Kathy Lynn Dye PhD

I am heartbroken to hear about Kathy’s passing. She was such a remarkable person, and I, like so many others, feel incredibly grateful to have shared time with her as fellow scuba diving volunteers at the Newport Aquarium. Her kindness, passion, and dedication to marine life—and to those around her—left a lasting impact. She will be deeply missed. My heart goes out to her family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing her. Wishing you comfort and strength during this difficult time.

Kathy and I were friends and colleagues for many years. We worked together at Thomas More University, where she was an excellent professor and director of the MBA final projects. She took great satisfaction in guiding her students to develop creative solutions for local businesses and nonprofit agencies. She devoted a tremendous amount of volunteer time and energy with the Newport aquarium and loved scuba diving. Kathy enjoyed the outdoors, and we shared many walks together along with my dog Kodiak, often talking about travel and destinations where we wanted to go. Each spring, Kathy created a lovely splash of color with various annuals in her flower beds alongside her irises. She liked to bake, and I was fortunate to taste her homemade apple pie. Kathy will be sorely missed and remembered fondly.

I met our beautiful Kathy on her first day with Amazon. Sean and I were her ambassadors. We told her that we wanted to set her up for success and at any time she would need us that one or both of us will help her. Years later she became an ambassador and would stop us to say that these two are the best teachers in the building, when in fact she is the best teacher!! ♥️ She was patient, she was kind, she listened and then let you know that YOU are the most important person in the room. She would stop whatever she was doing to let you know that nothing was more important than YOU! I would walk through the warehouse and hear, “Pammy”, “Pammy” (I loved that) echoing off the equipment and I would look and look. There she is on a catwalk. Down the steps she came for a great big hug a quick, “love you” and back to work she went. Because she never missed an opportunity for a hug and a smile, thank goodness, I had my hug on Tuesday before she went to heaven on Thursday. I love you, KATHY! XOXO PAMMY ♥️♥️

I remember Kathy as a wonderful colleague who was a dedicated educator and friend of many. She so enjoyed coming to gallery exhibitions on campus, visiting the art museums in town and especially attending concerts of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra where she had season tickets with several others from TMC. I think of her every time I go into Music Hall.

I met Kathy at the Newport Aquarium where we worked together as volunteer divers. She was always so kind to me and I always enjoyed diving with her. I will never forget the conservation trip we did with the aquarium to plant coral and tag sharks and especially our trip to the Everglades to ride on an airboat. Kathy made this trip so much fun for me with her adventurous spirit. What a great lady! Kathy will be missed.

I first got to know Kathy at the aquarium and later was fortunate to work with her at Amazon. Kathy was a perfect example of why we are on this earth. She always had a smile, a hug for who needed it, words of wisdom and stories to share. She was incredibly kind, clever and a loving person. I am glad and blessed to have met her. Farewell Kathy and travel well on your next journey.

Kathy, I can’t tell you enough how much I already miss you!!! I’m so sad! I thought something was wrong when you didn’t text me back !!! I thank God for bringing you into my life you sweet soul ❤️ I’ll never ever forget you Kathy! You mean so much to me. I’ll never forget the feel of your strong loving hugs!!! My dear friend and sister through Christ! I want you to know I listened to everything you’ve told me, your words are still with me !! Thanks for showing me all the love you did when you didn’t have too ❤️ I’m forever grateful for you! I’ll never get over you just through this until my eyes meet yours again and we laugh and talk just like before ❤️❤️❤️ Remember how we laughed so hard about you being a fine lady ? You know ? I’m gonna celebrate you from here on out girlfriend!!!

Kathy, I am grateful for the time, love, friendship and support. Life is too short, but you lived it to the fullest.
Eternal Rest Granted to you of Lord and Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon You. May you rest in peace, Kathy.
I will always hear you laughing.
Now you are making the Angels laugh!

I’ll miss our chats in the driveway, even more so this coming spring and summer. Thanks for a being a great neighbor and friend, and especially for all the good advice! You’ll be missed!
GW

I had the pleasure to work with Kathy at TMU (Then TMC). I worked with her on an FGA committee and appreciated her leadership and insight. As a newer faculty, she was kind to talk to me about higher ed, women in higher ed, and the ins/outs of TMU. She stood strong in her ideas and her passion was education. You will be missed.

I worked with Kathy at CVG9 for three years. She was one of my favorite coworkers and lunchtime buddies even though we were 40. years apart in age. I so enjoyed when we could sit on breaks and she would share about her experiences teaching, her childhood growing up, her time at the aquarium, and her many travels.

Kathy knew I was a believer and would ask me every so often to pray for her, whether due to a surgery or something else going on in her life. I always considered that such a privilege and rejoiced with her when she would come back with a positive report.

She once gave me two tickets to the aquarium. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to go before I moved. I’m also sorry I never was able to tell her about my master’s degree plans. I knew she would be so excited (given her experience as an educator with a PhD, I so enjoyed connecting with her over our mutual love for school).

She once told me, “You know we fight over who gets to be your work grandparents.” I hope she knew how much I enjoyed having her as a “work grandma,” a coworker, and a friend.

See you in the twinkle of an eye, Kathy.

I met Kathy at Newport Aquarium. She was one of the most dedicated volunteers, always ready to help where she could. But more than that, she was a person who made you feel seen and loved. She never met a stranger, and shared her joy in life with anyone who would take a second to listen. I hope to spread even a fraction of her type of energy and love to the world!

Kathy was the kind of person I so admire and wanted to be like. She was smart, generous, funny, and adventurous. Her work resume’ was so diversive that anyone would think that it was several people being described instead of just one. She started her work career from Fashion Designer at King’s Island, to consultant with large corporations to professor at Thomas More college to loading up the trucks at Amazon, (by herself at times). I always wanted to call her Dr. Dye but she always preferred, “Kathy.” Her adventurous side was just as amazing with volunteering at the Newport Aquarium, swimming often at the Y for exercise, hiring a physical trainer just recently for more physical challenge. She loved reading and sharing coffee with a friend and absolutely was the best travel partner I could ever ask for. She and I went to Paris in 2018 where she surprised me with a stay at a convent in the middle of Paris. One of my best memories was that I would drink a bottle of wine at the foot of the Catholic Church steps in the convent until the nuns sent us inside to our rooms due to convent curfew. We took diving trips together and I loved being her diving buddy. She traveled on her own to the Galapagos, Palau, Viking Cruise in Europe and was planning her next adventure to Egypt in May. She never feared exploring new countries. And she always had a fun adventure story to tell. I absolutely adored her and looked up to her with deep respect. Kathy, I will miss you dearly and will continue the exploration travels that you enticed me to do on my own. You are the Best!

Kathy volunteered with WAVE Foundation at Newport Aquarium for 23 years and clocked an astounding 3,689 hours of service. In July of 2001, Kathy started volunteering with the Dive team, sharing her love of Scuba diving, and aquatic wildlife. Through the years, Kathy lent her time and talents to other volunteer areas like Animal Care, WAVE’s Gills Club, and the WAVE Foundation Board of Directors.
WAVE Foundation and Newport Aquarium will always remember Kathy for her generosity, kindness, and knack for making people laugh. There is no measure to how much Kathy will be missed by our staff and her fellow volunteers. Kathy inspired all of us by living her life to the fullest and we hope that she knows how much she meant to us. Rest in peace, Kathy.