Kate Walsh O'Beirne

Kate Walsh O'Beirne, 67, of McLean, Virginia, died of cancer on April 23, 2017, Divine Mercy Sunday, at Georgetown University Hospital.

She was born on Sept. 23, 1949, to Matthew and Catharine (Rice) Walsh. Her father was the owner of Jimmy Ryan's Dixieland Jazz Club in Manhattan and she grew up in a loving Catholic home in Manhasset, New York.

At St. Mary's High School in Manhasset, she was voted class president and "most likely to succeed." After being graduated from Good Counsel College in White Plains, New York, she went to work for the office of Senator James Buckley. On December 20, 1975, she married Army Captain James O'Beirne.

In 1976, she was graduated from St. John's University School of Law. Over the next ten years, she lived in Carmel, California; Garmisch, Germany; West Point, New York; and Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

In 1986, President Reagan nominated her to be deputy assistant secretary for legislation at the Department of Health and Human Services. After the Reagan administration ended she became deputy director of domestic-policy studies and then vice president for government relations at the Heritage Foundation. During her years at Heritage she also served on the President's Commission on Women in the Armed Services as an appointee of President George H. W. Bush.

In 1995, she became Washington editor of National Review. She wrote the magazine's "Bread and Circuses" column. She also appeared regularly on CNN's "Capital Gang" political-discussion show. She wrote the New York Times best-seller Women Who Make the World Worse: And How Their Radical Feminist Assault is Ruining Our Schools, Families, Military, and Sports. From 2006 to 2012 she was president of the National Review Institute, a non-profit affiliated with the magazine. In semi-retirement she was a policy advisor to the Conservative Reform Network.

She is survived by her husband James; sisters Mary Ann Rowan, Virginia Rowell, and Rosemary Walsh; sons Philip and John; daughter-in-law Kathleen; and grandchildren Charlotte, Henry, Maeve, and Linus.

In lieu of flowers, Kate's family asks that contributions be made to Oakcrest School, an independent school for girls committed to the education and formation of women leaders of character and faith.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday April 28, at 1:30pm at the Cathedral of
St. Thomas More., in Arlington, VA.

(Parking is limited at the Cathedral. Please carpool and give priority to older guests and family. Two shuttle buses have been provided by the family from Ballston Mall to the Cathedral, running continuously from 12:00pm-5pm. This is one mile away and six minute ride. Park anywhere in the garage. The shuttle pick up location is the corner of 5th road and N. Randolph Street. It is suggested to please carpool, use the shuttle or taxi/uber.)

A Visitation will be held on Thursday April 27, from 3:00pm until 9:00pm at Murphy's Funeral Home, 1102 W. Broad Street, Falls Church, VA.