I'm Marion Yeaw, President of Isle City of Alameda Business and Professional Women, of which Kathryn was a valued member. Her sudden passing has left us stunned and saddened.
We knew her as an enthusiastic member who served in many offices, including that of President at the local and district levels and, currently, as Treasurer of the California Federation of B.P.W.
A few days ago we gathered for an informal memorial where we shared our fond memories of her. The following is a summary of what we talked about.
Kathy accepted the goals of our club for equity for working women, the right to be acknowledged in the workplace and in society as rational, intelligent and knowledgeable citizens and, as my suffragette mother put it years ago, to have a say in this life -- in other words, to be independent and in control of what happens to us.
Kathy was committed to making the world a better place for women -- and as a consequence, for men.
She had her eyes on the stars, but her feet on the ground. She was realistic, practical and resolute -- what it takes to make solid progress.
Some committed people become so serious that they make the mission a grim ordeal. Not so with Kathy. Her enthusiasm and good humor provided a sense of proportion and a means of detoxifying difficult situations.
Kathy was a successful person, who accomplished really good things in life and she shared them with her family and friends.
We have a motto in our club, which proclaims -- "Women Helping Women." However, we are glad to accept help of a few good men -- this brings us to Junius.
It is difficult to think of Kathy without Junius. He was always there to see that everything went well with her and in the process helped us in many ways. Thank you, Junius.
Finally, although we accept she has gone to a better place, we know that she is still with us in our memories, in the fruits of her hard work, and for the part of her personality which we have unconsciously taken within ourselves.
She achieved so much -- and she did it with style and grace.
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