Amy J. Staples was born to Joan and Frederick “Ted” Staples of Pomfret, VT, on February 6, 1962. She attended the University of Vermont and graduated Magna Cum Laude in French before completing a Master’s Degree at Johns Hopkins University. She was a lecturer at JHU and Emory University for several years before joining the doctoral program in Romance Studies at Cornell University and earning a Ph.D. in French literature with a dissertation on women, desire, and speech in 18th-century novels. During her training years, Amy lived in Nice, Québec City, and Paris. In 2000, she became Assistant then Associate Professor at Wells College, Aurora, NY, before taking over the role of Director of Study Abroad and the oversight of programs in Paris and Florence, where she frequently traveled. She successfully held this position until illness forced her to resign. She is remembered as a rigorous yet highly caring instructor and mentor. She was particularly involved in the Wells-Doshisha College, Japan, exchange program and kept in contact with many of its participants, as well as alums from other study abroad programs. But Amy was so much more: a levelheaded Vermonter with a wicked sense of humor, a road cyclist, animal lover, and avid college basketball fan, a lifelong Democrat and an active supporter of an inclusive community. Above all, she was the most loyal friend, cherished aunt and stepmother, and beloved partner.
A survivor of breast cancer, she fought a 2 ½ year battle against metastatic colon cancer with utmost courage. While her mother, Joan Staples, passed away last December, Amy is survived by her father Ted Staples, brother Gary Staples, niece Kate Benetti, nephew Dan Benetti, his wife Pooja Reddy Benetti and their children Rhys and Sai. Her beloved sister, Lynn Benetti, was taken away by cancer in 2008. She is also survived by her spouse Mary Ahl, her stepchildren Sid and Kate Ahl and their families, and her lifelong friend Carole Allamand.
Those wishing may make memorial donations to Hospicare of Ithaca, the SPCA of Tompkins County, or the Cancer Research Foundation. Services are being planned for a later date in Woodstock, VT.
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