Ann T. Kates

Ann T. Kates, 72, of Estero, FL, passed away peacefully on July 10, 2025, in Naples, FL. Born on June 14, 1953, in Manhattan, New York. She was the daughter of Doris (Frankel) Tulcin, who survives, and the late Robert Tulcin.
When Ann was born, she was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis and given less than a year to live. But her mother, Doris, found that prognosis unacceptable - and got to work. In 1955, Doris joined a group of determined parents to co-found the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, an organization that would go on to revolutionize care, treatment, and research for those living with CF. Thanks in large part to her courage and persistence, life expectancy for children born with the disease has risen from 19 years when Ann was married in 1976 to a median age of 65 for kids born from 2020 to 2024, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation registry. Ann's life became a powerful and personal testament to that progress as her determination and strength sustained her for 72 years.
Ann was raised in Scarsdale, NY, and graduated from Scarsdale High School before earning her Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity College in 1975. In 1976, she began her career as a special education teacher at the Eagle Hill School in Greenwich, Connecticut. After the birth of her second child, Douglas, in 1983, Ann stepped back from the classroom but continued her passion for education as a private tutor until her retirement in 2018. She was deeply appreciated and loved by her coworkers and students.
Outside of her professional life, Ann found joy and friendship as an active member of the Corkscrew Shores community. Throughout her life, she loved being outdoors: swimming, playing tennis, and more recently, pickleball. Her favorite daily delights were ice cream, sweet treats, and her West Highland Terriers. She also remained closely involved with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation throughout her life, serving as a beacon of hope and inspiration for families navigating life with CF.
Ann is survived by her beloved husband of 49 years, David C. Kates; her devoted mother, Doris F. Tulcin; her daughter Erica E. Powell and her husband Cmdr. Jonathan Powell, USN; her son, Douglas L. Kates and his wife Erin, and four adored grandchildren, Hunter Kates, Emma Kates, Abigail Kates, and Brynnleigh Powell; her brother, Roger Tulcin (and his late wife Gail); her many loving nieces and nephews, and the family and friends that loved her.
A celebration of Ann's life will be held in Estero, Florida on August 2 at the Corkscrew Shores Clubhouse at 2:00 p.m. An additional celebration of Ann's life will be held in Greenwich, CT on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 12:00 noon in the Community Room at Eagle Hill School 45 Glenville Road, Greenwich, CT 06831 She will be laid to rest at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York in a private ceremony.
To sign her guest register or leave condolences online, please visit www.ShikanyFuneralHome.com.
Arrangements are being handled by Shikany's Bonita Funeral Home - Family Owned and Operated Since 1978.