Obituary

Kathryn Alicia "Katie" Van der Kloot, 57, of Cambridge, Mass., died peacefully on July 11, 2021 in Boston, more than two years after receiving a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis that she met with characteristic grace, strength, and good humor.

Katie was born November 1, 1963 in Philadelphia to Joanne L. Vanderkloot and Frederic J. Vanderkloot. Raised in Huntington, N.Y., Katie attended Friends Academy in Locust Valley, N.Y., before graduating from Kent School in Kent, Conn. in 1981, and Connecticut College in New London, Conn. in 1985, with a degree in Art History and Spanish. She excelled in tennis and field hockey, and discovered a lifelong love of travel at a young age.

Katie began her career in New York, where she worked as a womenswear buyer at Bloomingdale's, and met Richard A. Perkins, Jr., whom she married in 1988. They had two sons – R. Nicholas Perkins and Alexander V. Perkins – and settled in Tuxedo Park, N.Y. After their marriage ended in divorce, Katie raised her sons in New York and Westport, Conn. She spent her later years in Cambridge, Mass. and Hanover, N.H. with her beloved partner, Frederick V. Schoch.

Katie channeled tremendous creative energy into her interior design firm, Van der Kloot Interiors, Ltd. She inherited a love of design from her grandmother, Alicia von Kees, an early member of the American Society of Interior Designers. Katie's work took her across the United States and Europe, often with her adored Yorkshire Terrier, Weezie, in tow. For nearly 25 years, clients entrusted Katie to create the settings for their lives. In that intimate endeavor, Katie became a dear friend and confidante to many, and made the world a more beautiful place.

Family meant everything to Katie. She was a loving and devoted daughter, sister, aunt, and partner, and, above all, a wonderful mother to her sons. She found great joy in supporting her boys' academic, athletic, and professional pursuits, and enjoyed an exceptionally close bond with both of them. Katie's greatest satisfaction came from raising her sons, who loved her dearly. She was enormously proud of the men they became.

Katie was a well-known presence on the rowing circuit through her son Alex's athletic career at Kent School and the University of Washington, and her partner Fred's involvement with the Head Of The Charles Regatta. Katie's glowing smile, joyful laugh, and mischievous sense of humor will be missed on riverbanks from Henley-on-Thames, U.K. to Seattle.

Katie is survived by her partner, Frederick V. Schoch, of Hanover, N.H.; sons, R. Nicholas Perkins of Boston and Alexander V. Perkins (Grace C. Spoors) of Jamestown, R.I.; and mother, Joanne L. Vanderkloot; sister, Pamela V. Bartel (William G. Bartel, II); niece, Zoe E. Bartel; and nephew, Zachary V. Bartel, all of Fort Collins, Colo. She is predeceased by her father, Frederic J. Vanderkloot.

Katie was widely beloved, and will be deeply missed. Services will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to the Dr. Gerburg Wulf Research Support Fund at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center by visiting www.bidmc.org/giving and specifying an "Other" gift designation of "Dr. Gerburg Wulf Research Support Fund."

Published by Valley News on Jul. 25, 2021.