| CONDOLENCES (GuestBook) |
You will be so missed by Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School parents, students, and staff. You have done a beautiful job to the community. Peace, Kathy!
Posted: 5/28/2022 by Cherry Hsieh of Amherst, MA, USA
Dear Kathy: You are greatly missed for your dynamic and energetic personality. It was an honor to be your friend. May you rest in peace. I will always remember you and the times we spent together.
Posted: 5/28/2022 by Ranjanaa Devi of Alexandria, VA, USA
Please accept my sincere condolences on the loss of your family member, Kathy Riordan. I was privileged to be able to accompany Kathy on a few of the trips that she planned, to places that I wouldn't have seen otherwise. Kathy was a nice person and a joy to be with. I'll miss her.
Posted: 5/28/2022 by Karen Troy of West Roxbury, MA,
Kathy was beloved by numerous friends and colleagues. She lived a full and spiritual life and is surely now in her heavenly home with her loved ones. Her bravery, loyalty and loving nature will be missed by many.
Posted: 5/28/2022 by Barbara (Gibbons)Crawford of Fort Myers, FL, United States
So sorry to hear about Kathy's death. What a great leader in the world language profession! I had the pleasure of working on many projects with Kathy over the years and her dedication to ensuring that all students had the opportunity to learn languages was truly the hallmark of her career. Resquiescat in pace, dear friend.
Posted: 5/29/2022 by Marty Abbott of Alexandria, VA,
Although I knew Kathy from about 1988 or so--we were members of NADSFL and ACTFL, it was as if she was always in my life as an exemplar of grace under fire. Her smile and neat rejoinders cheered many of us who sat at board meetings with her or those chaired by her. The family and we mourn her, yes, but all of us are happy that she walked into our life. We cherish her memory and the time we spent together. Thank you, Kathy, for who you were, and rest in peace knowing that you are missed as much as you were blessed. Let perpetual light shine upon you!
Posted: 5/29/2022 by Paul A Garcia of Sarasota, FL, United States
Kathy was one of a kind, truly a dedicated professional who inspired all World Language teachers to give 100%. May her memory be a blessing to all whose lives she touched. Joyce Beckwith, MaFLA (Mass Foreign Language Association)
Posted: 5/30/2022 by Joyce Beckwith of Stoneham, MA, United States
Dear Kathy, I am remembering all the good times we had at Sacred Heart and Elms College. You had an exceptional life and career. May the Lord look upon your life's contributions and grant you peace forever.
Posted: 5/31/2022 by Nancy Dubuc Shatkin of Littleton, Colorado,
On behalf of the Massachusetts Hokkaido Association, I offer our deep condolences to Kathy's friends and Family. We are thankful for her warm friendship and commitment to keep the sister city relationship strong between Springfield and Takikawa City. We will make sure that this special relationship between the two cities will continue to be strong despite her absence. Takikawa and Hokkaido will miss Kathy very much. Kiyoko Morita President Massachusetts Hokkaido Association
Posted: 6/1/2022 by Kiyoko Morita of Needham, MA, United States
Kathy Riordan was a truly extraordinary personality. Her love of foreign languages and the opportunities they give to opening sheltered eyes to the wonders of the world around them was as passionate as it was infectious. Her dedication to education provided a lifetime of inspiration to both children and adults alike. I greatly enjoyed her camaraderie at Elms College Board meetings where she served for many years and was re-elected for another term as Trustee Emeritus as recently as last month. Please accept our heartfelt condolences to her family and to the broader community in The Pioneer Valley who will miss her sage advice and commitment to excellence in every field she touched. Mark and Patricia Hambley
Posted: 6/1/2022 by Mark G. Hambley of Fort Walton Beach, FL, United States
Kathy you were a tireless leader in our profession and did so much good! We will miss you, Kathy! I will always remember your visit to the Milwaukee Immersion School and what fun we had! I also remember all the good times at NNELL and ACTFL and Pioneer Valley! You have made a powerful difference! Thank you! God Bless You!
