We are sad to let everyone know that Ann Coffrin, a Life Member and great friend of the Northern Vermont Chapter passed away yesterday in Burlington. Ann served the Red Cross tirelessly in many different ways over her lifetime and her desire to serve and help people also carried over to her family with her daughter Nancy and son James also serving as members of the Board of Directors of the chapter.
Ann will truly be missed. Here is additional information as published in the Burlington Free Press.
ELIZABETH ANN COFFRIN BURLINGTON - Elizabeth Ann Coffrin, 87, died peacefully on Sept. 27, 2010. Ann was born in New Boston, TX in 1922, grew up in Oklahoma City and managed never to lose her southern twang over 65 years of living in Vermont. She was a "war bride", meeting her husband in Seattle and marrying Albert W. Coffrin, a fifth generation Vermonter, in 1943. Albert predeceased Ann after 50 years of marriage in 1993. Ann served her community tirelessly her entire life. She was a chairman of the Northern Vermont Chapter of the American Red Cross, President of the Klifa Club and President of the Burlington Garden Club. She was a trustee of Trinity College. She was a member of the Burlington Civic Beautification Committee, the Mary Flather/MCHV Auxiliary, the B.E.A.M. Development Council, Fortnightly book club and The Neighbors. She was also on the Board of Directors of the YMCA and YWCA, the Converse Home, the Burlington Tennis Club, and the United Way of Chittenden County. Ann won many awards throughout her life. In 1972, she received the Vermont Distinguished Service award from Governor Deane Davis for her work with children and youth. In 1990, she received the Vermont Award for Community Service from Governor Madeleine Kunin and the Governor's Commission on Volunteers. In 2005, she received the Red Cross lifetime Achievement Award for her many years of outstanding service. She also won the Bert Kusserow award at the Burlington Tennis Club for outstanding sportsmanship. All this, and yet, what many think of when they think of Ann is her entertaining skills. She entertained often, introducing newcomers to the area and maintaining the wonderful friendships she developed through so many years. She loved young people and enjoyed entertaining her husband's many law clerks. She had an abundance of energy and was an avid tennis player, swimmer, walker, skier and bridge player. Ann was very proud of her family and loved them all dearly and they will all miss her. Ann leaves her son, Peter, his wife, Sue, and their children, Nikolas, Daniel, Alex and Will; her son, Albert/Buddy, his wife, Deb, and their children, CJ, Scott and Jane; her son, James, his wife, Jill, and their children, Seth, Kevin and Laura; her daughter, Nancy Furlong, her husband Michael, and their children, Graham and Emily. She also leaves her brother, James MacCornack of New Jersey and his wife, Elizabeth, and their children, Jonathan and Katharine; and a cousin, Ann Vinson of Texas, and her family, and her god-grandson, Tanner Howe. Dr. Joseph Foley was a very special friend in her later years. The Coffrin Family would like to thank Dr. Frank Landry, the caregivers in the Gardenview Memory Care unit at the Converse Home and the Starr Farm Nursing Center for taking such good care of Ann. An announcement for a memorial service will be made at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ann's name to the Northern Vermont Chapter of the American Red Cross, 29 Mansfield Ave., Burlington VT 05401. Published in The Burlington Free Press on September 28, 2010
