Humble Service

Let’s start with the “back to” part.

 

A 1971 Collegiate alumna, Kate is the eldest of six siblings – including Rives Fleming ‘83, a longtime teacher, coach, and advisor – who spent 13 years each on North Mooreland Road.

 

She was in the second class of women to matriculate at the University of Virginia where she graduated with a B. A. in religious studies before she ventured into the working world.

 

That’s where “circuitous” and “interesting” begin. Adventuresome, too.

 

Between college and her return to Collegiate in 1992, she worked a variety of jobs from resident manager for an apartment complex in Charlottesville to manager of the Dale Carnegie office in Cincinnati to banking to gate agent for Delta to driving trucks on the tarmac, loading baggage, and fueling airplanes for Piedmont at RIC.

 

Yep, you heard right: fueling airplanes.

 

“I’d just gotten back to Richmond,” she said with a smile, which, by the way, is a constant part of her countenance. “’Ramp rat’ was the opening they had. I carried an extra ladder on the truck so I could get up to the bottom of the ring with this fire-hose size gas hose. I was actually the first girl to fuel an airplane at the Richmond airport. It was a good group of people that I worked with. Everyone was a lot of fun.”

 

She moved next to the Pine Factory where she served as both a store manager and construction manager.

 

Her first Collegiate assignment was as receptionist in the Lower School. Two years later at the behest of Dr. Bob Sedivy, vice-president for finance, she relocated across campus to oversee the Cougar Shop, which at that time handled textbooks, supplies, and a handful of spirit items.

 

After 17-plus years, she moved once again, this time to the Hershey Center, where she assumed the role of fine arts assistant to support the performing arts and, over time, all arts-related endeavors.

 

The never-a-dull-moment job which involves coordinating with Collegiate faculty and staff as well as outside organizations is multifaceted, which is right up Kate’s alley.

 

“It’s everything from scheduling to work orders, reservations, box office manager, ticket sales for everything,” she said, naming just a few of the myriad tasks she’s undertaken with her good humor, unflappable demeanor, grace, and legendary organization. “For many years, I helped with costumes for the 8^th grade and Upper School plays. Now, it’s just the 8^th grade play but supporting the people who come from outside to do the Upper School plays. If there’s an event in this building, I’m here.”

 

When the 2021-2022 term comes to a close, Kate will retire, which for her has little to do with slowing the pace.

 

It means more time for family. She and Stel, a retired county attorney in Chesterfield, have been married almost 35 years, and their son Chris, a 2006 graduate, and his wife Emily Helft and much of her extended family live in town.

 

It also means opportunities for travel, catering, gardening, and volunteering in the food pantry at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Ginter Park as well as attending and pitching in with the behind-the-scenes management of Collegiate events that have been part of her life for so long.

 

Working behind the scenes is her modus operandi and a labor of love. That’s where she’s happiest. That’s where she’s most fulfilled. For Kate, you see, it’s never been about attention although in 2021 she received it in the form of the Anne Jones Staff Award for her loyal and exemplary service.

 

“I like being helpful and useful,” she said. “When you support people by making their lives easier, you’re making your own life easier.”

 

Even when it comes to the simple, unglamorous, mundane tasks like rearranging rooms or marking seats in Oates Theater or coordinating transportation or “bearding” kings for the Pageant or schlepping music stands and chairs to the Grover Jones Field for a pep rally or Convocation or conducting temperature checks or assisting with afternoon pickup or…the list goes on?

 

“It’s not a big deal for me,” she said. “If I’m here and I can do it, I will. Things need to happen. I’m happier in the background than in the limelight. There’s satisfaction seeing the job done well and seeing things go smoothly and supporting the people I’m here to support. I’m happiest when this place is working well. That’s when I’ve done my job right.”

 

Humble service, I observed as we were finishing our conversation, seems part of your DNA.

“You want to give back to the places and people you care about,” she responded.  “I feel like I’ve been so lucky to work in a place that I love with people I love. Every time I’ve switched jobs here, I’ve thought it was the best job. I definitely know the past 10 years have been the best part. Being in this building with these talented and creative people…that’s fed my soul.”

~Weldon Bradshaw