Kathleen Muller

Kathleen Muller, 79, retired newspaper reporter and editor, died Monday in Venice, Florida. The former Kathleen McGarry of Schenectady, N.Y., was married to Peter Y. Muller for 53 years. Former residents of Niskayuna, N.Y. and Bradenton, FL, they had lived in Venice for the past 9 years. She is also survived by two daughters, Ann Frechette of Tampa, and Elizabeth Good of Orlando; a son, Matthew Muller of Ballston Lake, N.Y. and daughter-in-law Kristine Muller Barkley, wife of the Muller’s late son, Anthony. Survivors also include nine grandchildren, Peter, Lucas, Alex and Cole Muller; Dylan, Devin and Chloe Frechette and Hilary and Cameron Good. Mrs. Muller was a reporter and features editor for the Daily Gazette in Schenectady. She later became publicity director for the Catholic Digest in New York and was a member of the public relations staff at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady.She also wrote articles for the Albany Times Union and Valley Stream Mail Leader. In 1952, she was chosen by the Experiment in International Living in Vermont as community ambassador to Yugoslavia. The project was designed to to improve international understanding on a person-to-person basis. During her stay she lived with a family in Zagreb. Her role as community ambassador took her to all regions of the country including Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Dalmatia, and Bosnia and included an audience with Archibishop (later Cardinal) Stepinac, who was under Yugoslav government restrictions that kept him from traveling. Mrs. Muller was one of the first Americans to visit Yugoslavia after that country broke away from domination by Stalinist Russia. On her return home, she spent a year addressing community organizations throughout the Schenectady area about Yugoslavia. The daughter of the late Mary and James McGarry, both natives of Ireland, she had four brothers and a sister who all predeceased her. A graduate of St. Columba’s High School in Schenectady, she also attended Siena College in Albany, N.Y.