IN MEMORIAM

Mary Claire Kilty, 63; Leaves

Father, Sister In Cooperstown

COOPERSTOWN – Mary Claire Kilty, 60, passed away Aug. 9, 2017, at home in Manhattan.  Survivors include her father and sister in Cooperstown.

“Keep enjoying life!!” was Mary’s advice to family and friends who were also dealing with a serious illness, and that is exactly how Mary lived her life. Mary passed away in her sleep; her family had visited her the day before to give her their last hugs and kisses. During her last months, Mary was surrounded by the loving care of an army of friends, neighbors, and her healthcare team at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Mary was born on Oct. 23, 1956, in Chicago to Dorothy and Tim Kilty.  She graduated from Magnificat High School in Rocky River, Ohio, in 1974, and Princeton University in 1978. Living in New York City most of her adult life, Mary created a rich life for herself filled with friends, family, culture, figure skating, books, travel, education, fashion, philanthropy, political activism, needlepoint, movies, and her beloved dog, Sonjia.

Mary will be remembered for her brilliant mind, wide-ranging and eclectic circle of friends, devotion to family, and sly humor. Mary lived life to the fullest and faced her illness with courage, a strong will, and a positive attitude that left her family and friends in awe.

Mary had a diverse career working for Knoll, Alvin Ailey, Banker’s Trust, Societe General, the Export-Import Bank and The Depression Alternative Treatment Foundation. She obtained her MBA from Harvard University in 1982 and her Ph.D. in epidemiology from Columbia School of Public Health in 2015. She maintained long lasting friendships from all of her career, educational and skating spheres.

Giving back was important to Mary and she shared her beloved Sonjia, a wheaten terrier, with her friend Ray, which helped him move from homelessness into a more stable life.

Mary’s mother, Dorothy Kilty, passed away in January 2016. Mary is survived by her father, S. Timothy Kilty of Cooperstown; her sister, Laura Kilty and Bruce Kramer of Cooperstown; her brother David Kilty and Marie Kilty of Centennial, Colo.; her beloved nieces, Anna Kramer, Madeline Kramer and Evelyn Kilty, and her favorite nephew, Ian Kilty.  She is also survived by her Aunt Anne and Rev. Mark Wiberg of Des Plaines, Ill., Uncle Tom and Cis Simonet of St. Paul, Minn., and multiple cousins: Ben, JT, Marty, Phillip, John, Christopher, Michael, Robert, Mary, Anne, Michelle, Joe, and Bill. Mary is also survived by a diverse group of friends who have supported and loved Mary throughout her life.

To honor Mary’s desire to contribute to ongoing research for breast cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, contributions may be made in Mary’s name by following this link.

Condolences can be sent to Tim Kilty, 27 Estli Ave. Cooperstown, NY 13326