Hadley, Dr. Katharine E. Reichert, died quietly and peacefully at the Hospice of the Fisher Home March 21, 2015 at the age of 86. Katharine {Kay} was born to William H. and Sara K. Reichert in Arnold, PA June 16, 1928.

 Kay started her medical career as a nurses’ aide at a local hospital while she was still in high school. She went on to become a registered nurse graduating from Allegheny Valley Hospital in PA. She then enlisted in the Air Force Nurse Corps serving for 3 years {1950 – 1953}, two of which she spent in Japan during the Korean War. After discharge form the service she attended the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Nursing where she obtained the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing Education because she enjoyed teaching nurses. But Kay had always wanted to be a medical doctor, and the G.I. Bill helped her to attain that dream. She graduated from the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine in 1961. Kay completed her internship at Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital in Hanover, NH and her residency in Family Practice at Maine Medical Center in Portland, ME. She was a diplomat of The American Board of Family Practice.

From 1963 – 1966 she practiced rural family medicine in Lyme, NH. She then spent 16 years as a student health physician at the University of Massachusetts Health Services. Her last seven years of practice were spent as the Director of the Health Services at Hampshire College.

Kay was a pioneer in the involvement of the nurse practitioner movement in Massachusetts. She taught nurses to become nurse practitioners while working at the University of Massachusetts and published a book, Primary Care of Young Adults. Her publisher asked her to write a second edition, which she did.

Kay had enjoyed hiking from the days of her youth. While she was in Japan she and a friend climbed Mt. Fuji- an experience she said was one of the highlights of her life. They climbed at night and saw the sun rise from below them.

Kay spent many hours hiking and fishing in the Presidential Mountain Range area of New Hampshire. After she retired in 1989 she enjoyed the senior hiker group in this area and eventually became the leader of this group hiking many different trails in Western Massachusetts. Kay and her friend Margaret Frerichs also spent many summers hiking their much loved Alps in Austria and Switzerland.

Kay was a long time member of The First Congregational Church of Hadley, serving on various committees.

Kay lived for 50 years with her beloved friend, Margaret Frerichs, who predeceased her in 2012. Her brother, Thomas Reichert also predeceased her. She leaves her sister-in-law Melva Reichert, many cousins and the entire family of her dear friends Ken and Judy Parker. She also leaves many special friends who were always there to support her in many different ways. Her beloved cat, Skoshi who was her constant companion has been adopted by a close friend.

A memorial service celebrating Kay’s life will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, March 28^th, 2015 at The First Congregational Church in Hadley.

In lieu of flowers contributions in memory of Kay may be made to The First Congregational Church of Hadley, 102 Middle St., Hadley, MA 01035. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.