Photo: Anna Maria Sie | By Jacob Factor, The Denver Post | Although she passed away in September 2023, we felt it important to recognize her life and contributions to humanity. | Anna Maria Sie lived the ultimate American dream. Together, for 56 years, she and her husband, John J. Sie, both immigrants to the U.S., built a family in Colorado during his successful career in cable television.
Over the last 20 years, she became known as a generous philanthropist in Denver’s arts, film and academic spaces, and she built a legacy of work funding Down syndrome research.
“She’s kind and compassionate and supportive,” John Sie said. “A champion to those in need.”
Anna Sie died Sept. 20 at her home surrounded by her family. She was 78 years old.
She was diagnosed with endometrial cancer nearly a decade ago in December 2013.
Anna Sie immigrated from Naples, Italy, by ship with her father and two older brothers in 1955 and John Sie came from China five years before her.
For several years, while her family in the U.S. saved money to send for her mother, older sister and two younger brothers still in Italy, Anna Sie cooked, cleaned and became a translator for the family.
She was a switchboard operator when she met her husband, and through John Sie’s career-building, Anna Sie was the constant “guiding light” for the family.
After the two married, John Sie, during his career, helped build Showtime through Telecommunication Inc. and founded the Starz and Encore channels, but it was Anna Sie who inspired his entrepreneurship in television.
“It was her love of film that really guided me through my career,” John Sie said. “For the last 56 years, she immeasurably contributed to the welfare of all she touched. I’m forever grateful for those precious years.”
It was that work ethic and her strength and compassion that inspired her large family.
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Read more about Anna & John’s work here: We’re thankful to them for the Sie Film Center…
https://www.denverpost.com/2023/09/27/anna-sie-denver-philanthropis-down-syndrome-research-obituary/
Staff writer Aldo Svaldi contributed to this story.
Editor’s note: This article was updated to correct an editing error that removed references to the Sie family’s gift for the Anna and John J. Sie Welcome Center at the Denver Art Museum’s Hamilton building entrance.
Photo: Anna Sie
Anna Sie, Prominent Philanthropist, Established the Sie Film Center, Dies
