Ann Poochareon

Mark Argo Mark was born

Mark Argo Ann was born

Paul Lopansri Little Ann, 1979 in St. Louis. We loved visiting St. Louis to see our uncle and play with our cousin.

Paul Lopansri Not sure whose birthday this is. Somewhere around 1980

Courtney Ledbetter Some of our graduating class at MCHS in Metropolis, IL. Sadie Hawkins dance, September 1995.

Sarah Benham Ann and I went to college at DePaul University together... we lived in Seton Hall our Freshman year. I was from a small farm town in central Illinois and never knew or met anyone from Thailand before. She opened my eyes to so much, and man... did we have fun!! Her sense of humor was off the charts, and her smile just lit up any room she was in. And she was so smart and driven - I wasn’t one bit surprised to see how successful she was in her life. There are not enough words to express what an amazing mother, sister, wife, friend, inventor, innovator, survivor, fighter - WOMAN she was. She will be truly missed but has really made a mark on everyone who was blessed to know her. love always, Sue Monhilao

Courtney Ledbetter Ann and I graduated from Massac Co High School together. She was a kind soul and a wonderful friend. Her smile says it all!

Paul Lopansri Ann and many of my cousins were at our wedding. I can never spend too much time with my cousins!

Anida Ali Our very first Mango Tribe photoshoot as a full cast. We needed something shot quickly for a local newspaper story on us and our upcoming "Sisters in the Smoke" production.

Anida Ali There she is! Ann is front row center with arms opened wide and that radiant smile. This was one of our early Mango Tribe collective retreat weekends. Our ensemble from Minneapolis, New York City and Chicago all came together at the Atomic Kitchen lofts.

Anida Ali On stage for a real cast photo of the full ensemble at the Vittum Theater in Chicago before the production of "Sisters in the Smoke." Ann had so much tech to work out, I remember we had to quickly shoot this so everyone could get ready for the big production.

Anida Ali This was outside of San Soo Gap San 24-hour Korean BBQ Restaurant. I celebrated my birthday and this photo is of all the amazing women named "Ann" in my life.

Eric Socolofsky Courtesy of Dens. Not sure where this was, but probably some dive bar in East Village or Nolita. Definitely on a Thursday night (or an early Friday morning). Thursday Nights Out (TNOs) were possibly the most amazing thing about the time we ITPers spent together. Hard to remember any specific TNO due to the inevitable consumption, but dang we had a good time. Cameos here by Daniel, Urico, and Cherry Can!

Daniel Hirschmann Camping! Eric, Yuriko, Taku, Viv, Mark, Ann and I went camping - and it involved a lot of rain, a burning blow-drier and a lot of gorgeous autumn leaves

Phaedra Riley At ITP, Ann, Mark & Daniel had a project called Nicebots which required making lots of little robots (sound familiar?). I helped out assembling them on the ITP floor and recently found I still have this little keychain. http://www.globaltinkering.net/portfolio2014/page2/index3.html

Daniel Hirschmann On Ann's birthday - it was near the end of our masters at ITP, and we had all really cemented some meaningful friendships. So her birthday involved a live band, some DIY punk rock karaoke, and a truly happy Ann

Eric Socolofsky Thesis class, Heather Greer. I can still remember almost all of these people, almost 17 years later...what a crucible we were dropped into! Rachel, Yulia, Ephrat, Kat, Eric, Vijay, Talita, Chris, Will, Ann, Andrea, Heather

Daniel Hirschmann GRADUATION DAY! Ann became an ITP master :-)

Eric Socolofsky ITP 04 4-eva

Eric Socolofsky New Interfaces for Musical Expression (NIME), Hamamatsu, Japan. Hanging out on the roof of the venue with Gideon and our awesome Swedish pal who's name I can no longer remember... IIRC Ann wasn't formally attending the conference, more just crashing it ;) She's not one to let formalities deter her.

Daniel Hirschmann Between September and October 2004, Ann, Mark and I went to Nice to set up an exhibition of our design called Nicebots. An open studio exhibition where we created a series of little bots that had their own personalities... We had some incredible memories here - we lived at the Villa Arson - which is a crazy artist residency space; we made friends with locals; attempted to learn some french; went to incredible sculpture gardens; hung out with the minister of culture ; and enjoyed some of the most beautiful views of the mediterranean you can imagine.

