|
Kathleen (often called Kate or Kay by family and friends) was born in Washington, DC on July 28, 1943, to George and Mary Clifford. Raised with her four siblings in Washington and Chevy Chase, MD, Kathleen was brilliant. There was no subject she could not master and very few could match her quick wit and inexhaustible work ethic. She was funny, beautiful and athletic – a champion swimmer, who also played CYO basketball and baseball on a boys youth team. After graduating from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in 1961, Kathleen attended Georgetown University, leaving after her sophomore year to marry Richard C. MacDonough, of Wellesley, MA. When their marriage ended in divorce, Kathleen returned to the DC- area in 1967 to raise their two children. As a single mother, Kathleen worked non-stop to support her family, serving as a Washington correspondent and contributing writer for several publications, including Detroit Scope and the Manhattan Tribune, and consulting for USR&D Corporation. She wrote and consulted for political campaigns, including those of Arthur Goldberg and Robert F. and Edward M. Kennedy. While working full-time, she returned to Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service, graduating with honors in 1974. She then built a remarkable career in public relations, public affairs and crisis management that spanned four decades. Kathleen served as a Vice President, Public Affairs, at Burson-Marsteller until 1979, when she was hired by her client, the General Foods Corporation (GF) and relocated to the New York-area to serve as Manager of Corporate Issues. She worked for GF as Director of Corporate Issues and Director of Corporate Affairs until 1987, when Philip Morris, Inc. bought GF, and she was named Director of Corporate Issues Coordination. In the 1990’s Kathleen returned to her hometown, where her children were living, to serve as Manager of Media Relations for the United States Postal Service (USPS). She retired from USPS in 2013. Kathleen guest-lectured at universities and contributed to MBA programs at Harvard and Dartmouth. She served on numerous boards and public service agencies, including the Better Business Bureau and the Columbia University Center for Social Policy and Practice in the Workplace. She gave freely of her time and expertise to countless causes. Kathleen loved children, books (of which she had thousands), the ocean, a good debate, driving a stick shift, big dogs, heavy snow, old movies, holidays, sports of all kinds, ice cream, “Jeopardy” and Coca Cola. She was the life of every party and the master of every dance floor. She opened her home to her children’s friends and was a second Mom and mentor to many of them. She was extremely proud of her heritage and loved her big, Irish family with all her heart – which luckily for them was huge. Kathleen was generous, fiercely loyal, the bravest woman her family ever knew. She was honest as they come and entirely intolerant of unfairness or discrimination of any kind. She had a gift for making people feel noticed and special. She was often described by her nieces and nephews as “magical.” She was a force of nature who will be missed beyond measure by all who loved her. Kathleen is survived by her two devoted children: Richard C. MacDonough, Jr. (Julia) of Hollis, NH., and Elizabeth C. MacDonough, of Arlington, VA; grandchildren Joseph, Catherine and Michael MacDonough; brother John M. Clifford (Sue) of Chevy Chase, D.C.; sister-in-law Garry Clifford of Washington, D.C.; 12 nieces and nephews; and, a marvelous, growing pack of great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, George Clifford, Jr.; and, earlier this year, sisters Ellen Clifford Perkins and Mary Clifford Poor. In lieu of flowers, please consider making donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
|
