Ann Petrie Oliver

The world sparkles less with the passing of Ann Petrie Oliver on November 9, 2025, at her home in Los Altos, California. She was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd (Bud) Oliver, to whom she was married 65 years. She is survived by four children; Peter (Christine), Melissa (Tom), Amelia (Thomas), and Sandra (David); and a large extended family that includes eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Ann was born in Cadillac, MI on July 27, 1932, to Bonnie and Kenneth Petrie. She recalled her childhood, with her older brother Bill, as idyllic: sledding and ice skating in the winters, blueberries and swimming in the lake in the summers. In 1941, her father drove the family to a new picnic spot on Lake Mitchell. When Ann worried they were trespassing on this quaint cottage property, he informed her that they now owned this little piece of paradise. To this day it remains relatively unchanged, and has served as her summer refuge and lifelong connection to the Cadillac community.

Ann graduated a Cadillac High School Viking, Class of 1950. Besides being a sharp high school student and cheerleader, she was a Girl Scout, lifeguard, and camp counselor. Ann attended the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, earning a B.S. in Physical Therapy, 1954 (this Program’s inaugural class). Fresh out of college, Ann landed a job at The Children's Hospital in Akron, OH, and due to the polio epidemic soon became the Acting PT Supervisor of the Polio Respiration & Rehab Unit. The devotion, compassion, and adaptive skills she displayed at this job were qualities she carried forward throughout her PT career.

At a high school reunion, Ann ‘ran’ into Bud Oliver, a handsome former football center she had cheered on from the sidelines. They married in 1956 in Cadillac. As a young Navy couple, they settled briefly in southern CA, but it was in Madison, WI where they started a family. In 1959 the family of 4 moved to Scottsdale, AZ, where they welcomed their third child and adapted quickly to mild winters. Bud’s career led them back to CA in 1965, and eventually to Los Altos. Here they welcomed their fourth child and nestled in to make this house their permanent home. Over the years, the Olivers transformed the property into an oasis, complete with native plants, waterfall, koi pond, fern garden, and a brickwork patio. It served as a source of pride and comfort to Ann, right up to her final hours. The yard hosted countless parties, family celebrations, and intimate candlelit dinners.

Professionally, Ann reentered the workplace as a PT in 1973, practicing for 25 years with Visiting Nurses Association Home Health Care. This job introduced her to the backroads of Santa Clara County and honed her Rand McNally roadmap skills, a must for road trips with Bud. At age 61, Ann decided to pursue a post-graduate degree, both for personal growth and to keep pace with her well-educated kids. So in 1994, 40 years after receiving her B.S, she earned an M.S. in Gerontology from San Jose State University with a thesis, “A Study of Older Adults’ Knowledge of Parkinson’s Disease”. She then worked at The Parkinson’s Institute until she retired.

Retirement did not come easily to Ann. As a PT, Ann’s Gait & Balance classes (2002-2025) usually had a waiting list. She served many years as a Court Designated Child Advocate and as an Advocate recruiter. At one point, she delved into her genealogy and warmly embraced new relatives into the family. Her longest heartfelt commitment was to her Foothill's Congregational Church community. As a lifelong member, Ann served on numerous boards, study groups, and the Altar Guild. The church offered her an endless source of fellowship and comfort.

Ann always had a full and fulfilling schedule. A short list of her most recent activities includes a Mah Jongg group, a memoirs class, Los Altos Morning Forum, Bridge groups, and at least two book clubs, including one with Gamma Phi Beta sisters and a favorite called Truth Seekers.

Ann was an enthusiastic traveler and her desire to see the world was unfettered. Some of her memorable adventures with Bud included: hiking trips to Joshua Tree, Canyon De Chelly, New Zealand, Nepal, and Copper Canyon in Mexico; biking in Cambodia and Italy; and canoeing the Pine River. She made it a point to visit her children wherever they lived, traveling from Uppsala to Bangui and Durham to Hong Kong. Her last trip (2023) was to Iberia to visit a granddaughter. Last summer, Ann rallied to spend time at her favorite spot, the Cadillac cottage.

Throughout her life, Ann was a woman with a tenacious drive, kind heart, mischievous twinkle in her eye, and a genuine smile. While Ann had many passions, the strongest was for her family. She cherished the annual ‘Oliver Boxing Day’ gatherings, where she was surrounded by her legacy. She will be deeply missed. An in-person and virtual memorial service will be held Feb 7, 2026, www.foothills-church.org.

Given Ann’s zest for life, the best way to honor her is to dive head first into everything you do; share your stories, get outdoors, embrace friends & family, and appreciate the world. In lieu of flowers, consider donating to one of her favorites: Filoli (www.filoli.org/support); Los Altos Adult 50+ Program/ 97 Hillview Ave, Los Altos 94022 Memo: Ann Oliver Mah Jongg Group; Wexford Genealogy Organization, 601 Chestnut, St. #B, Cadillac MI 49601; or The DME Lending Pantry, St. Mary’s Church, 815 Lincoln St. Cadillac MI 49601.