Lifelong athlete, manager with state’s Dept. of Mental Health, animal advocate
Karin Orr. (Courtesy photo)
Karin Leigh Orr died peacefully July 29, 2023, after courageously battling cancer.
A native of San Antonio, Texas, she earned a degree in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin, followed by a master’s degree in social work from Smith College in 1991. Karin was a longtime manager at the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, where she was known for her excellence, warm spirit, and kind heart.
She is remembered by many as a lifelong athlete: Karin became accomplished in ballet, soccer, modern dance, and most recently rowing and hot yoga. She and her husband Bill had many friends in the yoga community who shared her strong passion for life and who encouraged her to train for and take part in a national yoga competition. She enjoyed rowing with the Harvard rowing community, and she and her mother Sandy spent many hours of virtual rowing during the COVID years.
She loved watching her son Kory grow into an adult and she so enjoyed being a mother. Karin made so many people feel like they were a true part of her family, not only in Massachusetts but scattered all around the U.S. She was the best listener, and her wit and laughter put people at ease. Also, she was never without a great playlist to set the mood. Karin was so happy that her sister moved to live nearby. They especially loved working on home improvement projects together, as well as bargain shopping at antique stores and resale outlets, often recuperating with Mexican food and the occasional margarita. Karin, Bill, and Kory have always cared for animals, and expressed it by adopting rescue dogs, pigs, chickens, goats, geese, and even bees. Feeding them and watching their antics on her animal-cams brought her much joy. For years they donated much time to the rescue organization Tomten Farm and Sanctuary and to the Harvard Alpaca Ranch.
Karin is survived by her loving husband Bill Loehfelm, her son, Kory Loehfelm, and her sister, Lisa Orr. She is also survived by her stepsons, Bill Loehfelm Jr. (AC) and Kevin Loehfelm (Caitlin) and their children, Quinn, Colin, Ashlyn, and Evelyn, as well as her nephews, Roy Harris and Henry Harris. She was predeceased by her parents Robert E. Orr Jr. and Sandra Miller Powell.
Her light and love will be sorely missed. Through the sadness the family will think of that beautiful smile and know that her spirit is at ease. Donations in Karin’s honor will be gratefully received by Tomten Farm and Sanctuary at Tomtenfarmandsanctuary.org and Harvard Alpaca Ranch at harvardalpacaranch.com. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.
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