Kay McGee 1920-2012

Kathryn 'Kay' McGee, Founder of National Association for Down Syndrome

It's with a heavy heart that I share this with you.

-Article Courtesy of the Chicago Tribune

When her daughter Tricia was born with Down syndrome in 1960, Kathryn "Kay" McGee refused to accept the conventional wisdom back then that the best course was to put the child in an institution.

"Medical advice was not to bring the baby home," said Mrs. McGee's son Michael.

Instead, Mrs. McGee took her daughter home and started the National Association for Down Syndrome.

"She said, 'This is not good enough,'" said Sheila Hebein, recently retired after 30 years as the group's executive director. "She gathered a group of like-minded parents and medical professionals to maximize the possibilities for our children."

Mrs. McGee, 91, died of natural causes Thursday, Feb. 16, in her River Forest home, her son said. She had lived in River Forest for more than 50 years.

Born Kathryn Greene, she grew up in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. She graduated from what is now Chicago State University and taught briefly in Chicago Public Schools.

She married Martin McGee in 1943. By the late 1950s, the couple, then with three children, moved to River Forest. The birth of her daughter led her to start the association in her home.

"It takes your breath away when you first get a diagnosis of Down syndrome," said Hebein, who has a son who was born with the condition.

Mrs. McGee and her husband were determined to explore every possibility for their child and for others with the syndrome, Hebein said.

"Kay reached out. They had meetings in their home," Hebein said. "She had such energy and was determined that Tricia and other children were going to have a good life."

Her other children also helped. "We were warned everybody would have to pitch in," her son said.

As a teenager, Tricia sometimes answered the phone line reserved for calls from new parents of Down syndrome children and took messages. Those parents were often surprised and heartened when Mrs. McGee told them that her daughter with Down syndrome had answered their call.

Mrs. McGee recruited nurses and other hospital personnel to pass along the association's phone number to parents of children born with the condition, along with information about options beyond institutions, her son said.

Mrs. McGee's challenge was daunting, Hebein said. In those days, educators and others understood little about Down syndrome or the abilities of the children, she said.

I also wanted to share something else with you.  Some of you may know that Joe Paterno was a very strong supporter of the Special Olympics.  After his death, his family asked that any contributions be sent to the Special Olympics along with THON (and several other charities).  The Special Olympics received more than $80,000 in contributions from this request.  Regardless of your feelings about what happened at Penn State,  you have to admit, that is wonderful.  The Special Olympics will be able to utilize this large sum of money to do so much good.  Hopefully one day Raymond will be able to participate in our local chapter.  My sweet boy : )

Until Next Time!

Lots of Love,