Kathleen Sample

cherished grandchildren, passed away on July 21 after a long battle with dementia.

Born in Manhattan and raised in Bronxville, New York, Kitty was the daughter of Dr. Joseph Edward Corr and Alice Lee Diamond Corr. She was the beloved sister of the late Joseph Jr., Fitzhugh, and Christopher Corr.

After graduating from Bronxville High School, Kitty earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, followed by a Master of Arts in English Literature from Manhattanville College. A lifelong learner with a keen intellectual curiosity, she was rarely without a book in hand. She read The New York Times cover to cover each day and kept up with a steady rotation of magazines every month. Her curiosity also led her to travel, and she enjoyed visiting new places, especially in Europe and the Caribbean. She spent a year living abroad in Paris.

Kitty raised her family in Stamford, Connecticut, where she had lived since 1970. She was the devoted mother of Elizabeth Lee Sample, John Davis Sample, Jr., and Ann Corr Sample Lineberger, and mother-in-law to Meg Hovan Sample, Brenda Stauffer Powers, and Christopher Lineberger. Her greatest joy came from her grandchildren — Danny, Dean, Alden, and Hadley — who brought her immense pride and daily delight as well as Danny’s spouse Bryce Nguyen. Kitty was predeceased by her previous husband, John Davis Sample, who died in 1974 due to complications following a fall.

A devout Catholic, Kitty was deeply committed to her faith and to causes close to her heart, including civil liberties and women’s rights. Beginning in the early 1970s, she was an active member of the Stamford-based Catholic community Emmaus, where she helped write the parish newsletter Joy. She absolutely loved being a member of Emmaus. Kitty gave generously of her time as a tireless volunteer — supporting her church, aiding those in need, and serving her beloved local library and garden club.

Kitty also worked as an adjunct professor of English at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. She loved tennis and spending time by the water — particularly with family and friends at the Stamford Yacht Club and on Florida’s Sanibel Island. She was lucky to have so many wonderful friends in her neighborhood. Her life was rich with community, friendships, and purpose.

Kitty had a lifelong love of animals, especially horses and cats. She grew up riding horses competitively, and she was one of the first females to compete in Show Jumping at Madison Square Garden. In later years, she found companionship in the family’s rescued cats, including Hot Fudge Sunday (aka Pudgy), Daisy, Earl, Rocky, Muffin, Grey, and the one-eyed Winky.

For the last five years of her life, Kitty was a resident of Maplewood at Darien, where she began in Assisted Living before transitioning to Memory Care a year ago. Her family extends their gratitude to the staff at Maplewood for their care as her dementia and other health challenges progressed. Some of Kitty’s favorite moments during her time there included creating flower arrangements, Singalongs with Neville, and dancing—with the help of her walker—to Oldies and Willie Nelson alongside fellow residents during Happy Hour in The Pub.

A private burial service will be held by the family. A Celebration of Life will be hosted at Maplewood of Darien on August 17th, 2025 from 11 AM to 2 PM. Parking is beneath and next to the facility and across the street.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Kitty’s memory to the Stamford Public Education Foundation. https://spefct.org/donate/