Patricia C. Ayers

Patricia “Trish” Connor Ayers, 88, passed away peacefully on September 1, 2024 at The Birches in Concord, NH, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Born in Lincoln, Nebraska on August 1, 1936 to Col. Edward Hanson Connor Jr. and Amna Thayer, she was the youngest of three. Growing up in an United States Army family, she lived in Allied-occupied Germany, Guam, and in New Orleans and Seattle. Trish graduated from Queen Anne High School in Seattle, WA in 1954. She graduated cum laude with a degree in journalism from the University of Washington in 1958, and received a Master’s in East Asian Studies from Harvard in 1963.

After working as a journalist for CBS and UPI, she joined the United States Information Agency in 1963 and entered the Foreign Service. During her decades as a career diplomat she was stationed in Hong Kong, Madagascar, Vietnam and Taiwan, putting her journalistic talents to good work as Public Affairs Officer and working cooperatively with the Voice of America. She also managed an art gallery, encouraged local Taiwanese artists, became a certified Chinese chef, hosted many cocktail parties and dinners, and made lasting friendships spanning decades and continents. Some of her fondest memories of her career included attending the Press Corps Ball at John F. Kennedy’s presidential inauguration in 1961, going on an African elephant safari and running into dear friends at the Taj Mahal in India.

She met her future spouse and love of her life, T. William Ayers, while posted in Asia and the two married in 1972. Their last posting as Foreign Service officers was in Taiwan, before they retired to New Hampshire in 1978 with their two small children. After retirement, Trish and Bill quickly got involved with The New Hampshire Antiquarian Society, the Hopkinton Women’s Club and, later, with the Hopkinton Democrats. Their doors were always open to family, friends, and friends of friends. Trish especially loved gardening and living close to nature in their colonial farmhouse with its views of apple orchards and the White Mountains. She and Bill also enjoyed spending time at their ocean cottage in East Boothbay, Maine, always with a loyal dog companion nearby. She wrote a series of gardening books for children, volunteered with Meals on Wheels, was a board member of Frontiers of Knowledge, and served as Executive Director of the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire.

She was well known and loved in all the spheres of her life, and was especially cherished by her many personal friends. Her infectious laugh was admired by both friends and strangers.

Trish was predeceased by her husband, Thomas William Ayers, brother Edward Hanson Connor III, and sister Jean Porter. She is survived by her son, Stephen Ayers of Concord, her daughter, Katherine Ayers Mannix and son-in-law Matthew Mannix of Knightdale, North Carolina, her sister-in-law, Emily Connor and numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her stepson William Wesbrook Ayers and her stepdaughter Charlotte Ayers and Charlotte’s sons K.C. Donahey and Brady Donahey. A funeral Mass will be held Friday, September 27 at 11:00 am at St. Theresa Church, 158 Old Hopkinton Rd, Henniker NH, 03242. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the T. William and Patricia C. Ayers Global Tipping Points Series with checks payable to The World Affairs Council of New Hampshire, 2500 N. River Road, Manchester, NH 03106. https://wacnh.org/