Paula L. Kantor

Paula L. Kantor, 46, was killed in Kabul, Afghanistan on May 13. She graduated from Richard's High School in Oak Lawn, IL in 1986. She went on to receive her Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. Then she received her Masters Degree from the University of Sussex, UK. She was awarded a PhD from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2000 in Economic Development and Gender. After graduation she taught at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and East Anglia University in the UK. After leaving these teaching and research positions, she worked for a number of organizations in the Near East, Middle East, and Africa focusing on empowering and improving the livelihoods of women and families. At the time of her death, she was employed by International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, as a Senior Scientist in Development and Gender. She is survived by her mother, Barbara and her father, Anthony; her brother, Anthony J.; and her sister, Laura Styrlund (Chuck) and her niece Lindsay, and nephew Christopher. Her Funeral Mass will be at St. Leo Catholic Church on June 11 at 11:00 a.m. Father Brian Cook will be the celebrant. A reception will follow Mass at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to: Global Fund for Women, 222 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA 94108 (globalfundforwomen.org) or ICRW, 1120 20th St. NW, Suite 500 North, Washington, DC 20036 (ICRW.org). Online condolences may be made through www.salemfh.com.