I’m very sorry to convey the tragic news that I know many of you know already: yesterday, on their way to the Denver airport following ALA Midwinter, ALSC Vice President Kate McClelland and Notable Children’s Videos Chair Kathy Krasniewicz were killed in a hit-and-run automobile accident.
While the subject line refers to ALSC, we know this loss reaches well beyond our own association to affect their families, community, the profession at large, and especially the thousands of children they both worked with over the years at the Perrot Memorial Library in Old Greenwich, Connecticut. Here is the article from the Greenwich newspaper Web site:
http://www.greenwichtime.com/localnews/ci_11576380?source=rss
Please know that as soon as we have memorial/tribute information, I will share it. In the meantime, we encourage everyone with fond memories of Kate and Kathy to share them here, in this space.
Diane Foote
Executive Director, ALSC
50 E. Huron St.
Chicago, IL 6061
This photo of Kathy was taken during the 2009 Midwinter meeting of the ALSC Notable Children’s Video Committee. Molly Collins, a member of this committee that Kathy chaired, took the photo and kindly sent it to the ALSC Blog.
This is a photograph of Kate taken from the Newbery Caldecott PowerPoint presentation in Anaheim in 2008.
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My heart is clouded with sadness. Kate was the sunshine in every room and her smile was oh so genuine. I will miss you Kate. My sincere condolences to her family. Although I did not know Kathy, I send prayers her way as well and hope for peace for both families as they carry this very heavy cross and go through this very difficult journey.
I first meet Kate when we served on the Notable Children’s Books Committee. I was so impressed by her knowledge of children’s books and her unique perspective when examining books. We bonded immediately. When my mother died during one of our Midwinter discussions, I left DC abruptly. Kate wrote me a lovely letter about losing one’s mother, a letter I carried with me for months. Her letter was such a comfort. Kate’s high level of passion and compassion are standards that I admire and aspire to.
What so impressed me about Kathy was her quick smile and her enthusiastic passion about children and reading. She had a wonderful sense of humor and her admiration for Kate was charming and endearing. I will miss both of their presences at conferences.
Kate’s voice resonates in this excerpt from a 9/25/07 e-mail formally accepting the nomination for ALSC president:
“…I appreciate the honor accorded me by the nominating committee and, whatever the outcome of the 2008 election, I look forward to serving our exceptional members in some capacity….”
This sincere, professional response to the 2008 Nominations Committee nestles in an archive file on my server.
It wasn’t composed for publication and its modesty and simplicity are indicative of Kate’s high regard for ALSC members and her on-going committment to ALSC. She exuberantly modeled service to our association no matter what the committee, task force or project!
Kathy infused her ALSC work with a similiar spirit of joy, collegiality, and curiosity. Both leave a legacy that will endure.
As I read all these comments about Kate and Kathy I realize how much we all appreciate our professional friends- the librarians we see once or twice a year at conferences but who play such an important part in our lives. I too served on the Notable Book committee with Kate and loved every minute of it. Who could not have fun talking books with such a passionate woman? Kate led me to many books- I read “Donuthead” because she collared me at a conference and swore up and down I had to read it because there were so many young readers out there who needed to hear about it. I knew Kathy much less well but enjoyed the conversations we did have and know she too was a beacon for children’s librarianship. Kate is the kind of librarian I aspire to be and I am thankful to have known both of them.
My thoughts are with their loved ones.
I am Kathy’s niece. I knew Auntie Kathy was wonderful, successful and brilliant. However, I never would have known how far she exceeded my perception had everyone not posted their kind words. These postings have shown me what an exemplary person Auntie Kathy was professionally, and I’d like to share my memories of Auntie Kathy in our family. Auntie Kathy was our Martha Stewart (without the scandal). Her Christmas Parties were the glue that stuck our family together. And what a paste! Auntie Kathy would make Lasagna, Ham, Turkey, Baked Bree, (I capitalize these items because it would be an injustice to their deliciousness not to do so)! She and my cousins created Gingerbread houses we were allowed to devour, and there was always a happy birthday cake for Jesus. The ambiance and decor were not over looked. I mean the boughs were hung over the chimney with care, a fire crackled in every fire place; there were party poppers, and mistletoe that would give us kids endless hours of entertainment…. all set against the backdrop of Kathy’s historic and immaculately decorated home. It was a warm, earthy atmosphere where we were able to sing, play musical instruments, talk, or even act in a skit. At at the center of it all, making sure everyone was having fun and being fed would be my Auntie Kathy, with not a hair out of place. She truly could do it all. But for me, she was a beacon of beauty, down to earth refinement, etiquette, and taste. I just wanted everyone to know.
My deepest sympathy to Kate and Kathy’s family and friends. I remember Kate from the days when she started as a Children’s Librarian in Brook Park, Ohio. She loved being a librarian and telling stories and truly bringing stories to life for children of all ages. Kate’s vibrancy, sense of humor, and passion for youth services will be her lasting legacy.
I am so saddened by the loss of these two fine talented and good women.
As a Children’s Librarian in CT, I knew of both Kathy and Kate by reputation and through book reviews, and unfortunately never had the chance to meet either one.
The tributes and memories shared are so moving, and I hope that these memories and images help sustain the families of Kate and Kathy, in the difficult days ahead.
God bless both Kathy and Kate.
I have two “in their own words” I feel compelled to include in this tribute to Kate and Kathy.
