Kathleen Dwyer Duyck

Kathleen Duyck passed away July 30, 2023

Born on July 21, 1933 in Portland Oregon to Anthony Joseph Dwyer and Edna Hayes Dwyer, Kathleen was the second of their four daughters.  She attended grammar school at Duniway, St. Stephen’s, and St. Mary’s Academy.  At her eighth grade Graduation she was awarded a full ‘cello music scholarship to St Mary’s Academy High School.  She excelled both in academics and music and was Principal ‘Cellist in the Orchestra, played also in a String Trio and in the Ensemble.  Kathleen was an officer of both the Camera and Gold Stripe Clubs, as well as a member of the National Honor Society.  She was a bit of wordsmith putting the Volleyball teams’ names to the fight song melody of McNamara’s Band.  Several names were not Irish and were hard to rhyme.  She had shown interest in Poetry starting in First Grade.  The four Dwyer girls enjoyed music and sang harmony while riding horseback at their summer home in the Eagle Creek Estacada area as well as at Christmas time around the Dwyer Lumber tree featured in the bay window of the Eastmoreland home in Portland.

            Graduating from St. Mary’s while sixteen, Kathleen found Oregon State College vastly different than the experience of being at the all-girl with sedate navy blue uniforms required.  At OSC she majored in Social Work in the School of Home Economics, Class of 1954.  This field culminated in “Home Ec. Practice House” six- week line-in course where each week a student was assigned as cook, housekeeper, or baby-tender of an actual toddler, or was an assistant to the head of the first jobs.  Kathleen was active in the OSC and Corvallis Symphony, again served as Principal ‘Cellist and was Secretary of Euterpe Womens’ Music Honorary, An Officer at Sackett Hall, she added Song Leader for Senior Year.

            Kathleen next attended the University of Washington, in Seattle, Class of 1956 where she earned her Masters in Social Work.  Her first year she interned at the University District Public Assistance Agency whose student unit each handled a variety of cases.  At the end of the year we tackled in the classroom our written Comprehensives and were pleased with our Exemplary rating.  The S.WK. Graduate School initiated a Student Club and Kathleen was drafted to be Social Chairman.  Second year’s agency was at Medina Children’s Service where I started my chosen field of Adoption, and we worked halftime and attended class and wrote a Master’s Thesis.  Our thesis was titled “A Comparative Study of Factors Involved in Successful Completion of a Course of Vocational Rehabilitation”.

            After receiving the M.S.W. Kathleen returned to Oregon, lived in the Lake Oswego area and took employment with Catholic Services for Children Agency in Portland from 1956-1961.  My field was Foster Homefinding and Supervision of certain Foster Children, and progressed to my field of choice; ultimately Adoption.  Using both my Home Ec. Training and the Master of Social Work, it was applied in evaluating and later supervising placements around Oregon.  Infants were presented usually at Providence Nursery and prospective parents often brought potential aunts, uncles, grandparents for the Baptism to follow.  It was a happy, family affair.  Infants went home to small towns, rural farms, besides to urban areas, and my travels included to soon know the entire geography of Oregon.  As the National Association of Social Workers Representative, Kathleen maintained her Affiliation until 1985 and was a proud member.

            On February 3, 1962 Kathleen married Lt. Robert Duyck after meeting him at a St. Patrick’s Dance.  A fellow Caseworker from Catholic Charities introduced him and it turned out neither of the parties had previously met until that night.  The couple met shortly before Bob travelled to his first Air Force assignment in New Mexico.  Dates on military leaves to Portland were the norm and in 1961 Bob invited Kathleen to meet in Europe on his leave from his latest assignment in Iceland.  Three Oregon girls headed to Frankfort to surprise Bob and Bob and Kathleen got engaged, we four toured a Diamond factory in Amsterdam, and continued the trip for two weeks.  Kathleen, sister Stephanie, and friend Martha said Good-byes and Kathleen returned to plan a February wedding.  The wedding Mass was in Lake Oswego on February 3, 1962 at a Solemn High Mass at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church.  The Portland Garden Club was the site for the Reception.

            The Honeymoon trip was to Acapulco and Mexico City as we were next soon to sign in at San Antonio.  Brook AFB was my first experience with military life.  After getting settled, Kathleen accepted a position at San Antonio’s Catholic Welfare Bureau with a full range of cases both Foster and Adoptive, Licensing, and also seeing natural parents.  We also enjoyed Mexican food, the new S. Western location, and attended the Riverwalk’s Latino Entertainment.

            Bob was suddenly transferred to the Missile Program in the Fall of 1962 which meant training in Wichata Falls, then onto Tucson as a new Base Assignment.  We had a trip to Portland after Wichata Falls to have Mary Kay our first baby, between assignments, and enjoyed introducing her to the two Oregon families, including great-grandparents.

            Next it was to Tucson, buying another house meeting new military families, and occasional Officers Club events.  The Tucson Symphony asked me to join their Orchestra so I played from 1963-1965.  It was my return to music.  Little Robert Patrick arrived in 1964 which meant double cribs, double diaper duty, and soon double hi-chairs.  Anthony Joseph arrived in 1965.  It was a very full, happy time and we were in Tucson for a steady three years.

