Anne (Maier) Heldenbrand

Anne Maier Heldenbrand gently passed away on Wednesday, September 30, 2015 in Ocala,
Florida. She was in her apartment at The Windsor of Ocala, surrounded by her family.
Anne was born April 26, 1924 in Pottstown PA to John B. and Bessie C. Maier. She is
predeceased by her husband, Dr. Ladd L. Heldenbrand of South Portland ME, her brothers, Dr.
John Maier and Dr. Paul Maier, and her sister, Jane Dreyer. She is survived by her daughter,
Nan Heldenbrand Morrissette of Dunnellon FL and her son-in-law, Thomas Morrissette, her son,
Keith Heldenbrand of South Freeport and her daughter-in-law, Christina Heldenbrand. She is
also survived by her granddaughters, Jennifer Kastelic of Portland ME, and Alexis Heldenbrand
of South Freeport ME, and by her great-grandchildren, Althea, Jonah and Sophia Kastelic.
Anne graduated from Royersford (PA) High School, and Pierce Business School in Philadelphia
PA. She was a secretary for Curtis Publishing Company, specifically the Saturday Evening Post,
before marrying Ladd and moving to Ohio. She helped him as he completed degrees from Kent
State and Ohio State Universities. There she and Ladd started their family, Nan and Keith. at
one time their home in Columbus also housed 2 African lions, 8 aardvarks and a chimpanzee.
After Ladd's graduation from the Veterinary School at OSU, they moved to Portland ME.
Anne loved volunteering, she served on the Board of Directors of the YWCA, and was a pastpresident
of the Lioness Club. A survivor of the polio epidemic in the 1959's, she was a founding
member of the Maine Post-Polio Syndrome Support Group, part of Pine Tree Society for the
Handicapped. She was a long-time supporter of Southern Maine Technical College. She also
used to bake cookies and pies, going out on the tugboats as they delivered supplies to the
Portland Lightship. She was a staunch supporter of and Christmas kettle bell ringer for the
Salvation Army.
Anne shared Ladd's love for fishing, many times canoeing and portaging the Allagash River.
She was the first woman to fly into the Arctic Circle of Labrador, where a lake was named after
her. Anne loved cooking, entertaining Ladd's guests at a moment's notice, and family
gatherings. Anne always said, "We have plenty of plates and we'll make room at the table."
Anne's nickname was "Cannon Annie", as she had three signal cannons which she used to
salute ships coming into and out of Portland Harbor with a 3-gun salute. At their 2 Bay Road
ocean-side home in South Portland, they hosted many large parties, watching Naval vessels,
tall ship parades, sailboat regattas and other activity on the ship channel. She fired at the USS
John F. Kennedy when it visited. As soon as they dropped anchor a helicopter took off from the
deck, flew directly over the heads of Anne and her many guests, sailors leaning out of the copter
waving in response. The US Navy officially recognized her as "Black Powder Annie." She was
asked to fire her cannon salute from the top of Fort Popham, as the USS John S. McCain, a
brand new Aegis Destroyer, sailed down the Kennebec. She was many times invited by the
Maine Maritime Museum in Bath to fire at visiting vessels. She was saluted by the QE II, the
Coast Guard Eagle and a British submarine, to name a few. She was often the cannon section
when the Portland Symphony played the "1812 Overture" in outdoor concerts. At the opening of
the Casco Bay Bridge, Governor Angus King cut the ribbon and Anne fired her cannons. She
was the starting gun and and finishing gun for the Portland Tugboat Musters.
After her husband, Ladd passed away, Anne wrote and published a book about their lives
together titled, "Chimps in the Kitchen, Lions in the Cellar." With her granddaughter, Jennifer
Kastelic and her family, Anne moved to Gainesville FL in 2009. In 2012 she moved into The
Windsor of Ocala, an assisted living facility, where she had a beautiful apartment. There she
was surrounded by her favorite things, including the huge painting of local Maine seabirds by
Thomas Nadeau, a wooden life-sized tiger sculpted by Ladd, and many photos of her family and
friends. She loved her life at the Windsor, where the staff and aides enjoyed her many stories
and hugs. In 2014, she was "April" on the "Calendar of Heroes" produced by the Legends of
Senior Living group, owner of The Windsor.
Anne is most known to her family and friends as saying, "I just want everyone to be happy." Her
family, her friends and all the staff and aides at The Windsor will miss her very much. In lieu of
flowers, please consider a donation to either of these:
The Salvation Army, 2 Sixth St., Old Orchard Beach ME 04064
Hospice of Marion County, 3231 SW 34th Ave., Ocala FL 34474
A Poem for Anne
She walks through the world,
love of the greatest spirit resting lightly
and solid in her heart,
loving all she touches
with compassion, hopeful direction.
In the truest sense of the word, a queen.
How she has touched me,
taking me quietly by the hand,
her warm, soft fingers
to lead me into the hearts of others.
How to see good in all,
the benefits of each situation.
How, not simply to make do with what one has,
but to make what one has masterpieces,
symphonies.
If this woman, this wise and grateful person
had not been in my life,
I would not only be lessened
I would not even be me.
by Jennifer Kastelic, her granddaughter
On Anne's birthday, April 26, 1993