RIP: Kathy MacDonough
Many of you knew her on this blog as Scarlet Woman. Without a doubt, one of my favorite commenters ever.
Many of us knew her in ‘real life’. In my case, I first met her when she was a young reform-minded Democrat who was very active in ridding the party of Gene Reed, Sr. Since she lived in Brandywine Hundred, I would occasionally bump into her at places like BrewHaHa, where we would invariably engage in enjoyable banter. An hour would go by like it was ten minutes. She was a truly empathetic person, as evidenced from her ‘memoriam’ in the News Journal today:
In loving memory of Kathleen MacDonough, a compassionate soul who found joy in brightening the lives of others. Devoted to supporting local human and animal communities, she showered her human and feline friends with love and care. The primary outlets were her beloved town of Bellefonte and volunteering with the wayward felines of Forgotten Cats. Her heart overflowed with warmth not only for furry companions but also for her two grandsons, creating cherished moments filled with laughter and love. Kathleen leaves behind a legacy of kindness and family bonds that will forever be treasured. May her spirit continue to inspire acts of love and generosity. In lieu of flowers, Kathleen requested that donations be made to Forgotten Cats at forgottencats.org/services/donate/.
I know that some of you knew Kathy better than I did, and treasured her friendship. If you can, I hope you will share some memories of her with us. She was such a caring person. I feel so fortunate to have known her and I will miss her very much.
I met her when she helped prepare the League of Women Voters’ election year Voters Guides that we published in the News Journal. We reconnected when she was managing a fundraising campaign for the new Brandywine Hundred Library. We stayed in touch over the years, and she often pointed me toward topics that stirred my creative juices. She was a tireless advocate, not just for the cats she loved and animal rights but also for women’s rights, reproductive freedom, transparency and honesty in government, protecting the environment and preserving historic structures.
As one who, like El Som, could spend an hour with her and have it feel like 10 minutes, I can tell you that she often made me feel like I was her best friend, yet she was a best friend to so many whose paths she crossed, and I mean that in the most positive way.
Musically, she loved Todd Rundgren. In sports, she cheered for the Phillies and the Eagles but she was always looking for athletes with quirky characteristics. Little-known fact: for a while she managed a FB page following the exploits of a onetime backup Eagles linebacker who was her daughter-in-law’s cousin.
Finally, something El Som would appreciate: When she headed the Bellefonte Town Commission, she was the only woman in the group. I told her they’d make a great musical ensemble, “Kathy and the Town Fathers.”
Yep. She no doubt deserved top billing.
Kathy was actually President of the Town Commission in 2007 and was surrounded with women leaders. In fact, three out of four commissioners were women.
Bellefonte–ahead of its time. I’ve always loved that Bellefonte vibe.
BTW, Scott, I would not be performing my journalistic obligation if I didn’t ask you–when you went to San Francisco, did you wear flowers in your hair?