The Reverend Kathryn Pearce Clausen passed away on Wednesday, August 14, 2024.
She was born Kathryn Mercedes Pearce on June 17, 1941, in Dayton, Ohio, the youngest daughter of George Pearce and Louise (Murphy) Pearce. She grew up in Dayton and attended The Ohio State University where she was a member of Delta Zeta sorority. She attended medical school at the University of Michigan, later transferring back to Ohio State where she received a BA in German, a MD with honors, and a MS in Pathology, all from The Ohio State University.
Kathryn spent most of her professional career at Ohio State, retiring in 1997 as Professor and Chair of the Department of Pathology and Associate Dean for Medical Education at the College of Medicine. She served as Director of the Division of Surgical Pathology at University Hospitals, Director of the Independent Study Program of the College of Medicine, Chief of Staff of the University Hospitals and Pathology Department Chair. She served on review committees for the National Institute of Health and has numerous articles and publications on the pathology of cancer. In 1997, Dr. Clausen retired from the Chair and was appointed Associate Dean for Medical Education by Dr. Bernadine Healy, retiring in 1999.
Awards and honors include AOA (the medical honor society), five teaching awards, including Preclinical Professor of the Year, the Alumni Achievement Award of the College of Medicine and The Paxton Lectureship Award. She received the “Spirit of Woman” award from the National Spirit of Woman Foundation in 1999.
Following retirement from Ohio State, Kathryn discerned her vocation in ministry in the Episcopal Church. She graduated from the Bexley Hall program for Anglican Studies with a MTS degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus in 2001 and was ordained an Episcopal Priest that year. She served as Associate Dean of Bexley Hall from 1999 to 2006 and served as a Trustee and Treasurer of Bexley Hall until 2009. She served as Parish Intern and then Priest in Charge at several churches including Trinity in Newark, Trinity in London, St. James in Zanesville, Harcourt Parish at Kenyon College, Gambier (Diocese of Ohio) and St. Phillip’s in Circleville. She retired from ministry in 2022.
In all her activities, Kathryn (“Kitty”) strove to open doors and set an example of excellence and leadership for women, whether in medicine, ministry, or any other activity. She did this most especially for her beloved granddaughters, Dorothy and Daphne, and to remind these young women that their achievements are built on the shoulders of those who came before them, including not only pioneering women but also the fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons, who supported them along the way.
Kathryn was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, William; her daughter, Carol; and sister, Anna Hawkins.
She is survived by her son, David of New York City, where he lives with his wife, Diana Eng, and granddaughters, Dorothy and Daphne; her sister, Julia Heisey and her husband Huffman of Atlanta, Georgia; stepbrother, James Herman; stepsister and niece, Mrs. Bonnie Bauer and Dr. Annette Bauer of New Carlisle, Ohio; son-in-law, Dr. John Thomas and his daughter Caitlin; niece, Emily Campbell (Reverend Adam Campbell) of Maryland; and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her friends and companions, Rick Hoskinson and Mark Pinnick, with whom she shared a home for 13 years.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 31, 2024, at St. James Episcopal Church, 155 North 6th Street in Zanesville, with The Right Reverend Kristin White presiding. Inurnment will follow at a later date at the Memorial Garden of St. John Episcopal Church in Lancaster, Ohio.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the OSU (Ohio State University) Foundation, Kathryn P. Clausen Scholarship Fund #641297 or to the Future Fund of Trinity Episcopal Church in Newark, Ohio.
Please visit www.HoskinsonFuneral.com to leave a message of comfort and care for the family.
HOSKINSON Funeral and Cremation Service, Kirkersville, is honored to care for Kitty and her family.
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