Artist, teacher, friend to many
Kathryn Kagan. (Courtesy photo)
Kathryn I. Kagan, 73, of Harvard, passed away July 6, 2017, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital after a courageous fight against cancer. She was beloved by people who knew her as a gentle and amazingly strong woman at home with life and its spirit.
Born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, she spent her childhood in Perkiomen, Pennsylvania, where she attended high school. She met her husband, Dan, in Boulder, Colorado, a place dear to her heart. Together, they moved to Stowe, Vermont, to own a ski dormitory and motel. Their daughter, Kira, was born at University of Vermont Medical Center. After the sale of the businesses, she enrolled and graduated from Johnson State College in Johnson, Vermont, with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and was inducted into the Chesamore Bell Honor Society. Kathryn and Dan then moved to Belmont, where she graduated with a master’s degree in expressive therapies from Lesley University and a master’s degree in special education from Simmons College.
Kathryn was a beloved teacher of children on the autism spectrum, helping to find their potential and with a deep caring for their personage.
In moving to Harvard, she found a community that reflected her values. She was a friend to many. Kathryn settled into caring for her pet cat Simon and dog Gaea, now deceased, and cultivated a wide variety of ornamental plants and vegetables. Additionally, Kathryn followed her passion for the culinary arts.
Kathryn is survived by her father, William Heintz, of Frederick, Pennsylvania; her husband of almost 40 years, Daniel; her daughter, Kira; her son, Aram; and her rescue greyhound, Zeke. She was predeceased by her mother, Mickey.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Boston Ballet, Johnson State College (Johnson, Vermont), or Indian Hill Music School in Littleton, Massachusetts would be appreciated.
