Kathryn Ginden

1965 - 2021

GINDEN, Kathryn

Kathryn Ann Ginden, loving mother, sister, aunt, daughter, and friend, died on September 21, 2021. Kathryn was born on August 13, 1965 to Mary and Charles Ginden. She grew up in Dunwoody, Georgia, where she attended Shallowford Elementary and then Peachtree High School in the 8th grade. Kathryn attended Westminster in the 9th and 10th grades; she did herfinal two years of high school in Washington, D.C., graduating from the National Cathedral School in 1982.

Thereafter, Kathryn made the decision to postpone formal higher education in furtherance of the goal she had set for herself and had been working to achieve since the age of 13: dancing professionally with a major American ballet company. To that effect, in 1983, Kathryn became a member of the prestigious Joffrey Ballet Company.

She spent the next 10 years dancing with the Joffrey Ballet, performing for audiences throughout the United States, Great Britain, and Europe.

When not on tour, the Joffrey dancers lived and rehearsed in NY and LA. Eventually, Kathryn was in one place long enough to meet her future husband, Jim Claffey, who worked backstage at the New York City Center Theatre while he earned his doctorate in engineering from Rutgers University.

They were married in 1993, and, one year later, they made Atlanta their home. In 1996, Kathryn graduated cum laude from Emory College with degrees in psychology and anthropology.

Two years later, their first son, Charlie, was born, followed shortly by James in 1999. In 2008, Kathryn returned to Emory University and in 2010 she earned her masters degree from the Rollins School of Public Health in Behavioral Science and Health Education.

Kathryn considered her role as mother her most favorite role of all. In that role and, in her service to others, including the family dogs, and as an active member of the First Presbyterian

Church of Atlanta and Stephen Minister, she shined.

Kathryn was laid to rest in a private, family, service. As Kathryn rests with the Lord, she leaves behind family and friends who are heartbroken about their loss. She is survived by her parents, Mary and Charles Ginden, her sister, Julie Ginden Sears, her former husband, Jim Claffey, their sons,

Charlie and James Claffey, and her nieces, Kelsea and Conner Sears, and Mary Fletcher.