Dear SLA family,
It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Catherine "Kitty" Scott passed away on May 17.
"Kitty," as we all knew her, was an SLA member for 54 years and served as President of SLA in 1992-1993. She was a true pioneer in the field of special libraries and a mentor and trusted adviser to many. Those who had the pleasure of knowing her will surely miss her sharp wit and her deep care for this association and profession. Kitty was truly one-of-a-kind and her impression on SLA will remain for many many years into the future. She was inducted into the SLA Hall of Fame in 1996. Her obituary ran on Sunday, May 23 in the Washington Post.
"Kitty was an amazingly successful professional, and I will always be inspired by her dedication to her profession and to SLA. She obviously recognized the importance of not just belonging to a professional association, but how critical it was to be active, to mentor, to network, and to keep learning," said CEO Janice Lachance. "Kitty recognized how important these things were when she joined as a member more than 50 years ago, and even long after her retirement she remained a fixture on the SLA scene, continuing to give back, to share, and to shape generations of SLA members that now stand on the shoulders of her legacy. She will be greatly missed."
The staff here at SLA Headquarters request that you share your memories and thoughts about Kitty in the comments section of this post. We will be working over the coming days to create a lasting and fitting tribute to this amazing woman who touched so many of you, in so many ways. Your memories will be an important part of our tribute, so thank you in advance for sharing them.
SLA President Anne Caputo interviewed Kitty in May 2009 for the Voices of SLA Oral History project; this detailed look into the career and accomplishments of a former SLA and DC Chapter president is a must-read for all.
Memorial Service for Kitty Scott
Tuesday, May 25th – 10:00 a.m.
Mary Mother of God Church725 5th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
The family has asked that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to
When I became SLA President in 2005, Kitty gave me a limoges pill box in the shape of a chair. She knew that I needed a place to store my aspirins for those "SLA headache" days! I read Kitty's oral history discussion with Anne Caputo and she definitely had a rich and rewarding life. She continued to support our profession and was passionate about our value within our customer settings. I will miss her and I am thankful to have known her.
Ethel M Salonen
Posted by: Ethel M Salonen | 24 May 2010 at 08:41 AM