Daniel Hirschmann While we were in Nice, we were invited to visit Fabrica in Treviso, and see whether we might be interested in going there for a year and working up crazy magical interactive ideas with the backing of the Beneton Group. It was the beginning of the next stage of our shared lives together!

Daniel Hirschmann Janes Birthday!!!

Annalisa Merelli Mark and Ann were so warm to me when I was on trial that we hang out even before I came back to Fabrica to begin my year. This is from the buskers' festival in Ferrara.

Daniel Hirschmann Our first easter / passover in Italy, the only jewish people at Fabrica decided to put together our version of Pesach. We all had a role to play and were expected to bring something that was intended to live on the seder plate... Including firey belarussian vodka with a chilli chaser; M&M's, many folded frogs.... A fantastic night for the 3 Nicebots crew within a month of arriving in Italy!

Daniel Hirschmann We went to visit Asolo! Mark & Ann left their mark on some of the local architecture while there :-)

Daniel Hirschmann Ann, Mark and Daniel head to Torino to visit the home of Arduino (which was started at the Interaction Design Ivrea - which lasted a short few years), but we all got to witness some of the earliest implementations of one of the most impactful electronic making platforms in history. Plus Torino is a pretty amazing city!

Daniel Hirschmann Ars Electronica 2005 - Ann and I went to see our project Nicebots being represented at one of the exhibitions. We were able to meet Theo Jansen of Strandbeest fame, and also got to taste and experience the drama of absinthe :-)

Annalisa Merelli Milan, 5 am. Waiting for the first train back to Treviso.

Annalisa Merelli These are from Villa Manin, near Udine. It's such an amazing place, and I discovered it thanks to Ann. I believe on that day Ann, Mark, and I also went to Ryuichi Sakamoto's concert.

Annalisa Merelli This picnic was absolutely epic. I think at some point there was even an impromptu capoeira demonstration (you can see Ann playing Dan in a photo).

Younghui Kim After installing FutureFashion exhibition in Pisa in 2006, we visited Lucca together. I was happy to meet Ann, Mark and other ITPers in Pisa. It was a good time.

Juliana Loh The padthai party made by the Thai musicians crew. Crazy fun times

Juliana Loh Milano Salone - too many parties and so many things to see, I tagged along with Ann and Mark since Ann always did the research and knew exactly where the coolest installations and parties were!

Juan Carlos Ospina Gonzalez Ann enjoying the very special alcohol prices given to Fabrica artists at "La Pauza"

vivian wenli lin Ann and I took a girl's trip to Rome to present Hello Kitty is Dead at Tek Festival 2006.

Julia King I visited Mark and Ann when they were living in Treviso, Italy. I feel fortunate to have gotten to know Ann better on that trip. She and Mark went out of their way to take me around - Venice, Verona, Undine for the Asian film fest. I had an amazing time and ate very well. It was an experience I’ll never forget, thank you Ann ❤️

Juliana Loh One of the many picnics on beautiful sunny days. My first impression of Ann was that she was the awesome cool chick who was coding, making complex installations with all the boys in the interactive department and she rode a racer bike! I didn't learn how to ride a bicycle till I got to Fabrica. I was very intimidated by Ann and her super cool confidence as I was young and insecure, I wish we had cultivated a closer friendship in our Treviso days, but I am eternally grateful we manage to grow together over the last decade by circumstance and chance.

Juan Carlos Ospina Gonzalez Ann gives a lecture at Fabrica "The new web dictionary"

Daniel Hirschmann One perfect Summer day in Treviso. The Fabricanti went on a pot luck picnic - and we rode our bikes along the River Sile until we found a lovely green space to enjoy some wine, some treats, and each others company. I recall Ann and Mark loving each other; Ann getting the hiccups and I was able to help her learn the Hirschmann technique of getting rid of them - which she accomplished with box wine! So many smiles!

Juliana Loh I can't remember what these photos were for, but it was a day to get photos done for every Fabrica department...probably for FAB magazine??

Juan Carlos Ospina Gonzalez Ars Electonica 2006! The one year where most of the New Media department made it to the festival! I had the pleasure to ride alongside Mark, Ann and Oriol.

