Kathleen Fitzhugh Remitz

Kathleen Fitzhugh Remitz, the Marin County children’s librarian known as “Miss Kitty” to generations of youngsters and their parents, died Monday, July 8, at home in Larkspur after a long illness.

Kathleen joined the Marin County library system in 1997 and retired in 2022. She worked during those years in the Marin County Civic Center Main Library.

She is beloved by many children and their parents for her dedication to and affection for her patrons. Her work included hosting story times, organizing reading materials and coordinating public speakers.

She found the work inspiring and often spoke about the rewards of helping the young people she so adored. Among her greatest rewards were “her kids” returning to visit and share notes and stories long after they had moved past the children’s section into adulthood.

Kathleen lived a life characterized by wit, artistic creativity, and a deep devotion to the causes she held dear.

Kathleen's legacy of youth literacy is a testament to her efforts to share the joy and importance of reading with others. Miss Kitty will be remembered for her passion for life and dedication to making lasting differences in the lives of others.

Among her former patrons is Gus Lafemina, now 17. He wrote in a hand-illustrated letter to “Miss Kitty:”

I wanted to make you a card to let you know how much I appreciate all that you have done for me over the years.

You are such a valuable librarian and human being and I want to sincerely thank you for being the one to get me excited about reading all those years ago when I first came here to San Rafael.

Your truly special ability to go down to a child’s level and foster in them a lifelong love of reading and learning, from the Berenstain Bears to Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities to my treasured quantum mechanics textbooks, is a rare quality among children’s librarians and adults more broadly.

Reading has become so important to me in a world where screens and computers are becoming ever more prevalent — to be able to dive into another person’s worldview through literature — is still so freeing and rewarding.

It was such a pleasure to volunteer for the summer reading program for you before the pandemic, and to get to witness the sparks light up in younger kids’ eyes as they too got to experience the same magic that you fostered in me.

Thank you so much for giving me this gift. You are always in my thoughts and prayers.

Love, Gus

Kathleen’s legacy of supporting children continues with the donation of her rich collection of art materials and books to Youth in Arts, the Marin County organization providing an array of extracurricular art programs since 1970.

“We at Youth in Arts are deeply grateful for the generous donation of arts materials in honor of Miss Kitty,” said Cathy Bowman, YIA Mentor Artist and Arts Unite Us Coordinator.

“This support will significantly enhance our Artists in Schools Program and our Arts Unite Us initiative, which serves students with disabilities throughout Marin,” she said. “Our programs are dedicated to fostering creativity, confidence, and compassion through the arts.”

“These wonderful materials can help us bring the joy and inspiration of local legends like Miss Kitty into our work, introducing children to new tools and mediums that ignite their creativity and imagination," she added.

Kathleen’s family and friends will remember her vibrant personality and zest for an expressive, artistic life. She enjoyed a good book, a colorful art exhibit, beautiful gardens, a well-made Cosmopolitan, a gourmet charcuterie board, and delighting in simple pleasures, especially creating art and a good afternoon nap. She also was blessed with a superb sense of style in clothing, shoes, glasses, hats and decor.

Kathleen frequently commandeered a shared office space at home, with her husband’s encouragement, to work on her latest art piece. These sessions sometimes ran to sunrise, thus requiring those afternoon naps.

Among her favorite destinations were Hawaii, where her parents lived for many decades, Palm Springs, and California's mountain, coastal and wine regions. Her love for local exploration was also evident in favored local spots such as San Francisco, Sausalito, Napa and Lake Tahoe. A love for local art and exhibits often marked her travels.

She worked in several media, including painting, crafting, jewelry, textiles and glass. Even a simple holiday card or gift wrap became a beautiful piece at her artist’s desk.

Kathleen was born in Maryland. She held a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from San José State University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Fine Arts from California State University, Sacramento.

She is survived by her husband Edward, twin brother Clifton Fitzhugh, sister Kristina Fitzhugh, sister-in-law Mary Quintal, brother-in-law Don Quintal, and numerous in-laws and cousins. Kathleen was predeceased by her parents, Robert and Theresa Fitzhugh, and her youngest brother, Daniel Fitzhugh.

A family celebration of her life was held privately. Her ashes are resting in the waters of Hawaii, Lake Tahoe and the San Francisco Bay.

Memorials can be directed to Youth in Arts at https://youthinarts.org/giving/.

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