Kathleen Elizabeth Becan-McBride

To the Becan-McBride family,

My thoughts are with you this Christmas season as there will be an empty chair at your family festivities. Kathleen was an extraordinary woman, and it was an honor for me to have known her. I am the program director of Geisinger School of Phlebotomy, and I have used her textbook for over 20 years. For our fall graduation we awarded the 1st Kathleen Becan-McBride Memorial Award to a student who most exemplifies the qualities of this extraordinary women. I am also one of the new co-authors who will work with Didi on the next edition of this text, and I felt very privileged and honored to be asked to contribute to the 11th edition. Wishing you all a wonderful holiday and may you find peace as her stories and traditions grace your memories.

Terri McElhattan

My first memory of Kathleen was when she was asked to be the keynote speaker at one of our graduations when our program began over 15 years ago. I have used her textbook in my classroom for over 20 years. I was recently asked to be a reviewer/author on the next text and couldn't think of a better way to honor her legacy in the phlebotomy arena than to contribute to this next edition. My condolences go out to her family, friends, and colleagues who have had the privilege to know and work with this wonderful woman. May she rest in peace.

It was an amazing privilege to work with Dr. Becan-McBride on the Commission for Continuing Professional Development (CCPD) of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), for which she was a volunteer for many decades. The CCPD oversees the entire educational portfolio of the Society, including live meetings, journals, courses, books, etc., that assist in the training and continuing professional education for pathologists and laboratory professionals.
As an ASCP volunteer, Kathleen brought wisdom, extraordinary experience as an educator, quick wit, unflagging energy, and a well of kindness and compassion that never dried up. In addition to our meetings, I loved our times talking about the other parts of her life that she deeply loved- her family, her horses, running, and her Faith. She was a true Servant Leader in every sense of the word, making choices and sharing observations that ALWAYS reflected a deep sense what was the right thing to do- for our patients, for our members, for our profession, for science and healthcare.
It was my immense pleasure and honor to be able to give her the Presidential Award of the ASCP in 2019, an award that recognizes and celebrates an ASCP volunteer who has exhibited extraordinary service to patients and the profession of laboratory practice and diagnosis.
Rest in Peace, beloved friend. I know with certainty that you are in the arms of a Loving God to Whom you were deeply faithful. May you know how much you were loved, as well, by those of us who are left behind on earth.

I had the pleasure of knowing and working with Kathleen for 30 years through the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). We served on boards and committees over the years. She was a kind person with a big heart who exhibited grace and joy in all her interactions. One of the best professionals I've had the pleasure to know. Love and prayers for Mark and the family.

We had just met her, she moved in next door in October 2023 and we were so happy to have her. Come to find out my boys that worked at the feed store, years ago, knew her well and talked about hearing all her story's about her life. Wishing the family peace and comfort.