Pomeranz cared deeply about Sanford

Philanthropist, activist dies peacefully at 89

(From the front page of the August 8, 2007 edition of The Sanford Herald)

By JONATHAN OWENS
Herald Staff Writer

SANFORD — Local teacher, music lover and community activist Annie Laurie Pomeranz died Tuesday.

She was 89 years old.

Her son, Jim Pomeranz, the third of six children she had with her late husband, Robert, said his mother died peacefully in her sleep Tuesday after around 40 days of deteriorating health.

He added that the entire family, includ­ing members who now reside in for­eign countries, had convened on her Sanford home to spend her last days together.

“It’s an emotional time,” said her son, “but we are all convinced that she led a full, wonderful life, and she is resting comfortably now.”

A Fair Bluff native, Pomeranz moved to Sanford at a young age and attended school at what was then Sanford High School on Steele Street. Years later, she would prove instrumental in saving the old build­ing from destruction, and it now serves as home to many non profit organizations in town.

Tommy Mann Sr. worked with Pomeranz on renovating the high school, which is now the Lee County Arts and Community Center. He recalled her as a “real go-getter” who was committed to mak­ing Sanford a better place to live.

“You could always count on her,” he said. “If she told you she was going to do something, she would do it.”

Jim Pomeranz said his mother had a soft spot in her heart for historical buildings. He recalled an incident in which the Lee County Board of Commissioners wanted to tear down a build­ing at a local swimming pool, but the county manag­er at the time insisted that the board act fast. “It is rumored that (the manager) said, ‘We better tear it down before Annie Laurie finds out,’” he said. “And it was gone in a mat­ter of days.”

Such community activism became Pomeranz’s trademark throughout her adult life.

And though the success of the old high school may be a major part of her legacy in the city, she was also a founding member of the Lee County Chapter of the N.C. Symphony and devoted many long hours to the Girl Scouts, among many other philanthropic activities.

Martha Oldham of the symphony group said Pomeranz introduced her to the group in the 1990s, and that she “inherited a love of the symphony” from Pomeranz.

“She’ll always be Mrs. Symphony to me,” she said. “And she was a wonderful crusader for so many causes. We are going to miss her.” Pomeranz was also deeply committed to her college alma mater, Meredith College, her son said, coaxing many Sanford teenagers to attend the Raleigh women’s school.

Pomeranz spent a consid­erable amount of time work­ing with The Herald over the decades to get the word out about the activities of her many clubs and efforts.

Herald Publisher Bill Horner III said he will remember Pomeranz’s tenacity toward pursuing her endeavors most of all.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever met anyone who cared more deeply about more things than Annie Laurie did,” he said. “And even more than that, it really bothered her when people around her did­n’t care about their commu­nity as much as she did.”

Horner referred to Pomeranz as “part Southern belle and part bulldog.”

“She was very stately and gracious and cultured, but she didn’t pull any punches when she was working on a project or working to solve or resolve something in the community,” he said. “She was very direct and very honest, but it all came with a very good nature and big dose of compassion. It was a perfect combination.”

Horner said he consid­ered Pomeranz a“very good friend,” adding that she called him every month to talk about what was going on in Lee County.

“She would tell me about what was happening at the Arts Center or at Meredith College, or what she liked or didn’t like about The Herald,” he said. “I will really miss those visits with her.”
Her son summed up his mother’s philanthropic nature and love of Sanford best.

“Sanford lost a real icon of human love and love of community,” Jim Pomeranz said. “One that this town will never forget.”

Copyright (c)2007 The Sanford Herald 08/08/2007