Kathleen Burns Hendrix

Kathleen Burns Hendrix

Canandaguia:

82, a journalist at The Los Angeles Times for two decades, passed away on June 22, 2023. She had an illustrious career, both as a journalist and as an human rights activist. Kathy grew up in Rochester, graduated from the College of New Rochelle, and earned a Masters Degree in Journalism from Columbia University. She then joined the Peace Corps, serving for two years in Borneo, and after returning to New York, enlisted in the War on Poverty. At the Times from 1974 to 1993, her output was prodigious. The excellence of her reporting and writing were matched only by her decency and commitment. She wrote about women in the Middle East, life in a Mexican village, Vietnam veterans, and long pieces about the diverse communities of Los Angeles. She reported on Pro Peace, and followed the long path of its anti-nuclear march across the United States, Europe, and finally to Moscow. Kathy covered the United Nations Third World Conference on Women in 1985-and was a planner and a participant in the historic Fourth Conference in Beijing in 1995. By then she was serving in the State Department in the Clinton Administration and she played a key role in Vital Voices, Hillary Clinton's international effort to empower women and promote their involvement in political life. She was a member of the President's Interagency Council on Women at the White House. For many years she was a Senior Advisor and an Associate Director to the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation's Humanitarian Prize, traveling the globe evaluating candidates for the Prize. Kathy was a fierce champion not only for women's rights, but for civil rights and LGBTQ+ rights. She also served on the Boards of the Ewing Forum, Sonnenberg Mansion and Historic Gardens, 1816 Quaker Meeting House, and Ontario County Historical Society. She had a wicked sense of humor and a natural gift for friendship. Fabulous meals were a constant at her table, from Indian specialties to all-American dishes. Her elegant home was always filled with books and piles of papers she perennially planned to sort through.

Predeceased by her parents, Dolores and Roy Burns; cousins, Ellen Coller, Thomas Koch, Gretchen Markov, Dorothy Morton, Robert (Florence) Ewart, Rosemary Ewart, Thomas Ewart and Kathleen Ewart.

She is survived by her former husband and lifelong friend, Omar Hendrix; cousins Daniel (Margaret) Burns, Thomas (Elena Pena) Burns, Matthew Burns, Marianna Burns, Amy (Steve Feder) Winston-Feder, Josee Winston-Feder, Greg (Molly Harding) Winston, Violet Winston, Richard Burns, Virginia Burns-Cenedella, Jack (Norma) Burns, John, Michael, Joseph and Lisa Burns, Gail (Aleksander Nikolic) Koch, David (Katherine) Ewart, Katelyn (Joshua) Bianchi, Amelia Bianchi, Lauren Ewart, Ellen (Joseph Cardella) Ewart and Florence Cardella along with many dear friends. Kathy Hendrix touched countless lives and will be deeply missed by so many across America and around the world.

Family will receive friends on Saturday July 15,2023 at New Comer cremations and Funerals 6 Empire Blvd Rochester, NY from 10AM - 1130AM, followed by a memorial service. Internment at Irondequoit Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Southern Poverty Law Center, World Wildlife Fund, American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to animals , or The Natural Resource Defense Council. Services will be live streamed.


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