"A Tall, Irish Lady"

Kathleen Short during the 125th Anniversary Ceremony, 1994

Kathleen Short in the Heritage Room of Mount Saint Mary, 1984

Sisters Joan Elizabeth (Iannotti), James Catherine Walsh, and Richard Anthony Rocco sitting with Torch on Christmas Day, December 25, 1965

Sister Kathleen Short's entire life is a showcase of accomplishments. Even after her time in leadership, she always found new ways to help others. Let's take a look behind the accomplishments, at who Sister Kathleen Short was through the eyes of someone who knew her well: Sister Catherine Walsh.

In her own words, Sister Walsh described Kathleen Short as a "Tall, Irish Lady." Kathleen Short had a certain presence that she exuded, even if she was generally silent and contemplative. She was the embodiment of Celtic spirituality, always wanting to move onto the next thing and spread the love of learning where she could. In the eulugy for Sister Kathleen Short written by Sister Walsh, she is described as having a soul marked by certain talents: the love of learning, silence, and solitude. Sister Kathleen Short was a scholar in every aspect of the word; she had an endless curiosity, a drive to teach others, and the presence and serenity of mind to contemplate the toughest of issues. Her contemplation even went so far as to leave her seemingly lost in thought, lost in her God, and even a bit absent minded at times.

Sister Walsh shared a story of a time when she was just a novice that exemplifies all these traits. Kathleen Short had a white German Shepard named Torch given to her by a Doctor from D.C. Sister Walsh described the dog as "rare and tempermental", being trained as a puppy by 27 novices, and not very fond of men. One night, Sister Walsh was summoned to the Mother's room and told to bring two aspirin to the dog outside. It was a rainy, icy night and Sister Walsh had a very bad cold. She decided to pop the aspirin herself, go back to bed, and claim if asked that she had given the aspirin, not mentioning to whom. Years later when the two women discussed the event, Kathleen Short laughed, and said that Sister Walsh had gotten that one past her. She stated, "I guess I was a little intent on what I was thinking", not realizing it was a cold and rainy night at the time. 

Contemplative and focused, Sister Kathleen Short always thought of ways she could serve the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh and the community at large. Her time as Mother was defined by change and expansion, as she tranisitioned the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh into the modern era. She built a college, lead her congregation, and facilitated the changes she knew were necessary to better serve those in her care. She kept this sentiment long after she had retired as Mother, all the way to her death on July 26, 2001.