A Graduate of Maplehurst Convent of the Sacred Heart (1937) and Manhattanville College
HOULIHAN - Kathrene “Kate” (nee Blish), BFSC of Chicago, IL; New Rochelle, Crestwood, and Bronxville, NY died July 2 at home surrounded by family. She was 96. She and Dan, BFSC, her husband of 53 years raised nine children in love and faith: Kathie (Jim), Rita, Dorothy (Marcel), Daniel (Marie), Joe (Anna), Mark (Amy), Barbara (Bill), Gerry (Maureen) and Elizabeth (Ralph).
A graduate of Maplehurst Convent of the Sacred Heart (1937) and Manhattanville College (1941) her faith, intellectual curiosity and love of beauty sparked many interests - American History, Church History, art, architecture, ballet, opera, embroidery, travel, baseball, the US Open and French cooking! Her legendary dinner parties were a key ingredient of Dan’s and his partners’ (James G. Houlihan and Howard Parnes) business, Houlihan-Parnes Realtors. An enthusiastic, late-in-life golfer, Kate enjoyed many “9 holes” with Siwanoy friends.
Long time parishioners of Annunciation (1949-1999, Crestwood, NY), Kate and Dan were generous supporters of Catholic education - Manhattan College, Iona College and Prep, College of New Rochelle, De La Salle Academy, Academy of Mount Saint Ursula, Cornelia Connelly Center, Convent of the Sacred Heart Greenwich, Annunciation School, and The Ursuline School and in addition, Covenant House and Graymoor. Kate joined St. Joseph’s parish in 1999. She served on the board of the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Greenwich, and was the school’s 1992 Outstanding Alumna.
A woman of deep faith, Kate encouraged her family to cultivate interests, to “always do something worthwhile” and “to be good to everybody.”
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Kate and Dan were well known to the New York City Brothers. Tom Scanlan and I requested the honor of Benefaction for Dan and Kate some years ago. They had been most generous to Manhattan College and to the students at De La Salle Academy. Dan passed away soon after being presented Letters of Benefaction and Kate continued on with the support. Kate sponsored some De La Salle Academy students each year, and she took a personal interest in them and stayed in touch with them. People like Dan and Kate do not come along often. They played a big part in helping De La Salle in its early years when living was “hand to mouth”. They attended our very first fund raiser in 1986 at Tavern on the Green … and the rest is history!
Brother Brian Carty, FSC
President, De La Salle Academy