Kathleen O. Henderson Obituary
Kathleen O. "Kay" Henderson, age 98, of Rockport, MA., passed away Friday, October 1, 2021. Kathleen was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. She grew up in the Finaghy section of Belfast with her brother Jack. Kay, as she was known by her closest family and friends, was proud to say her mother Evelyn was an Emerson and her father John was in the Irish linen business.
The family enjoyed vacations in a shore home in Ballygalley northeast of Belfast. She attended and excelled at Belfast Royal Academy, a boarding school, where she especially enjoyed playing tennis on the school team. Kay at the age of 17 left Ireland with her family. She once wrote, "In 1940 my brother's and my school were to be evacuated to Canada because of the daily air raids.
Instead, my father arranged for the 3 of us to join him in the United States under the Treaty of Commerce.". She moved to White Plains, NY with her parents and graduated from Scarsdale High School in June 1941. After graduating from Katherine Gibbs School on Park Avenue in New York City, Kay embarked on a 45 year career with NBC in 1943.
Always an avid walker, she daily commuted over 30 NYC blocks from the Upper East Side to her downtown office at the world famous Rockefeller Center, also known as "30 Rock". Always a trailblazer, Kay was consistently promoted and given more responsibility and retired in 1988 as Executive Director of Advertising Standards for NBC.
In June of 1988, Kay moved to Rockport where she had been spending every vacation for many years with her close friend and NBC co-worker, Leighton Saville. She was part of the Saville family and a staple at every event and holiday. Kay was generous in many ways, donating countless hours of working on Marmion Way at Seacrest Manor making guests happy and serving afternoon tea to them.
When her friend Leighton wanted to take a vacation, she would run the office for him. After Leighton passed away in 2001, Kay continued to help take care of the bed and breakfast. The First Congregational Church of Rockport was another passion of Kay's. She taught Sunday school and was involved in a variety of activities including the Old Sloop Fair for years.
Kay could be seen walking everywhere and always had dog biscuits in her pockets. Her walks were often interrupted by stopping to meet and treat several pup friends, her "wee ones.". For the last 11 years she was able to stay in her own Rockport home with 24/7 care, thanks to Betty Nandaula, her care giver. At the age of 98, Kay leaves behind Pat and Randy Saville, their three children, Alexandra, Brad and Elizabeth along with a lifetime of happy memories.
In Vancouver, Canada she has three nephews and a niece; Trevor, Graham, John and Maureen. Kay is also survived by a cousin in Gloucester; Shelagh McCauley, close Rockport neighbors Heidi and Sean Weller and longtime friend Karen Jones of Tonawanda, NY. She is pre-deceased by her brother Jack, and friends Leighton Saville, Dwight MacCormack, Rosalie Russo, Mildred Jefferson, and Bobette Sanders.
Her memorial service will be held on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at 11am at the First Congregational Church, 12 School Street, Rockport. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Burial will be held privately. Arrangements by the Greely Funeral Home 212 Washington Street, Gloucester.
