Kate Ireland, 80, passed away peacefully at her home at Foshalee Plantation on Feb. 15.
Kate was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on Aug. 25, 1930. Her parents were Robert Livingston Ireland Jr. and Margaret “Peg” Allen Ireland, whose family wealth, tradition of philanthropy and public service, and love of the outdoors groomed Kate for her life of volunteerism, public service, riding and hunting sports and dedication to conserving the land. She was a noted naturalist and preservationist, committed to restoring and maintaining the Red Hills of North Florida and South Georgia.
An eight mile stretch of State Road 319 north of Tallahassee, Fla. bears her name, the “Kate Ireland Parkway,” in thanks to her and the assistance of others for donating the right of way to the state to widen and beautify the roadway.
Kate attended Laurel School in Cleveland, Ohio, graduated from St. Timothy’s in Baltimore, Md. and then attended Vassar College for a year before going to Kentucky to volunteer for the Frontier Nursing Service. She became its national chairman in 1975 to raise funds for the medical program and midwifery program, and remained its honorary Chairman. Kate served as Chairman, Trustee, or Director of many organizations everywhere she lived. She also received various awards for her many services.
She always felt a responsibility to give back to the communities in which she lived including serving as a trustee of Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta near the coast where she and other family members have summered for many decades.
Kate loved music and was a member of the Metropolitan Opera Association since 1978. She also served on the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, 4th District, the president’s council of the Nature Conservancy, and the National HomeCaring Council (which became the Foundation of Hospice and HomeCare).
Throughout her life she was committed to the educational institutions she attended serving as a longtime trustee for both Laurel and St. Timothy’s Schools.
Kate was honored with many other awards during her life time, including the Doctor of Humanitarian Pursuits; Doctor of Humane Letters; Distinguished Service Award; commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel by the Commonwealth of Kentucky; 1995 Volunteer of the Year award by Tallahassee Democrat and Volunteer Big Bend and many other recognitions and certificates.
Kate is survived by her sister, Louise Ireland Humphrey of Woodfield Springs Plantation; dear friend, Anne Cundle; nieces and nephews, Barney Ireland, Jodie Ireland, Thomas Ireland, Bob Ireland, Nancy Ireland Stahl, Julia Ireland Randall, Watts Humphrey, and George Humphrey; and by many other great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins.
Memorial service 4 p.m., Fri., March 4 in Thomasville, Ga. at All Saints Episcopal Church, reception will follow at Foshalee Plantation.
She will be buried at Harrington Cemetery, Pemaquid later this year.
