Bellingham Sunrise Rotary is sad to announce the passing of our long-term member Kay Rich on April 6th. Kay was a Past President and a truly good friend to all of us. Below is her obituary.
We miss you Kay.
Kathleen "Kay" Rich
September 17, 1938 - April 6, 2023 Bellingham, Washington
September 17, 1938 - April 6, 2023 Bellingham, Washington
Kathleen Flynn was born on September 17, 1938 to Janet (Englund) Flynn and Francis Xavier "Pat" Flynn in Seattle, Washington and peacefully and gracefully embraced her last great adventure on April 6, 2023. True to form, Kay bravely battled Alzheimer's Disease, yet continued to bring joy and laughter to all those around her.
Kay grew up in Seattle and graduated from Queen Anne High School in 1956. She attended Whitworth College, eventually receiving her Bachelor of Arts in English from Washington State University in 1972 while working and raising a family. She received her Master of Education (M.Ed) in Student Personnel Administration from Western Washington University in 1976.
Kay made an indelible impact during her 30-year career at Western Washington University, working her way up through the university, with the majority of her career in University Residences as Associate Director and then Director. She was a highly respected leader in the college and university housing community and actively involved for many years in the Association of College Housing and University Officers-International (ACUHO-I).
As her career was winding down, Kay found love with Bill Salisbury, who had retired that same year and returned to Bellingham. From their Bellingham base camp, Kay and Bill had some amazing adventures together, including marriage in 2013, frequent travel to California, Hawaii, and Europe (and many other places in between), as well as many experiences bringing each of their respective families, friends, and former colleagues together.
She was a wonderful and supportive mother to her daughters, and she mentored and encouraged numerous other women and young people. Kay had an adventurous spirit - she was a competitive ice skater, avid skier, and runner - participating in too many 5K, 10K, half and full marathons to count. Serving others and supporting the causes and communities she loved was important to her, including the Girl Scouts, Relay for Life, Team in Training, Visiting Nurse Home Healthcare, Sunrise Rotary Club, WECU Board of Directors, St. James Presbyterian Church, First Congregational Church, WWU sports, and many others.
Kay is survived by her husband Bill Salisbury, daughters Michele Anderson (Tim) and Mary Schilling (Mike), "bonus daughters" Melissa Peepgrass (Tom), Wendy Alton (Russ), and Jennifer Salisbury (Ben Lee), and her beloved grandchildren: Cole Schilling, Katelynn Miller, Brady Anderson, Carly Peepgrass, Ella Peepgrass, Reid Alton, and Ruby Lee.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Kay can be made to the Kay Rich Scholarship at Western Washington University at wwu.edu/give or by sending a check made payable to the WWU Foundation/Rich Scholarship to 516 High Street, MS-9034, Bellingham, WA 98225. This annual scholarship goes to an outstanding student that is a WWU Resident/Community Advisor. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 17 at 2:00 p.m. at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal.