March 2, 2024, age 62, after 30+ year heroic battle with MS.
The youngest child of long-time residents of Redlands Dr. Irvin and Jane Kotner, Kate was born February 20, 1962, at St. Bernardine’s hospital, San Bernardino, and grew up in Redlands, California, attending RHS and studying art history at UC Riverside.
Kate had a congenial, outgoing personality and loved to travel. She possessed a keen affinity for foreign languages, studying at a lycée in Paris, France before setting her sights on a culinary career. She earned a Certificate of Cuisine from the lauded Ecole de La Varenne in Paris, France, and learned to speak French fluently. Upon return to the US, Kate served in sous chef positions in Buckhead, Atlanta, the San Diego Yacht Club, and Hilton Hotel on Mission Bay. She flourished as sous chef and later, as a concierge at the Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel. Her jovial outgoing personality and commitment to customer service landed her an Employee of the Year award for Five-Star Five-Diamond excellence.
Kate loved Harley Davidson motorcycles and made a couple of epic journeys to storied Sturgis, SD. She nurtured several rescue rabbits, including a very special white and cappuccino-colored bunny named Bundles, whom she treasured. Rabbit rescue was important to her and support to the House Rabbit Society is encouraged at www.rabbit.org.
Kate is survived by her brothers David Scott Kotner, Anthony Field Kotner, sister Mimi de Maricle Kotner, and sister-in-law, Amy Ruth Kotner. She is predeceased by her brother Henry Sloan Kotner.
Kate overcame numerous health challenges through perseverance and courage. She exemplified the spirit of her namesake medieval Fitzgerald ancestors from County Limerick, Ireland in their family motto: “Crom Abu,” meaning “Onward to Victory.”
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