Kathryn Cossman Karson

Kathryn Karson died at home in Naples, Florida, on Sunday, October 30th, surrounded by her beloved children, Joseph and Jane, and husband Barry, after a valiant 13-year battle with scleroderma. To the end, Kathy did things her way, with boundless love for her family, extraordinary generosity and a sharp wit that made being around her always fun. A person of small stature, Kathy had a gigantic impact on so many. She was everyone's favorite sounding board and life coach, always willing to dispense her frank, hard-earned wisdom, at times unsolicited, and she could dish with the best of them, especially if cocktails were involved.

Kathy radiated charisma, but taught her greatest life lessons quietly, facing more than anyone's fair share of adversity with relentless strength, moral character, and positivity. She didn't need you to know how smart she was. She was just always one step ahead you. She didn't need anyone to know about her constant acts of kindness. She was just a good person. She NEVER allowed anyone to feel sorry for her. She remained this way even as she knew she was saying her final goodbyes, which, of course, were on her terms too.

Kathy's career was defined by her unique ability to connect with people and desire to help. She began in Human Resources at Grey Advertising where she met her first husband, the late Stewart Hegleman. Balancing fierce dedication to their children with her professional aspirations she ultimately returned to work in HR at Ted Bates and Payson People and then as Executive Director of the non-profit The Catalogue for Giving. A savvy investor with a knack for finance, she went back to school to study financial planning in her forties.

Kathy was raised in South Orange, New Jersey, the third of four children to Irene and Jerome Cossman. As a child, she loved taking care of her dogs, her pony, and her little brother. As an adult, Kathy was equally content amidst the hustle and bustle of New York City as at her home in the Berkshires. She loved knitting, gardening, swimming, and running until she couldn't do those things anymore, and then walking until she couldn't do that. A regular at Bergdorf Goodman, she was just as happy in Kmart, maybe more. She was a voracious consumer of information, reading the New York Times daily and always watching TV news, financial shows and sports.

Most of all, Kathy was devoted to her family and friends, especially her children, Joseph Hegleman (Lindsay Hegleman) and Jane Hegleman (Heath Freeman) and her grandchildren Skylar, Hazel, Sebastian, and Sawyer, who brought her immeasurable joy in her final years. Kathy is also survived by her husband, Barry Karson, siblings Gail, David, and Jon, two stepchildren, David Karson, and his children Zach, Aidan and Chase, and Steven Karson (Kelly Karson), and their children, Maya, Holly, and Zoe, and by a large and uniquely close extended family. She will live in all their hearts and memories forever. It is impossible to put into words how much she will be missed.

Please consider donating to the Scleroderma Research Foundation in memory of Kathryn Cossman Karson.