Watch: Kathi through the years

I grew up in a rural part of the Florida panhandle an moved to Tacoma in the summer of 1981. I was 19 years old at the time, and had never really watch the news. One of the first things I remember about moving into the area was Kathi Goertzen and KOMO News. Being a young man in a big city for the first time in my life, I was intrigued by the all of the new things going on around me, and KOMO on my television and my radio dial. In may career with the Coast Guard, I have moved in and out of the Seattle/Tacoma many times, but still consider the area home. When I learned tonight of Kathi's passing it hit me as if I had lost a life long friend. Take care Kathi. The PNW is a colder place without your smile and wit. 

Awesome video! I first saw Kathi Goertzen in 1980, when I was 7 yrs old. I didn't think much of her at the time. But as time went on, and I matured, like most people my age, I watched her more and more, and enjoyed watching her reporting and listen to her talk about events around Seattle and around the world. She was one of my favourite news reporters out there. Although I never met her personally, I felt as though she was talking to me about what was going on. R.I.P., Kathi. We'll miss you.

I found out I was a distant cousin with Kathi about 10 years ago, I do not live in the Seattle area, but have family there. I found a web page that was about Kathi and her brain tumor and battle. I prayed and followed her illness. Though we never met, I will miss not having that opportunity to having met her. It is very obvious she was well loved and a very favorite anchor. God bless the immediate family and may your healing be blessed by our Lord and Savior. Always on my mind, Jane Unruh Taylor

I grew up watching Kathi Goertzen for news. It shocked me when I heard that she passed away. She was such a good person. Seattle news will never be the same.....

I moved to the Seattle area in 1993. One of the first things I did was turn on the TV local news. And here's Kathi goertzen on channel 4, so calm and relaxed. She made me laugh. She was so special...

 

I never, never have cried over the loss of a celebrity, local or national.  Michael Jackson never reached out to me, but Kathi GGoertzen did. I know that sounds silly. MJ was such a talented songwriter/entertainer. But Kathi was a brilliant people person. This was her GIFT.

 

Thank you Kathi for giving Seattle your special gift. We will always love you XOXO

I had the privilege of meeting Kathi (and Dan, together) a few years ago at a benefit; we sat and chatted for just a few minutes; she made direct eye contact and listened, like we were two old friends having lunch together.  What the world saw on the nightly news was what I got for just a short chat.  Kathi, you blessed us more than you knew.

Thank you for what you gave to Washington state all these years, and thanks to your family for sharing you with us.

Go rest high on that mountain...your work on earth is done...

Kathi was an Alpha Chi Omega at Wazzu, and I lived right across the street in the Sig Ep house.  Kathi used to date a fraternity brother so she was over at the fraternity quite a bit.   She lit up a room long before she lit up a TV screen.  When she entered the room, everyone stopped talking talking and just admired her.  She was an unwilling celebrity even back then.  Her personality was unsurpassed.  Years later, we would cross paths and I would always say, "You probably don't remember me", and she would always say, "Shut up, Gary, of course I remember you".    She was just that way.  Once you were her friend, she never forgot you.   I love you Kathi!.  Rest in Peace.   Save a spot close to you for me, okay?

I remember I was in high school when Kathy first came to Seattle TV news.  I thought then how beautiful she was and her smile and personality would just draw you in, and before she became an anchor, I would look forward to her reports.  When she was a news anchor, she would always brighten the day and make you feel like everything was OK.  She was so full of courage and grace over the years with her fight with brain tumours, it made you feel like it was easier to handle any problems in your life.  It was so touching watching her news team last night on TV.  You could tell they all cared so much.  Seeing all of them, you feel like you know them and you feel their loss.  It's also our loss and she will be greatly missed.  My prayers go out to her friends and family and hopefully they take comfort in having the opportunity for her to have been in their lives.  Thank you Kathi, for making it feel like you were always there for us, the viewers and the western Washngton community. 

may Kathi's family find the comfort and healing they need , we loved Kathi and will remember her smile

 

Sad news I live in Vancouver Canada. I sometimes watch KOMO TV news. As soon as you saw Kathi you knew that you were on a quaility news cast. She will be missed. She was an icon for your station.

God Bless this beautiful, courageous woman!  We will miss you!  Love and Peace to your family.

 

Cheri Wilson 

Kathy,

Thank you for allowing me to grow up with you. You will be greatly missed, but NEVER forgotten. Bless you and much comfort in thought and prayer to your family.

 

Alyson - a fellow Coug!

What a beautiful tribute to Kathi. Every single comment on these articles clearly show that she was so loved and admired by everyone she touched. Whether we knew her 'just' through the TV, or as family member, or her co-workers and personal friends, she is a woman to be admired. She has touched so many lives. Probably a lot more than she even realized.

 

RIP Kathi you are now looking down on us with that big ole' smile of yours...and we are smiling back!!

Kathi~

 

I remember most your beauty, your kindness and your smile,

How even back in high school you always went the extra mile.

 

Some of us have known you years and some but just a while,

But all the northwest came to love you on the Komo dial.

 

You brought us with you to Berlin to watch the wall come down,

You made us feel apart of things no matter what the town.  

 

And even when your future became filled with uncertainty and pain,

You smiled ever brighter like the sun does through the rain.

 

You showed us all how winners deal with setbacks in their life,

You never faltered once as a friend, a mother and a wife.

 

So as the angels spread their wings and wrap you in their light,

Just know our dear sweet Kathi, we'will miss you most at night.  

