Ann Johnston Knechtle of New Canaan died peacefully at home on October 19, 2015. She was 92 and lived in her home on Smith Ridge Rd. since 1953. Ann was born March 5, 1923 in Brooklyn, NY as the fourth daughter of F. Cliffe and Grace Palmer Johnston. She attended Packer Academy in Brooklyn and then Miss Hall’s School in Pittsfield, MA before attending Sarah Lawrence College for one year at age 16, Wheaton College, IL for two years, and then obtained her BSN from Columbia University in New York. She worked for Dr. Frank B. Berry, thoracic surgeon at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital and designer of the Berry Plan for funding medical student education for G.I.s returning from WWII. In 1950 she married Emilio B. Knechtle at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York, and after two years in the Dominican Republic the couple purchased an onion farm on Smith Ridge Road. There they converted the historic barn into a house and raised their six children, five of whom attended the New Canaan Country School and four of whom attended New Canaan High School. Ann regularly entered the annual flower show as an active member of the New Canaan Garden Club, enjoyed tennis and golf at New Canaan Country Club, and taught classes at First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan where Emilio was a founding elder. They later attended Black Rock Congregational Church in Fairfield while Ann led Bible classes in New Canaan. In 1963 Ann and Emilio bought St. Luke’s School with Harriet and David Findlay and operated it as a private boys school in the 1960’s and 70’s. In 1967, Ann and Emilio purchased a farm on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia where Ann loved to take her family for the summer months to paint, learn the Celtic Arts, sail, and engage her passion for the outdoors. She taught her children horseback riding, tennis, and encouraged them in any and all sports. She is predeceased by her husband Emilio to whom she was married for 56 years, and by sisters Grace Kiesewetter, Jean Wort, and Constance Hammond and by her grand-daughter Ann Walker Knechtle. She is survived by her sister Pat Johnston Hayward and Ann’s six children: Cliffe & Sharon Knechtle of New Canaan; Stuart & Mary Banks Knechtle of Hillsborough, NC; John & Heather Knechtle of Glencoe, Trinidad; Heidi Knechtle of Rockville, MD, Grace Knechtle of New Canaan, David & Katie Knechtle of Greenwich, CT; and 10 grandchildren: William & Juliana Knechtle of Durham, NC, Robert, Stuart & Ian Knechtle of New Canaan, David & Stephanie Knechtle of Hamilton, MA, Peter Knechtle of Hillsborough, NC, and Lily, Matthew, Blake, and Lucy Knechtle of Glencoe, Trinidad. Ann actively pursued the development of special education for her daughter Grace when such services were just being developed in New Canaan, and Grace continues to live and work in New Canaan. Her son Cliffe is pastor of Grace Community Church in New Canaan, where Ann attended since its founding in 2000. She will be remembered by her family and friends for her cheerful, generous, and indomitable spirit, her deep faith, her artistic and athletic skills, and her abiding love for family and friends near and far. Her family is grateful for the compassionate team of caregivers who lovingly supported her at her home. A memorial service is planned for 9:30 am Saturday, October 24 at Grace Farms, 365 Lukes Wood Rd., New Canaan. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Give Me An Answer, P.O. Box 1692, New Canaan, CT 06840 (givemeananswer.org). Saturday October 24, 2015 , 9:30AM at Grace Farm Click for Map and Directions