Kathy Dahlstrom

I was born in St. Paul, Minnesota and moved to the Northeast area of Seattle with my parents when I was two.  We moved a couple of times so that I experienced View Ridge, Inglewood Country Club and the area just north of University Village.  I attended Catholic Schools as did my four children.

 

My Best Friend and Husband, Jim, and I were very active in our children's lives, with Campfire, Boy Scouts, all sports, school and church activities, etc.  I was a stay-at-home Mom for many years and felt thoroughly fulfilled.  Volunteering was my calling and I guess it still is!

 

When I returned to the workplace, I had several very interesting opportunities, but my last position was as a Senior Human Resources Generalist which was truly my favorite.   I was responsible for about 700 employees.  I worked there for  15 years but then their headquarters in downtown Seattle, where I worked, was moving to Bellevue and we lived on Bainbridge Island.  So, it was one thing to take the ferry back and forth everyday but I did not look forward to crossing Lake Washington as well.  So, my last day was 9/1/2000.  My plan was to have a couple of months off and after the holidays look for something else.

 

However, two weeks later, my husband was diagnosed with brain, bone and lung cancer.  Happily, I was able to be with him and care for him on his final journey.  I was truly tested from September 2000 through February of 2002.  I guess I passed because I am here to tell about it and I have shown I can live by myself.  I went  from my parents home to being married to Jim for 44 years.

 

Edmonds was the place I chose to move to because I had loved Edmonds when I was younger and I thought it would give me the small town feeling Bainbridge had done. And, it brought me to this side of the water where my children and grandchildren are living

 

I didn't know a soul here but first rented from Joan Longstaff who introduced me to Rotary.  I am very thankful to her for this as I have met many wonderful new friends.