 

Wendy Swanberg

August 13, 2012

Kathi,

 

You ALWAYS made the news worth watching.  Thank you for your grace, courage and laughter throughout it all.  We will miss you greatly.  We are sad here on earth, but heaven has welcomed its' newest angel.  God bless and goodbye.

I grew up in Seattle and enjoyed watching Kathi each night for the news, I live in Texas now, and just heard about her story, may all her friends and family remember all the memories that she created and may these help to continue to bring a smile to your face as you think about her, she will be missed by all.

Kathi, you will be missed.  You are greatly honored for your strength of character and honorable life.  May God welcome you.  May He comfort and uphold your loved ones by His great compassion and love.

Its a sad day for me hearing that you are gone. I grew up watching you on the news and you started in 84 as a permanent anchor for komo 4 and that is the year I was born. You were on in our house every night and when my mom called me , now that i live in North Carolina with my family, She told me that you had passed and all I could do was start to cry you were a amazing woman and ever so strong never giving up. You defined what it was to be a anchor and really showed everyone how to do it right!!!! You are amazing and never will be forgotten !!!! 

You are so loved, Kathi.  You will be missed!  You have made a difference in our lives!

You are so loved, Kathi.  You will be missed!

Hard to know just what to say about the death of someone who was so adored by soooooooooo many here.

 

First I want to say that Dan Lewis is absolutely splendid whenever conversation turns to Kathi.  The way he values his long-time coworker is so sincere and so (well, really, ...indicative of just what sort of a spirit Kathi G. has long embodied).  I guess that means that Dan Lewis's judgment calibrates ideally.

 

Kathi was just amazing for being a "local girl done good" and for sometimes being the sole remaining believer in "The Cougs".  The on-air exchanges come Apple Cup time were wonderfully light-hearted and fully enjoyed, and I don't know how Kathi managed to endure the following Mondays far too often.  (NOT that anybody had it in for her then, but her support of the Cougs was at times seemingly barely warranted)

 

Doubt many are going to invoke the writings in "The Stranger" at such a sorrowful time, but perhaps "The Stranger" had it right all along:

 

"Kathi Goertzen is a saint."

Forever in our memories and hearts... Heaven received a great angel today. RIP

I grew up around Kathi, junior high, high school, never in the same group but she was beautiful and impossible to ignore. She seemed sweet, smart, funny. It seems that she was like that her entire life. Brave. Incredibly brave. I can't imagine what her family is going through. My heart goes out to them. I hope that if I ever face such adversity I will display the same grace and courage. RIP

My thoughts and prayers go out to Kathi's friends and family during this difficult time. I grew up watching her on the local news and she was very talented.

will miss Kathy,hearing the news from her and Dan was like hearing it from your family.You knew it was coming from someone you could trust

 

Kathi you were such an inspira;tion and a blessing. We will miss you so very much. Thank you for the incredible strength and courage you showed us. Your faith was an inspiration. Our thougts and prayers are with her family, her pets and her KOMO family.

Wow, hard time taking this, I met her at WSU and then in tihe coming years when I helped out with the Komo Childrens Hospital telethon and when the Huskies played the Cougs covering the rivalry, she never forgot my name. She gave it the good fight, and pushed that passion to form her foundation. I'll, we'll miss her. 

We have been away from Seattle for 7 years now but when we lived in Seattle I watched Kathi all the time I remember when she was diagnoised and after moving I would ocasionally look at komo,com to see how she was doing I;m saddened to hear of her loss. my thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends RIP Kathi

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family what a courageouse battle you fought Kathi... sending Angels to comfort all those in need.....

Very few "celebrities" make me cry when I hear of their passing, but Kathi does.  What a woman of courage!  She has finished the race and endured far more than most of us ever will.  May God's grace and mercy go with her family.

So so sorry to hear about Kathi. I just loved her for years. I feel like I lost a member of my own family. My thoughts and prayers to her family and her news family. My heart breaks for all of you!

Here im a 30 year old construction man and the news of this made me cry today. Kathy was such a huge part of my youth in our household with the news daily and how thoughtful she was in delivering good or bad news in a loving and caring way.

she is the type of woman young girls should aspire to be. i met her when i was 18 in downtown seattle and she was so kind and friendly. A truly genuine fun loving person we all will miss.

Best wishes to your family and friends in this tough time.

So, so sorry to hear this. She was a wonderful person and will be sorely missed. 

I guess we knew this was the inevitable, but I still feel shocked and so sad.  I don't remember a time without Kathi in our living room.  Peace to her, her husband, and her children, as well as all her family and friends. :(

RIP Kathy... We will all miss you!

Our condolences to Kathi's family and friends. I don't think I can remember watching TV in Seattle where she was not on the news. Dan Lewis, I know how close of a friend Kathi was to you and our thoughts and prayers are with you as well.

Kathi was one of the threads that wove Seattle into a community.Thank you for this touching tribute and place to remember her. Her legacy set the standard for the 4th estate - real news told by real people.

We have been there with Kathi from the beginning, she became family, someone you would look forward to seeing everyday on the news. A terrific newscaster and woman, she will be missed! My thought and prayers are with Kathi, her family and friends! The good news is there will be no bad news where she goes from thforward! Thank you Kathi and KOMO for all you have given. God bless. -Jarrett Campbell, Tacoma, WA

I feel like I've lost a relative. You will be missed so very much. This I know for sure.....her memory will be eternal.

Thank you, KOMO News, for this loving video to share with us many fans who are grieving with you.

Thanks Kathi for all your years and dedication to Seattle.  My prayers are with her family and friends.