Kathleen Constans Robertson passed away on February 11, 2025 in Monterey, California. She was 77 years old. Kathy, as she was known, was born in Bethesda, Maryland on December 26, 1947. She was the second child to Floyd Robertson and Kathryn Constans (Beard) Robertson.

Her father Floyd was an officer in the US Navy and was stationed at the Pentagon in Arlington, VA when she was born. Her older brother Nathan had also been born at the Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland while there. In 1950 her father was transferred to Paris, France where, as a Lieutenant Commander, he was part of General Eisenhower's staff starting NATO after the war.

The next year Kathy’s younger brother Bruce was born. After a tour of duty in Naples, Italy, in 1952 they returned to northern Virginia for another stint at the Pentagon. Her father’s last Navy tour was in San Diego, California. Sadly, her mother Kathryn died of cancer there in 1957 when Kathy was nine years old. A year later her father Floyd married Avis L. Nelson, known as Lauralie, in l958. The family moved to San Jose, CA and then Annandale, VA with a younger sister, Michelle, and later a brother, Lloyd, joining the family.

While in high school in Annandale Kathy got a job working as a practical nurse at Fairfax Hospital. Kathy later studied Liberal Arts at Trinity College in Deerfield. IL before moving to New York city where she received a Registered Nurse diploma at the Helen Flud School of Nursing. In 1972 at the age of 25 she became a staff nurse at Cornell Medical Center in New York.

Kathy soon moved back to Chicago where she became an Emergency/Trauma staff nurse at Evanston Hospital for five years. In 1978 she got a job as a Locked Psychiatric Unit staff nurse at Highland Park Hospital in Highland Park, IL where she worked for twelve years.

In 1990 Kathy moved to California and did a two-year extended student program at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA. Following that she moved to Monterey in 1992 and became the Mental Health Unit Assistant Manager at the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. In 1997 she became a Locked Psychiatric Unit staff nurse at Salinas Natividad Medical Center. She worked there until her retirement in 2015.

Moving to California and her time at Esalen Institute was a turning point in Kathy‘s life. She went for a three-month temporary position and was such a great fit for the community that she was given a full-time position for two years. It was the start of her passion for exploring many paths of psychological studies and alternative spiritual practices. After retirement, she would go to silent retreats and other seminars where she met many like-minded people

Kathy will not just be remembered for her professional accomplishments, significant as they were. When Kathy was in the room or on the phone, her warmth and compassion touched everyone. Her laugh was loud and infectious. And when she was quiet it was because she was asking questions about your story, (and she would always ask questions!); she was focused and attentive.

Kathy embraced her family and friends and was fiercely loyal to them, making each one feel special and loved. She was a source of great solace for her father and stepmother in the winter of their lives. She supported friends and family, not only emotionally, but financially as well. She regularly provided generously to fund family reunions and other gatherings.

In interacting with Kathy, you soon learned that she was committed to exploring and contemplation. She was a life-long supporter of women’s rights and loved to challenge and debate big ideas. She loved children and joined in their squealing with delight. She was an expert at story-telling and loved reminding others of special moments that they had shared together. Her spontaneous smiles and hearty laugh were both contagious and endearing

On March 2, 2025, her ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean, in accordance with her wishes. She will be deeply missed and forever cherished by all who knew her.