Kathleen 'Kit' Faragher inspired sisters to travel

Big brother tries to take on sibling's sense of optimism

Erika Gonzalez, Rocky Mountain News

Published September 7, 2006 at midnight

Text size

More Local News

More stories »

Three years ago, sisters Mary Waterman and Beth Faragher traveled to Spain.

Using younger sister Kathleen Faragher's travel journals as a guide, they rode mopeds on the festive island of Ibiza, visited Barcelona's soaring Sagrada Familia cathedral and toured the Alhambra, the massive castle looming just above Granada.

A dedicated traveler, Kathleen Faragher (known as Kit to friends and family) had long talked about taking that kind of girls-only trip with her sisters. But the attacks on the World Trade Center put an end to those plans.

Though it was difficult, Mary and Beth decided to take the journey Kit never got to make, keeping her spirit alive by following the same path she followed on a previous trip to Europe.

"It was very emotional, just seeing the places that she had gone in Spain and feeling regret for not having done it earlier with her," said Mary.

Since Kit's death, those family holidays have become even more important for the Faragher clan.

"We managed to go on a few family trips before she died and they held such great memories for us that we insisted on continuing that tradition," said Mary. "My parents have been divorced for 25 years and they know they're both expected to go."

Two summers ago the family visited Ireland. Last summer, they toured Italy. This summer, they vacationed in Mexico, sticking closer to home because of Beth's baby girl.

But the trips represent just one of many ways family and friends pay tribute to Kit, who was attending a securities trading conference in the World Trade Center on 9/11.

Shortly after her death, Janus created a scholarship fund in her name.

The company awarded five $10,000, four-year scholarships for the 2002-2003 school year and another five $2,000 one-time scholarships the year after.

In 2004, Janus gave the Faragher family, which now runs the fund, a $30,000 grant to provide scholarships over several years.

A committee of family, friends and sometimes co-workers reviews applications for the scholarships, which are open to Colorado high school students.

"What we look for is someone who embodies Kit's spirit, and enthusiasm and love of life," said Beth.

Active and outdoorsy, Kit enjoyed running, hiking and playing Ultimate Frisbee.

"My two older kids just adored Kit," said Mary. "They didn't look at her as an aunt but more of a playmate."

Mary said if Kit were alive, she'd likely be training with Beth for the New York City Marathon. She might also be doting on Beth's two kids, 2 1/2-year-old Zachary and 3 1/2-month-old Erin, whose middle name is Kit.

Beth said her kids aren't yet old enough to learn about their aunt, whose pictures are displayed everywhere in their northwest Denver home.

Mary, on the other hand, is just starting to tell Kit's story to her youngest son, who was only 2 when his aunt died.

"Rather than dwelling on the terrorism aspect, we focus on Kit and how she would've wanted him to grow up to be the type of person she was," Mary said.

Always positive, Kit was the type of person who signed her name with a peace sign. Now, whenever Beth sees a peace sign, she thinks of her sister. She even keeps one in her car to remind her of Kit.

"She was a good soul," said Beth.

Bill Faragher, the big brother, was just as close to Kit as her sisters.

The oldest of the family, Bill lived with Beth, Mary and Kit while attending college in Florida. Kit was still a senior in high school at the time and transferred from her school in Ohio, just to be with her siblings.

"I think she really missed us," said Bill of Kit's move to the Sunshine State.Bill has learned a lot from Kit's death. Rather than putting off vacations because of his hectic work schedule as a doctor, he is making more of an effort to travel.

After the family's trip to Mexico this summer, he visited Spain, marveling - like Mary and Beth did a few years before - at the same art work Kit once did. He also has tried to adopt the optimistic and positive attitude Kit embraced during her life.

"She used to have this motto - live, laugh and love," said Bill. "To me, it just means to take a better outlook on life, to have a more positive vantage point. Share happiness and your smile with people."

Kathleen "Kit" Faragher

Lived in Denver since 1993

Occupation: Systems analyst, Janus Capital Management

Family: Mother Beverly Faragher, of Chagrin Falls, Ohio; father William Faragher, of Cleveland, Ohio; brother William Faragher Jr., of Littleton; sister Mary Waterman, of Russell Township, Ohio; brother James Faragher, of Maple Heights, Ohio; and sister Beth Faragher, of Denver.

Died in the attack on the World Trade Center.

Age: 33

The series

On Sept. 11, 2001, 2,973 men, women and children perished in terrorisattacks on this country. More than 20 had Colorado ties. Some were born here. Some went to school here. Some had family here.

The victims' survivors have dealt with their loss in different ways. Still, the grief is alive and palpable. The terror happened five years — or was it five months, five weeks, five days — ago? But its aftermath endures.

• Wednesday: Craig Woodall expected his brother Brent would emerge safely from the World Trade Center. Since the attack, he's dealt with his death every day. Read Lessons of a day of horror still sinking in

• Thursday: Kit Faragher's love of travel forged a family tradition. Read: Kathleen 'Kit' Faragher inspired sisters to travel

• Friday: Dr. H.G. Whittington's daughter, son-in-law and two grand- children died on American Airlines Flight 77. As a psychiatrist, he knows about pain, including his own.

• Saturday: Gina Hawryluk lost fiance Joshua Rosenblum just four days before their wedding. She has a new life in Taos, N.M., but still feels his spirit.

• Monday: For Adam White's family, there is no closure — or forgetting a young man who lived every day in the moment.

Subscribe to the Rocky Mountain News