Anne Vitaletti-Coughlin, MD, of Stowe, Vt., passed away on Saturday, May 23, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Anne was a vibrant woman with a soulful spirit and a lifelong love of learning, nature, animals and family.
Anne grew up in Binghamton, N.Y., and later attended Catholic Central High School. An avid reader who loved crossword puzzles, she earned the nickname “Encyclopedia” early in life because of her intellect, endless curiosity and remarkable knowledge across countless subjects. Independent from a young age, she had the determination to teach herself almost anything she set out to understand. That fearless drive carried her through medical school and into a life devoted to helping others.
Anne dedicated her professional life to medicine. She earned her medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. She began her medical training in general surgery and later became an anesthesiologist, ultimately practicing interventional pain management in Morrisville, Vt., and serving patients in the Copley Hospital community for many years. Her work was precise, demanding and deeply human: helping people live with less pain. Shortly before Anne’s passing, one of her sisters looked at her hands and said, “Think of all the people these hands have treated.” Anne responded that it had been an absolute privilege. Her family holds that memory as a measure of her life: clear-eyed, capable and grateful.
Anne was also a competitive tennis player throughout her life. She loved the game, the discipline and the camaraderie it brought. She competed at the Stowe Tennis Club and in USTA leagues across Vermont and was proud of reaching a 4.5 rating. “Hard focus” was one of Anne’s phrases, and it reflected the way she approached her matches and much of her life with discipline and determination. Just as important to her were the friendships she formed and the shared respect she found with opponents along the way.
Anne was careful, thoughtful and wise, with a gift for seeing things clearly and always speaking with honesty. She carried her intelligence with humility and believed deeply in character and integrity. She had a way of making people laugh when they least expected it and could turn an ordinary conversation into something memorable.
Anne was a private person who found peace in solitude, her gardens and the natural world. She loved her dogs, Lucy, Henry and Hattie, with whom she spent countless hours walking at the Quiet Path, Cotton Brook and Wiessner Woods. Later in life, as Anne neared retirement, that same love of animals extended to a flock of 18 chickens. She enjoyed invitations to the Trout Club, hiking the Pinnacle with her family, and tending to her flowers every summer, fall and early spring. Sanibel Island held a special place in Anne’s heart, a place where she felt deeply connected to the beauty and serenity of nature. She also loved quiet afternoons at the public library, always eager to learn something new or get lost in the next fantasy novel.
Anne had a deep connection with her family. She was the person everyone wanted on their team during a spirited board game, and the person no one underestimated across the table. Her mischievous sense of humor always came through, along with the competitive spark that made playing with her so much fun. She also had a special way with children, speaking to them genuinely and explaining even complicated things in a way they could understand. Her family will remember her laughing with her siblings and loved ones, sharing a sense of humor that felt like its own language. They will also remember her unwavering spirit and independent will.
Anne is survived by her husband, George G. Coughlin III; her son, George W. Coughlin, and his fiancée, Lindsay Bramhall; her siblings, Cheryl Vitaletti and her husband, Jim, of Syracuse, N.Y.; Bill Vitaletti Jr. and his wife, Catherine, of Springfield, Va.; Linda Koffman and her husband, Steven, of Franklin Lakes, N.J.; Tom Vitaletti and his wife, Carolee, of Williamsburg, Va.; and Cari Vitaletti; her nieces and nephews, Dr. Leana Doherty and her husband, Philip; Katie Doherty; Thomas Vitaletti and his wife, Rachel; Taylor Vitaletti; Alexander Fesquet and his fiancée, Sierra Stanley; and Isabella Rose Koffman; her cherished goddaughter; and many beloved extended family members.
She was predeceased by her parents, William and Catherine Vitaletti.
In honoring Anne’s memory, her family asks that others remember to spend time outdoors, volunteer where you can, care for the people and places around you, and remember to smile.
Services will be held on July 25 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Stowe, followed by a celebration of Anne’s life for family and close friends. Donations in Anne’s memory may be made to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, in recognition of Anne’s deep love for gorillas and nature, at gorillafund.org.
This article appears in June 10 • 2026.