TRC honors Kathy Seastedt with donation to fund named for her

Kathy Seastedt

When Kathy Seastedt died suddenly in March 2008, TRC was quick to acknowledge her contributions to the agency by recommending that a fund supporting individuals with disabilities be named in her honor.

Nearly three years later, the agency honored Kathy by donating money to the fund that bears her name during a luncheon for Kathy's family members.

Kathy was the Director of Rehabilitation and Community Services at the time of her death.  Shortly before she died, Kathy completed her 25th year of service with TRC and would have been slated to be honored for that achievement at the following year's Employee Service Recognition Luncheon.

A while back her husband, Erik (who himself worked for many years at TRC), suggested it would be a nice gesture to recognize Kathy's 25 years with the agency.  With Erik and son Jonathan in town for the holidays, a luncheon was held December 22 at TRC's Administrative Offices to do just that.

Along with Erik and Jon, Erik's sister, Kris Seastedt (Supervisor of TRC's Day Habilitation Program on Fluvanna Avenue in Jamestown) and mother, Mary Vet, joined a number of staff and Board members from The Resource Center and TRC Foundation to share memories of Kathy.

Board member Harry Glatz remembered that several years ago when TRC was under pressure to make changes to the operations of the Intermediate Care Facility on Foote Avenue, Kathy was one of the people who led the effort to make improvements.  Harry said that during the many meetings held to discuss Foote, that Kathy would give the reassuring statement "I'm with you" whenever she was in agreement with a proposal or idea.

Posing with a ceremonial $250 check to the Kathy Seastedt fund are, from left, Cindy Phillips, Paul Cesana, Erik Seastedt, and Jonathan Seastedt.

Nickey Riczker, TRC's Director of Benefits, Compensation and Recruitment, noted that Kathy was one of her first supervisors.  She was friends with Kathy outside of work, and the two shared an enjoyment for the same type of music.  In particular, Kathy was a fan of the group Aerosmith, and when the decision was made to name the Community Support Fund in Kathy's honor, the fund was nicknamed "Dream On" in reference to the classic Aerosmith song.

In perhaps an otherwordly sign, Nickey mentioned that on her way into work the day of the luncheon, she tuned her satellite radio to a rock station and "Dream On" had just finished playing — and then, her radio's digital display remained stuck for the rest of her ride into work with the phrase "Dream On — Aerosmith" showing.

Executive Director Paul Cesana noted that the Kathy Seastedt fund plays a significant role in the lives of people with disabilities, providing money for urgently needed items.

"If we have to wait for approvals and funding, people would be in trouble," Paul said.  "This `Dream On' fund has really become an incredible fund.”

Cindy Phillips, Manager of Business and Operational Planning, manages the Kathy Seastedt fund for Filling the Gap, Inc.  Cindy gave Kathy's family members some examples of how the fund has helped people, including an incidence earlier that day in which the fund literally helped a man keep his job by giving him money to buy some enough medication to last until his health insurance coverage begins.

Each year at the Employee Service Recognition Luncheon, Carol Svensen, Director of Human Resources, gives a sort of "This Is Your Life" synopsis of the work careers of TRC's longest-serving employees.  Carol did the same thing for this event, talking with former co-workers to get some stories about Kathy.  She said people remembered Kathy as always putting first the interests of persons with disabilities, and that the one recurring theme was that Kathy is deeply missed.

"So Kathy, if you're watching, we miss you," Carol said.  "We all do."

At each Service Recognition Luncheon, the employees being recognized receive a lapel pin, keychain or necklace bearing TRC’s logo, and employees with 20 or more years of service also receive a cash award.  So, following the Kathy Seastedt luncheon, TRC presented a ceremonial $250 check to the “Dream On” fund and gave each of Kathy’s family members a lapel pin.

In 2009-10, the Kathy Seastedt Community Support Fund assisted more than 100 people with disabling conditions.  But the fund is so popular that it does not have enough money to meet everyone’s needs.  Click here if you would like to make a memorial gift in honor of Kathy or someone else.