SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – On Sunday afternoon Mary Anne Gucciardi, affectionately known as "Mama Gooch", passed away at her home in South Burlington. Over the last 50 years Mama Gooch was the Catamounts' biggest supporter. Her presence at thousands of games, kindness to student-athletes and passion for everything UVM was a part of a remarkable legacy.
 
"For the past 50 years, no single person has symbolized the UVM Athletics Family more than Mama Gooch," said Jeff Schulman, Director of Athletics. "Through her kindness, generosity and incredible cooking, she touched the lives of countless Catamount student-athletes, coaches and staff. Her constant presence at our games, her warm smile, and unwavering support will be sorely missed by Catamount Country. All of us send our love and well wishes to Mary Anne's family and thank them for sharing the amazing "Mama Gooch" with us for so many years."
 
For over 15 years she served on the executive committee of the school's athletic booster organization, the Catamount Club. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Friends of Men's Basketball, Men's Hockey, Men's Soccer and Women's Basketball.  Mary Anne and her husband Richard sent all four of their children to UVM. She oversaw countless charity events for the department and was well known for a series of "Spaghetti Dinners" that raised over $50,000 to develop a scholarship in memory of Kevin Roberson, a former men's basketball student-athlete, who tragically passed away in a car accident in 1993.
 
For more than two decades she regularly cooked huge Italian feasts for a number of UVM sports teams that she hosted at her home with the support of her husband and family. The meals included a variety of home-cooked Italian classics. The Gucciardi family also held dinner parties for distinguished guests including coaches, senators, governors, professors and bishops. In recent years, she would bring jars of meatballs and sauce to members of the athletic department.
 
Following the 1985 athletic season Mary Anne and Richard were presented with the Athletic Department Award, given to a member of the faculty, staff, or community in appreciation of loyal support and continuing devotion to the University of Vermont athletic program. In 1995 the University of Vermont awarded her with a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.
 
In the fall of 1999, UVM's new fitness center on the south side of Gutterson Fieldhouse was formally named the Mary Anne and Richard Gucciardi Fitness and Recreation Center. The current home of UVM Campus Recreation was named in honor of the Gucciardis for their longtime support of UVM Athletics and UVM student-athletes by former UVM Trustee Richard Tarrant. As a part of the ongoing Athletics Facility Project the Gucciardi Fitness and Recreation Center will be transformed into a modern varsity athletic performance center serving all 18 varsity athletic programs.
 
In 2016 Mama Gooch received a Vermont Public Service award honoring her 23 years of service on the South Burlington Recreation Committee. Her lasting legacy will be the profound impact she had on her community and the countless lives she touched as an indelible part of Catamount Country.
 
Due to COVID-19, there will be a private funeral service for immediate family only. A memorial service for extended family and friends will be held at a later date when it is safe to do so. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts directed to UVM Athletics c/o UVM Foundation, 411 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401 or online at www.uvmfoundation.org or to Christ the King School c/o Jon Hughes, 136 Locust St., Burlington, VT 05401.