Anna Rogovin, 100, died on Oct. 27, 2016, after a brief illness. Anna was born on Sept. 25, 1916, in New York City to Russian immigrants. After starting Hunter College in New York at age 15, she graduated with honors and began her career with a civil service job in the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC.

When WW II broke out, she enlisted in the WAVES in the United States Navy, where she worked on developing synthetic rubber. She served on active duty for the duration of the war, and continued her service for 20 years in the US Naval Reserves, where she rose to the rank of Lieutenant. In addition to the pride she felt serving her country, she very much enjoyed her travels in the Reserves.

After the war, she continued her education under the GI Bill of Rights and received her Master’s Degree in organic chemistry from the University of Illinois, where she studied with Carl Shipp Marvel. She was very patriotic and grateful to her Uncle Sam for the many opportunities her country afforded her.

Fittingly, she died on Navy Day. Over the course of her career, Anna worked as a research chemist for several companies, including Colgate Palmolive, Rohm & Haas, and retired from the American Petroleum Institute. At 91, Anna survived a horrific accident on East Gun Hill Road and DeKalb Avenue involving a semi-truck, which left her confined to a wheelchair. She was on her way to Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, where she was an active participant.

She moved to Tucson, living at Handmaker Assisted Living Center, for the last nine years. Anna had varied interests, such as her love for Judaism, politics, travel, arts, and animals. She started a book club, a Torah study program, and made sure flags were displayed at Handmaker for every appropriate holiday. Above all else, Anna valued family.

She celebrated her 100th birthday in October surrounded by her cousin, nieces, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews. Anna was predeceased by her parents, sister, Rose (Albert) Duben of Tucson, and brother, Abraham (Jean) of New York. She is survived by her niece, Leah Richter; great-nephew, Michael (Allison) Richter; great-niece, Suzanne (Chad) Stadheim, all of Tucson; niece, Lorraine (Arthur) Weitman of Las Vegas, NV; great-nephew, Allen (Helen) Weitman of Manhasset, NY; great-niece, Michele (Ron) Hitchcock of Norristown, PA.; nephew, Steven Rogovin and great-niece, Georjean of Rivervale, NJ.; great-nephew, Jason Rogovin of Long Island City, NY.; and her great-great nieces and nephews, Rachel and Noah Richter, Abigail and Andrew Stadheim, and Jenna, Matthew, and Andrew Weitman.

Services were held at Parkside Memorial Chapel in Queens, NY, and burial was at the Beth David Cemetery in Elmont, NY. Donations may be made in Anna’s memory to the Handmaker Foundation, 2221 N. Rosemont Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85712, or the Veterans Administration, 3601 S. 6th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85723. Arrangements by Evergreen Mortuary.
Editor’s Note: This obituary was written by the Rogovin family and originally appeared in the Arizona Daily Star on Nov. 6, 2016.