Obituary of Kathleen Alice Victorson

Kathleen Alice Ford Victorson, “Kay,” died on January 4, 2021, at her home in Tucson, Arizona. Born on February 9, 1941, to Edgar and Mary Ford in Washington, DC, she was the second of siblings Mike, John (Charlie), Susie and Barbara. She graduated from Georgetown Visitation in 1959 and Catholic University of America in 1963 and received an MA in theater from Syracuse University in 1985. She met her husband, Rev. Vernon Victorson, in Washington, and they were married at Lutheran Church of the Reformation on April 11, 1970.

Kay was an individual who re-invented herself many times in addition to being a loving mom to her three children. Career highlights include congressional staffer to Senator Claude Pepper, theatre professor at Utica College, membership coordinator at WNED Buffalo, English and drama teacher at Turner Carroll High School (Buffalo), administrator for the Samaritan Center for Pastoral Counseling (Tonawanda) and early childhood advocate for the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy (Albany). Kay enjoyed traveling the world with Vern to Europe, Japan and Egypt as well as visiting their children and grandchildren. She especially loved her visits to Fourth Lake in the Adirondack Mountains.

Kay is survived by her loving husband Vernon, her three children Marion Katherine (Rob Lentz), Birgitta (Eddie Carlson) and Brendan (Akiko), and her six beloved grandchildren Charlie, Magnus, Emi, Poppy, Samwise and Henrik. Also, her brother John Ford (Sandra Poster), her sister Barbara Dove (Peter), brother-in-law Mark Victorson (Patricia), Vern’s cousin Madelynn Skvarla (David) and many nieces and nephews. Kay maintained friendships across several cities throughout her lifetime but is particularly remembered by those in the parishes that she served alongside her husband in Upstate New York: Trinity Lutheran Church, Castleton-on-Hudson; First Lutheran Church, Albany; Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Utica; and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Williamsville. 

A gracious, generous and funny individual, Kay’s deep love and care is missed by all who are close to her.

Donations can be made in her name to support the ELCA Disaster Response Fund: 

https://community.elca.org/lutherandisasterresponse

Family members are planning a memorial service at First Lutheran in Albany for a future date.