Daniel Hirschmann This is the last photo of Ann and Mark in Treviso - just before they left the Fabrica chapter of their lives. It also marked the end of an incredibly storied 5 years that I was able to share with Ann and Mark during their early years.

Yianni Hill On the streets of Paris during Fabrica's exhibition at the Pompidou. Ann always had the biggest smile.

Oriol Ferrer Fabrica Art Install in Seoul

Juliana Loh A year after I left Fabrica in 2006, Ann and Mark were in Bangkok working on a project for the museum. We had our little Fabricanti reunion with Prima who was also back in Bangkok by then. I've only kept in touch with a handful of friends from Fabrica because life gets in the way and Ann was one of those that always made the effort, checked in, we emailed and facetimed over the years, and grew really close when I got diagnosed with cancer in 2016 and I started my chemo slightly before her second bout with cancer and were long distance chemo-buddies.

Thomas Fröhlich Coolest chicks inthe house!

Eric Socolofsky I think we were waiting for a ferry to...Koh Maak? Always liked this shot of Ann. Storm clouds, Ann walking toward them with purpose.

Eric Socolofsky Always good food. w/ Ann, Mark, Jane, Top, Dwayne, Nicole, Taku, Viv.

Annalisa Merelli Trust Mark and Ann to turn their wedding into the most fun field trip in history.

Eric Socolofsky Best. New. Years. Ever. Ann took me, Mark, Taku, and Viv to Ko Mak, south of Bangkok in the Gulf. The most amazing tour guide and pal-in-transit, Ann shared so much of Thailand with us. On Ko Mak we met up with Nicole (ITP '03), also in the pic. This shot was taken right as 2007 turned into 2008, on the beach dance floor down the way from our bungalows. Earlier in the day: - we went snorkeling over a beautiful reef - we ate lunch (pineapple fried rice) on a tiny island - I stepped on a sea urchin - I stepped on another sea urchin - we smashed my foot with a rock to get the spines out - we got massages on the beach - the masseuses used a needle and thread to pull the spines out of my heel - we lit lanterns and let them up into the sky - we wandered (limped) along the beach, sampling the cozy NYE parties one by one - we took this pic I...think I got that right. Amazing trip.

Eric Socolofsky Pai, northern Thailand. A brief and bumpy (but exciting!) flight from Chiang Mai landed us in the mountains about 15km from the Burmese border. The most idyllic location ever. Never would have been there without Ann.

vivian wenli lin Ann took Eric, Taku and I on a trip to Pai and Chiang Mai after the epic New Year's beach trip making sure we ate the best Thai food ever.

JEFF GALUSHA ITP couples are a thing. Emily and I were one of the first ones to have a baby project. We met Ann and Mark and talked about baby projects. Great meal at French Roast in the West Village with our baby Blue.

Michele Perras Toronto houseparties!

Oriol Ferrer With the Fabrica crew at the Centre Pompidou.

Juliana Loh

Juliana Loh Ann and Mark's wedding - it was so nice to catch up with so many Fabricanti who flew in for the wedding. Ann brought people together, and it was always about the community. I miss you, Ann. You're the glue that binds.

Juliana Loh After Ann and Mark's wedding, Ann planned this amazing trip to Koh Lipe for all the wedding guests - super fun times. I also remember the super thoughtful and well put together welcome pack which included insect repellent, a fan and everything we would need for a great tropical holiday in Thailand - which is so Ann - always putting others first, making sure that everyone would have a great time - all this effort on top of planning a destination wedding!

Juliana Loh Wedding

Michele Perras I was so honoured when Ann and Mark asked me to make their wedding rings. I was still a jeweller back in those days, and this was one of my last commissions. I was so sad to not being able to join them in person for their wedding, but glad I was at least there in spirit. xo

Yianni Hill Zip lining through the tree tops.

Yianni Hill Such an amazing wedding.

Yianni Hill

Oriol Ferrer Wedding!

Eric Socolofsky Stragglers at the very end of the night...3am IIRC. Mark said this was the most beautiful weekend of his life. I think I agree.

Eric Socolofsky Mark told us after the fact that the knot-tying ceremony was supposed to be elders / fam only. Instead there was an hour-long line of well-wishers ready to help Ann + Mark tie the knot...literally.

