Kathleen "Kay" Scolari

Kathleen 'Kay' Scolari passed away peacefully at her home on April 24, 2025. While many of us can only hope for the kind of passing we desire, Kay never doubted she would transition in the way she wished: with the grace of God, unwavering determination, and the power of self-knowing, she was carried through her journey.

Born in Wilmington, NC, in 1944 to Myrtle Bright "Boots" Bynum and Staley Lee "SL" Pinkston, Kay led a remarkable life shaped by a deep love for learning and service. The middle sister to Lee and Georgetta, she grew up in Salisbury, NC, and graduated from Boyden High School. She then moved to Dallas, where she completed her degree in English from North Texas State University. Following her graduation, Kay settled in Southern California where she worked for Schlage Lock Company and Pacific Bell Telephone. While living there, she met and married Fernando Scolari and gave birth to her beloved daughter Katie.

Kay eventually moved back to Texas in 1980, settling in Round Rock, half way between her sisters Georgetta and Lee. There, she became involved in the Scottish Country Dance Society and introduced Katie to Highland Dancing, nurturing her deep love of all things Scottish. Kay was also an active member of the St. Augustine Orthodox parish in Pflugerville. She worked in a variety of roles for AT&T, the Chemistry Department at the University of Texas at Austin, and Round Rock Hospital until she decided to teach.

Kay began her teaching career at Manor Independent School District where she loved working with middle schoolers. She didn't just teach in the US, she taught with heart and dedication across the globe-serving with the Department of Defense Schools (D.O.D.S.) in U.S. military schools in Japan, Germany, and England from 2001-2013. Her classroom was more than a place of instruction; it was a sanctuary of curiosity and respect. She encouraged her daughter and others to always think for themselves.

In 2013, Kay retired after more than 25 years as a teacher to move to Colorado and begin her next chapter, helping her daughter Katie and son-in-law Dru raise her beloved grandchildren, Oliver and Grace. She was an integral part of their family, moving in with them in 2014 where she spent the rest of her days. Her greatest joy was spending time with all her grandchildren, including her niece Allison's children Addison and Preston, whether visiting them in Dallas or hosting them in Colorado. And she loved Katie's half-brother, David and his children Meghan and Emma like they were her own.

A devout Christian and beloved member of St. Columba Orthodox Church in Lafayette, CO, Kay's faith was the cornerstone of her life. In her final weeks, she reflected with characteristic groundedness, saying, "To be a woman is to minister"-a truth she embodied in every relationship, every kind word to loved ones and strangers alike, and every act of compassion. As her granddaughter lovingly put it, "She could make friends in an empty elevator." She was a surrogate grandmother to all her friend's kids and made a lasting impression upon all the people who came into her circle.

Kay's legacy is one of kindness, laughter, curiosity, faith, and fierce love, and she will be missed by all. She leaves behind her sister Lee Wingerter, daughter Katie Borden, son-in-law Dru Borden, niece Allison Simpson, grandchildren Grace, Oliver, Preston and Addison, as well as countless former students and friends across the world. She is preceded in death by her parents, "Boots" and SL, and her sister Georgetta Simpson.

A funeral service will be held at St. Columba Orthodox Church on Tuesday April 29th, at 11 AM with a celebration of life to be held later in the year. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations in Kay's honor to Sister Carmen, a local nonprofit providing basic needs and wrap-around support services for families in East Boulder County, a cause close to her heart.