KAY MACDERMOTT Obituary

MACDERMOTT-- Kay Tipton. Kay Tipton MacDermott of Douglaston, New York, daughter of Kay Tipton and Estelle Reynolds Tipton, passed away on March 24, 2025 at the age of 89 following complications of a stroke suffered in Fall of 2024. Born in St. Louis, Missouri and raised in Madison, Georgia, she spent all her adult life in New York, ultimately settling in Douglaston, Queens in the home she occupied for over 60 years. Kay was a graduate of Duke University and Columbia Law School. She retired in 2000 after a long career as Assistant District Attorney in the Queens DA's office. In her retirement, she loved nothing more than her walks around the point with its view of the Throgs Neck Bridge, her swims in Little Neck Bay at the Dock, and to spend time at her beloved home in Sea Pines on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. An ardent lover of theatre, travel and supporting causes that mattered to her, she devoted much of her retirement years to volunteering and supporting Star of the Sea, among many others, to help those less fortunate. She traveled often into Manhattan to see the latest on Broadway, and was still making exotic trips even into her late 80s with an African safari. She played bridge weekly and continued to socialize with her large circle of friends and acquaintances. Kay is survived by her three children, Ian, Laura and Thomas Mackenzie; grandchildren, Harrison, Katie and Christian Steins, Andrei and Kelly Mackenzie and her two sisters, Ellen Harrison (Jimmy) and Mary Tipton, her nieces and nephews and their children. Kay's first marriage to Donald Mackenzie ended in divorce. She later married Malcolm MacDermott, who predeceased her in 2006. Her two step children, Evan MacDermott (Donna) and Kathy Luckasiwiez (John) and their children and granddaughter survive her as well. A service will be held at Zion Episcopal Church, Douglaston, NY.

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Published by New York Times on Mar. 25, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for KAY MACDERMOTT

7 Entries

Lynn Koch

Planted Trees

Lynn Koch

March 29, 2025

I met Kay when I joined Zion Episcopal Church. She was one of the first people to introduce herself and our friendship began to blossom. During the Covid lockdown we began to take walks together and really get to know each other. Kay was one of the most wonderful people I've had the pleasure to know. She was filled with joy for life which was contagious, loving-kindness and the ability to disagree with me during our many conversations by explaining her thinking, letting me process what she said and then I could agree or disagree and our conversation would continue. We went to museums together which was delightful as her breadth of knowledge and the very unpretentious way she communicated it enlightened me. We went to dinner and lunch sometimes, but once a month went to the other's house with a small gift, usually a plant or bottle of wine, to have appetizers and wine and great conversation. She was very accomplished but never spoke about her many gifts. The watercolor of the iris in her kitchen will always be remembered for its beauty and the way it captured this lovely flower, as will her many Christmas cards with her watercolors on it. I will miss Kay always and remember her with great love and joy!

Myra Kogen Book Group

March 29, 2025

Myra Kogen Book Group Remembers Kay MacDermott

We are thankful Cyndee persuaded Kay to join our book group eleven years ago. Kay enlivened our book discussions, contributing a depth of knowledge, a drive for justice and a loving unique yet unsentimental view of the human condition, which included pathos and humor.

Kay led the discussion of over a dozen books, starting with Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz and ending with The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. Some of the stories were dark, human and sobering (A Burning by Megha Majumdar, The Mountains Sing by Nguyen Phan Que Mai, and Bad Blood by John Carreyrou) while others were historic fiction best sellers (Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan, and Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus) that made us laugh, cry, learn and think.

We enjoyed Kay as a dinner companion as well, and at least yearly as a host in her handsome and unique pink home which blended antique and contemporary furnishing and art.

Although a thoughtful listener, Kay never ran out of things to talk about, including shared community social justice projects, Broadway plays and Duke basketball. We are all grateful to have had Kay in our lives and already miss her.

The Myra Kogen Book Group

Vivienne Lenk

March 28, 2025

Kay was an extraordinary woman, committed to justice and tolerance. I was involved in a faith-based group which focused on Climate, gun violence, and tolerance, and she did an amazing amount of work on tolerance. Her calm, knowledgeable presence was so important.

Joan Hellmann

March 28, 2025

Kay and I enjoyed the theatre, museums, cinema and wine/cheese evenings together. I miss her very much. She was a brilliant, caring and deeply religious friend.

Catherine and John Touwsma

March 28, 2025

I will miss our chats while walking on Shore road. RIP, amazing Kay.

Kenneth Holder

March 25, 2025

Condolences to the Macdermott family..Kay and I were partners in Justice Calabretta's Court in Jamaica for about two years. She taught me a lot as a new prosecutor.

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