Posted: 6/1/2022 by HELENA CURTAIN of Milwaukee, WI, USA
My sincere sympathies to all of Kathy's family and friends. Kathy was a great person and a beloved member of our Class of 1963 at Sacred Heart High School. I knew Kathy from Grammar School and she was always a truly inspiring person and that certainly was reflected in all her accomplishments in her life. Her faith was important and that comforted her her always. May you RIP dear Kathy until we meet again. Liz O'Neil Geib
Posted: 6/2/2022 by Elizabeth Geib of Wilbraham, MA, United States
I haven't seen Kathy, such a delightful and warm person, since the graduate school days. Many decades ago. She had a very distinguished career and made such a difference in the world. Blessings too her and all of those who loved her. Eileen Crowley Reed
Posted: 6/2/2022 by EIleen Crowley Reed of Houston, TN, USA
I was really looking forward to seeing Kathy at our upcoming reunion on June 11th, so I am very saddened to hear of her passing. What an exemplary life she has given others to emulate. My fondest memories of Kathy will always be the time we spent at the Elms studying French and sharing special moments. My prayers go out to her family and friends. What a terrible loss for everyone.
Posted: 6/2/2022 by Joan Guercio Moore of Foley, AL, USA
My mother, Ann Paterwic, was one of Mickey Riordan's sisters. She was also Kathy's godmother. In our home, Kathy was always considered an excellent role model. We were so proud when she won the Voice of Democracy oration in 1963 and when her name was announced as the valedictorian at the Elms in 1967. We cheered for her then and throughout her entire life. Rest in peace, Kathy, we were loved.
Posted: 6/3/2022 by Stephen J. Paterwic of East Longmeadow, MA,
Kathy will always remain in my heart and in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her. She was a rare, amazing woman. She fought the fight. Her well fought battle is done. Now comes the rewards she has sown and reaped.
Posted: 6/4/2022 by KathleenMcMahonHudak of Springfield, MA, usa
Kathy and I were in the class of 67 at the ELMS. WE kept in touch the past 55 years. She is now in the loving hands of our lord.
Posted: 6/5/2022 by Mary Rossiter of Northfield, NJ, United States
Jim, Marty & Mauren....our condolences on Kathy's passing. Our hearts go out to all of you and our thoughts and prayers are with you. She will be remembered by our family fondly and we pray for her eternal peace.
Posted: 6/5/2022 by Kathy & Ted Sowa of Wilbraham, MA, USA
I was so deeply saddened to hear of Kathleen's passing. She was an inspiration - for the powerful language programs she built in the Springfield Public Schools, for her gentle toughness, and for that ever present twinkle in her eye. She came on as my language company's first consultant 20 years ago when no one had heard of us. That didn't matter to her, she believed in us. She was a dear friend and mentor to me and my colleagues. I will never forget the kindness she showed me and the joy she brought to all those around her.
Posted: 6/6/2022 by David Bong of Eugene, OR, US
Dr. Riordan was the best boss one could hope for. She believed in me to teach and promote the Chinese language and culture. Without Dr. Riordan, the Chinese language program would not have thrived at the Springfield Public Schools. She was a true visionary. I will be forever grateful for her kindness and support. She touched so many lives.
Posted: 6/7/2022 by Katherine Chang of Longmeadow , MA, USA
As a friend of Kathy’s for many years through her indefatigable service to the foreign language profession especially through MaFLA and ACTFL, I would like to express my appreciation of her friendship, wisdom, and delightful personality. She made friends wherever she went and got things done. Just a few years ago, right before the Pandemic I saw Kathy at an ACTFL meeting, ready to attend a number of sessions (in spite of the long walk through the convention center) and also ready to do a little touring with friends. Also, not too long ago, I had lunch with Kathy along with Joy Renjilian-Burgy and Mary Hayes at the Sole Proprietor in Worcester, a perfect location for us “Eastern” Massachusetts gals to meet up with, Kathy, our Western Massachusetts friend and foreign language enthusiast and leader in the profession. My, but we had a lot of fun, with pleasant conversation and reminiscences about the “Golden Olden Days” of MaFLA! I have many marvelous memories of Kathy’s no-nonsense, positive outlook on life and the profession that I will treasure for the rest of my life. Thank you, Kathy.
Posted: 6/17/2022 by Mary-Anne Vetterling of Lexington, MA, U.S.A.
All of us at Chester Theatre Company will miss Kathy. She was a treasured member of our audience, and a delightful person to converse with. I have great memories of the trip she went on to London with us. Our heartfelt thoughts go out to family and friends.
Posted: 6/25/2022 by Angela Combest of Chester, MA, United States