Ann Clare Brokaw
Encyclopedia
Ann Clare Brokaw was the only child of Clare Boothe Brokaw (later Clare Boothe Luce
) and George Tuttle Brokaw
.
Her parents were married in August 1923 and divorced on May 20, 1929. Her father agreed to financial support for Clare and her mother, but in 1932 sued to have greater custody of Ann. Six months after her father's death in May 1935, her mother married Henry Luce
, publisher of Time
and Life
magazines. Her stepfather insisted that Ann and the press refer to Luce as her father.
In June 1941, Ann Brokaw (then 17) graduated cum laude from the Foxcroft School
in Middleburg, Virginia. She was expected to attend an East Coast women's college such as Smith College
or Bryn Mawr College
, but instead she elected to attend Stanford University
as a way to see the Western United States.
Ann Brokaw enrolled in Stanford in fall 1941 and joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma
sorority. She majored in political science and philosophy, and was scheduled to graduate summa cum laude in Spring 1944.
However, on January 11, 1944, Ann Brokaw was a passenger in a car that was struck by another car near the Stanford campus. The 19-year-old senior was ejected from the car and died of fatal head injuries. On her 21st birthday, Ann Brokaw was entitled to inherit more than 25% of the multi-million dollar estate of her grandfather (Isaac Vail Brokaw), but after her death the money went to her half-sister, Frances de Villers Brokaw.
Her mother was deeply grieved by the death of her only child, and after extensive counseling by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen
, in 1946 Clare Boothe Luce converted to the Catholic Church. As a memorial to Ann Brokaw, beginning in 1949 she funded the construction of a Catholic church in Palo Alto for use by the Stanford campus ministry. The new Saint Ann Chapel was dedicated in 1951. It was sold by the diocese in 1998 and in 2003 became a church of the Anglican Province of Christ the King
.
Clare Boothe Luce
Clare Boothe Luce was an American playwright, editor, journalist, ambassador, socialite and U.S. Congresswoman, representing the state of Connecticut.-Early life:...
) and George Tuttle Brokaw
George Tuttle Brokaw
George Tuttle Brokaw was an American lawyer and sportsman.He was born in Elberon, New Jersey, a son of Isaac Vail Brokaw, who with his brother, William, owned the New York City-based Brokaw Brothers clothing stores from 1856 until his death in 1914.As the eldest child, George inherited the right...
.
Her parents were married in August 1923 and divorced on May 20, 1929. Her father agreed to financial support for Clare and her mother, but in 1932 sued to have greater custody of Ann. Six months after her father's death in May 1935, her mother married Henry Luce
Henry Luce
Henry Robinson Luce was an influential American publisher. He launched and closely supervised a stable of magazines that transformed journalism and the reading habits of upscale Americans...
, publisher of Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
and Life
Life (magazine)
Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
magazines. Her stepfather insisted that Ann and the press refer to Luce as her father.
In June 1941, Ann Brokaw (then 17) graduated cum laude from the Foxcroft School
Foxcroft School
Foxcroft School, founded in 1914 by Ms. Charlotte Haxall Noland, is an independent boarding and day school for girls in grades 9–12, located near Middleburg, Virginia, United States....
in Middleburg, Virginia. She was expected to attend an East Coast women's college such as Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
or Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College is a women's liberal arts college located in Bryn Mawr, a community in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, ten miles west of Philadelphia. The name "Bryn Mawr" means "big hill" in Welsh....
, but instead she elected to attend Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
as a way to see the Western United States.
Ann Brokaw enrolled in Stanford in fall 1941 and joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Kappa Kappa Gamma is a collegiate women's fraternity, founded at Monmouth College, in Monmouth, Illinois, USA. Although the groundwork of the organization was developed as early as 1869, the 1876 Convention voted that October 13, 1870 should be recognized at the official Founders Day, because no...
sorority. She majored in political science and philosophy, and was scheduled to graduate summa cum laude in Spring 1944.
However, on January 11, 1944, Ann Brokaw was a passenger in a car that was struck by another car near the Stanford campus. The 19-year-old senior was ejected from the car and died of fatal head injuries. On her 21st birthday, Ann Brokaw was entitled to inherit more than 25% of the multi-million dollar estate of her grandfather (Isaac Vail Brokaw), but after her death the money went to her half-sister, Frances de Villers Brokaw.
Her mother was deeply grieved by the death of her only child, and after extensive counseling by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen
Fulton J. Sheen
Servant of God Fulton John Sheen, born Peter John Sheen was an American archbishop of the Catholic Church known for his preaching and especially his work on television and radio...
, in 1946 Clare Boothe Luce converted to the Catholic Church. As a memorial to Ann Brokaw, beginning in 1949 she funded the construction of a Catholic church in Palo Alto for use by the Stanford campus ministry. The new Saint Ann Chapel was dedicated in 1951. It was sold by the diocese in 1998 and in 2003 became a church of the Anglican Province of Christ the King
Anglican Province of Christ the King
The Anglican Province of Christ the King is a Continuing Anglican church with traditional forms both of doctrine and liturgy. It is considered one of the more Anglo-Catholic jurisdictions among Continuing Anglican church bodies.-History:...
.