Ann Weir Ventre, who settled in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, more than half a century ago and built a career in education while raising both children and grandchildren, died May 14 at her home. She was 86.

After marrying Thomas Henry Ventre in 1968 and completing a master's degree at the University of Denver, Mrs. Ventre and her new family moved from Los Angeles to Pines-on-the-Severn in Arnold in 1973. She remained there for the next five decades, nurturing a lasting marriage, deep community connections, and a lush landscape of ever-changing gardens at her home.

Mrs. Ventre began her professional career teaching literature at high schools from New Jersey to Ohio to California. After her move to Maryland, she taught communication and public speaking at colleges and universities across the state. She was an instructor at Towson University for almost 20 years and also led classes at Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, Chesapeake College in Wye Mills, and what was then the College of Notre Dame of Maryland in Baltimore. She often spoke of the meaningful conversations she had with her students, and she valued the relationships she built with students who stayed in touch many years after their classes together had ended.

Mrs. Ventre was a bridge player, getting together once a month to play with a group of women in and around Annapolis; they called themselves “The Bridge Sisters” and became lifelong friends. In a nod to her Scottish heritage, Mrs. Ventre was also a years-long member of the Chesapeake Curling Club based in Easton, Md. Her house was full of trophies and pins she collected while competing at bonspiels up and down the East Coast.

While an avid reader, coffee drinker (before switching to chai later in life), and ice-cream aficionado, Mrs. Ventre was nothing if not a gardener. She was a member of the Pines-on-the-Severn Garden Club, helping to organize plant swaps and garden tours in the neighborhood. She took special pride in the shade garden she created on a slope opposite the family home; it was there, year after year, that a carefully curated mix of Lenten rose, daffodil, redbud, bluebell, wild geranium, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, bleeding heart, sweet woodruff, aster, and several varieties of fern caught the eyes of many a passerby.

Ann Weir was born in Vermont on July 31, 1939, and grew up in Fairfax. She graduated from Bellows Free Academy in St. Albans, Vt., and Colby College in Waterville, Maine, then served in the Peace Corps in Brazil from 1964-1967. There she met Tom, also a Peace Corps volunteer, on the day they both took the Graduate Record Exam in the city of Sao Paolo.

She is survived by her son, Ted Ventre, and daughter-in-law Kristen Bush Ventre of York, Pa.; her son, Tommy Ventre, and daughter-in-law Kristina Golden Ventre of Baltimore; her daughter, Saria Ventre Civis of Pasadena, Md.; her brother, Robert Weir of West Bath, Maine; and her grandchildren, Vincent Dominick, Julia Dominick, Mariah Dominick, and Jackson Ventre. She was preceded in death by Tom, her devoted husband of 52 years.

A celebration of life will take place at a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org or Maryland Public Television at donate.mpt.org/mptv/donate. Online condolences may be made at www.kuhnerequities.com.

Kuhner Associates Funeral Directors, Inc., 863 South George Street, York, is assisting with arrangements.