[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 13, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H3399-H3400]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF KATHLEEN ANNE KOCH

  (Mr. Kennedy of New York was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. KENNEDY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy 
heart to honor the life and legacy of Kathleen Anne Koch, who passed 
away on March 17, 2026, at the age of 78.
  Kathy was a devoted wife and mother, a proud grandmother, and, above 
all, a relentless fighter for justice.
  Born on January 20, 1948, to Michael and Jeanne Honan, Kathy learned 
at a young age the importance of community, looking out for your 
neighbor, and never backing down from doing what is right.
  Kathy grew up in South Buffalo, where she met her husband, Wally. 
Together, they shared a marriage of 52 years filled with laughter, 
partnership, and an unwavering devotion to family.
  Kathy and Wally lived a true love story. They met at a New Year's Eve 
celebration near McKinley Parkway and got married shortly after at St. 
Teresa's Church. They were inseparable. They devoted every waking 
moment to one another and, in the process, created a lifetime full of 
beautiful memories.
  After receiving a degree in social work from D'Youville University, 
Kathy began a career as an employment counselor at the Erie County 
Department of Social Services. For decades, she helped people find 
dignity, stability, and economic security. She saw people not as cases 
but as neighbors, often celebrating their victories as if they were her 
own.
  She didn't stop there. Kathy frequently followed up to make sure that 
those she helped stayed on a path toward success. That is who she was. 
She never did the bare minimum. She poured her whole heart into helping 
others each and every day.
  She passed that calling on to her children, my dear friends, Melanie, 
Mike, and Walt, each of whom followed in their mother's footsteps and 
chose a life of service.
  Melanie became a supervisor of special education for the Buffalo 
Public Schools, helping students with special needs to reach their full 
potential.
  Mike, my former classmate and the best OT to come out of our class at 
D'Youville University, works as an occupational therapist, helping 
patients regain independence following traumatic injuries.
  Walt, one of the most selfless public servants I have ever had the 
privilege to work with, serves as deputy district director and senior 
caseworker in my Buffalo office, where he dedicates every day to the 
betterment of our community.
  Kathy instilled in her children a deep belief in the power of civic 
duty and the promise of our democracy. Inspired by leaders like 
President John F. Kennedy, Kathy believed that if you want to see 
change, you must fight for it.
  Kathy never missed an election. She never sat on the sidelines. She 
knew that one voice could make a difference, and she used her own for 
the betterment of our community.
  Kathy was a happy warrior in the fight for a better world. Her 
compassion was evident in the small, quiet acts that revealed the depth 
of her character.
  Kathy was also an avid Buffalo Bills fan who never missed a game. In 
1974, when she was nearly 9 months pregnant with identical twins Mike 
and Walton, she went to Rich Stadium for a Bills playoff game. When the 
Bills lost their first Super Bowl, she forced her children to skip 
school to go to the rally in front of Buffalo City Hall to welcome her 
beloved Bills home.
  Kathy passed away on St. Patrick's Day, her favorite day of the year, 
surrounded by her entire family. Like many South Buffalonians, she was 
proud of her Irish heritage and loved celebrating her roots alongside 
those she loved.
  To Kathy's children, Melanie, Mike, and Walt, and her grandchildren, 
Norah, Nicholas, Noah, and Liam, our Nation mourns with you.
  Though Kathy will be deeply missed, her legacy lives on in each of 
them in every life that she touched.
  Western New York is stronger because Kathy Koch was a part of it. May 
we honor her by carrying forward her fight for a better, more just 
world.
  On behalf of a grateful nation and on behalf of a grateful community, 
may Kathleen Anne Koch rest in peace.

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