Mark Argo Ann was married

Daniel Hirschmann Mark and Ann tied the knot Thai Style! So many pictures, more to come :-)

Mark Argo This is the Story of Ann & Mark as told at our wedding

Eric Socolofsky

Eric Socolofsky Ko Lipe. A 15-hour bus trip from Bangkok to the southern tip of Thailand. Then a fast boat. Then a slow boat. Then a wade. And then...this. Words can't even begin to describe this memory.

Julie Jools This must be one of Ann's first Toronto parties (I'm guessing @ Philbert's?)...

Oriol Ferrer Trip to di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art

Darren Goldstein Laya and Ann have a stare down in the car while on a quick trip for ice cream at the cottage.

Michele Perras House parties in Toronto, I think this for Tom's bday, with Kate!

nick pagee I first met Ann in 2010, little did I know how much she would go on to inspire and shape me (this pic is from an exhibit she and Mark created in 2011-12-ish). I don't know if Ann knew what a shining light and inspiration she was to the people around her, but she was those things and more to me - brilliant, fearless, intrepid, hilarious, generous, and brimming over with love for others and passion for making magic happen. Ann I am so grateful I got to meet you and honoured to have been your friend. You will always be a hero to me - inspiring me to do more, live and love more, and whine less - thank you for everything, you did so much for me, you made my life so much better, and the world will not be the same without you ❤️🤟

vivian wenli lin Ann and Jane flew to Amsterdam from Thailand to help me with the production of our wedding. Thank you sisters.

vivian wenli lin Ann + Mark Amsterdam, 2010

Younghui Kim It was the second time I visited Bangkok after Ann and Mark's wedding. I was taking a break from a hectic lifestyle - visiting alone Bangkok, and Ann and Mark were also visiting Bangkok at that time. We met in a nice open cafe in Bangkok, had a drink and chat. She was looking great with a big smile.

Michele Perras Ann and Mark looking so sharp at our wedding in 2011

Michele Perras More photobooth pics :)

Michele Perras A few more great photobooth pics of Ann and Mark,sometime in the wee hours of the morning.

Joanna Todd Ann looking stunning at a celebration.

Joanna Todd Ann and Mark cutting a rug.

Juliana Loh This was the second last time we saw each other in Toronto when I was there for work. Ann teased that my new upwardly mobile life was fancy, when she came to pick me up at Four Seasons in Yorkville. We went to K town for dinner and then one of her favourite places with these walnut shaped pastries stuffed with red bean. We last saw each other in 2013 shortly after Oren was born. I remember he was tiny. I came out to Danfort over the weekend for a Maker's fair. I'm sad we didn't get any photos - being the serial multitasker perfectionist, Ann was nailing the motherhood thing, breastfeeding while running a booth and chatting to so many friends passing through. Over the years, we spoke and wrote often as we brainstormed for marketing and PR ideas for Little Robot Friends. In 2016 we did cancer together and last year you cheer-led me through my pregnancy while going through the endless cycles of chemo that was taking a toil. I love you, Ann. I am so grateful that our paths crossed in this lifetime. I take comfort in knowing that you passed peacefully surrounded by love. And I hold on to your wisdom over our many conversations on cancer and death. Every time someone dies of cancer, it's heavy and weird and then we keep on. I am glad that you are now free from suffering. You did the best you could and you are so so loved. You live on in all of us. Rest in peace Ann, see you on the other side. "Deep down, us with cancer, we kind of all know it's coming without saying anything."

Darren Goldstein

Mark Argo Oren was born

Kate Hartman

Michele Perras First time our babies met in Toronto - I think Oren and Evelyn were about 3-4m old, still doing tummy time on the mat

Jonah Brucker-Cohen We met up with Anne and Oren at the LA Museum of Natural History.... Really great day.

Jonah Brucker-Cohen Ann, Mark, and Oren visiting us in Palos Verdes for some swimming in the pool.

Jonah Brucker-Cohen Swimming in Palos Verdes with the family.

Darren Goldstein

Michele Perras Mark in the Bay Area for Little Robot Friends at Maker Faire!

Yona Nestel Ann was part of our "baby crew" and we spent lots of good times during mat leave supporting one another as we were learning to parent.

Darren Goldstein

Jonah Brucker-Cohen On my way to install some of my artwork at the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Art, I met up with Mark and Anne for lunch in Toronto.

