Katherine Biddle Austin (Kathie), a longtime resident of the Upper Valley, died on August 26, 2019 after celebrating her 89th birthday. She passed away in Wheelock Terrace, Hanover, NH, her home for the last three years, with her three daughters, Elizabeth (Hanover, NH & Paris), Vicky (Castro Valley, CA), and Jeannie (Cambridge, MA) at her bedside.
Kathie and her husband of 25 years, Seymour (Sy) Bortz, bought one of the original houses in the Shaker Village community of Enfield, NH in 1992 to be closer to Elizabeth, who lived nearby. The house stood on the beautiful bluff overlooking Lake Mascoma. They could hear the loons calling and watch the mist roll in on the lake. Kathie and Sy spent many happy summers and holidays in Enfield with Kathie’s daughters and their blended family. When Sy retired from his engineering job in Chicago, Kathie and Sy left their home in Highland Park, IL to become full-time residents of Enfield.
The daughter of William (Bill) Wishart Biddle and Loureide Jeannette Biddle (nee Cobb), Kathie was born in New York City in 1930. Bill was a professor of sociology who became a renowned scholar in the new field of community development. Loureide was a music teacher for children and mentor for international students at Earlham College (IN) after she was told women did not major in mathematics.
Kathie and her older brother, Bruce Jesse Biddle, a sociology professor at the University of Missouri, grew up in Milwaukee, Philadelphia, and Earlham, IN. Music and learning were always present in their household. Kathie played the violin and piano. Bruce played the cello. Everyone in the family sang melody and harmony effortlessly.
Kathie was a clinical psychologist, professional musician and an amateur archeologist who was active in her community. Kathie graduated from Oberlin College (OH) in 1952, where she majored in psychology and studied voice in the Conservatory. In college, she was President of her class. She also worked in the war recovery effort in Germany with the American Friends Service Committee and with her parents on a Friends mission in Jamaica. She graduated from the University of Chicago in 1957 with a Master’s Degree in Human Development after marrying Robert Lynn Austin. Bob completed his law degree at the University of Chicago during their time together.
As a clinical psychologist in Chicago, Kathie worked in the county mental health hospital, then in community mental health services and finally in private practice. She had a diverse set of interesting clients, particularly young women. Once she was in private practice, she had more time for her other interests. Kathie became one of the first women who was asked to join Rotary International after the US Supreme Court ruled in May 1987, that Rotary could no longer exclude women. Through Rotary in Highland Park and Lebanon, NH, Kathie was involved in efforts of small business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service to others locally and internationally.
Music was a lifelong passion for Kathie. When she was a young mother and full-time psychologist, she continued her voice lessons and earned a spot in the chorus of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, where she sang mezzo soprano. Her daughters remember listening to her vocal practice after their bedtime and watching her perform in operas at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago. Kathie continued to perform in later years in the North Shore Choral Society (Highland Park, IL) where performances were recorded and released in CD form and through the Bach Cantata group (Enfield NH), which met once a week to learn a new cantata each month. Bach was Kathie’s favorite composer but she enjoyed many kinds of music and encouraged her daughters and grandchildren to pursue their own musical interests.
Upon retirement from her clinical practice, Kathie pursued her lifelong interest in archeology. Her daughters remember Kathie stopping at nearly every archeological site in the Midwest, where they were raised, on the family’s numerous road trips. As air travel expanded, Kathie and her daughters, and then Sy and Kathie traveled extensively, visiting Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia. Kathie was especially interested in the Mayan sites in Central America after she learned how to translate Mayan script, which was in the form of hieroglyphs. Kathie studied and traveled with Linda Schele (U of Texas), who played a key role in deciphering Mayan hieroglyphs starting in the 1970s, and other glyphers (as they referred to themselves). It is no surprise that Kathie was a highly valued docent at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago for nearly 23 years until she moved full time to the Upper Valley.
Kathie is survived by her daughters Jeannie Austin, Vicky Austin and Elizabeth Austin Asch, Jeannie’s husband, Richard Lazarus and her grandchildren Sam and Jesse Lazarus; Zella, Lydia and Amelia Henderson; and Henry and Tory (Victoria) Asch. She is also survived by the children and grandchildren of her husband Sy: Sheri Bortz, Steve and Suzanna Bortz, Joe Boyer, Kathy and Josh Rappaport and their children Michael, David, Maggie, Sarah, Ella, Ari, and her niece and nephews David, Jesse, and Jennifer Biddle.
There will be a future celebration of Kathie’s life when her family can be assembled in NH. Her ashes will be buried in Oak Grove Cemetery beside her husband, Sy.
