Kathryn Janise Greenwade

Kathryn Greenwade ’88, Vice President for Communications and Human Resources, at The Association of Former Students at Texas A&M University, passed away February 10 after a lengthy illness. Born on September 18, 1965, in Clifton, TX, Kathryn touched countless lives from an early age. She never met a stranger and developed her communication and leadership skills growing up in Hempstead, TX, through participation in local and state 4-H activities, cheerleading, band, school organizations and church youth group. She served as a counselor at Lake Forest Ranch Christian Youth Camp in Macon, MS for several years before attending Texas A&M University. As a student at Texas A&M, she continued to impact lives through her many friendships and participation in the Student Government Association, Aggie Muster Committee, and the Aggie Orientation Leader Program, to name a few. After graduation, Kathryn worked in the fields of marketing and training in Dallas where she also served as a weekend house manager for The Ronald McDonald House.

Kathryn led The Association of Former Students’ communications and web teams, Campus Programs including the Aggie Ring Program, advocacy and legislative affairs, and human resources. She has held the Professional in Human Resources certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute since 2000. Before coming to The Association, she led the former student career services program in the Texas A&M Career Center.

“This is a profound loss for The Association of Former Students and for every person who loved Kathryn and whose life she touched,” said Association President and CEO Porter S. Garner III ’79, who recruited Kathryn to The Association in 1999 and worked with her for 22 years. “Kathryn gave her all for The Association. The strength of our organization today is in large part a credit to Kathryn and a testament to her true professionalism, her wise counsel, and her love for Texas A&M and Texas Aggies,” Garner said. “She brought that same commitment to her personal relationships, making friends everywhere she went and always bringing us humor and joy.”

Kathryn was a third-generation Aggie, earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism in 1988. She was honored in 2000 as a Fish Camp namesake and served her community as a member of the board of directors of Habitat for Humanity Bryan-College Station. She also served Texas A&M for 13 years as an academic mentor to Company C-2 in the Corps of Cadets, where she was twice named outstanding academic mentor.  Beyond giving so much of her time to serve Texas Aggies, Kathryn was also a long-time, generous donor to many areas of Texas A&M.  She was passionate about starting the tradition of giving for others as she sponsored hundreds of students’ first year in the Century Club.  Her legacy of philanthropy will continue on at Texas A&M through her Endowed Century Club fund and the J. Walton Greenwade ’30 Endowed Aggie Ring Scholarship which she established at The Association to support Aggies in perpetuity.   Kathryn loved figure skating and performed yearly in the Spirit Ice Arena Christmas Spectacular. A longtime community volunteer, she also served as an officer for the Brazos Valley Figure Skating Club. She was an avid world traveler, tireless advocate, and immediate friend to all that she met. 

Kathryn is survived by her parents, James ’66 and Sharon Greenwade of Clifton, TX; sister, Karen Schiller ’92 and husband Kevin ’91 of College Station; nieces and nephews, Sarah Schiller ’18 of Evansville, IN, Samuel Schiller ’22 of College Station, and Jacob Schiller of Greeley, CO; uncle and aunts, Robert T. Greenwade ’68 and Emily Kay Greenwade ’69 of Wichita Falls, TX, Gina Stokes of Hewitt, TX, Dana Alsobrook of Clifton, TX; cousins Walt Greenwade ’93 and wife Christine of Keller, TX, Amy Adams and husband Keith of Petrolia, TX, Brian Eoff and wife Marassia, Josh Eoff and fiancé Jordan, Chris Eoff and fiancé Jessica, and Bobby Nichols, all of Clifton, TX; many other aunts, cousins, friends, colleagues, Aggies around the world, and her loyal dog, Quinn. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, James W. ’30 and Olivia Greenwade, Alvin and Bernice Eoff; uncle Louis Eoff; and her beloved dogs, Shady, Earl, Jakey Ray, Penny, and Gigi.

Those close to Kathryn know how deeply she loved Texas A&M, and more specifically, Texas Aggies. To perpetuate her example of selflessness and tell her story, The Association of Former Students will honor her in a place that Aggies will gather for generations to come — Aggie Park. In lieu of flowers, if you would like to contribute to The Kathryn J. Greenwade ’88 Aggie Park Memorial, you may do so online at tx.ag/Kathryn88 or donate to Habitat for Humanity Bryan-College Station at habitatbcs.org/donate, or via mail at 119 Lake Street, Bryan, TX 77801 with “In memory of Kathryn Greenwade” on the memo line. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:30 pm, Saturday, February 26, 2022, at Central Church, 1991 FM 158, College Station.