06/02/2026
AA HISTORY
Did you know that????
On June 1, 1949 Anne Ripley Smith (age 69) died at St Thomas Hospital. Sister Ignatia secretly baptized her (as an act of love) prior to her death. Anne was much revered by the Akron members and by Bill and Lois. Her last years were spent nearly blind due to severe cataracts. In a July Grapevine memorial article, Bill wrote that Anne was “quite literally, the mother of our first group, Akron Number One” and “In the full sense of the word she was one of the founders of AA.” Anne’s remains were sent to Cleveland for cremation prior to her burial in Akron (LOH 353, DBGO 327, SI 136, PIO 334, WPR 2). Arthur S.
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JULY 1949
Anne S. BY: BILL W.
ANNE S. has taken her leave of us. She died on Wednesday June 1. To the hundreds who really knew her, this was a meaningful and moving event. With those who knew her not, I wish to share the inspiration which she gave to Lois and me. Anne was the wife of Dr. Bob, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. She was, quite literally, the mother of our first Group, Akron No. One.
HER wise and beautiful counsel to all, her insistence that the spiritual come before anything else, her unwavering support of Dr. Bob in all his works; all these were virtues which watered the uncertain seed that was to become A.A. Who but God could assess such a contribution? We can only say that it was priceless and magnificent. In the full sense of the word, she was one of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Not a soul who knew Anne will say that she is really gone. Each knows that her abiding love and influence will live forever. And none knows better than Dr. Bob, Lois and I, who saw these things from the beginning. Nor do we think we shall never see her again. For, like nearly all our fellow A.A. members, we believe there is no death. She is only out of our sight and hearing for a little while.
