Catherine D. Garofano

Catherine D. Garofano, 89, passed away after a long illness on September 20, 2025 at the Wesley Community Hospice Unit in Saratoga Springs N.Y. Cathy or Kiki as she was known to her family and friends, was born on December 21, 1935 in Hartford, Vermont, the daughter of Pasquale and Julia (Zygo) Garofano. She graduated from Christ the King and Mount Saint Joseph Academy in Rutland VT and obtained her RN from Saint Luke's Hospital School of Nursing in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
After obtaining her RN, she returned to Rutland and worked at the Rutland hospital for years as a staff nurse. She left in 1962 to obtain her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Boston University in Boston, MA. She was subsequently employed at Deaconess Hospital, Joslin Diabetic Ward, Boston MA. and at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston. Her final professional move came when she began work at Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After more than 45 years in various phases of medical care, she retired and moved to Clifton Park N.Y.
While at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, she held the positions of staff nurse - medical surgical pavilion, assistant head nurse - private and kidney transplant unit, and head nurse - female medical ward pavilion. She also served as acting head nurse of the first kidney transplant unit in the United States. She became an acknowledged authority in the field of diabetes and served as an endocrine nurse specialist. She was a pioneer in the role that nurses played in the new field of kidney transplants and the critical aftercare of these patients. In 1975, she left Boston and joined the staff of Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital in Philadelphia to assist in the set up and operation of a kidney transplant unit which offered state of the art surgical techniques and proven aftercare designed to reduce or eliminate kidney transplant rejection.
Cathy was the author of 51 publications on diabetes and endocrinology, including articles in medical and nursing journals, and contributed several chapters to the Saunders medical-surgical nursing textbook. Her instructional guidelines for nurses in endocrinology and patient care were widely acclaimed and used by many hospitals and clinics. Additionally, in 1975, she was appointed nurse specialist in the Dept. of Nursing and Endocrine Metabolic Unit, and in 1976 was voted onto the faculty of the Department of Medicine as an instructor and subsequently became a senior instructor in Medicine at Hahnemann University Hospital. She was a member of many professional societies and organizations and was a speaker and presenter at conferences and meetings on diabetes and endocrinology. In 1989, she joined several other nurses as a founding member of the Endocrine Nurses Society (ENS). She also was a reviewer for articles in RN Magazine and Nursing Journal and for textbooks published by W.B. Saunders company. Cathy also served on the advisory board of the Diabetes Technology Society for many years and was formally recognized as a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) by the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators.
Cathy was predeceased by both of her parents, two brothers, Dr. Anthony S. Garofano of Ashville N.C., and James P. Garofano of Clifton Park, N.Y. and a sister, Mary P. (Garofano) Preedom of Clifton Park N.Y. She is survived by her brother John W. (Jack) Garofano and spouse Patricia L. of Fort Lauderdale FL and Pittsfield VT., and many cousins, nieces and nephews. A special thank you to nieces Denise Waters and Charmaine Lewis for the love, care and attention they provided to Uncle James and Aunt Kiki during their time in Clifton Park. Cathy's many nieces and nephews, friends and associates will miss her expertise, humor and generosity and all the Italian and Polish food she prepared for all to enjoy.
Friends may call on October 11, 2025 from 9:30am until 10:30am at the Aldous Funeral Home, 44 North Main Street, Rutland VT. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11am at Christ the King church, Main St, Rutland Vt