Kathryn

Kathryn Kalisz - in front of her drapes

To state merely that Kathryn Kalisz Donovan (Kitty to her friends) had a colorful life is like saying that Michelangelo was an interior house painter. Both artists had an innate, comprehensive eye for color, and a profound influence on those who recognized their enduring talent.

Kathryn’s advantage, of course, is that she lived during a time when she could integrate modern science into her art. And that she did, establishing herself as the pioneer of an entire discipline that melded color and light to holistically enhance health and beauty.

Very sadly, Kathryn’s burning passion for color and life was extinguished in Brooksville, Fla., on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010. At the tender age of 61, Kathryn has moved on to a place where the palettes are filled with colors that not even her expert eye could have conceived.

Kathryn, or “Kitty” as many knew her, spent a lifetime learning, teaching and loving color. She was an inspiration to students who came from all over the globe to avail themselves of her expert knowledge and unpretentious enthusiasm.

Schooled in the Munsell Color System, Kitty was a master colorist who used her peerless talent to educate the next generation. Her work has become the gold standard for image consultants, personal color analysts, spa workers, osteopaths and chiropractors who routinely use her expertise and products to treat thousands of patients. Because of Kitty, both the healed and the healers have benefitted.

The only thing Kitty loved more than color was her family. She was a loving mother who was gentle, optimistic and eternally supportive. Her free spirit and down-to-earth approach to life was simultaneously a touchstone for realism and a reservoir of imagination for her children.

Born in St. Mary’s, Pa., and later a resident of Bristol, Conn., Kitty is survived by three daughters, Louanna (husband Christopher), Suzanna and Manessa; grandchild Esmaya; and several siblings. She was preceded in death by her parents, John Kalisz and Margaret (Rutz) Kalisz, and brothers Michael and Paul Kalisz.

Kitty’s light shone bright in the lives of all those who knew her. Her legacy will color their outlooks – and the industry – for generations to come.

If you would like to read some of Kathryn’s insights, you can find articles on her personal blog at http://blog.coloranalysis.com/. It was a young blog without too many articles there, but enjoy what is there.

Kitty’s daughter, Suzie, has taken over the reigns of the business, Sci\ART, which you can visit at http://coloranalysis.com/

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Donations Welcome

Kathryn's daughters are going through a lot right now as you can imagine. The same incident that cost Kathryn her life also put her youngest daughter in the hospital for what looks to be a minimum of 6 weeks, maybe more, and her two sisters have been tending to her, their mother's estate and her business.

Since both Suzie and Manessa work for their mother's business, neither has seen a payday since she died, nor will they until the legal red tape allowing them to fully take control of the business is complete (hopefully in mid to late February). Until then, they are working without pay to keep the business running and trying to keep bills paid, and their dogs and horse (and perhaps even themselves) fed.

Any help is appreciated.