During my entire 6-year experience at Walnut Hills High School, I only spent about 9 minutes with Kitty Conner, but they were special. Sitting in the hallway, in front of the typing room/classroom, were about a dozen of us earlybird-students, waiting for Mrs. Pauszek to unlock the door and begin teaching her 1:00 pm Eighth Grade English Class. I happened to be sitting next to Kitty and said "Hi, how do you like reading this book, "Johnny Tremain?" She smiled, and turned more to me and started talking...for nine minutes!
Now, when someone talks to another, 60 % of the message is sent via body language, 30 % is by tone of voice so only 10 % by the words used. I cannot recall the words she spoke about her relating to this fictional teenager's experiences in the American Revolution. But, Kitty's face was so bright and happy and often a smile would come out, as she shared her impressions of that book. Her tone of voice was not superior, but soft and gentle. It was if she was talking to her brother (ok, for me, slowly and quietly, like a mentally impaired brother, but still). Now, I was thinking at the time that she could be talking to somebody likde Dick Gordon. (Dick, I thought at the time was that after graduating, he would become a successful professional athelete or movie star.) Or, she could be talking to Henry Neloms. (Hank, I thought at the time was capable after graduating, of becoming a successful professional athelete or stand up comic.) But, she was talking to me. She was smarter than me. She was shorter than me. She was African American, and I was not. Still, there was no animosity in her tone. She was welcoming me into her world. For the first time in over a year, I did not feel like a misfit in that high school. For the first time I felt like I was accepted into this class of over-achievers (aka, WHHS Class of 1961, ha ha).
As I understand it, after high school, Kitty went on to become a doctor and had a career as a heart surgeon in Cleveland, Ohio. I hope she felt appreciated in every step of her adult life. For me, now, even 65 years later, those nine minutes, that moment in life, as an audience of one with Kitty impressed me to see what sort of person she was...Kitty was AWESOME!!.
Kitty was among the best. She gave me the impression that she was pursuant to the ideals of her profession as an MD. She showed her aspirations at WHHS and I am sure she continued to strive for the best in her profession. I felt much sorrow at the news of her passing,wishing it wasn't so.
Richard C. Drayson
During my entire 6-year experience at Walnut Hills High School, I only spent about 9 minutes with Kitty Conner, but they were special. Sitting in the hallway, in front of the typing room/classroom, were about a dozen of us earlybird-students, waiting for Mrs. Pauszek to unlock the door and begin teaching her 1:00 pm Eighth Grade English Class. I happened to be sitting next to Kitty and said "Hi, how do you like reading this book, "Johnny Tremain?" She smiled, and turned more to me and started talking...for nine minutes!
Now, when someone talks to another, 60 % of the message is sent via body language, 30 % is by tone of voice so only 10 % by the words used. I cannot recall the words she spoke about her relating to this fictional teenager's experiences in the American Revolution. But, Kitty's face was so bright and happy and often a smile would come out, as she shared her impressions of that book. Her tone of voice was not superior, but soft and gentle. It was if she was talking to her brother (ok, for me, slowly and quietly, like a mentally impaired brother, but still). Now, I was thinking at the time that she could be talking to somebody likde Dick Gordon. (Dick, I thought at the time was that after graduating, he would become a successful professional athelete or movie star.) Or, she could be talking to Henry Neloms. (Hank, I thought at the time was capable after graduating, of becoming a successful professional athelete or stand up comic.) But, she was talking to me. She was smarter than me. She was shorter than me. She was African American, and I was not. Still, there was no animosity in her tone. She was welcoming me into her world. For the first time in over a year, I did not feel like a misfit in that high school. For the first time I felt like I was accepted into this class of over-achievers (aka, WHHS Class of 1961, ha ha).
As I understand it, after high school, Kitty went on to become a doctor and had a career as a heart surgeon in Cleveland, Ohio. I hope she felt appreciated in every step of her adult life. For me, now, even 65 years later, those nine minutes, that moment in life, as an audience of one with Kitty impressed me to see what sort of person she was...Kitty was AWESOME!!.
Dick Drayson
Barbara A. Beinhart (Hart)
What a wonderful remembrance of Kitty. Thank you for sharing it with the rest of us. Barbara (Beinhart) Hart
Ilo Soovere
Kitty was among the best. She gave me the impression that she was pursuant to the ideals of her profession as an MD. She showed her aspirations at WHHS and I am sure she continued to strive for the best in her profession. I felt much sorrow at the news of her passing,wishing it wasn't so.