From a Parents' Perspective

Driving through the Utah salt flats on our way to Omaha just a few weeks ago, our son called us with the horrible news.  He was devastated.  We were devastated.  We couldn't speak for some time as we drove on.

Kathy was an incredibly special person.  As parents of a Stanford baseball player, she was our son's "mom away from home."  She was the kind face and friendly voice when things were tough and the best cheerleader when things were great.  She was our conduit to information...but much more than that she was our friend when we needed help with any old thing, no mater how small or how big, whether on game day or in the fall.

Our prayers and sympathies go out to Kathy's family and to the entire Stanford baseball family.  We have all lost a dear and wonderful friend.  We miss her tremendously.  I cannot imagine what it will be like to not see her at the games next year.

God bless!

The Davis Family (Erik Davis, 2008)

I have many fond memories of Kathy, and still can't really believe she's gone. I covered the baseball team for The Stanford Daily at the end of the 1987 season and throughout the 1988 season. Kathy was unfailingly friendly, warm, and welcoming, even during times--like the run-ups to the College World Series--that I'm sure were very hectic for her. She had a great gift for putting a person at ease. As a callow 21-year-old I was frankly fairly intimidated walking into the baseball office to interview Mark Marquess--he's an intense man and I think he had more important things on his mind than talking to Daily reporters. So it was always a relief to be greeted by Kathy's friendly smile and ready laugh. In subsequent years, when I would visit campus a friend and I routinely stopped by the baseball office to chat with Kathy. I would tick off the names of players from those '87 and '88 teams, and, as mentioned in other posts, Kathy could give a detailed, current update on every one of them. She was also uncommonly kind and generous to me, even when I was 20 years removed from my vicarious connection to the baseball team. The last time I saw her was about a year ago, and when I stopped by the office I mentioned that the current iteration of my beloved Stanford baseball cap was probably six years old, very worn out, and that I needed to buy a new one. Without hesitating, Kathy jumped up from her desk and exclaimed in that exuberant but matter-of-fact way she had, "Well, let's get you one!" And she walked over to Sunken Diamond with me (greeting by name most of the little kids coming out of the Stanford youth baseball camp that was wrapping up at that time of day), let me into the equipment room, and helped me find a cap that fit. She wouldn't let me pay for it. That was the last time I saw Kathy, but that episode captures her: She would put aside anything she was working on to help the person in front of her. She was great at her job, a terrific ambassador for the baseball team, and a really lovely person. I'll miss you, Kathy.

Chris Myers '88

From a Stanford Baseball Fan

There have been many posts to this blog by former players, Stanford employees, etc., and I'd like to add a reflection on Kathy from a fan's viewpoint. Everything that has been said about her also applies to the many season ticket holders and supporters of Stanford Baseball. Kathy was a friend to everyone, and no request was too trivial for her to help out with. She sat just across the aisle from my seats, and throughout each game their was a constant stream of fans, former players, scouts, and others to whom she greeted with her big smile and warm reception. Most of all, she was a wonderful person who dedicated her professional life to the team she loved so much. I can't imagine sitting in my seat for the next game in Sunken (alumni in the fall) without her being there, which brings me to an idea I'd like to set forth: how about naming that game "The Kathy Wolfe Alumni Game" as a tribute to her contributions throughout her many years with the team? That way we will never forget...... Bruce Fielding, Section 1, Row G, Seats 17 &18

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Thanks,

J.D.

Kathy

I just noticed this site and was reading through the comments with tears streaming down my face. I was the Stanford Baseball media relations contact for about eight and a half years and can truly say that Kathy was the best. There were so many projects that I worked with Kathy on, and she always made them so enjoyable. She is already greatly missed by myself and my family. God must have needed someone to run his baseball program.

Kyle McRae

Thank You Kathy

Stanford Baseball will never be the same without Kathy Wolff.  Along with '9', '32', and 'The Colonel', she's been the heart and soul of the program for decades.  I know we all admired and appreciated everything she did to make our experience as Stanford student-athletes that much better.  She was unwaveringly optimistic and positive in our lives on, and off, the field; completely supportive, and a calming presence.  I really wish that future Stanford baseball players would be able to have her around as they navigate through their time on The Farm, but since that isn't meant to be, I'm happy that we can come together to appreciate the life she lived, and the positive impact she made on all of our lives.  She will be missed! 

Mike Gosling '02

First Class

In KP's piece during the FSU game he relayed Nine's comments that "Kathy was the best part of our program". It's hard to argue, and that's saying something considering all of the superlatives that can be attributed to Stanford in general and Stanford baseball in particular. Any attempts to describe what an impact she had on me personally would sound redundant after so many of the posts that have come before. Dave really hit it on the screws in noting that she always made you feel as if you were the most important thing she had going on at any given moment. Whether it was this dumb kid from Montana not bothering to pack as much as a sweatshirt on his first trip to Los Angeles and nearly freezing on a Friday night at foggy Jackie Robinson Stadium, or a neighboring toilet flooding our hotel room during the regionals in Wichita and forcing a hasty evacuation, Kathy always rode to the rescue. Since graduation, Kathy has been my lifeline to the program in many ways, continually alerting me to the whereabouts of "her boys" so that I could connect with them in the minors and now in the major leagues. And every time I run into a Stanford guy, whether it was Jay Pecci in Gary years ago or Jed Lowery just a few weeks back, the scenario is the same...everyone shares their favorite Nine story, and everyone has a glowing memory of Kathy. So many relationships in college are strictly defined in ways that we outgrow; teacher/student, coach/player, idiot/idiot for many of us. But with Kathy it was different, because she didn't feel the need to bucket anybody, instead treating all with the utmost of kindness and respect. Truly first class. She will be dearly missed, and we are all greater for having had the privelege of her friendship.

Kris Atteberry '96