            In 1966 Bob resigned his Commission and we moved to Phoenix and entered civilian life with a housefull of toddlers in the Camelback area.  Next came St. Theresa’s Parish School, Arcadia High, and A.S.U. in triplicate.  As a St. Theresa’s parent, Kathleen was a Cub Scout den leader, Girl Scout leader, noon-hour mother, band bookkeeper who even led the all-school band performance in the absence of the paid regular Conductor.  The three Duyck children as a Trio played at Christmas Eve Mass with Mary Kay on Clarinet, Patrick on Saxophone, and Tony on Trumpet.  At Arcadia, the three were the first three Band members all playing the same year from one Family.  All three attended ASU with Mary Kay graduating, Patrick finishing at Sacramento State, and Tony attending but preferring to build homes in the Northwest.

            Kathleen performed in the Phoenix music orchestra world at PHOENIX COLLEGE thirteen years, often the Principle Cellist with the AL CELLO SOCIETY from 1970-1980; and with the SCOTTSDALESYMPHONY from 1975-1980, and the latter as Principal ‘Cellist.  In the total music endeavor, she met several world known ‘Cellist; Casals, Piatagorsky, Fournier, and most frequently, Yo-Yo Ma.

            In 1980, Kathleen was ordered to retire from actively playing her ‘cello due to Fibromyalgia and other arthritic symptoms.  She promoted symphony music, attended the many artistic and cultural events including those of the Phoenix Symphony Guild later called Phoenix Youth Symphony.  A member of that group since 1969, she served as a Symphony Ball Hostess, Recording Secretary, Membership Chair, Corresponding Chair, and rose to a Vice-President in 2013-2014.  She was a Scholarship Donor and frequently attended as a Hostess for the Competition Luncheon.  She often composed a write-up or poetry in PYS newsletters with praise for each performer at this annual event.

            Kathleen also was a volunteer, fundraiser, and Board member for the Phoenix Art Museum and had been Corresponding Secretary, Vice-President, and in 2013-2014 was President of the League.  She was active in all “Arts and Flowers” events, a very popular series which drew enthusiasm and swelled Museum attendance.

            Active also on the Board of Friends of the Family Services Agency, Kathleen had been “Friends” Corresponding Secretary, as well as Vice-President for several years.  In 2014, she hosted the annual Christmas Party at their home and sponsored the D’Avanzo Duo to be both the entertainment and sing-a-long accompaniment. 

            After 1980, Kathleen looked to other creative outlets, especially Poetry writing and she sent works to the Library of Poetry and joined the International Society of Poetry.  She compiled two “Sounds of poetry”, tapes, both of her works read by the ISP professional readers.  She has also two poems on C.D.’s (compilations of I.S.P poets).  A poem, Madisen Beth, was put to music by Cliff Ayres, and written for her Grandchild, as Kathleen composed an original poem for each new Grandchild.  As President of the Art League, she enjoyed creating three Membership invitation ideas and composed a Welcome Address in a poem for the “Arts and Flowers” Luncheon.  At the Duyck’s 50th Anniversary, that 50th poem was rolled diploma-style and had hand-sewn tiny roses attached at each dinner place.

            Kathleen is survived by her husband Robert Duyck, and two of her three children: Mary Katherine and Husband William Boeyen of Tampa, FL;  Patrick and Wife Beth of Queen Creek, AZ.  Anthony Joseph Duyck of Dallesport, WA. her third child has died. Grandchildren: Katherine Marie Boeyen, William Charles Boeyen, Conner Patrick Duyck, Madisen Beth Duyck, and Liam McGreger Duyck.  Older sister Joanne Dwyer Harsey predeceased her, survived  her younger sisters, Rosemary Dwyer Seggert, and Stephanie Dwyer Talley.  Kathleen was one of twenty four Hayes first cousins and one of sixteen Dwyer first cousins.  She had eleven nieces and nephews.  Bob and Kathleen acquired a Lake Oswego Condo in 2006 and enjoyed escaping the Phoenix heat in the summertime and attending occasional year round socials with family and friends as time and energy permitted.  They enjoyed the woodsy serene view from the banks of the Willamette River.  Their Phoenix home with Camelback Mountain as a monumental view of their permanent home since 1966.

                                    Special Awards for Kathleen include:

     Lifetime Achievement                          International Bio Center

     Lifetime Achievement                          Congress of Art, Science, Communication

     Lifetime Achievement                          Marquis Who’s Who in America

     Humanitarian Achievement                  Marquis Who’s Who in America

     Kathleen Duyck Award ’Cello Soc      Awards to ’Cellist Z. Nelsova

     Featured Speaker and Ambassador      World Forum D.C., London, San  

                                                                   Francisco, Boston

     Outstanding Achievement                    International Society of Poets

     Knights of Columbus                            Special Award - Sweetheart Ball Activity –                                                              1978            

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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