Kathryn Frances Dobransky

Kathryn Frances Dobransky was born on August 17, 1985 in White Plains, New York. Two years later she was joined by her sister, Laure Marie Dobransky, and both were raised by their mother, Margaret “Meg” Helen (nee Nevin) Larson. In 1997, Meg married Robert Larson, and his children, Zachary Vaughn Larson and Victoria Claire Larson, and the family came together. The children were already friends since 1993 where they met and played together at Sacred Heart High School in Yonkers, New York, where Meg worked and Robert coached. In May of 1998 the family experienced the loss of a baby, James Douglas Larson, who died in the last month of his mom’s pregnancy. Kathryn always kept him in her heart. In April of 2000, John Robert Larson was born, and he quickly became a joy to Kathryn.

Everybody knew Kathryn as Kate and she was surrounded by family and friends throughout her childhood. She attended Christ the King Grammar School in Yonkers, New York, where she received many academic awards and played basketball. In 1998 the family moved to New City, New York where Kate attended Clarkstown South High School. Kate intended to play basketball in high school but in the summer before school, as she made new friends in New City, she discovered that some had older siblings that ran track at the high school and they encouraged Kate to join the team. Kate thought that running cross-country track in the fall would be good training for the basketball season. On the first day of cross-country season, her coaches watched her run, and it soon was realized that Kate would be converting to track and field events rather than basketball. Kate won many awards for her running, including being a 2-time All American in Steeplechase in her Junior and Senior years of high school. Kate received scholarship offers from over 100 universities to run track and eventually decided to attend La Salle University in Philadelphia. She was a 4-year letter winner as a member as a proud La Salle Explorer.

Kate began volunteering to help others while still in grammar school, starting with making sandwiches for the homeless through the mission work at St. Francis of Assisi Church in New City. She soon thereafter began volunteering and working for Venture Together, a social service organization in Rockland County that provides services to children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Kate worked at Camp Venture in the summer, providing joy and comfort to those at the camp. This remained a commitment that endured throughout her life.

Kate pursued a rigorous academic career and had a triple major at La Salle in the ISBT program, which focused on Integrated Science, Business, and Technology (ISBT). Kate had identified a goal as a young girl of working for the FBI (her great grandfathers were in law enforcement), but ultimately became a teacher, with special training for children with special needs, obtaining her Master’s Degree in Education at the University of South Florida, and following in the footsteps of her grandmother, Helen Nevin, who was a teacher for nearly forty years.

In February of 2017 the joy of Kate’s life, Lily Marie, entered her life. Kate enjoyed her time with Lily, including trips to the beach and Disney, but most importantly sharing the special moments of each day with her. Lily’s father John Scarmato and grandparents Joann and Joseph Scarmato.

Kate’s caring and love extended to her entire family and many friends, including aunts and uncles, Beth (Nevin) and Fred Schaefer, Mary Nevin and Paul Donnelly, Timothy and Kathleen Nevin, Kathy and Charlie Mancuso, and cousins Lindsay, Emily, Geoffrey, Mary Kate, James, and Ryan. Kathryn Frances Dobransky was named after Kathryn Mancuso and Mary Frances Nevin.

Kate will be forever kept in the heart many friends from track, school, teaching and church who have been a remarkable support for her throughout her life.

Kate was so grateful to the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor center at Duke University, particularly Annick Desjardins MD, Susanne D. Jacobs, MSN, FNP-BC, and Rosemary Ketring BSN, RN whose knowledge and special care afforded Kate so much quality time with Lily, her extended family, and friends. Though never enough, every extra minute was a special gift.

Kate lived her faith, and handled her illness with calm determination, knowing that her ultimate victory lay beyond this world, a true lesson in grace and acceptance from a wonderful teacher.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness.”

Kate’s dear friend Melanie Brockmeier of Operation Lotus has set up a special fund for donations in support of Lily’s future needs and care. If you would like to donate in Honor of Kate and in support of Lily you can give to Operation Lotus through Venmo - @operationlotusFL (tagged KateS.) or by check to Operation Lotus mailed to : 5951 Phoebenest Drive Lithia, FL 33547. There are also plans to establish a scholarship in Kate’s name for the Clarkstown South High School Track team.

Kate is pre-deceased by her grandparents, Robert Joseph Nevin and Helen Marie (nee McCready) Nevin, who were an integral part of Kate’s life, as well as her beloved younger brother, James Douglas Larson.

Most importantly, Kate hoped that family and friends prayed for her and for Lily. She was especially fond of The Divine Mercy. The message of The Divine Mercy is simple. It is that God loves us – all of us. And, He wants us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins, so that we will call upon Him with trust, receive His mercy, and let it flow through us to others. Thus, all will come to share His joy.

A funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of the Angels Church, 12905 SR 70 Est, Lakewood Ranch, Florida, 34202 on Thursday May 16, 2024 at 10:30 am, with a reception to follow at the Parish Hall. A memorial service will be held at the St. Francis of Assisi Church, 128 Parrot Road, West Nyack, NY, 10994 on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at 10:00 am.