October 23, 2009

To Members of the Trinity Community:

It is with great sadness that I write to inform you that our friend and colleague, Kathleen O'Connor Boelhouwer, vice president for alumni relations and communications, passed away today.  As I’m sure most of you are aware, Kathi faced a year-long battle with brain cancer, which she fought with tenacity and with grace.  The determination and enthusiasm that she brought to her work and her friendships at Trinity are an inspiration to all of us, and we will deeply miss her presence among us.  

Kathi’s Trinity roots run deep. She was a proud member of the Class of 1985, graduating with a major in English.  In the years following graduation, Kathi earned an M.B.A. from Rensselaer and worked in Trinity’s development office for two years before joining Miss Porter’s School in Farmington where she was a long-time member of the Advancement team, managing alumnae/parent relations, special events, web presentation, publications, and marketing. Still, during this time KO--as her colleagues affectionately called her--was a consistent Trinity volunteer, serving as both Reunion Chair and Class President, a position she also held as an undergraduate. Trinity lured her back in January 2006, when she joined the College leadership as Vice President for Alumni Relations and Communications. In her three-and-a-half years here, KO greatly strengthened our alumni programs: she built attendance at both reunion and homecoming with new events and speakers, increased participation in alumni areas clubs, and bolstered class identity across all decades of Trinity alumni. She also oversaw the reorganization of the College’s Communications office, helping build a stronger Trinity presence across all print, Web, and media communications.  Her staff loved her for her gusto. Decisive and intense, KO also possessed a fine sense of humor, and her distinctive laugh could quickly lift the mood of even the most serious staff meeting. Whether as a member of the President’s Group or in day-to-day management of two departments, Kathi always brought a finely honed sense of what was in the best interests of Trinity, its reputation, its students, and its alumni. Her commitment to this College did not waver.

Her friends here at Trinity will be glad to know that Kathi spent the last weeks of her life at home surrounded by her family.  She spent much of the month of August at Cape Cod enjoying the ocean and the sun with her husband Mark ’83, and their two daughters, Alexandra and Clare, before her illness took a turn for the worse. A very private person, Kathi nonetheless had a large network of friends who, like all of us, have lost a much-loved friend and colleague. 

We extend our profound sympathy to Kathi’s husband and two daughters.  A memorial service is planned at the Trinity College Chapel on Saturday, November 7th, at 1 p.m., with a reception in the Washington Room to follow.

Sincerely,

Ron Joyce
Vice President for College Advancement