When Kathryn Horvat ’60 wanted to major in chemistry, social pressures on women in the late 1950s pushed her to change course. Kathryn had always wanted to be a scientist, says her son Steve Horvat, but she opted instead for a history degree, later earning a master’s of arts in teaching degree from Johns Hopkins University and briefly working as a middle school teacher.
But after eventually earning an MBA from Roosevelt University, Kathryn returned to her dream of being a scientist, working in a variety of programming and computer science positions. Over the years, Kathryn worked as a consulting systems analyst, a contract programmer and analyst, and an information systems specialist. Much of Kathryn’s responsibilities involved the Y2K problem, editing thousands of lines of code to ensure a smooth transition into the next century.
All the while, Kathryn held Carleton close to her heart as a dedicated alumna. She donated to the College for more than 30 years, frequently attended Reunion, and helped plan her class’s milestone 50th Reunion. In addition to volunteering, Kathryn joined the Joseph Lee Heywood Society by establishing a will provision to benefit the College.
“I really think that this became somewhat a part of her identity,” Esther Blaskovich, Kathryn’s daughter, said. “[Carleton] became the first place she felt she belonged.” While at Carleton, Kathryn was a part of Glee Club and Women’s League and wrote for the Carletonian.
Kathryn was also very politically active, promoting women in science and women’s rights, and after retiring in 2003, she became even more involved. She worked with organizations such as Women Graduates-USA, Graduate Women International, the United Nations Association of Utah, and the UN Commission on the Status of Women, whose sessions she attended every year since 2006.
“Her roots are in women’s rights and women’s right to vote,” stretching back to her suffragette grandmother, Esther said. Kathryn was active in more local organizations as well, working with food banks and acting as a Cub Scouts leader and youth softball coach. Steve says Kathryn was so involved as a way to build community, but it was also her way to give back and help.
“This was her way to accomplish things and to do things for the benefit of the people,” Steve said. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kathryn helped keep community alive by hosting Zoom book club meetings and joining a virtual thousand-person choir.
“Honestly, I did not realize how many people in this world she touched till her service,” Esther said. “I mean, the organizations, the groups, the outpour—she really touched a lot of lives. She made a difference.”