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Kathleen Jo Donnelly
1951 - 2013
Kathleen Jo Donnelly
1951 - 2013
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Kathleen Donnelly Obituary
Kathleen Jo Varner was the oldest of five children born to the late Kenneth and Marie Varner in Detroit, Michigan, on October 6, 1951. She became a California Girl when the family moved to Long Beach when she was four years old. Kathy was married to David Donnelly from 1973 to 1986. Their son Devin Michael Donnelly was born in San Diego in 1984.
Kathy's entire higher education and professional life was associated with the University of California. She was a brilliant student, and received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from UC Davis. She performed her Clinical Laboratory internship and was later hired in the Special Coagulation Lab at UCLA Medical Center. She took the same position at UCSD Medical Center when she relocated to San Diego in 1978. Kathy was passionate about her work and was dedicated to providing the best patient care. She was recognized as an expert in the field of coagulation. She enjoyed the teaching aspect of her job and mentored many medical students and pathology residents and fellows.
In addition to a love of the seacoast, Kathy had a passion for lighthouses, for their beauty and historical value. She was an avid traveler and visited many lighthouses throughout the country. One of her last trips was to Martha's Vineyard, where she was able to enjoy the coastal scenery and many lighthouses there. Giving gifts to Kathy was easy because anything with a lighthouse on it was always appreciated! Her other interests were admiring and collecting quilts, reading, touring gardens, playing Scrabble and Cribbage, hiking, walking at the beach, and enjoying evenings at Sunset Cliffs.
She was a wonderful and devoted daughter, mother, sister, aunt, and friend and will be missed greatly by all who were touched by her life.
Kathy is survived by her son Devin; her brother Kenneth, his wife Debbie and children Jessica and Matthew of Rancho Santa Margarita; brother Timothy, wife Doreen and children Tim and Victoria of Temecula; sisters Jane Bossart of Oceanside and Judith Frary of Phoenix, Arizona; many cousins; and her dear friends Leslye Rucker and Erik Anderson of San Diego.
A memorial service will be held on February 16th at 1:00 pm aboard the William D. Evans docked at the Bahia Hotel on Mission Bay. This celebration of Kathy's life will continue until 5:00 pm.
Special thanks to all of the people in Kathy's "village" who helped her in different ways to cope with her illness and enjoy life as best she could.
Donations in memory of Kathy may be made to The Brain Observatory, 3510 Dunhill Street, San Diego CA 92121 (thebrainobservatory.ucsd.edu) or The Brain Support Network PO Box7264, Menlo Park CA 94026 (brainsupportnetwork.org).
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Robert Tomec
March 2, 2014
We met Kathy in 1980 while Bob was doing a fellowship at UCSD and Milana was completing law school. She stimulated Bob's interest in coagulation and became a good friend. Even though we were only in SD for a year, she is one of the people we hold most dear among our friends. She showed us the best San Diego spots and we often had drinks together with other lab and residents who worked at the hospital. We were able to see her on trips back to town and exchanged calls and Christmas cards. It was with great sorrow we learned of her passing. She was a wonderful person and we will miss her but we are glad we had the privilege of knowing her.
Bob and Milana Tomec
Mark Presky
December 15, 2013
Kathleen and I were grad students together at UC Davis, then I was surprised to find her also in my small med tech training class at UCLA. She was always very nice; she almost always had a smile to show. She was also very very sharp. I was surprised that she didn't decide to go to med school. I can see her smile and her her voice. So sad to hear that she passed so young. Mark Presky
February 19, 2013
I worked at UCSD for 12 years in Hematology, next to Kathy's coagulation lab. I will always remember when she came in one night looking for a person to be a control. I am afraid of needles, but her small son, at the time, held my hand, patting it and telling me it would be okay. She got her control, and Devon, it will be okay. You had a loving Mom and for that, you will be able to live a life, full of loving memories . April
Pamela Price
February 17, 2013
I was a resident in pathology at UCSD from 1979-1983 and remember Kathy very well. She taught me and many other residents coagulation medicine. When I was first in practice, I contacted her more than once for advice. She had an engaging personality and was much liked by the residents. A number of years ago I was delighted when we encountered each other at jury duty. At that time it was still a three day affair so we had lots of time to chat. That was the best jury duty experience I ever had. I send my condolences to her family and friends.
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Janie (sister)
February 16, 2013
We had a beautiful day honoring Kathy. Thanks to all who came and those who were with us in spirit.
Mary Anne Weatherwax
February 15, 2013
Kathy was a good friend from St. Joseph HS days and we had many fun times during those years. On a high school trip to San Francisco in the late 1960's, she stood smiling in front of the intersection of Haight/Ashbury with an actual hippie. This was after we had strict instructions from our parents to stay away from there! Kathy and I both loved to sew and shared an interest in quilts. I enjoyed looking at her prized possessions that hung on the walls of her home. She was always such an upbeat and positive person. Here's a shot from a few years ago of Kathy enjoying her hike above the cliffs with my friend from Atlanta. I extend my sympathies to her friends and family.
February 14, 2013
I know Kathy from working with her for many years at UCSD Medical Center. As an administrative person, I could (and did) always appreciate Kathy's input and suggestions for a wide variety of issues ranging from the remodel of Special Coagulation Lab, to the best way to bring patients to her laboratory, to how to protect equipment from construction debris, and trying to understand why she wanted to bill tests certain ways, etc. Kathy was truly a dedicated professional, always striving for the best patient outcomes, and demanding the best from all of us. My sincere sympathy to her family and friends.
Judy Tieber
February 14, 2013
I was Kathy's Senior Supervisor from 1994 to 2003. During this time I would commend her for her work ethic, always focused, ambitious, and trying to bring coagulation technology to the next level. With the leadership of Director of Coagulation, Dr. Le, she developed the rocket diffusion technology procedures for Protein S, Protein C, von willebrands and lupus. As I remember these procedures were all new and never performed before. She was widely know throughout the San Diego area as the guru of coagulation.I remember many patients being sent to her laboratory for diagnostic testing when no one could identify the problems. She was always willing to help those in need. On many occasions at my request she gave lectures for Continuing Education during National Laboratory Week. I remember her asking me, "how do you get you employees to work extra hours and days when need." I replied, "you have to respect your employees if you want them to respect you." I always had a lot of respect for Kathy and her ability to focus on details. Her laboratory was always run correctly, and always had top honors during the CAP Inspections. My heart and prayers go out to her and the family.
Paul Walters
Ricky Maveety
February 13, 2013
I was a member of Kathy's internship class at UCLA. She was the best and the brightest.
Barbara Hollingsworth
February 13, 2013
One of many cousins, but so close since being the oldest, I felt many were my nieces. Kathy and her Mom and two siblings stayed at my family's cottage when her Father flew to Calif. from Michign to find a new home for the family. I stayed with them, during the winter, an oil stove to heat the small cottage and we walked over a mile to the store to buy milk, food, etc. No car. Just like the olden days. Such memories. Kathy's Mom, Aunt Marie and I were dear friends. Her Mom and Dad visited our family at Loon Lake for vacations. I always thought her Dad was so handsome (Kathy looked like him) and her Mom was so much fun and full of life. Kathy is safe now with her Mom and Dad and others. See you later Kathy. Have fun with the angels til I get there. Cousin Barbara Holliingsworth. Give Wright a kiss for me, okay.
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