Yona Nestel Ann was a master baby wearer and often wore Oren in beautiful warps and slings. Here she is at my son's first birthday party with Oren in tow.

Mark Argo We took a road trip to Cottage Country with Yai-Yai (Thai expression for Grandma) to see the pretty leaves. It was a cold Canadian day - but so beautiful and crisp.

Michele Perras More Railey Beach pics

Michele Perras Ann, Mark, Vivian, Taku, Tom, myself and our babies - what a wonderful vacation crew <3

Michele Perras Railey Beach Holiday, Thailand - Xmas 2014/NYE2015 Beaches, massages, amazing food every day - such an amazing Ann holiday

Mark Argo We made a goal after Oren was born. Every New Year we would need to be on a beach. Didn't matter where... but preferably someplace warm. This was the first year we made it official. Hello 2015, from a beach in Southern Thailand.

Michele Perras Visiting us in San Francisco, Oren and Evelyn at 21m wreaking havoc during dinner, and the cleanup <3

Jonah Brucker-Cohen While in LA for Xmas, we stopped for lunch in Playa Del Rey with Mark, Anne, and Oren who were in town for the holidays.

Mark Argo Goodbye 2015. Hello 2016. This year we had a huge family gathering at Ann's Aunt and Uncle's beach house in Prachuap, Thailand. We woke up next to the sea every day, and slept with noisy lizards every night. It was perfect.

vivian wenli lin Family trip to Tharnthong Lodge outside of Chiang Mai and family dinner at the most delicious Jane's Kitchen

Emily Chang I was in Toronto for weeks for work and was lonely and missing my family. But thank god Ann was there! She showed me her city, took me out for vegan poutine, we hung out and talked for hours about our health and our struggles and self care. We hadn’t been in the same city for years, but this felt like old times in nyc.

Emily Chang Ann enjoying our vegan poutine and green juice.

Mark Argo Goodbye 2016. Hello 2017. This year we couldn't make the trip to Thailand, but we did manage to get to sunny Santa Monica where my parents lived. We loved to visit the pier and even met up with our friends from Hong Kong / Tokyo.

vivian wenli lin Ann organized a spa day for our LA reunion with Kat and Geraldine. Special thanks to Mark's parents - I think they gave Ann a certificate! Bonus shopping at Geraldine's LCD.

Julie Jools Ann loved getting together at cottages... you can see her poking her head out in the back row ;)

vivian wenli lin Ann, Mark, Oren, LRF - Ann always fearlessly leading us on trips and experiences

Nupur Deonarine Ann always shared her space at LRF. one year we decorated LRF for a holiday party for our bipoc group. We had wine, and complained about Harvey Weinstein and how he got away and how he produced movies that probably influenced toxic masculinity. It was intense. Ann's analysis was always spot on acerbic and so funby. And we laughed as we decorated. Finished two bottles of wine. And had such a fun party the next day!

Mark Argo Goodbye 2017. Hello 2018. Ann was mid-treatment this year, so we couldn't fulfill our goal to be at the beach. However, we vowed to make up for it by just going to a beach whenever possible. At least we got to celebrate with friends.

Melissa Sariffodeen I met Ann through our shared passion for STEM education and was so in awe of her vision for Little Robot Friends. Our brainstorms, catch-ups and her updates were always a highlight to see her vision coming to life. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to partner our orgs together to introduce hundreds of educators and their students to LRF across Canada. I'm beyond words that we've lost such a bright star too early but I know her light will live on in everyone she inspired - myself especially. Thank you, Ann <3 For your vision, your passion, your energy and resolve.

Darren Goldstein

Cheryl Devine Ann was always willing to lend a hand at Oren's school. I barely ever remember her saying she couldn't when asked to help (she even arranged for her awesome mom to come over and help out when she was in town!). This photo was taken after a staff appreciation event that volunteers put together each year at the school.

Emily Chang This was our crew. Solid through and through. Even though we were countries apart, every time Ann came to town we’d be sure to meet up. It was Deepa’s bday and we hit up a bar like old times and took about a billion photos trying to get the perfect shot. This was the same group of girls who took a free day in chicago during Mango Tribe rehearsals and blew off steam by sunning all day by Lake Michigan

Michele Perras Helping Evelyn with lego at Oren's 5th birthday in San Francisco, at Eric and Glo's!

