Katelyn Lonergan

KATELYN LONERGAN (1990-2010) was a resident of Somers, New York. She graduated from Somers High School in 2009 with Presidential Education Awards from both her high school and a technical program focused on film and animation. She was also a member of the Honor Society. Katelyn also received the Positive Role Model Award via the Grace Foundation.

As a young entrepreneur, Katelyn worked at Friendly’s Restaurant and entertained young ones with face-painting. She completed art internships and jobs at the Jacob Burns Center in Pleasantville, New York and the Boys Club in Mount Kisco, New York. She also taught art at a boys’ camp and participated in the WISE program when she was a high school student.

Throughout her short life, Katelyn made a point to share her creativity with others. From a young age, she made anime playing cards, doodled in her notebooks, and wrote poems in notebook margins. She created greeting cards, calendars, and even when on vacation, did face-painting for families with young children. She preferred to paint animals, flowers, fairies, castles, and princesses.

When Katelyn became a teenager, she noticed there was a limited supply of books available of interest to young teens. This sparked her interest in writing. At the time, she was 13 years old and having difficulty with her classmates. Writing helped her cope with her daily frustrations. The characters in Katelyn’s book: Rochelle, Zachary, and Logan, all confront similar situations in her story about Amalia. Katelyn adds humor to the storyline as she explains how each sibling deals with peer pressure, friendship, and daily challenges. The plot evolves with mysterious happenings and several twists and turns throughout the novel.

Katelyn’s talents, along with her love for life and compassion for people and animals, were lost in an instant when she died in a tragic car accident on January 10, 2010. She was on her way to a day of skiing (her second passion) when the tragedy occurred. It has been a monumental loss to her family and friends. Katelyn had a delightful disposition, warm expressive eyes, and a smile that would light up a room. She will forever be missed by family and friends alike.