Ann M. Rinaldi, famous award-winning author and journalist, passed away on July 1, 2021. She was 86 years old. Born in New York City, the youngest of 5 siblings of the late Marcella Feis (Dumarest) and Michael Feis, Ann graduated St. Peter's High School in 1952. Already writing poetry and articles, she first worked as a clerk typist at the Visiting Nurse Association in New Brunswick. She then worked at The American Can Company in Metuchen. In 1960 she married her husband, Ronald P. Rinaldi and moved to Branchburg, New Jersey where she raised her family and lived the rest of her life. She loved reading books, writing books, and having her family all at one dinner table for every family birthday and holiday. Ann turned her passion and innate talent for writing into a successful lifelong career starting with working for the Somerset Messenger Gazette, Somerset, NJ, as a columnist, 1969–70 while self-syndicating her articles to other tri-state periodicals. She was the first woman columnist to appear on The Courier News' editorial pages beginning March 1971. Between 1970-1991 she worked as a feature writer and editorial writer for the Trentonian, Trenton, NJ. Her columns won several first-place awards. She was also a Lecturer on journalism, making visits to schools and educational conferences around the United States. Always a writer at heart, Ann published the first of her 49 young adult novels, entitled Term Paper, in 1980. Most of these novels were "historical fiction" featuring a fictional young female protagonist in an accurate historical event. Her stories took place in different eras in American History and were all painstakingly researched for historical accuracy. The first of these, Time Enough for Drums was published in 1986. Ann won several 1st and 2nd place awards for her newspaper columns, New Jersey Press Association, 1978, 1989; New Jersey Institute of Technology award, 1987, for Time Enough for Drums, and 1988, for The Good Side of My Heart; National History Award for contributions in "bringing history to life," Daughters of the American Revolution, 1991, for her historical novels; Best Book Award, Senior Division, Pacific Northwest Library Association, 1994, and M. Jerry Weiss Book Award, 1998, both for Wolf by the Ears; and Time Enough for Drums, The Last Silk Dress, A Break with Charity and Wolf by the Ears were named American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults. Despite never attending college and having a successful career as an author, Ann considered her biggest accomplishment in life her family. She is survived by her husband, 2 children, and 7 grandchildren. She and husband Ron were married for 61 years and raised two children: son, Ronald Rinaldi II, and daughter, Marcella Loureiro. Marcella Loureiro, named after Ann's mother who died just after Ann was born, gave Ann four grandchildren- Michael Loureiro, Philip Loureiro, Daniel Loureiro, and Patrick Loureiro. Ann's son, Ronald Rinaldi II, who she credits with her historical writing career, gave Ann 3 more grandchildren- Ronald Rinaldi III, James Rinaldi, and her only granddaughter, Nicole Ann Rinaldi. Coming from a very broken home and an unsupported childhood, Ann made her life's mission to raise the close and loving family she did not have as a child. She spent her life as a loving wife, caring mother, and devoted grandmother known as "Mimi". In this endeavor she was even more talented than in her writing. Mimi, you can now rest in peace. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, July 8, 2021 from 3-7pm at the Branchburg Funeral Home 910 Rt. 202 South Branchburg, NJ, 08876. Memorial contributions may be made in Ann's memory to St. Hubert's Animal Shelter 3201 US-22 Somerville, NJ 08876 or https://www.sthuberts.org/