Founder of San Diego Alzheimer's Chapter
Anna Marie Schmitt Tucker was born on July 25, 1912 in New York City with her twin brother, Alfred M. Schmitt. Anna passed away on February 3, 2012, just a few months shy of her 100th birthday.

Anna was preceded in death by her husband, Lt. E. C. "Tommy" Tucker, her twin brother, Alfred Schmitt, and her sister Mrs. Elsie Ostridge. She is survived by two children, Charles Tucker of Oceanside, and Carol Brown of Placentia, her brother, Theodore Schmitt of Florida, sister, Dorothy Donadio of New Jersey, and numerous nieces and nephews. Anna also leaves behind four grandsons: Donald Lamb of San Diego, Darin Lamb of Placentia, Brody Tucker of San Francisco, and Taj Tucker of Oceanside; and two great granddaughters, Hannah and Sierra Lamb of Phoenix AZ.

Her indomitable spirit will forever be with us. She was the true matriarch. After following her husband to several Naval duty stations around the country, they decided to settle in San Diego, and built their home in Pacific Beach in 1948, where she resided until her death.
After her husband's retirement, she went to work at the San Diego Better Business Bureau as the Office Manager and Secretary to the President. She remained there for 16 years until her retirement in 1975.

A small, tenacious and dedicated family caregiver, Anna faced the silent epidemic of Alzheimer's disease in providing the care of her husband. Moreover, she led the call to action when she advertised in the San Diego Union Tribune that she was organizing a support group for Alzheimer's families at the Pacific Beach Presbyterian church. Twelve people met in September 1980. By 1981, the group had grown to over one hundred members and quickly became the San Diego Chapter of the fledgling National Alzheimer's Association. Anna organized an enormous yard sale at the Tucker home to generate the funds to submit the group's membership dues to the National Alzheimer's Association.

Anna's enthusiastic spirit got many people to "move mountains," to get the organization on solid ground in a few short months. Counseling, family support, and education, mixed with advocacy for urgently unmet services, was the mission of the group. Dr. George Glenner, Distinguished Professor of Pathology at UCSD School of Medicine, became active with the group as their advisor and recruited many physicians from the university to present lectures and to provide counseling. The group swelled to over two hundred members in a few short months and began meeting in the Kensington Community Church. In the fall of 1982, the Alzheimer's chapter had six outreach groups meeting in the county of San Diego.

The chapter developed the first social/medical adult day care program licensed by California Community Care Social Services in October 1982. Moderate- to- severe patients with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders were cared for in a rented cottage in Hillcrest. The centers became a national model, recognized by the U.S. Congressional publication, "Losing a Million Minds." Later in 1992, the center's name was changed to The George Glenner Alzheimer's Family Centers, Inc. memorializing Dr. Glenner who died in 1995.

Services for Anna: Thursday, February 9 at the Pacific Beach Chapel, 4710 Cass Street, San Diego, CA,. 92109. Viewing will be at 10:30 AM and the Service at 12 Noon with internment to follow at El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Road, San Diego, CA. 92121.

Donations may be sent to: The Alzheimer's Association 6632 Convoy Ct, SD, CA. 92111 or the George Glenner Alzheimer's Centers, Inc., 3702 Fourth Ave, SD, CA. 92103.