Kay was a powerhouse and she really enjoyed her visits for lunch to McDonald’s. She enjoyed visiting with the people working there, and she sure loved the food they served.”
—Harry Crowell
Sometimes, we learn that one person has chosen to make a very big difference in the lives of those she never met. Kathleen C. “Kay” Pickett is one of those truly remarkable souls who did just that for Ronald McDonald House families.
Born in Los Angeles and residing in her San Marcos home for more than 50 years, Kay was a retired educator who lived to be 98 years of age. She valued greatly a society that treated every living being with respect and care.
Kay’s longtime friends Roz and Harry Crowell note that Kay lived a simple yet fulfilling life, shared with people she loved and respected. At the same time, she took a keen interest in the stock market.
Harry observes, “Kay and I spent lots of time discussing events of the day and different types of businesses. With her kind of brain power, it was apparent why she became such a successful investor.”
After the passing of her husband, Oliver, Kay maintained her commitment to careful investing for the future—both her future and the future of close friends and 11 charities that she cherished. Her revocable living trust made sure that those priorities were honored.
Kay remarked to Harry many times how much the Ronald McDonald House made an impression on her. And now, Kay’s thoughtful philanthropy is having a tremendous impact in keeping families together and strong in their time of crisis, whether through an overnight stay, a meal, or moment of respite from the often-stressful hospital environment.
We celebrate Kay Pickett for her quick and insightful mind that allowed her to become the quiet “Millionaire Next Door.” We only wish we could have thanked her during her lifetime for what she is making possible today.
Please let us know…
If you have named Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego as a beneficiary of your estate plan, or are considering doing so, please let us know. We would love to express our appreciation for your support of our Ronald McDonald House.
We would also like to invite you to be recognized as a member of our Many Hearts Legacy Society. For more information, please contact Christina Jordan at 858-598-2461 or cjordan@rmhcsd.org.