Remembering Kathy: Her Life and The Vision We Shared

In Loving Memory of Kathy Madden

First Anniversary of Her Passing · October 20th, 2026

A Tribute by Fred Kent

She had a happy, fulfilling life. A remarkable person: a grandmother, a wife, a lover, a leader of the Placemaking Movement, a spirit with many dimensions. We all miss her.

A letter she wrote in 2006. It became the foundation for our work. We built our future plan around her wishes.

Kathy’s hand written letter: Jan 29, 2006

"These are my intentions in terms of any money that I have and how I want it to be used in the future.

Goals:

I want to promote a different process for planning cities and communities that results in more livable, walkable, more supportive (for the people who live there) environment in which to be young, have children (or not), and grow old.

I want to provide support to people who are trying to do things in a different way:

- Who write about it

- Who implement small projects

- Who facilitate the process of doing things differently

- Demonstrate new measurable models

I hope to set up a small foundation using the money that I have and that which I inherited from my father for this purpose...

I will rely on Fred to help set up the Foundation and to be its inspiration and guidance, but I don’t want him to be in total control. I would like [my sister] Debbie’s input as well as other people I know and respect and like, and who like and understand me, to make decisions about how it would work...

My goal are small projects that make a difference, led by ordinary citizens and [with?] training I’d like people to learn how to see the world in a different way (like Holly Whyte helped people to do) not in a didactic lecturing mode."

~ Kathy Madden

On the plane to Edinburgh 1/29/06

Another note she sent to me:

“Dear Fred, I feel that I can be a real partner with you. Let’s talk about how best we can do that.

OK?

I have some suggestions. I think that I can write about places that are important. I can talk about what the Social Life Project is and the Placemaking Fund with the ideas that we have developed for Placemaking Fund and I can suggest places that could be improved.”

My response: “We have a great future together.”

We are still discussing with her family how to best fulfill her wishes. Stay tuned.

Vermont 2026 A family reunion missing Kathy