When Kathy Aquilina burst into the world in Richmond, Virginia, on June 7th, 1952, it was abundantly clear that she had received an extra measure of optimism.
The youngest of five children born to Albert and Elizabeth Meyer, Kathy graduated from St. Gertrude High School in 1970. She was an active participant in the life of St. Bridget Catholic Church, and throughout her 71 years, her deep faith enabled her to spread delight and an infectious hope wherever she went.
It was no surprise, therefore, that following her college education at St. Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana, she taught at the Montessori School run by nuns in inner city Baltimore. Amazingly, Kathy received comfort in her last months from same nuns who had moved to Salisbury, MD.
It was not long before her gifts were brought into the global network of Moral Re-Armament - now Initiatives of Change - through family friend and legendary Cotillion teacher Cleiland Donnan in 1976. Kathy had the unshakable experience of going beyond criticizing political leaders for dishonesty by becoming honest about herself and paid back money back for books she “borrowed” from her college. IofC’s focus on building relationships of trust across any divides, whether in families or nations, fit perfectly with her innate empathy for the suffering of others and her faith that every person could have a part in bringing the change the world needed. The most desperate would yield to her abundant faith that God could use them to build a better future.
Throughout her life, Kathy poured herself out for others, whether in the home country of her beloved Maltese husband, Charles, or amongst the troubled peoples of the Middle East where she and Charles often visited, or in Washington, DC, where they lived and where she was active in community affairs.
Her care for the two granddaughters of Dr. Abdo Sallam, a former Egyptian Health Minister, whilst at the IofC center of Caux, Switzerland brought from him an invitation to spend a month as his guests in Cairo - where life-long friendships were made. She returned there and the region later with Charlie aged 5 - and were guests of friends in Gaza City and Rafah etc. In the midst of the current tragedy, one memory is of her asking school children in Gaza what their message is for the US - “That we love you” - a young woman quickly responded.
In Washington, Kathy served as Program Director of the Caux Scholars Program, an international course in conflict transformation Her interest in and care for the students from over sixty countries continued long after they graduated, as evidenced by the outpouring of messages received by her family during her four nearly five-year struggle with cancer and at her death on October 20th. Among those who wrote: "Kathy, you are loved by so many of us students around the world”. "Kathy was a symbol of resilience, kindness, and toughness packaged delicately in a body that fought bravely so hard and for so long”. “I lost my best friend”.
A longtime Lebanese Shia Muslim wrote: “We all lost a wonderful and strong person. I always felt the true meaning of friendship and brotherhood with her and Charles and I am grateful for that. So many memorable times together and so much appreciation”.
Kathy was a peacemaker to the core. She deployed her skills of building trust as part of an international network of women Creators of Peace, which drew together women from different ethnicities and faiths. Countless women found through their friendship with Kathy the courage to acknowledge harms done, apologize and forgive.
Kathy was fun loving and thrived on creating occasions which brought people together in joy and celebration. Whether organizing dancing at a bridal shower or skits at an international conference, she always found ways to include children, thinking of activities, drama and crafts in which they could engage. One said: “I have lost my second mother”.
Besides her son, Charlie, his fiancé Michelle and her husband of 37 years, Charles, Kathy is survived by her siblings, Susan Ryan, Albert, Edward and Chris Meyer and beloved nephews and nieces.
