Katherine 'Kay' Seward

Katherine “Kay” Seward died in early October, following a fall. She was 92 years old, and living independently at her homes in Southampton and New York City.

Ms. Seward was a retired public school teacher from Maryland who summered in Southampton for close to 30 years.

Most summer days, Ms. Seward could be found on Cooper’s beach, with friends old and new, according to her family. She was a regular patron and supporter of Rogers Memorial Library, and spent many years as a volunteer at Bay Street Theater.

Ms. Seward was born in Englewood, New Jersey, and raised in Tenafly.

During her marriage to U.S. Navy officer Robert J. Barnes Sr. in the 1940s and 1950s, she made homes throughout the United States, living in 18 cites and raising three children.

At the same time, she took college courses wherever they lived, from UC Berkeley to University of Minnesota, to the George Washington University, where she received her undergraduate degree in 1961.

Ms. Seward later earned a Masters of Education degree from the University of Maryland. She did post-graduate work at University of Alaska and Columbia Teacher’s College.

Her second marriage was to Edward W. Knowles in 1963, with whom she had one child. The family lived initially in Germany, in Frankfurt and Bonn. Upon returning to the United States in 1968, Ms. Seward began a long career as a Maryland public school teacher and proud union member, her family said, giving hundreds of kindergartners a strong start with her creativity and energy.

She was active in the Maryland Democratic Party, as a precinct chairperson and party district official. She was appointed by the governor to the Potomac River Basin Commission. She ushered at the Arena stage for 26 years was a White House volunteer during the Clinton administration. Ms. Seward also taught computer classes for Texas Instruments in the early days of personal computing.

After retiring to New York City, she lived in Stuyvesant Town and was a committed volunteer. She served as a docent at the Merchant’s House museum, Gracie Mansion and the New York City Opera.

Ms. Seward is survived by her loving children, Robert, Joanne and Edward Barnes, and Mary Knowles, their spouses Sally Barnes, Maria Aloizou and Steve Feldberg, 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Donations in Ms. Seward’s memory may be made to the Rogers Memorial Library, 91 Coopers Farm Road, Southampton, NY 11968