If you wish to honor Kathie, please consider making a donation in her name to The Field Museum in Chicago or Oberlin College in Ohio.
Kathie and her husband of 25 years, Seymour (Sy) Bortz, bought one of the original houses in the Shaker Village community of Enfield, NH in 1992 to be closer to Elizabeth, who lived nearby. The house stood on the beautiful bluff overlooking Lake Mascoma. They could hear the loons calling and watch the mist roll in on the lake. Kathie and Sy spent many happy summers and holidays in Enfield with Kathie’s daughters and their blended family. When Sy retired from his engineering job in Chicago, Kathie and Sy left their home in Highland Park, IL to become full-time residents of Enfield.
The daughter of William (Bill) Wishart Biddle and Loureide Jeannette Biddle (nee Cobb), Kathie was born in New York City in 1930. Bill was a professor of sociology who became a renowned scholar in the new field of community development. Loureide was a music teacher for children and mentor for international students at Earlham College (IN) after she was told women did not major in mathematics.
Kathie and her older brother, Bruce Jesse Biddle, a sociology professor at the University of Missouri, grew up in Milwaukee, Philadelphia, and Earlham, IN. Music and learning were always present in their household. Kathie played the violin and piano. Bruce played the cello. Everyone in the family sang melody and harmony effortlessly.
Kathie was a clinical psychologist, professional musician and an amateur archeologist who was active in her community. Kathie graduated from Oberlin College (OH) in 1952, where she majored in psychology and studied voice in the Conservatory. In college, she was President of her class. She also worked in the war recovery effort in Germany with the American Friends Service Committee and with her parents on a Friends mission in Jamaica. She graduated from the University of Chicago in 1957 with a Master’s Degree in Human Development after marrying Robert Lynn Austin. Bob completed his law degree at the University of Chicago during their time together.
As a clinical psychologist in Chicago, Kathie worked in the county mental health hospital, then in community mental health services and finally in private practice. She had a diverse set of interesting clients, particularly young women. Once she was in private practice, she had more time for her other interests. Kathie became one of the first women who was asked to join Rotary International after the US Supreme Court ruled in May 1987, that Rotary could no longer exclude women. Through Rotary in Highland Park and Lebanon, NH, Kathie was involved in efforts of small business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service to others locally and internationally.
Music was a lifelong passion for Kathie. When she was a young mother and full-time psychologist, she continued her voice lessons and earned a spot in the chorus of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, where she sang mezzo soprano. Her daughters remember listening to her vocal practice after their bedtime and watching her perform in operas at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago. Kathie continued to perform in later years in the North Shore Choral Society (Highland Park, IL) where performances were recorded and released in CD form and through the Bach Cantata group (Enfield NH), which met once a week to learn a new cantata each month. Bach was Kathie’s favorite composer but she enjoyed many kinds of music and encouraged her daughters and grandchildren to pursue their own musical interests.
Upon retirement from her clinical practice, Kathie pursued her lifelong interest in archeology. Her daughters remember Kathie stopping at nearly every archeological site in the Midwest, where they were raised, on the family’s numerous road trips. As air travel expanded, Kathie and her daughters, and then Sy and Kathie traveled extensively, visiting Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia. Kathie was especially interested in the Mayan sites in Central America after she learned how to translate Mayan script, which was in the form of hieroglyphs. Kathie studied and traveled with Linda Schele (U of Texas), who played a key role in deciphering Mayan hieroglyphs starting in the 1970s, and other glyphers (as they referred to themselves). It is no surprise that Kathie was a highly valued docent at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago for nearly 23 years until she moved full time to the Upper Valley.
Kathie is survived by her daughters Jeannie Austin, Vicky Austin and Elizabeth Austin Asch, Jeannie’s husband, Richard Lazarus and her grandchildren Sam and Jesse Lazarus; Zella, Lydia and Amelia Henderson; and Henry and Tory (Victoria) Asch. She is also survived by the children and grandchildren of her husband Sy: Sheri Bortz, Steve and Suzanna Bortz, Joe Boyer, Kathy and Josh Rappaport and their children Michael, David, Maggie, Sarah, Ella, Ari, and her niece and nephews David, Jesse, and Jennifer Biddle.
There will be a future celebration of Kathie’s life when her family can be assembled in NH. Her ashes will be buried in Oak Grove Cemetery beside her husband, Sy.
If you wish to honor Kathie, please consider making a donation in her name to The Field Museum in Chicago or Oberlin College in Ohio.
