Anne Elizabeth White-Olson

Anne White-Olson, 72, of Alexandria, VA, died on May 28. 2026 after a long fight with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and its complications. Anne grew up in a boisterous Irish Catholic family filled with love, wit, and life in Syracuse, NY, the daughter of Mary Malloy White and Martin (Marty) White, who both hailed from The Bronx. The family moved Upstate after a stint in America’s original suburb, Levittown, NY, where they lived when Anne was born on Long Island. Anne was strictly monitored by the nuns at Most Holy Rosary School in Syracuse, as were her sisters Irene, who predeceased her, Christine (Joe) of Skaneateles NY, and Mary Ellen (Jim, who passed away last year) of Downers Grove, IL. Her brother Bob (Nancy) graduated from the Christian Brothers Academy and predeceased her.

Anne graduated from SUNY at Buffalo, and Syracuse University where she earned her Library Science Masters. After Syracuse she took an internship at the Environmental Protection Agency’s library in Washington, where she met an upstart intern, Erik Olson, who was taking a year off from college. They quickly fell for each other, married in 1979, and took up residence in Washington Heights, NY while he finished his degree. After his graduation, they moved permanently to the DC area, where they were thrilled to welcome two sons, Christopher (Jackie) and Luke. Christopher and Jackie gave Anne the gift of her pride and joy, two lively, hilarious and whip-smart grandkids, Grant and Addie. She also loved deeply her niblings Jackson Turner (Megan) of LaGrange IL, Rachel Cooper (Logan) of Austin, TX, David Johnson (Anita) of Blue Island, IL, Emily Olson of Washington, DC, Joe Weidner (Amy) of Skaneateles, NY, and Amy Guarasce (Tom) of Sandy Creek, NY, and her sister- and brother-in-law Jenny Olson (Christof) of Lansing, MI, and Mark Olson of Rocky Ridge, MD. Anne tolerated Erik for nearly five decades and is survived by him and all of those loved ones, save the two siblings and Jim, who all died too early.

In the Washington, D.C., area, Anne held a range of library and information science roles, including helping pioneer library automation at OCLC. She later spent two decades at the National Institutes of Health as a medical informationist and librarian. Anne’s proudest professional achievement was helping NIH researchers locate information used to advance patient care and produce groundbreaking medical research. She was excited and gratified to work for the benefit of marginalized communities and on controversial medical issues, including by assisting in early research into AIDS treatments and on stem cell policy.

As a librarian and the daughter of Marty, an incurable bibliophile, Anne was a voracious reader and lifelong learner who often finished two or three books a week. Her tastes ranged from serious literature and the transcendent poetry of Mary Oliver to escapist junk. She was an enthusiastic book group member, where she formed many close friendships. She delighted in swapping recommendations and discussing her latest book discoveries. An inveterate news junkie, she rarely strayed from CNN, MSNBC/MSNOW, and PBS News, though she also enjoyed old episodes of Law & Order, The Pitt, BritBox offerings, and other dramas. No newspaper within reach was safe from her—whether the Sunday New York Times, the pre-Bezos Washington Post, or her guilty-pleasure tabloids, the Daily News and Daily Mirror. She devoured and witheringly critiqued them and their subjects to within inches of their lives. Some of Anne’s interests surprised even those who knew her well, including her fascination with the British royal family—which would have gobsmacked her Irish ancestors—and her near-encyclopedic knowledge of the Kennedy family, despite her heartbreak over what Bobby has done to CDC and her beloved NIH. She never hid her disgust for the ghastly White House occupant or disappointment with the decrepit state of the opposition party. Anne rarely minced words; she wore her loves and antipathies on her sleeve and spoke with striking directness.

Funeral services will be held at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Arlington, VA on Saturday June 20, 2026 at 12:00 noon. There will be a reception and meal immediately after the mass held at Father Ray Hall next to the church. All are welcome to either or both. A private inurnment ceremony will be held later. There will be no visitation hours.

Anne asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Chef José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen or Moms Demand Action.