Katherine West Schroeder

Katherine West Schroeder, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend, and nonprofit leader, passed away peacefully on May 3 after living with metastatic breast cancer for over 13 years. True to her nature, she faced the disease with grace, focused on living joyfully until that was no longer possible.

Katherine was born September 2, 1951, in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to Luther Charles (Charlie) and Doris Harper West. Because Charlie was a career Army officer, the family moved frequently living in Maryland twice, Germany twice, Virginia, Florida, and Georgia. She graduated from Severna Park High School outside Annapolis in 1969.

Two years later, Katherine married Carroll, her husband of 54 years, in Baltimore where they met working on the underground newspaper Harry. They moved to California in 1973 and settled in Davis where she earned a BA magna cum laude in Russian History and Literature from UC Davis and, later an accounting certificate from Heald Business College in Sacramento. Son, Noah was born there in 1974 and daughter, Lauren, in 1981.

Katherine cherished her family: Carroll, Noah, daughter-in-law Jill and granddaughters Ava and Savannah; Lauren and partner El; brother Derrick, sister Robin and their spouses and children. They survive her. She also loved her chosen family that grew together in Davis. She was the consummate friend, hostess, chef, baker, knitter, jogger and fellow traveler.

Professionally, she parlayed her accounting training into leadership of nonprofit organizations serving vulnerable children and families. She had an unparalleled ability to understand programs and to devise and implement funding and administrative mechanisms to support them. Katherine played pivotal roles for 15 years with FamiliesFirst then for 24 years with Seneca Family of Agencies, where she was twice honored with Seneca’s prestigious Unconditional Care (UNCie) award and from which she retired as COO. She didn’t take jobs; she entered into and nurtured long-term professional commitments. Never the lead person, she was always the consummate implementer, the values holder, the explainer-in-chief, the person who ensured the money was there to accomplish the mission.

A devoted friend and colleague, Katherine touched countless lives with warmth, kindness, generosity, and devotion. One of her last wishes was simply not to let anyone down. She never did. Katherine’s legacy of love and care lives on in all who knew her.

In that spirit, she would want you to have her “easiest and best “chocolate sauce recipe for ice cream:

“6 TBSP brown sugar, 3 TBSP unsweetened cocoa powder, 3 TBSP milk (or cream, or rum, or brandy), 2 TBSP butter, ½ tsp vanilla (or almond). Put everything into a small saucepan, stir and boil over medium heat for a few minutes (2 or so). The longer you boil it, the thicker the sauce.” will be on ice cream. You really can’t hurt this sauce, everyone loves it, and you can double it, no problem.”