Katherine “Katie” (Brandt) Achorn, died peacefully on May 1 at Cove’s Edge in Damariscotta. Gone is our baker of cookies, passionate gardener, and lover of children. She was a great letter writer and an avid reader. A witty illustrator, she added sketches to her letters and tucked comments written on scraps of paper into all her books. Libraries and art were life long vocations.
Born at home on June 11, 1922 to John and Helen (Stone) Brandt in Wolcott, N.Y., Katie was the first of five children. A high school art teacher encouraged her to get further art training which she did after attending William Smith College for two years. At Pratt Institute she majored in illustration for three years. There she also met Irving Achorn. They married on June 30, 1946 and left New York City for Ohio.
She surrounded herself with children, her own and neighbors’. Eventually Katie directed the children’s art program and taught classes at the Akron Art Institute for 11 years before joining the Fine Arts Reference Department at the Akron-Summit County Public Library for 14 years. She and her husband were founding members of the Designer Craftsmen Association in the Akron area. Art and the local art community were a constant source of inspiration.
New Harbor had been home since 1984 when she and her husband retired here from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. She became an active volunteer at both the Bristol Consolidated Library and in Bristol Consolidated School’s transitional class for two decades.
She was predeceased by sister, Alice Brandt Deeds and brother, John Brandt.
She will be missed by her husband, Irving Achorn of New Harbor; as well as the families of sisters Anne Brandt Sapp of Tucson, Ariz., and Martha Brandt Shafer of Fair Port, N.Y.; son, Peter Achorn of Tenants Harbor; daughters, Sara Achorn Brandt of LaCentre, Wash. and Linda Achorn Schreiber of Littleton, Mass.; granddaughters, Kathi Brandt, Stephanie Brandt Boyd, and Lila Achorn Ward; grandson, Max Schreiber; and great-granddaughters, Natalie and Alexis Boyd.
Katie’s ashes will be spread on her garden and those of her children.
Condolences for the family may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
