Patricia A. Kane, 74

Patricia Anne Kane, a long time Marblehead community member passed away peacefully on October 22 at the Kaplan Hospice House in Danvers. She is survived by her brother Robert Kane, as well as nieces Madeleine Russo, Meagan Limperis and nephew Patrick Kane.

Patricia, known by everyone that came to meet her as Patsy, was born on March 17,1948-Saint Patrick’s day. Her parents were Madeleine Kane a school teacher and Timothy Kane an attorney. Patricia’s first home was on Washington Avenue in Chelsea. From there the family eventually settled in Melrose.

Patsy always excelled academically. At Melrose High School, she earned the highest ranking in her class. She kept that ranking until the last marking period.

Patsy’s scholarship earned her admittance to Pembroke, part of Brown University. Her father, a passionate partisan of the Kennedys tirelessly campaigned for Manhattanville that the Kennedy girls attended. Patsy honored her father’s wishes.

At Manhattanville, Patsy majored in English. All the great writers became Patsy’s close companions. She kept a lookout for new writers whose words, style and narratives would be life-long sources of pleasure.

After graduating, Patsy, felt compelled to attend Katherine Gibbs, a secretarial school. After earning her certificate, she worked at the Kennedy School. The School’s intellectual atmosphere as well as Professor Edward Banfield’s mentorship extended her stay.

Eventually, Patsy decided to join the private sector. She joined a group of high-level developers who constantly tested her. They sent her to Cincinnati to fix a struggling development.  After a year, the project was fixed and Patsy was back home in her beloved Marblehead.

Patsy’s most satisfying work in real estate came about through Richard Carlson, an important figure in North Shore real estate. He appointed Patsy to run his commercial business. Appointing a female to run the commercial business was unusual. It proved to be a smart choice. Dick Carlson and Patsy made lots of sales.

Patsy began to slow down. She spent more time swimming, at times more than two miles, in a single session. She devoted more time to collecting antiques, enriching her collection of art, and shopping. Her nieces and nephews were the recipients of her shopping sprees. It seemed that every day, a UPS parcel arrived at her niece’s front door.

Patricia showed her love for her extended family by making frequent calls,  hosting sleepovers, and traveling to distant locations to celebrate weddings.

She was almost always with the family for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Friends and family members remember how Patsy walked. Her quick determined steps told the story of a woman on the move, a woman whose ambitions far exceeded the hours on a clock. She was rare, she was talented and she will be remembered.

Funeral Services are private. In lieu of flowers, make donations to the Special Olympics. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralHome.com for Patsy's family.