Katherine Biddle Austin (Kathie), a longtime resident of the Upper Valley, died on August 26, 2019 after celebrating her 89th birthday. She passed away in Wheelock Terrace, Hanover, NH, her home for the last three years, with her three daughters, Elizabeth (Hanover, NH & Paris), Vicky (Castro Valley, CA), and Jeannie (Cambridge, MA) at her bedside.
Kathie and her husband of 25 years, Seymour (Sy) Bortz, bought one of the original houses in the Shaker Village community of Enfield, NH in 1992 to be closer to Elizabeth, who lived nearby. The house stood on the beautiful bluff overlooking Lake Mascoma. They could hear the loons calling and watch the mist roll in on the lake. Kathie and Sy spent many happy summers and holidays in Enfield with Kathie’s daughters and their blended family. When Sy retired from his engineering job in Chicago, Kathie and Sy left their home in Highland Park, IL to become full-time residents of Enfield.
The daughter of William (Bill) Wishart Biddle and Loureide Jeannette Biddle (nee Cobb), Kathie was born in New York City in 1930. Bill was a professor of sociology who became a renowned scholar in the new field of community development. Loureide was a music teacher for children and mentor for international students at Earlham College (IN) after she was told women did not major in mathematics.
Kathie and her older brother, Bruce Jesse Biddle, a sociology professor at the University of Missouri, grew up in Milwaukee, Philadelphia, and Earlham, IN. Music and learning were always present in their household. Kathie played the violin and piano. Bruce played the cello. Everyone in the family sang melody and harmony effortlessly.
Kathie was a clinical psychologist, professional musician and an amateur archeologist who was active in her community. Kathie graduated from Oberlin College (OH) in 1952, where she majored in psychology and studied voice in the Conservatory. In college, she was President of her class. She also worked in the war recovery effort in Germany with the American Friends Service Committee and with her parents on a Friends mission in Jamaica. She graduated from the University of Chicago in 1957 with a Master’s Degree in Human Development after marrying Robert Lynn Austin. Bob completed his law degree at the University of Chicago during their time together.
As a clinical psychologist in Chicago, Kathie worked in the county mental health hospital, then in community mental health services and finally in private practice. She had a diverse set of interesting clients, particularly young women. Once she was in private practice, she had more time for her other interests. Kathie became one of the first women who was asked to join Rotary International after the US Supreme Court ruled in May 1987, that Rotary could no longer exclude women. Through Rotary in Highland Park and Lebanon, NH, Kathie was involved in efforts of small business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service to others locally and internationally.
Music was a lifelong passion for Kathie. When she was a young mother and full-time psychologist, she continued her voice lessons and earned a spot in the chorus of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, where she sang mezzo soprano. Her daughters remember listening to her vocal practice after their bedtime and watching her perform in operas at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago. Kathie continued to perform in later years in the North Shore Choral Society (Highland Park, IL) where performances were recorded and released in CD form and through the Bach Cantata group (Enfield NH), which met once a week to learn a new cantata each month. Bach was Kathie’s favorite composer but she enjoyed many kinds of music and encouraged her daughters and grandchildren to pursue their own musical interests.
Upon retirement from her clinical practice, Kathie pursued her lifelong interest in archeology. Her daughters remember Kathie stopping at nearly every archeological site in the Midwest, where they were raised, on the family’s numerous road trips. As air travel expanded, Kathie and her daughters, and then Sy and Kathie traveled extensively, visiting Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia. Kathie was especially interested in the Mayan sites in Central America after she learned how to translate Mayan script, which was in the form of hieroglyphs. Kathie studied and traveled with Linda Schele (U of Texas), who played a key role in deciphering Mayan hieroglyphs starting in the 1970s, and other glyphers (as they referred to themselves). It is no surprise that Kathie was a highly valued docent at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago for nearly 23 years until she moved full time to the Upper Valley.
Kathie is survived by her daughters Jeannie Austin, Vicky Austin and Elizabeth Austin Asch, Jeannie’s husband, Richard Lazarus and her grandchildren Sam and Jesse Lazarus; Zella, Lydia and Amelia Henderson; and Henry and Tory (Victoria) Asch. She is also survived by the children and grandchildren of her husband Sy: Sheri Bortz, Steve and Suzanna Bortz, Joe Boyer, Kathy and Josh Rappaport and their children Michael, David, Maggie, Sarah, Ella, Ari, and her niece and nephews David, Jesse, and Jennifer Biddle.
There will be a future celebration of Kathie’s life when her family can be assembled in NH. Her ashes will be buried in Oak Grove Cemetery beside her husband, Sy.
