Many residents of Lansdale and the surrounding communities woke up this morning to see social media feeds dominated by “in memoriam” posts about the untimely passing of 40-year-old Katie Walton.
Mine was one of them. Yesterday, I lost a great friend.
Katie was taken off life support at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening, following a six-day stay in the Lansdale Hospital ICU that was triggered by a heart attack during the early morning hours of March 22. Her family stayed by her side every day, as a lengthy line of friends arrived each day to pay their respects, hold her hand and say one final goodbye.
Katie was a beautiful enigma; a woman whose wanton disregard for societal norms and expectations served both as her greatest strength and weakness. She could thrive amidst chaos—some of which was her own doing—and that led her to incredible experiences and the ability to establish connections that many of us will never achieve. She was strong-willed, philosophical, and nearly immune to adversity.
Friendship with Katie was a roller coaster, for sure. The highs were profoundly intimate, exciting and comforting, while the lows frequently pushed people away. But, those ties rarely severed, and she was always one phone call away from a happy reunion. Her drive took her to places of both brilliant light and deep darkness, yet it was impossible to condemn the latter without dimming the former.
Every person who had the distinction of calling her a friend was rewarded with an entirely unique experience. Some connected with her intellectually and spiritually, leading to conversations ranging from quantum entanglement, to her favorite Kurt Vonnegut book. Others saw her as a source of fun and entertainment; a women with a throaty, room-filling laugh and a weakness for punk rock and Pabst Blue Ribbon. The truth is, she was all of those things, and so much more.
For me, she was an incredible source of empathy, understanding and perspective. That was the marvel of Katie; her versatility, and willingness to create and maintain such a variety of connections and relationships.
The world already seems less interesting with her gone. Her star burned out far too early, but damn, did it burn bright.
Reactions from Friends and Family
• “How lucky I am to have known someone who was so hard to say goodbye to,” said Aubrey Gordon. “A piece of me is gone because I needed you to take it with you. And you left a piece of you here with me because I can’t go on without it. Rest easy you sweet, beautiful, brilliant, marvelous soul...”
• “You will forever hold a piece of my heart,” said Keira Rossi. “There is nothing that we haven’t done, and for you I am forever grateful.”
• “I hope you knew, at least in some way, the impact you had on so many of us,” said Michael Beswick. “We're all funnier, wittier, more brazen, definitively weirder, and just better people for having been lucky enough to have you as a part of our lives. I definitely am.”
• “I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I’m living, my sister you’ll be,” said Gwen Smith, Katie’s sister. “I love you so much. My heart will never be the same.”
• “I will love you for another lifetime,” said Nikki Sobel. “I’m so sad to say goodbye to such a sweet, amazing, caring soul.”
• “My heart breaks for you, your family and all of our friends,” said Kevin Thomas. “You were a close, fiercely-loyal-to-the-end, one-of-a-kind friend that I will never ever forget.”
• “We all lost a piece of our hearts tonight, but the memories will live on,” said Lauren Marie. “Love you forever, Captain.”
• “So few have had the impact you’ve had on my life,” said Linda Clement. “I want to remember us just dancing in the rain. I simply can’t imagine this world without you...I’ll love you forever.”
• “You were an inspiration to many, and a character to everyone else,” said Jonathan Clayton. “May you fly with the angels now my friend. You were certainly one of a kind.”
• “I love you old friend; always have, always will,” said Heather Slagel. “We'll make sure your book always remains open, so you're never forgotten. Because you're absolutely unforgettable.”
See also:
Local Pizza Legend Nino Maltese Dies At Age 85
Carl Saldutti, Lansdale Parks & Recreation Chief, Dies At 69
