Remembering Ann Moore.

There’s not as much energy in Connecticut today as there was when the week began.  Republican stalwart Ann Moore died yesterday at her Milford home.  She was 57.

Ann joined the Rowland administration in its early, rollicking days.  She brought a vivid personality and a sharp intellect to each job she held.  A lawyer, she joined Updike, Kelly & Spellacy as a lobbyist after leaving government.

When Ann Moore entered a room, you knew it.  The lady had presence.  Fearless people often do. While others averted their gaze as John Rowland’s reputation unraveled with revelations of his corrupt practices, Ann confronted the crisis.  She made a brave bid for seat on the Republican National Committee as a challenge to the decaying administration.

I came to know her better when I began writing a column for The Hartford Courant in 2002. I learned she possessed a keen eye for a trail that would lead to a story.  In a business that often features dubious leads and rumors, Ann knew how to deliver facts, often fascinating ones.

Anyone who knew her will not be surprised to know she waged a fierce fight against cancer.