Dorothy Ann Hirsch

Dorothy Ann Hirsch Dorothy Ann Hirsch died Sunday, May 18, 2025, at Kansas City Hospice. Ann was born on July 26, 1950, to John Edward Hirsch and Dorothy (Oberkrom) Hirsch in Mexico, Missouri, where John taught at Missouri Military Academy. The family moved to Kansas City, Kansas, in 1955, where Ann attended Blessed Sacrament School, Northwest Junior High School and Wyandotte High School. At Wyandotte, she was editor of the Pantograph school newspaper, graduating in 1968. Ann attended the University of Kansas, one highlight being her participation in the February Sisters’ occupation of the East Asian Studies building, resulting in the creation of the first campus childcare facility. Ann graduated from KU with a degree in classical archeology. She worked on archeological digs in the United States and in Europe (France, Lebanon, and in the country formerly known as Yugoslavia) as part of her graduate studies, until joining the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a cultural resource specialist. In 1983, Ann moved to Wichita and married Robert Coykendall. A daughter, Katherine (Katie) Coykendall was born in 1985. Ann spent her time in Wichita as an active parent volunteer at Katie’s schools. She also loved collecting books and antiques and ran her own antiques booth. In 2009, Ann moved back to the Kansas City area, and adopted a cat named, appropriately, Booksie. From an early age, reading was Ann’s favorite pastime—especially mysteries and books about ancient Greece and Rome. Beginning in elementary school, Ann became a devoted fan of Shakespeare, and all things British. As an adult, she collected thousands of mysteries and archeological books, as well as pottery and art. She was an ardent supporter of women’s rights, as well as environmental protection. If asked, she could always recommend a book she knew you would enjoy. In 2015, she finally traveled to Italy to walk in the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, and Palatine Hill, as well as Pompeii, Herculaneum, and the Greek ruins at Paestum. Ann leaves her daughter, Katie Coykendall (Chris Holzman) of Wichita, KS; her brother John Edward Hirsch, Jr., of Overland Park, KS; her sister, Patricia Kay Hirsch of Newtown, CT; niece Alice Jane Kaufman (Donald Kraus) of Ardmore, PA; and nephew John Francis Kaufman (Emily), of Newtown, CT; cousins Louann Huffman (Charles), Stephen Oberkrom (Brigid); and Dr. David Oberkrom (Vicki), all of Kansas City, MO.

Dorothy Ann Hirsch

July 26, 1950 - May 18, 2025