By Linda Taaffe

A new business

Mrs. Williams had just launched her own business and she was about to complete her first business deal.

Mrs. Williams was an investment banker with a background in international finance. Through her work, she provided US exports to emerging markets with the intent of improving the lives of others, England said.

She always conducted her work from a humanitarian perspective, England said.

Part of her work included establishing a museum in Guatemala for weaving artists to market their crafts, raising capital to install a hydroelectric dam in Central America and gathering donations for flood relief in Honduras after Hurricane Mitch.

“She didn’t compartmentalize her life,” England said. “She combined her humanitarianism, business achievements and joy of living together.”

Volunteer work

Kathleen Williams wasn’t someone who sat idle. The Los Altos native eagerly lent a hand to almost any community project. A champion of many causes, her enthusiasm and passion led her around the globe helping others through various projects.

“She was very dynamic, always doing something to make people’s lives better,” said longtime family friend Megan French.

“Kathy constantly cheered on those around her and was always the one to ask, ‘What can I do to help you?’”

Mrs. Williams, 54, died Nov. 12. She was aboard the American Airlines Flight 587 that crashed into a Queens neighborhood when mechanical problems broke the plane apart shortly after takeoff from Kennedy Airport in New York. All 260 people on the plane were killed in the crash.

Mrs. Williams lived in Los Altos with her husband, Keith and her 16-year-old daughter, Emily. A lifelong Los Altos resident, she attended Loyola Elementary and Awalt High schools. She later attended Occidental College.

Family members said Mrs. Williams had made a last-minute change in her itinerary and was enroute to Santa Domingo so she could finalize an unexpected opportunity to bring medical equipment to a clinic in Santa Domingo through her business International Export Finance LLC.

Just before boarding the plane, Mrs. Williams told a friend that this was the happiest time of her life, said her cousin Chris England.

Even though Mrs. Williams helped causes worldwide, she remained devoted to her family and community, said French, who met Mrs. Williams eight years ago through the Los Altos United Methodist Church. French said Mrs. Williams was the person who introduced her to the Los Altos community when she first moved here.

French later worked as a nanny, caring for Mrs. Williams’ daughter.

Mrs. Williams loved Los Altos and often reminisced about its fruit orchards, French said.

Mrs. Williams was co-president of the school board at her daughter’s private school in Palo Alto.

She coordinated parent volunteer efforts and helped run fund-raisers at the school and most recently served as one of the leaders of the school’s 2001 Starfire Youth Choir tour to England and Scotland during the summer.

Mrs. Williams was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, contributing to numerous boards and agencies.

She headed the church’s Outreach Council, an agency that supports more than 45 local, regional and global social service agencies.

Pastor Mark Bollwinkel said Mrs. Williams had a real passion for social services.

“She was a citizen of the world, multilingual and comfortable in a number of different cultures,” Bollwinkel said.

“I will always remember her for her smile, her ‘can do’ positive attitude and devotion to her family. She had a warm and contagious spirit.”

Mrs. Williams is survived by her husband, Keith; daughter, Emily; mother, Beverly Tucker of Los Altos; and three brothers, Kirk, Jay and John Reid. She was predeceased by her father, Joe Reid.

Services are scheduled to be held at 4 p.m., Nov. 26 at the Los Altos United Methodist Church at 655 Magdalena Ave.