Ann Dumler

With much  sadness, we report the passing of longtime past MWABA member and partner at the Chicago Rare Book Center, Ann Dumler. Our condolences to her family, friends and colleagues. https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/47002660/ann-dumler

A few words from Pat Martinak from Ann’s Tribute Wall…”Ann entered my life about 30-35 years ago as sort of wild card, — first visiting my bookstore in Evanston, IL after moving back to the Chicago north shore, having left it quite a few years earlier to live in Connecticut with her husband and children. She visited me every so often, and I was happy for the company—sometimes a bookstore can be a little too quiet. Perhaps I was a counterbalance to her in some way.

In the mosaic of experiences we shared, we had a number of disagreements, but did agree on the importance of great live theatre, good books, and good movies. “We “forayed” a lot together in search of the same. We took some literature courses together, but she took many more than I did. We talked about, and alternately bragged and worried about our children. I admired her ability to strike up a meaningful conversation with a stranger standing in line with her, as well as her adeptness in describing the importance of a particular children’s book at a book fair to a potential customer.

Ann loved to shop — for clothes, flowers, good food, antiques, and books, and just as much relished creating an enjoyable shopping experience for others in her bookstore and antique mall spaces. In that effort, she started a book club, Sunday board game afternoons, and Thursday evening wine socials to encourage engagement at the store. And outside of the store she loved to host parties and get-togethers to bring people together. She was a happy collaboration of the bookish and the social butterfly. She will be missed.”

Pat Martinak