in 1957. After briefly attending the Georgetown University Foreign Service Institute, she took assignments in various embassies and consulates in Cambodia, South Africa, and Hong Kong. After her marriage to Michael R. Tyler in 1968, she left the Foreign Service and worked for the Bank of America in Hong Kong before joining her husband’s company. They both retired and moved to Victoria in 1981. Anne was highly regarded for her wide range of volunteer activities in Victoria, particularly in the arts community where she was a vigorous fund raiser and organizer in support of the musical performing arts. While always modest concerning her own talents, she was regarded as a talented pianist. Anne was a director of the Bastion Theatre and for over ten years served on the board of Pacific Opera Victoria. Recently she served as director of the Victoria Conservatory of Music. Anne is survived by her husband of 44 years, Michael, and by her three siblings, William Schmitt, Jr. of Flat Rock, NC, Sarah Donadoni of Syracuse, NY, and Peter Schmitt, of Cedar Grove, NJ.

A prayer service and visitation hours will be held from 7:00-9:00 PM Tuesday evening at McCall’s Funeral Home, 1400 Vancouver Street, Victoria, and a Mass of Christian Burial will be offered for Anne at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Victoria at noon on Wednesday, June 13. In lieu of flowers, her family requests that charitable contributions be made in memory of Anne Tyler.