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Kathy Graves Jaqua
October 19, 1945 - February 20, 2017
Kathy Graves Jaqua passed away peacefully at the age of 71 at her San Francisco home for the past twenty-five years; succumbing to a ten years' illness with the progressive connective tissue disease, Scleroderma. She was recently predeceased by her mother Dee Graves in Napa and by her younger brother Dwight and earlier by her loving father Leo Graves.
Kathy was born in Kansas and raised in Napa California with her mother, a well-known artist in Napa County, and younger siblings Dwight, Randy, and Jeannene. As a teenager she was an accomplished violinist and won Miss Napa County in the Miss Americas Pageant; later briefly pursuing a fashion modeling career. She enjoyed a lifelong love for science and sci-fi movies. She was a talented artist and an avid tennis player. She lived most of her adult life happily in the Bay Area in Napa, Marin, and San Francisco counties where she was also involved in societal and fund raising charitable causes.
She received her B.A. degree at USF where she went on to pursue graduate studies in the physiological sciences with some studies in nursing before embarking on a lifetime professional career in Macintosh computer programming.
She is described by family, friends and colleagues in their sympathies as: "a loving angel; "a sweet and gentle spirit; "joyous and always happy; "sweet, caring and smart; "most special and most caring; "a wonderful and loving partner; "admired for her love, tenderness, sensitivity, and passionate sweetness; "loving and caring; and "an enormous loss of a brilliant and beautiful person." "The world lost a loving woman, Heaven gained a sweet angel."
She is survived by her devoted life partner of twenty-five years Stephen Karpman, M.D. and his son Eric; her beloved and loyal sister Jeannene Craft of Napa and Oregon; her younger brother Randy Graves; and by caring friends Zulema Custodio and Jose Chavez, and her playful two-year-old pet Yorkie, Daisey, and by so many wonderful friends she met along the way whose lives she touched with her gentle kindness.
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Charlene (Cissy) Taylor (Brazil)
I lost connection with Kathy after high school. I am sadden by this notice. She must have been a wonderful, kind lady. God bless her family and friends.
Mary Pieratt
Kathy and I were classmates at Redwood Jr High, we both lived up Redwood/Mt Veeder, I talked to her after school every day . She was a very interesting, talented girl. Kathy was quiet and not so outgoing as most of the people I knew then, she marched to the tune of a different drummer, so of course I wanted to know her and find out where she got all that self-confidence, whatever it was she knew, I wanted to know! She played violin beautifully, had a sense of style all her own and was so intelligent, worldly and avant guard. I would see her occasionally at San Francisco events, a wonderful woman.
Virginia Ratcliffe
I am shocked that kathy is gone! We were best friends growing up here in Napa. She lived down the street from me and we were in orchetra together in Redwood and Napa High. I accompanied her on the piano when when she tried out for Miss Napa County when she played the violin. Her family was all about art. They were always so kind to all of us who were at her house. I haven't seen kathy since she moved away from Napa all those years ago. So...I guess I'll have to wait to see her again in Heaven. Hey maybe we can be in orchestra again. I wish you well, Kathy. You are in a wonderful place now with your family. Bless you. xoxoxoxox
Diane Raymond (Ball)
I'm so sorry to hear about Kathy's passing. We were friends. She was quiet, but always nice to me. I remember visiting her mom's, Dee's, art store on Lincoln Ave. So many nice supplies in that store. I, also, remember Kathy's playing the violin in the orchestra and being in Drama. I remember her name being on the wall on the side wall of the stage with the rest of the Drama students. She was a kind soul. We knew each other in Redwood Jr. High, and then, Napa High.
Vicki Ichtertz (Snyder)
My thoughts and prayers to Kathy's family and friends. Rest in peace, Kathy.
Donna Paul (Wigington)
I'm sad to hear of Kathy's passing. I also went to Redwood with her. As Mary said, she did march to the beat of her own drum. She was a talented, sweet girl. RIP Kathy.
Bruce Erricson
Another startling passing. I haven't seen or spoken with Kathy in half a century, but I certainly remember her: especially from orchestra & drama. I always liked her; she was fun to talk with & very attractive, though in a way that may have been considered a bit ahead of the times. While she could look flamboyant, she was actually somewhat quiet & shy and, as some have noted, very much into the arts. I sincerely hope she had a rich and full life.