Kathleen M. Eighmey

Kathleen “Kathy” Ann Maulik Eighmey, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away on October 5, 2026, at the age of 83 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. A two-time breast cancer survivor, Kathy faced the challenges of her later years with the same strength, practicality, and determination that characterized her entire life.

Kathy was born September 8, 1943, in St. Paul, Minnesota, to Helen Kalvas Maulik and Frank Otto Maulik. She grew up with her older brother, Roger Maulik, and younger sister, Virginia “Ginny” Maulik Hockett. Kathy and Ginny shared an especially close bond. Born just one year and two days apart—Kathy on September 8 and Ginny on September 6—they grew up almost as twins and remained close throughout their lives.

Kathy graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Masters’ degree in Colonial History. Her first career took her to Maryland, where she worked as a cryptologist for the National Security Agency. It was there that she met Louis Wayne Eighmey, the man who would become her husband and lifelong partner.

Kathy and Lou were married on May 24, 1968, in a double wedding with Ginny and Bob Hockett, choosing their parents’ wedding anniversary as their own. Their marriage would span 58 years and took them around the world on countless adventures.

Lou served for 24 years in the United States Navy, retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 and Naval Cryptologist. His work—and remarkable command of Russian, Japanese, German, and French—helped shape a life of travel and adventure for their family. Together, Kathy and Lou made homes in Morocco, Guam, Virginia Beach, and Washington, D.C. Through all the moves, adventures, careers, children, illnesses, and changes that life brought them, they remained steadfast partners. Lou was by Kathy’s side throughout her life and through her final years.

Kathy never stopped learning. Her love of history led her to receive a government grant to write the history of Virginia Beach. The resulting book, The Beach, was first published in 1977.

Later, Kathy changed careers and returned to school, earning a second master’s degree, this time in Library Science from The Catholic University of America. She went on to work for the Library of Congress and FedLink. Even retirement did not mean slowing down, as Kathy studied again and became a Master Gardener, turning her lifelong love of gardening into yet another area of expertise.

Kathy was a perpetual learner and an exceptionally capable woman. If she did not know how to do something, she would figure it out. She loved cooking, gardening, reading, and DIY crafts, and she was always teaching herself something new.

She was also an adventurous cook. Traditional family meals rarely remained entirely traditional in Kathy’s hands; she was always adding something new, interesting, or more flavorful. Some things, however, were not to be improved upon, as her apple pie was one of them. Her grandchildren, Charlie and Alice, still try to convince their mother to make apple pie just like Grandma’s.

To her family, Kathy was something like Mary Poppins—but more practical and very perfect. She had a remarkable ability to get down to the basics, understand what needed to be done, and make things work. She was creative, resourceful, curious, and, as her family would readily admit, usually right.

Her greatest joy was her family.

Kathy and Lou raised two children, Quinn Kary Eighmey Byrnes, married to David Byrnes, and Jon-Paul Francis Eighmey, married to Susie Sprinkel. She was most proud as a grandmother to Charlie, Alice, and Otto, each of whom carries something of Kathy with them.

Charlie is the grandchild who will remember Grandma as she truly was before Alzheimer’s began to change her. He shares Kathy’s passion for travel, adventure, and seeing what lies beyond the familiar.

Alice Kathleen, Kathy’s only granddaughter, shared her grandmother’s love of reading from a very early age - a connection between them that reflected Kathy’s own lifelong curiosity and love of learning.

And Otto became Kathy’s spark as she entered some of the most difficult years, as she faced both cancer and Alzheimer’s. She would always remember Otto as a bright young boy who was kind and endlessly curious.

Those relationships—and the small pieces of herself she passed along to each of her grandchildren—are part of Kathy’s continued legacy.

Kathy is survived by her husband, Lou; her children, Quinn and Jon-Paul, and their spouses, David and Susie; her grandchildren, Charlie, Alice, and Otto; her brother, Roger Maulik; her sister, Virginia “Ginny” Maulik Hockett; and the many family members and friends whose lives were made richer by knowing her.

Kathy lived a life filled with learning, adventure, books, gardens, good food, family, and an enduring curiosity about the world. She built a life filled with purpose, family, and love.

She will be deeply missed and forever loved.

Kathy will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites those wishing to honor Kathy’s memory to make a donation to a charity of their choice that supports breast cancer survivors or advances Alzheimer’s research—a fitting tribute to the courage and strength with which Kathy faced both diseases.