Kathleen Nilon Atencio

Kathleen Nilon Atencio, 66, a loving and beloved wife and mother, died quietly at home after a courageous fight with brain cancer (glioblastoma) on Thanksgiving evening, Thursday, November 27.

Kathy was born and raised in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, pursued her career in New York City, raised her family in New Vernon, NJ and ultimately "retired" to Stowe, VT. She returned to Philadelphia in 2023 for her cancer treatment and to be close to her extended Nilon family, whom she considered the best medicine available.

Kathy was deeply devoted to her family, her faith and her many friends. She was accomplished, yet humble; highly intelligent, yet understated; beautiful, but never vain or extravagant. She lived her life by the quote often attributed to Maya Angelou, "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Her remarkable spirit was shaped by a life rich in experiences and devoted service to others. Everybody who was a part of Kathy's life, family and friends, was made a better person by her.

Kathy's deep faith was the foundation of her entire essence and gave her strength to navigate life's challenges and to celebrate the many blessings with which she was bestowed. She was devoted to Blessed Virgin Mary, quietly and constantly expressing that devotion through her words but mostly through her actions.

Kathy was born and raised in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, with her five siblings by their parents Mary and Robert (Bob) Nilon. She attended Country Day School of the Sacred Heart in Overbrook, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Archmere Academy in Claymont, Delaware as one of the first young women admitted to the school. She graduated with her Bachelors of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University in 1981, where she met her husband Joseph (Joe) as well as many lifelong friends. Kathy spent a formative junior year abroad in Switzerland, where she discovered her love of international cuisine. She went on to earn a degree at the Culinary Institute of America.

Kathy joined Gourmet Magazine in NYC in 1984, the preeminent culinary monthly publication dedicated to introducing Americans to "good living." She started as a research assistant in Gourmet's cookbook library, impressing the magazine's writers and editors with her meticulous research. Always curious and driven to learn, Kathy would take home multiple cookbooks at a time, expanding her knowledge of new cuisines and techniques to become a better chef. Kathy quickly was invited to join the Gourmet test kitchen as a Food Editor, developing and testing the magazine's recipes. Many home cooks of the '80s and '90s benefited from her creative and clearly written recipes or saw her beautiful food on the cover or in the pages of the magazine.

Kathy married her husband Joe in 1989, and they spent 36 happy years as each other's best friend. Kathy's family always came first. She was the manager of everything at home making sure that her children, Audrey and Augie, were always actively engaged - be it in education, sports or a myriad of other activities and experiences. Each of her children's accomplishments brought her immense happiness and pride. Kathy was supportive of Joe's career in every way, allowing him to maintain a keen focus on his work, while ensuring he never missed an important event in the kids lives. Kathy spoke frequently, often daily, with her Philadelphia family and relished bringing them together, doing so with a warmth and joy that made every gathering feel special. She offered unswerving, unflinching support and love to her family.

Although Kathy left the professional culinary world to focus full-time on her family she never stopped being a gourmet. She took great joy in food and feeding others and making sure they could find joy in cooking themselves. She was her friends' and family's own personal recipe hotline, always there for a panicked call about how to plan a menu or fix a dish. If you mentioned a recipe you were curious to try, Kathy would call back soon after with a handful of options, thoughtful tips, and often results from her own test run that she'd done just so she could offer you better advice. She carefully maintained her own personal cookbook library, and organized the creation of the cookbook for her children's school, Oak Knoll, still a staple on many shelves throughout the community.

Kathy served her community, volunteering at the Church of Christ the King in New Vernon, New Jersey, and with Oak Knoll and Delbarton schools, as well as with the Friends of Florham Society. Kathy's friends knew her to be indefatigable and highly organized, able and willing to whip up a menu, organize a phone tree, and even move the party tables for an event – often all at the same time. Kathy embraced those she met with welcoming, open arms, always empathetic, always supportive in any way she could. To be Kathy's friend, of whom there were many, was a blessing.

Kathy is survived by Joe and her children, Audrey and August Atencio, as well as her dog Annie. Kathy was the beloved sister of Hannah Harberg (the late Allen), the late Judith Nilon (Hon. Jim Colins), the late Robin Nilon (Hon. Paul Diamond), and the late Thomas Duff Nilon. She was the cherished aunt and great-aunt of Allen Harberg Jr. (Kristen), Amanda Harberg, Julia McClatchy (Alexis Rodriguez), Kelsey McCullough, Lucas Fink, Sydney Fink, and Oliver Nilon Rodriguez.

Kathy will be celebrated in a funeral service at Old Saint Mary's Church on Friday, December 5, 2025. The service will begin at 11am, with visitation beginning at 10am.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Kathy's memory to the Department of Nursing Fund at Penn Medicine, which supports academic and professional opportunities for the nurses of the Penn Medicine hospital system. During Kathy's illness, she received such compassionate care by so many wonderful nurses and medical professionals; we value the opportunity to support them in their professional development.

Please make donation checks payable to the Penn Medicine, including "Department of Nursing" on memo line or an enclosed note, and send to Penn Medicine Development Attn: Allyse Orsini, 3535 Market St. Suite 750, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Donations can also be made by calling 215-898-0578 or visiting http://giving.apps.upenn.edu and searching 'Department of Nursing'.