Annetta H. Rosser

Annetta Hamilton Rosser, age 97, of 4209 Manitou Way, died at home on October 8, 2010. She was born in Jasper, Fla., in 1913 and moved to Madison in 1963 with her husband, J. Barkley Rosser, a professor of mathematics and computer science at the University of Wisconsin prior to his death in 1989.

Annetta was an active and beloved member of the Madison arts and cultural community, and before that of the university community of Cornell University. She was a composer, a bird watcher, a snuff bottle collector, a choral singer, a world traveler, a brass rubber, a formidable bridge player, and an accomplished violinist who played in string quartets with Albert Einstein. She gave of herself as a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and friend to countless people in Madison and beyond. She entertained visitors to the university's Mathematics Research Center, and enjoyed connecting newcomers with people or groups she knew would interest them. She was gracious, cheerful and kind, and loved and respected by all who knew her.

Annetta was a talented composer who was moved to put poems such as Elizabeth Barrett Browning's ""How Do I Love Thee?"" into song. Her compositions were performed in various venues, and concerts of her work were held at Christ Presbyterian Church and at the Unitarian Meeting House in Madison. A collection of her compositions, ""An Offering of Song,"" was published in 1977. For many years she played as first violinist for the Madison Symphony Orchestra, and she was concertmaster from 1963-1966.

Barkley and Annetta were longtime members of Christ Presbyterian Church, where they sang in the choir. They also enjoyed singing in the Madison Symphony Chorus.

Upon her arrival in Madison, Annetta founded the University League Bird Study Group. She was past president of the Madison Civics Club, the Madison Symphony Orchestra League and the Madison Art League. She served on the board of directors of the Madison Opera Guild and the Madison Civic Music Association. She was also a member of the Madison Club, Sigma Alpha Iota, the Euterpe Club and P.E.O.

She was named one of Madison's ""Women of Distinction"" in 1980 by the YWCA, and was recognized in ""Who's Who in America.""

Barkley and Annetta traveled the world together, and after Barkley's death, Annetta continued. Her last major trip was in 2001, when she was 87. It was to Angkor Wat in Cambodia, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

Annetta graduated in 1932 from Florida State College for Women (now Florida State University). She is survived by her son Barkley Rosser Jr. of Harrisonburg, Va., her daughter Edwenna Werner of Pasadena, Calif., five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 16, at 4:30 p.m. at Christ Presbyterian Church in Madison, followed by a reception at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christ Presbyterian Church, the Madison Symphony, or the U.W. Foundation for the J. Barkley Rosser Memorial Lecture Series.