Dear members of the University of Maine and University of Maine at Machias communities,
We are deeply saddened by the , a devoted alumna and generous benefactor whose commitment to the University of Maine touched generations of students, members of our community, and well beyond.
Anne, a proud member of the Class of 1961, met her husband, Richard “Dick” Collins ’59, while they were students here. They married soon after and maintained a close connection to their alma mater throughout their lives.
Anne and Dick’s philanthropy helped transform the former Maine Center for the Arts into what is now the Richard R. and Anne A. Collins Center for the Arts. Their gifts made possible significant renovations to the facility and strengthened its role as a cultural centerpiece for the university and the state. They also helped meaningfully advance Black Bear Athletics, including improvements to Memorial Gym.
Anne took an active role in advancing the Collins Center project and saw the arts as a powerful way to educate, inspire, and bring people together. She and Dick envisioned the center as a place that would serve not only 91 students and the university community, but people from across Maine. In 2007, they received the Stillwater Presidential Award in recognition of their extraordinary dedication to our university.
Anne will be remembered for her incredible generosity and for creating opportunities for others. Her impact can be seen in everyone who gathers at the Collins Center and in the many ways her support continues to benefit the university.
I never had the opportunity to meet Dick Collins, but my husband, Rick, and I had the great fortune to get to know Anne. I will miss her kindness and wise counsel.
My thoughts are with Anne’s family and loved ones and with those who had the privilege of knowing her. We are grateful for her commitment to 91 and for the enduring legacy she leaves at our university and across our state.
Sincerely,
Joan Ferrini-Mundy,President
University of Maine and University of Maine at Machias
