On Saturday, Smolowe, Senior Managing Director, Leadership Giving, in Dartmouth College's Office of Development, died at her home in Norwich, Vt., after a two-year battle with colon cancer. She was 51. "Ann was a force of nature," said her sister Jill Smolowe. "She radiated a special energy and generosity of spirit that deeply touched everybody who came into contact with her."
Born in 1959, Smolowe grew up in Westport, Ct., the youngest of four siblings. At Staples High School, she was a standout on both the stage and the gymnastics team. Her love of the outdoors next took her to Dartmouth College, where as a member of the class of 1981 she majored in government and competed on the cross country ski team, one time catapulting off the 70 meter ski jump on her cross-country skis. "She had a non-stop energy that fueled every activity we participated in," said Pat Berry, her classmate and friend. "Ann had an uncanny ability to make you feel you were the center of her thoughts."
Upon graduation, Smolowe spent three years working for Arthur Levitt at the American Stock Exchange, where she helped convince companies not to transfer to the larger New York Stock Exchange. She then took off to hike the Appalachian Trail. Though she made her journey solo, Smolowe developed lifelong friendships along the way, and invited various friends and relatives to join her for short sections of her trek. "Ann has lived a series of prodigious feats, whether ice-climbing in Alaska, jumping out of airplanes or shooting rapids in a kayak," said her brother, Alan Smolowe, who joined her for the first 10 days of her A.T. hike. "She liked to live on the edge and push her limits."
Ann Smolowe lived a full life! For pleasure, she spent almost six months hiking the length of the Appalachian Trail, becoming one of the first women to complete the arduous 2,178-mile trek from Georgia to Maine. With her husband and two children, she skied, hiked and explored the Northwest. And all along the way, Smolowe relished what for her was the highlight of each distinct adventure: personal time with family members, friends or colleagues.

The time spent along the trail with her friend, architect James Wasser, proved particularly special. Soon after Smolowe completed her thru-hike, the pair announced their engagement. In 1985 they married in Dartmouth's Sanborn Library, then settled in Merrimac, Mass. Over the next 14 years, based first out of Massachusetts, then out of Portland, Oregon, Smolowe headed up the corporate market team for Project Adventure, an adventure-based consulting company.
As Smolowe developed the company's corporate clientele, her work took her to South Africa, Egypt and Singapore, where she blended adventure techniques with traditional consulting tools to help companies strengthen leadership styles, build team work and reinforce corporate values. "Her courageous nature affected us all at PA as she constantly encouraged us to go for our rightful leadership spot," said Dick Prouty, CEO of Project Adventure. "Ann will always be a brilliant icon in PA history and in my life. She simply breathed learning and quality." She also, he recalled, had a keen sense of fun that was usually punctuated by a deep, resonate laugh.
In 2005 Smolowe returned to the northeast with her husband and their two children to work for the Development Office at Dartmouth College. "Ann engages with everyone she meets in a thoroughly genuine way that builds trust and friendship," said Carrie Pelzel, senior vice president for advancement. "She is a consummate professional and exceptionally effective fundraiser for the college she loves. Ann has made philanthropy a joyful experience for all who have had the privilege to work with her."
After receiving her cancer diagnosis in September 2008, Smolowe became deeply committed to raising cancer research funds for the Norris Cotton Cancer Center in Hanover, N.H., through the Annual Prouty Bike Ride & Challenge Walk. Just weeks before her death, she fielded a 185-member team that placed first among the many teams' fundraising efforts, adding more than $110,000 to the Center's research coffers.
"Ann injected a great deal of inspiration into the Prouty this year," said Gregg Cerveny, co-captain of their Big Green Pazooie team and a Dartmouth colleague. "She raised the bar by setting lofty goals for our team and attracting many new friends to the fight against cancer. Ann even took time to meet with the event organizers to share her development and fund raising ideas—ideas that were incorporated and will strengthen the event for years to come."
Smolowe is survived by her husband James, 52; her daughter Emily, 21, a senior at Wheaton College; and her son Jeremy, 20, a sophomore at Boston University. She is also survived by her parents Richard and Greta Smolowe of Advance, N.C.; her brother Alan of Apopka, Fla.; her sister Jill of Montclair, N.J.; her brother Jonathan of Doylestown, Pa.; her nana, Agatha Cash of Wadesboro, N.C.; and five nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be announced at a later date, Knight Funeral home in White River Junction assisted with the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation, 8899 Beverly Blvd, Suite 111, Los Angeles, CA 90048 (www.andreriveroflife.org) or Unlimited Possibilities (UP), P.O. Box 635, Milton, NH 03851 lbarr1@mac.com