Town of Cochrane staff mourned the loss of a former team member and mentor this week.
Kathy Dietrich, who served as senior manager of development services for the town from 2010-2014, lost a sudden and difficult battle with pancreatic cancer Aug. 1. She was 63.
A memorial service was held at the National Music Centre in Calgary on Tuesday – drawing a sizeable crowd that included many of her former Cochrane co-workers and highlighted by words delivered by Mayor Naheed Nenshi.
Dietrich, who worked as a planning manager for Rocky View County prior to her work with the town, ended her career as the director of growth strategies in the planning department for the City of Calgary.
Rick Deans, senior manager of infrastructure for the town, reflected on his memories of his late cohort.
“Kathy and I started our senior manager roles at similar timing,” said Deans, adding that they cut their teeth together on the Quarry site – working with the developer from site contamination clean-up to planning of roadways and commercial layout.
“She could bring people with different ideas together on a common ground,” he said, adding that Dietrich always found a way to inject “happiness and humour into any situation” and knew how to lighten the mood in any occasion.
Deans said he will cherish his last visit with his late friend – who he took to a chemotherapy session three weeks ago.
It’s also additional inspiration for Deans, who will be riding in the 2017 Cancervive Cycle Tour Sept. 12 to 17 – when he will be celebrating one year since his last chemo therapy treatment for pancreatic cancer.
Recently retired chief administrative officer for the town, Julian de Cocq, will remember Dietrich as “politically astute, a good leader, a great listener.”
“It’s a tough time for all of us who knew Kathy and worked with us … she was always one of the positive people,” said de Cocq, joking that Dietrich defined her work as “messy vibrancy” – the chaotic and important work of a municipal planning department.
Current senior manager of development services for the town, Drew Hyndman, noted that Dietrich was instrumental in several major town-led projects such as the Quarry site, the creation of a gravel haul route to re-route trucks off River Heights Drive, the completion of the Integrated Downtown Action Plan, the Growth Management Strategy and the River Heights area structure plan.
“For those fortunate enough to cross paths with Kathy, she was clearly a very special lady with an incredible passion for people and making a difference in everything she put her mind to,” said Hyndman.
“Not only did she make significant contributions to all the communities she worked in, but also to all the people she encountered along the way.”
Town officials from all three districts Dietrich served in joined her family, including her surviving partner, Wayne Scherger, three children and grandchildren to honour her life and legacy.
Her obituary describes her as “a warm beacon of light.”
The Kathy Dietrich Memorial Fund has been set up through the Calgary Foundation.
