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Kathleen A. Nesbitt

Date published: 9/30/2009

Kathleen A. Nesbitt

Kathleen A. Nesbitt, 54, passed away peacefully on Monday, Sept. 28, 2009, surrounded by her family at the home of her parents in Manasquan, N.J., after a courageous four-year battle with cancer.

She was a resident of Fredericksburg since 1977.

Kathy was born in Neptune, N.J. She attended St. Denis Grammar School, Wall Intermediate School, and graduated in 1972 from Wall High School, where she excelled on the girls varsity basketball and track teams. She was a finalist in discus at the state track meet in 1973. She was also a member of Wall High School's award winning military drill team. She graduated from Longwood College (now Longwood University) in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education. While at Longwood, she was also a member of the women's fencing team.

Kathy was employed by the Department of Defense, teaching physical education and Art to pre-K through eighth-grade students at Dahlgren School on the Naval Surface Warfare Center. Kathy's commitment, enthusiasm, motivation, skills and spirit helped many students identify, plan for and reach their goals. Because of Kathy's dedication to her field and to her students, she was named "teacher of the year" multiple times.

She retired in January 2009 after 28 years.

Kathy was also a talented artist who graciously contributed her artistic talent to the Rappahannock Youth Sympathy Orchestra Violin Project in Fredericksburg. Local artists painted retired violins that were auctioned to raise funds for this community based organization. Her patriotic- and Civil War-themed violins consistently brought top bids.

Kathy was predeceased by her brother, Robert B. "Bobby" Nesbitt, her maternal grandparents, James and Edith Kenyon, and her paternal grandparents, Harry and Ruth Nesbitt.

She is survived by her parents, Robert and Edith Nesbitt of Wall, N.J.; her sister, Vicki Nesbitt of Fredericksburg; her brother, Douglas Nesbitt and his wife, Stacey, of Wall; and her beloved nephews, Taylor and Keegan Nesbitt of Wall. She is also survived by our wonderful, caring friend Lisa Herr of Fredericksburg; and her little dog, Sky, and her lovebird, Nike.

Relatives and friends are invited to call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, at O'Brien Funeral Home, 2028 Highway 35, at New Bedford Road, Wall, N.J., 07719, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2, at St. Denis Roman Catholic Church, 90 Union Ave., Manasquan, N.J. 08736.

Monetary donations may be made in Kathy's name to the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital, New Brunswick, N.J., or the Cancer Institute of New Jersey, 195 Little Albany St., New Brunswick, N.J. 08903-2681.

For further information or to send condolences to the family, please visit obrien funeralhome.com.

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Date published: 9/30/2009