Kathleen Mottau

Kathy Mottau died peacefully at her home in Lyndeborough, NH surrounded by her beloved family and friends on Friday, December 14, 2018 at the age of 75.

A resident of the Monadnock region for more than 40 years, Kathy led an exemplary life of love and service, dedicating herself to helping those in need. She was a political and social activist who worked for change. She was a life long active member of the Democratic Party and worked for the George McGovern campaign.

Kathy was the Director of Family Services at Beach Hill Hospital, educating and counseling patients and their families suffering with addiction. She designed meditation seminars and workshops, teaching a new therapeutic treatment to relieve anxiety.
With a degree in child psychology she turned her focus to the at-risk children of the Monadnock region and became the Director of Kids Together, an after-school program based in Peterborough, NH. Her impact was far reaching. Guided by the principles of honesty, love, kindness and community, she was dedicated to teaching those values to the children she served. Kathy retired as Director of Kids Together after 20 wonderful years in June 2017. In 2018, she worked part time at the Tarbell Public Library in Lyndeborough.

Throughout her life, Kathy volunteered for the betterment of conditions for the underprivileged, which included the Monadnock Food Bank, the Monadnock Transitional Shelter, the woman's prison in Marlborough, NH, and the women's shelter in Antrim, NH. She was also a formidable fundraiser, directing her talents to organizing benefit concerts for the Wilton Public Schools, the Pine Hill Waldorf School and the Kids Together after-school program.

Kathleen Theresa Ryan Mottau was born on July 15, 1943 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Her parents, Edward Ryan, a union leader, and Rosaria D'Ambrosio Ryan, a homemaker, had five children; Victoria, Jean, Kathleen, Edward, and Michael. When Kathy was six her family moved from Boston to the nearby suburb of Avon, Mass. She attended St. Patrick's girls school and graduated from Avon High School in 1962. She graduated from Keene State College with a degree in child psychology.

Kathy married her high school sweetheart, Edward S. Mottau and moved to Greenwich Village in NYC. Kathy and her husband Ed, a musician and producer at the center of the 1960's and 1970's music industry, shared the exciting life of cultural change with their friends and colleagues, who were the artists, activists, poets and musicians of the day.
With their two children, Christine and Edward, Kathy and Ed divided their time between New York and New Hampshire, eventually moving full-time to Lyndeborough in the 1970s. Kathy was a creative homemaker, cook, gardener, and floral arranger, who loved to entertain her many friends and family. Known for her wit, wisdom and straight shooting honesty, she was a highly respected and deeply loved matriarch to her family, friends and community.

Kathy is survived by her husband of 55 years, Edward S. Mottau of Lyndeborough, NH; her daughter, Christine Mottau of New York City; her son, Edward M. Mottau of Lyndeborough, NH; her sister, Victoria Turpin of West Bridgewater, Mass; and her brother, Michael Ryan of White River Junction, VT. She is also survived by 16 nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life, memorial service will be held on Saturday January 5th at 1:00 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 25 Main Street, Peterborough, NH 03458.

In lieu of flowers, a charitable donation can be made "In memory of Kathy Mottau" to the Monadnock Area Transitional Shelter, PO Box 3053, Peterborough, NH 03458, 603-924-5033 or at info@matsnh.org. Assisting the family with arrangements is the Cremation Society of NH. To view Kathy's Online Tribute, send condolences to the family, or for more information, visit www.csnh.com.