Kathleen M. Gaddis

Kathleen M. Gaddis (Kathy), native Washingtonian, Federal Civil Servant

Celebration of Life: Friday, 05/16/25, 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time at Christ Episcopal Church Kensington, Maryland.  Internment to immediately follow at Christ Episcopal Church Columbarium.

Livestream for Mass provided by Christ Episcopal Church Kensington, YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUzzTxuB_8CXGhqp0K2wo6Q

When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are;
Anything your heart desires
Will come to you.
If your heart is in your dream
No request is too extreme;
When you wish upon a star
As dreamers do.

[C​HORUS​]
Fate is kind
She brings to those who love
The sweet fulfillment of their secret longing.

Like a bolt out of the blue
Fate steps in and sees you through
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true.

~ Cliff Edwards, Pinocchio

Of all the Disney magic she deeply loved, Jiminy Cricket and his message of hope and dreams was Kathy Gaddis’ favorite. For she built a rich and fulfilling life surrounded by friends and family found, after her earliest years included deep grief from the loss of her mother to illness.

Her greatest joy was found in giving to others; whether it was a carefully chosen gift, perfectly wrapped, or her always open ear, or her presence at your game or life event. Kathy’s gentle spirit of love and acceptance and easy laugh filled the hearts of those around her. In the hurly burly of boisterous family meals, crab feasts, and social events, Kathy was often the quiet constant that generations of kids enjoyed. Her core was kindness. She touched more lives than she ever knew.

Her professional career was grounded in service to others; with a lifetime of distinguished federal civil service. Most notably, she retired as a non-supervisory GS Grade 14 with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where she focused on management of essential scholarship services for health professionals that serve under represented and rural communities.

A native Washingtonian, Kathy grew up on a peaceful shady street in Chevy Chase, Northwest D.C., sneaking out to play as much softball and basketball as she could, both pickup and CYO. She played both sports competitively into her twenties; including league play and the early years of the AAU Women’s basketball circuit. Legacy injuries to her ankles ended her playing career. Kathy would later give back as a youth coach and spent many years cheering on generations of kids across many sports.

From elementary school at Blessed Sacrament, to St. Patrick’s for high school, to earning her Bachelor of Science from American University, Kathy was a life-long learner. She also had a passion for athletics. Kathy cheered for all D.C.  teams and was an early and lifelong supporter of the Washington Mystics. Despite being surrounded by Maryland fans, Kathy also spent a lifetime cheering for Duke, her father’s alma mater. Her friends loved to tease her about this (one) character flaw. In addition to sports, Kathy enjoyed the arts and all things cinema and theater; supporting the Kennedy Center with an annual subscription.

Kathy’s love of, and skill for softball became a part of her lucky fate. In 1969, she met Bonnie Douglas on a co-ed recreational National Institutes of Health (NIH) softball team. Kathy and two talented friends had been brought in as “ringers” to strengthen the team. Bonnie was beginning her NIH career.

In 1971, they became roommates and by 1974, they had settled into a cute red brick Cape Cod in Kensington, Maryland. Fifty years later, on July 27, 2021, they married each other on a Lahaina lanai.

Together, they traveled the world. They always found time to share their love of Disney magic with others and created lifelong, enduring friendships based on care and kindness, laughter and love.

On a quiet April day, Kathy passed peacefully from this world into the next; in their home as she wished, with Bonnie by her side. They were supported by Montgomery hospice, an excellent caregiver, a dear friend, and Duffy the ever-faithful Lucky Dog, keeping his careful watch in that cute red brick Cape Cod.

Kathy was preceded in death by her beloved parents Trimble Bland Gaddis (Trim), Catherine (Wolfe) Gaddis, and her brother Michael Gaddis. She is survived by her partner and spouse Bonnie Douglas, sisters Maureen P. (Gaddis) Sampson (Rick), Diane M. Gaddis, nieces Kelly (Gaddis) Powell (Stan) and Shannon (Gaddis) Hornich (Roman), great nephews Ryan and Nathan Powell, Zane and Keenan Hornich, great niece, Celestyna Hornich (Celeste), brother-in-law Jay Douglas, Duffy, the Lucky Dog, and many close friends and neighbors as family found (the Mulholland and Sabate families, Ohana, the Pod, and the Lunch Bunch).

In lieu of flowers, may we suggest a contribution in honor of Kathy’s lifelong kindness to either Lucky Dog Animal Rescue - https://www.luckydoganimalrescue.org/, Christ Episcopal Church Kensington - https://christchurchkensington.org/give/, or a charity of your choice to make someone else’s dream come true?