Community gathers to celebrate life of Kathi Goertzen

By KOMO Staff Published: Aug 19, 2012 at 3:51 PM PDT Last Updated: Aug 19, 2012 at 9:00 PM PDT
SEATTLE - Memories were shared, many tears were shed - and yet there was laughter, too - as friends, family and the community came together Sunday to celebrate the life of Kathi Goertzen.

In a service at Seattle Center's Fisher Pavilion she was remembered as the quiet little girl who blossomed into a talented broadcast journalist with something very special that was recognized and appreciated by all who knew her.

She was remembered as a wise, generous, loving and kind woman who gave more than she received and genuinely cared for others around her.

She was remembered as a mother, as a daughter, as a wife, as a good friend to some and inspiration to many.

She was remembered as the trusted anchorwoman who thousands of families welcomed into their homes each evening to learn about the news of the day.

And she was remembered as the strong person who faced years of increasing torment from the brain tumors that ultimately took her life.

The Celebration of Kathi began with the song "Natural Woman," sung by her talented daughter, Alexa Jarvis.

Then Dan Lewis, her co-anchor for so many years, spoke. He shared how something "very special" happened to him 35 years ago when Kathi joined the KOMO news team.

"Kathi and I put our trust in each other early on and never looked back," he said.

He shared what he had learned from Kathi's family about her early years - the straight A's she got in school, the swimming competitions, the piano lessons. How, as a girl, she was so quiet that her family was stunned when she eventually became a reporter after graduating from Washington State University as a certified Cougar.

Watch part 1 of the service:


Watch part 2 of the service:


She joined the KOMO News team in 1980 and went on to cover the state Legislature in Olympia before becoming a co-anchor in 1983. From there she went on to cover the fall of the Berlin Wall, poverty in America, the trial of Amanda Knox and many, many other big stories.

Along the way she had fun, Lewis said - telling Husky-Cougar jokes, tap-dancing in the studio during commercial breaks and reveling in the newsroom adrenalin.

"She was unflappable," said Lewis. "One of Kathi's biggest accomplishments in life was what she had given back to other people and the community. She didn't work at it. She was a natural."

Then came the tumors that affected her ability to deliver the news. Yet for the next 14 years, Dan says, she met every obstacle. The time between each surgery became shorter and shorter - "but she didn't complain."

"She missed being able to smile, but we knew there was a very wide smile inside," he said.

Then friends shared their memories of Kathi.

One lifelong friend, Victoria Martinson, said, "If you were Kathi's friend you had to share her. There were a lot of times when Kathi had to go when the news called.

"I tell you, I'll miss her. I'll miss her most when I'm weary and down ... and when I have something joyous to share."

Kathi's daughters and sister then spoke.

"Her love is like blue beach glass - rare, wise and forgiving - determined not to let me down," said her daughter Alexa.

Her daughter Andrea Jewett said, "She taught me how to be open and honest and how to share myself. She taught us all how to be strong. ... She was a fighter. So Mom, I love you - and know that I'm a fighter, too. I'll be happy because that is what you would want me to be."

And her sister Sara Dial added, "We counted on her for her wisdom, her strength, her honesty, her compassion. We've felt her with us all week. We know that she will be with us forever."

Kathi's husband, Rick Jewett, was the last to speak.

"I love Kathi for her constant life and wisdom and pure love. She is love - that's all she knows."

Then, turning toward heaven, he said, "I'm eternally grateful to you, Kathi, to have been in your life and to have everyone here be in your life."

The service ended with everyone joining Kathi's family in singing "How Great Thou Art."

In the words of Washington State University President Elson S. Floyd, who spoke at the service: "She is that angel who is constantly looking after us. We will miss you, Kathi, but we know that you are here."