Katherine Prescott

Katherine Prescott died at Kendal at Oberlin after a brief illness. She was 98 years of age. A native of Cleveland, she served in the Cleveland Public Library for 42 years, first in the branch system, and finally as Regional Librarian for the Blind and Handicapped for the 55 counties of northern Ohio. In the early days she was one of the organizers of the Cleveland Public Library Staff Association and then became President. As Branch Librarian in many diverse neighborhoods of the city she sought to identify with these local communities. In Mt. Pleasant she worked with the Area Council and was one of the founders of the annual neighborhood Flower Show. Her work as Head of the Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped at the Cleveland Public Library was recognized in 1976 when the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio cited her as ÒSighted Ohioan of the YearÓ. She was a board member of the Cleveland Society for the Blind, and in 1978 received the exceptional Service Citation of the Health and Rehabilitative Services Division of the American Library Association. In 2005 she was awarded the AbuÕl Ala al MaÕarri award by The National library Service for the Blind and Handicapped in appreciation for her years of leadership at the northern Ohio regional library of the Cleveland Public Library and her contribution to the first Standards of Service for the Library of Congress Network of Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. After retirement in 1977, she became active at St. LukeÕs Episcopal Church in the Cleveland Near West Side, as a member of the Vestry, then as Senior Warden and for ten years as Treasurer. In Oberlin she was a member of Christ Episcopal Church. Her particular interests were music, reading, current affairs, travel, sports, especially swimming, mountain climbing, and bowling. In 1993 she moved to Kendal at Oberlin, a continuing care retirement center with her sister Polly and friend, Clara E. Lucioli. There she was able to continue to enjoy her many interests. She was especially involved in the activities of the Sports and Recreation committee, the Low Vision Support Group, and recreational bridge. She was a graduate of Westover School, Vassar College, and the School of Library Science of Western Reserve University. She was preceded in death by her sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews, and is survived by beloved grandnieces and grandnephews: Mary Ann Alexander, Frederick S. Betz, Charles and David Smith, Richard Ruple, Robert S. Ruple of Novelty, OH, Christopher Halcro, Jenny Spangenberg, Scott Allen Prescott, Brian and Robert Schroeder. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kendal at Oberlin Residents Assistance Fund, 600 Kendal Drive, Oberlin, OH 44074, or the Episcopal Community Services Foundation, 2230 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, OH 44115, or to a charity of personal choice. Memorial Services will be held Saturday October 9th at 10 AM in Christ Episcopal Church in Oberlin, 162 S. Main St., Oberlin, OH 44074. Interment Lake View Cemetery. Arrangements by Brown-Forward Funeral Home, Shaker Heights, Ohio


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