As ALSC Blog manager, I corresponded with Kate as I planned an “interview” for the ALSC VP/President-elect candidates. She took the process quite seriously, but stressed the importance of family first as I was delayed in the process to care for an ill child. After I sent an apology for the delay, she responded in this 2/20/08 email:
“You have your priorities straight; you are doing exactly what you should be doing right now. Please do not apologize, b/c your apology could assume that I will be instantaneous in answering your questions when they come. Indeed, I am a rather deliberative person, so there might be some small delay.
Meanwhile: chicken soup, plenty of liquids and reading some good books aloud.”
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Kathy did not know me. But, as a subscriber to the RSS feed of the ALSC Wiki, I know that she was a dedicated and caring professional. She updated the wiki on January 27, 2009:
“Well, the dust – or rather, the Denver snow – has settled, the lists have been submitted to the ALSC Office, and it is my great pleasure to let you know that you can find the list of 2009 Notable Children’s Videos at http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/childrensnotable/notablechivideos/index.cfm I’d like to take this chance to thank my amazing committee, who worked tirelessly, who supported me in every way, and who have become my friends. This is what ALSC is all about! Now we turn this task over to Sue Rokos and the 2010 NCVC. Best of luck to you, and happy viewing! ~ Kathy”
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The families, friends and colleagues of Kathy and Kate are in my thoughts and prayers.
Teresa, thank you for letting us know what Kathy posted to you about our committee work. I know that each committee member has been dealing with this unbelievable tragedy in their own ways. Her words to us the night we had finished our committee work meant so much to us, but even more now. Her words to you have brought me a measure of comfort. Kathy will always be the light in our lives, a glow that will never fade, as long as we remember the brightness she gave to each of us, her family, friends, and the children whose lives she illuminated with a love of children’s literature.
Life has not been the same since I received this news and I have found my mind centering on Kate and Kathy as the days go by. For a certainty, we will continue to hear their voices and feel their presence with deep gratitude for having known them. Kate, especially, has been with me in the ups and downs of life – a true friend as well as a professional colleague. So many memories…
Thank you to all who have shared their thoughts in these postings. You have spoken my mind and helped in the grieving.
May Kate and Kathy’s light continue to shine in each of us.
The warm breadth of comments about these two remarkable women attest to their impact – separately and together – on all of us, and on the children and communities they served so well. What a loss to the world of books and libraries. My thoughts are with their families and those close to them.
Kathy served on the 2005 Sibert Award Committee, where she was a singularly eloquent spokesperson for important change and a thoughtful wordsmith. I met her then and was impressed at each subsequent encounter by her warmth and dedication to her work, her sparkling enthusiasm, her gentleness and generosity towards friends and colleagues. She was a shining, and rising, star in ALSC, and her loss is enormous.
Kate is one of those whom many of us have “always known,” thanks to her long and deep involvement in our professional association. To lose her as she was preparing to assume the presidency of ALSC is to lose not only her wisdom, judgement and experience but also the wit and humor, the directness and thoroughness, and the down-to-earth “glamour” that made her such a wonderful role model and effective leader.
Both of these women have given generously to ALSC and to the communities they served. Their loss is tremendous for all of us; they will long be remembered and cherished.
I didn’t know Kate or Kathy but the loss of these two women who obviously have touched so many has left a profound impact on me. I am a children’s librarian and while I love my job, sometimes the stress and busyness of the day-to-day can get in the way of the work I am trying to do.
After reading all the wonderful things written about Kate and Kathy, I thought about the kind of an impact I am having on the children I serve. So in the spirit of honoring the work of these two special librarians, this past week I let all the joy and love I have for children’s services shine through as I led storytime. I stopped and really listened to a young reader as she explained the plot of the new favorite book she had found. I tried to make each child feel important and special when they approached my desk.
All my love and sympathy to the families and friends of Kate and Kathy. I hope you find some peace in knowing the spirit of their work will be carried on and continues to serve as an inspiration for those of us who are fortunate enough to have this amazing job serving children in libraries.
When I first met Kate at an ALA conference, she was working at the Brook Park Library of the Cuyahoga County Public Library. A good friend and colleague Marianne Fairfield, the Brook Park Branch manager, was excited about her new children’s librarian and wanted to make sure I met her. At that time, I was working in California, but my first children’s librarian position had been at that Brook Park branch. So Kate and I immediately connected and would reconnect at ALA conferences over the years. Like so many of you who have already written, I looked forward to her quick wit, spot-on frequently acerbic observations, and hearty cackle. Sitting beside Kate at an ALSC Board meeting was a prime seat but also an open temptation to fascinating side-conversations. I was lucky to have that prime spot – and a few engaging tete-a-tetes at our last board meeting in Denver. I treasure those memories.
I only knew Kathy through ALSC business and through Kate who was so proud of Kathy’s professional growth and so pleased to have left the Perrot Memorial Library’s children’s services in her capable hands. Can there be higher praise?
I have been avoiding most of the websites about Kathy Krasniewicz’s and Kate McClelland’s accident because it is way too painful for me. Kathy was my best friend for 51 years and this is all to unreal for all of us. But, I did finally look at your site and I have to thank Molly Collins for sending the photo of Kathy to your site. It is so beautiful and, although it ripped me apart to see it the first time, it will be a photo I treasure always. She loved being a librarian, loved children, and looked forward to your meetings and seeing her library friend.