Katherine Boyle Wade

Katherine Boyle Wade, 76, of Albuquerque, NM, died on April 30, 2023. Kay was born on May 5, 1946, in Virginia, Minnesota to Robert and Vera Boyle. She graduated from Murray High School in St. Paul, Minnesota and continued her education at the University of Minnesota completing a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology. In the following years, she also completed a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of New Mexico.

During Kay’s professional career, she worked in many executive positions, including Chicago’s Southside psychiatric hospital and the former Memorial Hospital in Albuquerque. She also worked in Missouri for a short time before returning to Albuquerque.

Kay served as CEO of Desert Hills residential treatment facility from 1996-1998 and became the Corporate Regional CEO for Youth and Family Centered Services, Inc. from 1998-2000. She brought an unusual combination of business acumen and altruism to a very difficult role. She was both leader and mentor.

Kay was also a founding member of La Academia de Esperanza charter school. She was a champion for marginalized and disadvantaged children.  She served as an officer for the school’s Governing Council until her passing.  She was passionate about this role and her opportunity to help foster, nurture, and develop a culture and environment of safety and belonging for every child to learn within.   During her tenure as the council’s President, from 2017-January 2023, she led with great professionalism, honesty, humor, and most of all, heart.

With equal enthusiasm, Kay moved on to other endeavors and followed her interests in real estate development. She and her business associate, Joe Sanchez, started Sanchez and Wade Properties and Investments, LLC in 2006 with a focus on private mortgage financing. Her interests evolved into construction, remodeling, and real estate sales. Kay was particularly proud of some of the new construction that the company built and developed. This included the Highland Lofts on Zuni Rd. in Albuquerque.  

Kay was an avid world traveler having visited many countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe, as well as extensive travel in the United States. She and her sister, Pat, were always planning their next international travel excursion. She and Larry also enjoyed international travel, as well as their annual Colorado ski vacations.

Kay was always willing and interested in pursuing the next adventure, including outdoor activities like skiing, golf, and hiking. Closer to home, Kay was a committed birder who always enjoyed trips to Bosque del Apache to view the annual migrations and eagerly anticipated the arrival of the season’s first hummingbirds. She and her brother, Chris, always had a lively competition on whose feeders attracted the first hummingbirds of the season. She also loved her dog, Gracie, who has been a constant and loving companion for almost 14 years. Kay and Gracie enjoyed their regular walks in the neighborhood which not only provided exercise, but also an opportunity to chat with neighbors.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Vera, and Bryan Baumeister, husband.

Kay is survived by her loving and caring partner of 9 years, Larry Levy, sister, Patricia Gotch (Dan), Pacific Grove, CA, brothers, Michael Boyle (Hon), Chiang Mai, Thailand, and Christopher Boyle, Albuquerque, NM, niece, Katie Gotch (Kyle Jordan), and grand niece, Ophelia, Newberg, OR, nephew, Timothy Gotch (Lisa), So. San Francisco, CA, step-daughter Angela Baumeister (Frantisek Mikolaj) and step-grand daughter, Kieran Mikolajova , Albuquerque, NM and step-sons, Joshua Baumeister, Odell Lake, OR, and Aaron Baumeister (Rebecca Nelson) Thornton, CO.

A celebration of life service will be held on Thursday, May 18, 2023 at Daniels Family Funerals, 7601 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM. Friends can arrive as soon 10:00 a.m. The celebration begins at 11:00 a.m. with a catered reception following.

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