By Krystal Moralee

Last summer, Port Huron lost the second half of a couple who held the needs of the community close to their hearts. Bill and Ann Maas helped meet the needs of community through action during their lifetimes and then a planned gift through their estate to carry forward their legacy of loving our local library.

Bill and Ann Maas started their journey together in midlife, and long-time friend Sandy Laham said they were soulmates who took their commitment to each other seriously, renewing their promises annually. They brought that same level of dedication to everything in life that they deemed worthy.

“They were people who got involved and supported – through work and financially – the things that were important to them,” said Laham.

Bill passed away in 2018 at the age of 89, and Ann followed in August of last year at 85 years old. But while their ability to give their time came to an end, the Maases planned ahead and trusted the Community Foundation to steward a legacy gift in their name to the  St. Clair County Library Fund, to ensure their commitment to the library was carried on beyond their lives.

As educators, Bill and Ann Maas understood that accessibility is a key component in having a strong community, opening the doors to literacy and educational and recreational materials and activities, regardless of one’s economic situation. For them, all of that and more was available through the local library. They knew the library offers much more than books, including internet access, a law library, historical reference materials, a maker’s space, and a refreshed bookmobile service to take materials to areas in our county that don’t have a library branch.

St. Clair County Library Director Allison Arnold remembers Bill as a “quietly dignified gentleman” who had a love for the arts, and she knew Ann a bit better, as the library was very dear to her.

“Ann was more outgoing in terms of her personality,” said Arnold. “She loved talking to people and taking part in organizations. She was very involved with the library system, and we had successful funding campaigns under her.”

Ann was also a dedicated patron of the library, coming in every week to get books and spend time chatting with everyone.

“She had a lot of friends here,” said Arnold.

The couple, she said, were always supportive and saw the value of having a public library system.

When someone leaves a legacy gift like Ann and Bill Maas did, said Arnold, it sends an important message that they really believed in the cause they are supporting.

“It shows the donor trusts the organization will use these monies to the betterment of the organization and that they will do good,” she said. “It’s just a show of support that says, ‘this is what’s important to us.’”

The Maases moved from Mt. Clemens to Port Huron in the late 1980s. Both retired from long careers in education – Bill taught biology at Bellevue High School and Fordson High School in Dearborn, and Ann spent many years in the Macomb Intermediate School District, teaching young adults with significant disabilities and behavioral challenges and ending her career as the vocational evaluator for students with disabilities.

After retirement, Bill and Ann took the passion they poured into their careers and pivoted their efforts toward volunteering and contributing to the community. Bill was a volunteer at Port Huron Hospital for more than 16 years, also volunteering at the Huron Lightship and the Municipal Office Center. Ann was an active member of the Friends of the St. Clair Library and ran two successful countywide millage campaigns for the library. She was also an avid supporter of the International Symphony, first on their auxiliary and then on their board, and was active with the League of Women’s Voters, the American Association of University Women, and several book clubs. She was also a popular community columnist for the Port Huron Times Herald for several years.

Arnold said having the support of citizens like the Maases gives the library staff a boost because working with the public can at times be a thankless job. This, she said, shows staff that there are people who believe in the good they’re trying to do on a daily basis.

When individuals or couples like the Maases make a charitable bequest in their Will or Trust, or name the Community Foundation or a fund at the Foundation as a beneficiary of an IRA or life insurance policy, they ensure the causes they care about continue to thrive for generations. Through this thoughtful planning, the Maases’ lifelong commitment to learning, civic engagement, and community enrichment will live on well beyond their lifetimes.

The Maases were part of the Community Foundation’s Legacy Society which honors donors who choose to make a lasting impact through their estate plans. Their generosity reflects a deep belief in the power of community and a desire to give back in meaningful, enduring ways. The Foundation is grateful for the Maases’ foresight and for the example they set for others who wish to leave a legacy rooted in purpose.

If you would like to contribute to the St. Clair County Library Fund or talk to someone about setting up a legacy gift of your own, visit the Giving Center on the Community Foundation website or talk with Jackie Hanton at the Community Foundation at 810-984-4761.