Bryn Mawr Trailblazer Anne Stokes Dies at 86

Anne Bourneuf Stokes, a trailblazer in her own right, lived a life that spanned eight decades. Born on January 4, 1940, she passed away on April 15, 2026, at the age of 86.

Stokes' childhood was split between Manhattan, NY and Fenwick in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, but it was her education that truly defined her early years. A proud graduate and alumna of 91st Street Sacred Heart and Manhattanville College, she excelled in academics with a particular penchant for math.

She went on to pioneer in a profession dominated by men as one of the first female computer programmers at IBM, where she was also the valedictorian of her cohort. Stokes continued to utilize her mathematical prowess as a math teacher and IT specialist at Bryn Mawr College.

A natural host and matriarch to both the Stokes and McAlaine families, she was known for establishing annual traditions to celebrate holidays. Her family described her as 'a great listener' who built genuine relationships with those in need.