Kathy Patricia Miracco

The daughter of the late Mary and John Larsen, she is survived by her loving husband of 43 years, Edward, her two children, Allison and Edward John, her son-in-law, Eric, her daughter-in-law, Amy, her two grandchildren, Everett and Clark, her brother, John, and sister-in-law, Kathy. Her grandchildren lovingly called her, Mia.

Kathy was born in Brooklyn, NY on November 23, 1950. A childhood polio survivor, which started her resilience to never let anything slow her down. She graduated from Saint Edmond’s High School (Brooklyn, NY) in 1968 and then went on to earn Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Wagner College (Staten Island, NY). In 1972 she began her career with the US Food and Drug Administration where she rose through the ranks in the New York office becoming one of the first female Supervisory Investigators. In 1978 she married Edward, whom she met at work, and moved to Staten Island. In 1988 she moved to North Potomac, MD, with her family. She spent 33 years with FDA, finalizing her career as a Deputy Division Director with the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Office of Compliance, Rockville, MD. She always said she wanted to “make a difference” and that she surely did, raising two wonderful, compassionate and highly educated children all the while protecting US citizens from unsafe or ineffective drugs for her entire career. It goes without saying that she made a difference, always giving, sharing, and loving.

While living on Marco Island, she made many dear friends. She loved being a member of several book clubs, island clubs such as Newcomers, Island Girlfriends, Classy Cooks and Just Friends, and the Marco Island Historical Society—creating several Historical Society shows including Marco’s Marvelous Mothers and Wedding Gowns Through the 20th Century. She also became a re-enactor with the Historical Society, and, with her husband, derived great pleasure re-enacting Dr. Mary Olds and Dr. Charles Louis Olds (early pioneers who lived on Marco at the turn of the 20th century.) In 2012 she served as President of the Marco Island Historical Society and in 2014 she received the Marco Island Rotary Spirit of Marco Award.

She is greatly missed by all. Celebration of life arrangements will be announced at a future date.