ANN BARBER BRINKERHOFF

1926-2020

Ann Barber Brinkerhoff, 94 died peacefully at Houston Hospice on December 24th, 2020. Born February 23, 1926, she was a native of Jacksonville, Texas and graduated from The University of Texas with a B.S. in English. She was a Pro Bene Meritis Award recipient (2001) from the College of Liberal Arts at UT Austin and served on the Liberal Arts Advisory Board. She also served on the Boards of the UT Hogg Foundation for Mental Health and the UT Medical Branch in Galveston. She was a member of the Texas Philosophical Society for many years. She was honored by Foley’s and The Houston Chronicle in 2000 with the 28th Annual Savvy Award for extraordinary contributions to the betterment of life in the Houston community.

Ann and her husband “Brink” were instrumental in opening the current location of The Museum of Natural Science on Hermann Park Drive in 1968. Together they helped build the first energy exhibits and supported countless temporary exhibits, from the presentation of the Guttenburg Bible to the Museum’s first major show Peru’s Golden Treasures. Ann was a longtime member of the HMNS Guild and served as a member of the HMNS Board of Trustees for over 50 years. Ann had a deep passion for youth education as well as the Museum’s malacology collection (where she donated shells from her world travels), which the Museum honored with the acquisition of the G. Poppe Collection of Philippine Shells.

Her husband of forty years, Robert Bevier Brinkerhoff, passed away in 1991. She is survived by her children: son, Van Brinkerhoff of Wenatchee, Washington, and daughters, Kris Rogers of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, Becki Brinkerhoff of Houston and Beth Brinkerhoff of Houston. A memorial service will be held in the future. In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be made in her name to The Museum of Natural Science. (https://www.hmns.org/checkout/donate).