Linda Bower We were fortunate enough to have Ann and Jane join us for our wedding in the NY Catskills. They made the day (and week!) extra special.

Darren Goldstein

Julie Jools Ann was always so generous with her time and my biggest champion as an entrepreneur. On this day, she travelled to/ from the hospital for treatment then all the way across town to the photo studio to take this shot for me. I had told her we were launching a new website and needed photo testimonials. She insisted that she would do it to support.

Amanda Munday Ann and Little Robot Friends was the ONLY Toronto-area company selected for the federal Womens Entrepreneurship Fund - a $100k grant given to only a small group of highly promising and innovative companies in Canada. It is a testament to Ann's ingenuity and spark. Recognized across Canada. Instead of an event just for her, Ann had a celebration of EY women identifying business owners.

Cheryl Devine Ann helped put together an awesome STEAM night at Oren's school. She, Mark and a number of LRF staff ran activities and coding sessions, and several of those within her network of friends also came to donate their time and supplies to provide a fun night of family learning. It was such a neat thing to be part of, and wouldn't have been close to as successful or fun to plan without Ann there.

Sheila Colla Ann was not afraid to get political. She knew we had to fight for equity, healthcare, schools, small businesses, etc. And we could even have fun doing it.

Amanda Munday Ann SHOWS UP for East York and women / BIPOC business owners especially. I barely had to ask and she would show up at my evening events. She showed up for Jagmeet Singh even though that was an EARLY day. We spent so much time together - Natalie, Jen, Ann and I on our "mastermind" business chats, which often turned into drinking socials, to lunch dates, to life chats. All the way Ann pushing for me to keep going, keep trying, don't give up on what's possible.

Kate Hartman ITP meet up in Toronto!

Jenny Chung Mejia East End Engines' 1st Dragon Boat race @ Marilyn Bell Park in Toronto's West End. We rowed with so much heart that day and in the weeks' practices out of Ashbridge's Bay leading up to this day. Ann was the one who gave our team our name: East End because our team came from East End Toronto and Engines, because, well, we were collectively the engine driving our dragon boat. I was lucky to meet and befriend Ann because of dragon boating and so thankful I got the chance to know her and be part of her awesomeness.

Daniel Hirschmann ITP 40th Anniversary! What a perfect reunion it turned out to be! Ann and family all came to NYC, and she arranged an awesome airbnb house for us all to stay in together. It was a reunion of friends from our ITP days, and even seeing Annalisa from the fabrica days.

Amanda Munday There are few perks to running a brick and mortar shop, but Ann hardly ever (never) complained. She joked. She strategized, but was always optimistic. She also was my encourager to take off in the middle of the day, like in Feb when we peaced out to Body Blitz as a group, then her and I had the best lunch. Then she had a nap. It was glorious.

Sheila Colla Feeling the need to get out of the city, we decided to take the kids camping at Emily Provincial Park this past summer. The sunsets, good eats, walks in the forest... we could almost forget that Ann was going through treatment and that we were living in a global pandemic.

Julie Jools Ann's last getaway with friends was a camping trip at Pinery Provincial Park (Grand Bend). She wanted a beach, but the shores of Lake Huron in that particular area are rocky - I'm sorry your last beach was a rocky beach, Ann. There's a beautiful video of Ann in the water (which was cold) making the most of it, like she always did. <3

Katarina Bulat Ann was so superbly generous. I asked her to coffee before I opened my business to help me with some issues, and she was so open and easy going and honest. She was genuine and authentic (in the non-irritating definition of authentic of course). Later on, as business neighbours, she was always a source of inspiration and uplifting information. She chided me for agonizing over silly details and helped me focus. A true wonderful force. One evening we met in the backyard (when we could!) of Jen’s house. We had some drinks and chatted and laughed and laughed and laughed. Natalie came, and Amanda zoomed in virtually. It was a special evening made more special as it was the last time I saw her in person. So difficult to actually think she is physically gone. I learned a lot from her and have changed for the better for having known her. Her sparkle is still here.

Tanisha Broadway In loving memory of Tanisha Broadway. Tanisha was born April 13,1973 in Mountain View California she went to be the Lord 🙏 on June 2,2022 after her battle with covid she is is survived by her son Darell age 27 and her daughter Treyanna she was an amazing person she will truly be missed.