Remembering a passionate leader and baby champion.
WASHINGTON — ZERO TO THREE is deeply saddened to announce today the passing of its Chief Development Officer, Kathleen McEnerny.
Kathleen battled cancer since her diagnosis in February, a battle she fought with strength and courage until the end on September 26, 2020. The entire ZERO TO THREE family mourns this loss. On behalf of our Board of Directors, management team, and employees, we extend our deepest sympathies to the McEnerny family.
Kathleen served as ZERO TO THREE’s Chief Development Officer for the past ten years, having returned to the organization after a time at the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights. She had previously worked as a grant writer for the organization and returned to guide remarkable growth with her strategic sensibility, calming presence, diplomatic discretion, and wise counsel. Everyone who had the opportunity to work with Kathleen was taken with her smarts and sensitivity.
“Kathleen was a dear friend. We shared a passion for babies and baseball. She was one of the most decent, thoughtful, and caring human beings I have ever known, and touched the lives of so many of us in so many beautiful ways. Kathleen will be so sorely missed. May her memory be a blessing to us all,” said Matthew Melmed, Executive Director of ZERO TO THREE.
The loves of Kathleen’s life were her adopted and foster children, Andy McEnerny and Karen Maldonado, who brought her great pride every day of their lives. Kathleen is also survived by one brother, Harry McEnerny IV (Monica), and nephews Harry V and James Lee McEnerny. In addition, she leaves a sister, Allison Volz (Tom), and their son Andrew, and her sister Margaret and her son Finn.
In memorial tribute, the family would be grateful for Kathleen to be honored with donations to ZERO TO THREE. A tribute fund to carry on her selfless works has been established in her name. There will be a time for remembrance and for offering of respects to the family at The Bon Air Memorial Rose Garden in Bluemont Park 850 N. Lexington St., Arlington VA 22205, from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 30, 2020. Remembrances can also be posted at: adventfuneral.com. A celebration of life will be held, in accordance to her wishes, in Vermont in the spring.
About ZERO TO THREE
ZERO TO THREE works to ensure all babies and toddlers benefit from the family and community connections critical to their well-being and development. Since 1977, the organization has advanced the proven power of nurturing relationships by transforming the science of early childhood into helpful resources, practical tools and responsive policies for millions of parents, professionals and policymakers. For more information, and to learn how to become a ZERO TO THREE member, please visit zerotothree.org, facebook.com/ZEROTOTHREE or follow @ZEROTOTHREE on Twitter.
