Kathleen Mary Kertland Patricia Apuzzo Krasniewicz

KATHLEEN MARY KERTLAND PATRICIA APUZZO KRASNIEWICZ who touched the lives of Greenwich children for nearly two decades as a children's librarian at the Perrot Memorial Library, died tragically on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at the age of 54. Kathleen was born in Manhattan, NY on December 1, 1954, to the late Joseph Francis Apuzzo and Janet Eastburn Apuzzo. She grew up in Bronxville, NY and attended Manhattanville College. She graduated with honors with a degree in English Literature in 1976. That year, she married her husband James. They later moved to Riverside, CT, where they made their home and raised their family. Kathleen was a devoted mother to her three daughters, Erin Kathleen, MaryLeigh and Hope Jameson Krasniewicz. She is survived by her beloved husband; her three loving daughters; two sisters, Anna Egert of Skaneateles, NY, Miriam D'Isernia of Panama City, FL; and two brothers, Joseph Apuzzo of Wilton, CT and Jacob Apuzzo of Portland, ME. She is also survived by twenty-four nieces and nephews and twelve great-nieces and nephews. Kathleen's work as a librarian, school volunteer and later as the Director of Youth Services, exemplified the way she cherished literature and children. She devoted 18 years to her career as a librarian and worked on behalf of numerous other youth programs. While she was proud of her professional accomplishments, her greatest joy came from working directly with the library's youngest patrons, opening the world of literature to children and inspiring them to a lifetime love of the written word. Kathleen began her time at Perrot as a volunteer, becoming a full-time member of the staff in 1990. She then moved on to lead the library's youth programs. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Florida State University in 2002 with a degree in Library Science. She was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi and Beta Phi Mu honor societies and was recognized for her outstanding leadership and service when she was honored as the first recipient of the Mary Alice Hunt Scholar Award. Kathleen succeeded her close friend Kate McClelland, who was killed in the same tragic accident, as Director of Youth Services at Perrot in 2007. She was an active member of the American Library Association, serving as member of several of the organization's award committees to recognize the best contributions to children's literature. She most recently served as the chairwoman of the Notable Children's Videos Committee. She also served as a children's book reviewer for Kirkus Reviews and School Library Journal. Family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday, February 5th from 3pm to 8pm at the Bosak Funeral Home, 453 Shippan Avenue, in Stamford, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11am on Friday, February 6th at the St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church, 4 Riverside Ave., in Riverside, CT. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Kathleen Krasniewicz's memory to the Perrot Memorial Library Children's Department, 90 Sound Beach Ave., Old Greenwich, CT 06870.