If you wish to honor Kathie, please consider making a donation in her name to The Field Museum in Chicago or Oberlin College in Ohio.
Kathie and her husband of 25 years, Seymour (Sy) Bortz, bought one of the original houses in the Shaker Village community of Enfield, NH in 1992 to be closer to Elizabeth, who lived nearby. The house stood on the beautiful bluff overlooking Lake Mascoma. They could hear the loons calling and watch the mist roll in on the lake. Kathie and Sy spent many happy summers and holidays in Enfield with Kathie’s daughters and their blended family. When Sy retired from his engineering job in Chicago, Kathie and Sy left their home in Highland Park, IL to become full-time residents of Enfield.
The daughter of William (Bill) Wishart Biddle and Loureide Jeannette Biddle (nee Cobb), Kathie was born in New York City in 1930. Bill was a professor of sociology who became a renowned scholar in the new field of community development. Loureide was a music teacher for children and mentor for international students at Earlham College (IN) after she was told women did not major in mathematics.
Kathie and her older brother, Bruce Jesse Biddle, a sociology professor at the University of Missouri, grew up in Milwaukee, Philadelphia, and Earlham, IN. Music and learning were always present in their household. Kathie played the violin and piano. Bruce played the cello. Everyone in the family sang melody and harmony effortlessly.
Kathie was a clinical psychologist, professional musician and an amateur archeologist who was active in her community. Kathie graduated from Oberlin College (OH) in 1952, where she majored in psychology and studied voice in the Conservatory. In college, she was President of her class. She also worked in the war recovery effort in Germany with the American Friends Service Committee and with her parents on a Friends mission in Jamaica. She graduated from the University of Chicago in 1957 with a Master’s Degree in Human Development after marrying Robert Lynn Austin. Bob completed his law degree at the University of Chicago during their time together.
As a clinical psychologist in Chicago, Kathie worked in the county mental health hospital, then in community mental health services and finally in private practice. She had a diverse set of interesting clients, particularly young women. Once she was in private practice, she had more time for her other interests. Kathie became one of the first women who was asked to join Rotary International after the US Supreme Court ruled in May 1987, that Rotary could no longer exclude women. Through Rotary in Highland Park and Lebanon, NH, Kathie was involved in efforts of small business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service to others locally and internationally.
Music was a lifelong passion for Kathie. When she was a young mother and full-time psychologist, she continued her voice lessons and earned a spot in the chorus of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, where she sang mezzo soprano. Her daughters remember listening to her vocal practice after their bedtime and watching her perform in operas at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago. Kathie continued to perform in later years in the North Shore Choral Society (Highland Park, IL) where performances were recorded and released in CD form and through the Bach Cantata group (Enfield NH), which met once a week to learn a new cantata each month. Bach was Kathie’s favorite composer but she enjoyed many kinds of music and encouraged her daughters and grandchildren to pursue their own musical interests.
Upon retirement from her clinical practice, Kathie pursued her lifelong interest in archeology. Her daughters remember Kathie stopping at nearly every archeological site in the Midwest, where they were raised, on the family’s numerous road trips. As air travel expanded, Kathie and her daughters, and then Sy and Kathie traveled extensively, visiting Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia. Kathie was especially interested in the Mayan sites in Central America after she learned how to translate Mayan script, which was in the form of hieroglyphs. Kathie studied and traveled with Linda Schele (U of Texas), who played a key role in deciphering Mayan hieroglyphs starting in the 1970s, and other glyphers (as they referred to themselves). It is no surprise that Kathie was a highly valued docent at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago for nearly 23 years until she moved full time to the Upper Valley.
Kathie is survived by her daughters Jeannie Austin, Vicky Austin and Elizabeth Austin Asch, Jeannie’s husband, Richard Lazarus and her grandchildren Sam and Jesse Lazarus; Zella, Lydia and Amelia Henderson; and Henry and Tory (Victoria) Asch. She is also survived by the children and grandchildren of her husband Sy: Sheri Bortz, Steve and Suzanna Bortz, Joe Boyer, Kathy and Josh Rappaport and their children Michael, David, Maggie, Sarah, Ella, Ari, and her niece and nephews David, Jesse, and Jennifer Biddle.
There will be a future celebration of Kathie’s life when her family can be assembled in NH. Her ashes will be buried in Oak Grove Cemetery beside her husband, Sy.
If you wish to honor Kathie, please consider making a donation in her name to The Field Museum in Chicago or Oberlin College in Ohio.
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