Kathleen "Kathy"KANY

Kathleen Kany Daamen

Kathy's 2011 Autobiography

Graduated from Vermont College with a degree. Obtained Registered Nurses license in New York State. Lived in Manhattan and worked at New York University Hospital as a nurse for about three years. Then had a great job and privilege being a First Lieutenant and youngest nurse ever on American Export and USS passenger ships for two years. Married John Daamen in Westport September 1967. Lived for one year in Utica NY and then moved to Kailua Hawaii for 10 years. While there I worked at various hospitals and had two beautiful daughters. Moved to the San Francisco Bay area in California for twenty three years and had our third beautiful daughter. In 2003 we moved as empty nesters back to New England, Kennebunk, Maine and bought a lovely 1784 ship captain's home. Now we are having a great time operating it as a Bed and Breakfast. All three daughters are married and we have four wonderful grandchildren, which includes a set of twins (now 8 months old).

Kathy’s Update (2021)

After graduation from Staples, I spent the summer with my family in Europe. In September I started attending Vermont College, School of Nursing, in Montpelier Vermont for two and a half years. I took and passed my R.N. board exams in June 1963.

My younger sister, Alice and I took off to bum around Europe for six weeks. We returned to N.Y.C. on the Queen Mary. I threatened to jump off the ship if I didn’t pass the boards, luckily, I did pass. I moved to N.Y.C. and shared an apartment with fellow graduate and good friend Candy Katelle (Monroe). We both worked at N.Y.U. Medical Center on 3^rd Avenue. Candy married John Monroe and I moved to live with another nurse for about two years. In 1965 I went with friends to Puerto Rico planning to stay only two weeks. My friends went back to N.Y.C. I just couldn’t make myself leave P.R. I stayed almost for one year working part time in a coffee shop. Meanwhile I had applied to work as a nurse on the American Export Ship Lines and the United States Ship. I was very pleasantly surprised when I was offered a job aboard – the youngest nurse ever to work there (21).

Back to N.Y.C. working on and off ships for about one and a half years, I loved it. Traveled to the Caribbean and Europe. During this time, I was also renewing my relationship with John Daamen from Montpelier, whom I had dated while in College. We were married in September 1967 and moved to Utica, N.Y. I worked at that hospital for about one and a half year. We traveled to California and Hawaii to decide where to settle down. It wasn’t a difficult decision – off to Kailua Hawaii for nine years and then moved back to Hollister California and then Discovery Bay CA for ten years. John retired and we decided to move back to the East Coast, Kennebunk Maine. We bought and ran the nine-bedroom historic Waldo Emerson Inn. In 2017 we sold the Inn and toured across the U.S. in our 32-foot RV and settled in Seal Beach CA to be close to two of our daughters. Dorothy with two kids in Huntington Beach and Nicole, who lives in Benicia with 2 kids. Our 3^rd and oldest daughter Jennifer lives in Ann Arbor, MI with two kids. Our daughters and families are doing great. Dorothy works at a Marriott in

management, Nicole is an ENT surgeon and Jennifer a commercial airline pilot. John and I are now quarantined anticipating to be able to get “out” and travel.

So, we feel very blessed. My husband John and I just celebrated our 52^nd anniversary and we even had our first Covid-19 vaccination today (January 18^th). I hope and pray daily for world peace and good health for 2021 for everyone. Maybe, next reunion, we can really get together in person. Here’s to the best rest of all our lives!