Remembering Kathy - A Bridges Mentor Who Led with Heart

We are saddened to share the passing of Kathy, a one of our first devoted Bridges Reentry Mentors whose compassion, enthusiasm, and steady presence made a lasting impact on everyone who knew her. Kathy first became involved in prison ministry in 1997 through the Sunshine Club at Perryville Prison, as part of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Tucson. Her commitment to walking alongside those who were incarcerated reflected a lifelong belief in dignity, growth, and second chances.

A retired Speech-Language Pathologist, Kathy brought both professional insight and deep empathy to her mentoring. She attended her Beyond the Gates Mentor orientation on September 1, 2021, and wrote on her application that her ideal mentee would be “someone who is excited and looking forward to the mentor and mentee program.” That hope was beautifully mirrored in her match with Opalene, who shared on her own application that her ideal mentor would be “open minded, honest, non-combative, kind and eager to help.”

Kathy was assigned as Opalene’s mentor in October 2021, shortly before Opalene’s release in November. From the very beginning, Kathy was an enthusiastic participant in cohort meetings and took great pride in the progress Opalene was making. She celebrated each accomplishment with genuine joy and encouragement. Kathy embodied what it means to be an ideal mentor—present, affirming, and steadfast in her belief in the potential of others.

Opalene says "Kathy’s friendship meant the world to me. She helped me break free of the core beliefs I held onto throughout my addiction and prison sentence. I don’t know if she realized the impact she had on my life . She treated me like I was just a new friend in town and never judged me by my mistakes. She welcomed me into her life and included me when she didn’t have to. It helped me see how much I belonged. She cheered me on that first year out and her kindness and support paid dividends on my success and ability to feel confident again in the world. Our friendship continued well after the one-year commitment and she became such a fixture in my life with our weekly calls and exchanged texts messages and pictures. I will miss her dearly and will honor her by giving what she so freely gave me. Kindness, love , and time. Everyone deserves a friend like Kathy!"

Kathy’s legacy lives on in the lives she touched and the hope she helped nurture. She will be remembered with gratitude, admiration, and love.