Katherine Armstrong Young
Katherine, “Kit”, Armstrong Young died peacefully August 30, 2022 at the age of 80.
Kit was born in New York City October 5, 1941 to James Sinclair and Elisabeth Stillman Armstrong. As a child, Kit lived in Chicago until 1953 when her family moved to Washington, DC. She attended and graduated from the Sidwell Friends School in 1959. Kit attended Garland Junior College in Boston and then George Washington University in Washington, DC. Before graduating from college, Kit began her working career at the Securities and Exchange Commission for a few years; then moved to New York City to work in financial services. Kit’s employment interest was in human resources where she then worked for many years for various New York City financial firms.
Kit married Walter Lee Young, a New Yorker from Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1968 and they lived first in New York City and then in Bronxville, New York. After their divorce, she moved to the Boston area, living first in Wellesley before settling in Needham.
Kit had a passion for needlepoint, and embroidered remarkable canvases that became pillows, belts, and ornaments enjoyed by all of her family members and many friends. She loved cooking and having her family around the table for dinner. Friends and family brought much joy to her life with trips to Chappaquiddick and Vermont to ski, which always included a lively card or board game. Kit loved living near her grandchildren and was often found at a sporting event, musical or concert.
Kit is survived by her son, Tyler Stillman Young (Katie Hall), of Wellesley, Massachusetts and her step-daughters, Amy Young Todisco (Dave Hartshorn) of Waitsfield, Vermont and Caroline Young Murray (Gerry Murray) of Bronxville, New York. Kit has three grandchildren, Isabelle, James, and William Young of Needham, Massachusetts and four step-grandchildren Diana Todisco, Ryan Murray, Dylan Murray and Megan Murray.
Kit was preceded in death by her father, Sinclair Armstrong, her mother, Elisabeth Upham, and her brother James Armstrong, Jr. In addition to her children and grandchildren, Kit is survived by her brothers, Stephen Armstrong and his wife, Jeanne, of Hadley, Massachusetts, Robert Armstrong and his wife, Phoebe, of Vero Beach Florida and her sister Elisabeth Armstrong of Deerfield, Massachusetts along with several cousins, nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held later this fall with details to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Trustees of the Reservations at https://thetrustees.org/ or Plugged In Band in Needham, Massachusetts at https://www.pluggedinband.org/donate.
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As a very young stepbrother (barely age 6) when I first met her, Kit became a wonderful “big sister” to me for many years. I looked forward to her visits to her Dad’s new family and to hearing her perspectives about the world from a young adult. Kit had a wonderful way with young children; she always treated me as someone older in maturity than I actually was, and she always exhibited a playful sense of humor. She deserved many more years with us all. I offer heartfelt condolences to the Armstrongs, the Youngs, and to her many friends at this sad time.
I remember a Christmas or 2 with you and your Mom at Ben’s house.
Sue
Rest in peace, Kit. (My stepmom)
Thank you for,,,
Your friendship and love.
Giving me a wonderful brother., Tyler Young, and his 3 terrific kids–and a fantastic wife, Katie Hall Young.
For all of the amazing times on Chappaquiddick throughout my life (and Quogue Long Island and Vermont in the early years).
For a fun, interesting, and loving larger family to connect with.
For annual angel food cake birthday cakes.
For the board games, card games and backgammon that you taught us.
For all of the great recipes that I learned from you–and your love of entertaining.
For all of the wonderful needlepoint, knitting and handcrafts that you introduced me to and that you created for Diana and me,
and so much more…
Kit was a special work friend. It made my day to stop by and see her. Our discussions covered everything. She loved talking about her family, kids, grandkids, and “Chappy”! I will miss her and am so glad our paths crossed.
Wally
Kit was the first girl I ever kissed, at the Ambassador Theater at 18th and Columbia Road in Washington, DC during Hitchcock’s “Dial M for Murder.” We played together in a summer camp cutdown version of Gilbert & Sullivan’s “HMS Pinafore” and were friends throughout our time together at the Friends School, and then in Boston as well. It was wonderful to see her some years ago at a Sidwell reunion. She was the same warm, engaged, smart person I knew first when we were 12 or 13.
I’m very sorry to know of Kit’s passing, We were classmates at Sidwell Friends and I’ll miss her.
At Sidwell Friends Kit always listened; made me and others feel important and valued. And Kit enjoyed conversation, even when I saw her at a Friends School, Class of 1959 reunion many years later she was interested in what her classmates had been up to over the years – a wonderful quality. Kit is missed.
I will always think of Kit as my oldest best friend. We met eighty years ago soon after I was born in 1943. We spent many summer vacations together in Connecticut at our grandparents summer home “Highfield” and at our house in Litchfield. As the oldest of five, we each took solace in each other’s understanding of our trials at home. We also shared forbidden love comic books which we hid under the bed.
When Kit moved to the Boston area we resumed our friendship and enjoyed almost monthly lunches together sharing memories of childhood and the aches of older years. She was a wonderful friend and a super cousin, I will love her forever.