Katherine M. Pitkin, 94, of Newington and Old Saybrook died at Apple Rehab in Old Saybrook on June 26, 2013. She was born on September 9, 1918 in Hartford and resided there until she moved to Newington in 2004. She was a seasonal resident of Old Saybrook since 1980.
Katherine is the daughter of the late Edward G. and Catherine (Hannon) Pitkin, Sr.
She joined The Hartford Insurance Group in 1936 after being graduated from Hartford Public High School and served in various secretarial positions before becoming executive assistant to the Board of Directors and three Board Chairmen and Presidents in succession. She was the second woman elected a corporate officer of The Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company in 1962 and the third woman elected an officer of The Hartford Fire Insurance Company in 1964 with the title Assistant Secretary. She was elected Secretary of both companies in 1973.
Katherine served on committees of the Hartford Chamber of Commerce and St. Francis Hospital. In the 1970's she was invited to be the guest speaker at seminars of the Associations of Insurance Women throughout the country to discuss the changing opportunities for women in the insurance industry. Katherine retired in 1980 after forty-four years of service.
Katherine is survived by seventeen beloved nieces and nephews, several great-nieces and great-nephews (who affectionately began calling her K-K) as well as great-great-nieces and nephews, and several cousins. She was predeceased by her five siblings – sisters Mary P. Condron and Virginia A. Pitkin, and brothers Howard F. Pitkin, Sr., Edward G. Pitkin, Jr., and William J. Pitkin, Sr. and a nephew, William P. Condron.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary Church, Newington, on July 10, 2013 at 10:30 am by her nephew, Rev. Robert F. Condron. There are no calling hours. Burial was private.
Contributions may be made in Katherine's memory to the House of Bread, 1453 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06120 (www. hobread.org/giving).
Katherine's family would like to thank Kristofer Bagdasarian, M.D. for his compassionate care and concern, her friend and neighbor Zonia Torres, and the staff at Apple Rehab in both Rocky Hill and Old Saybrook. To share a memory with the family, please visit www.dillonbaxter.com